Monday, July 14, 2008

Snake Eyes: Serpent War Class Overhaul

In preparation for the Serpent War campaign, I'm doing an overhaul on some classes that theoretically have potential but are simply outclassed by other classes, and for no particular reason. That said, I'm upping the power level of a few classes in the hopes that more people will play them. All class features occur at their normal level unless noted otherwise.

Bard (Player's Handbook)
Alignment:
Bards may be of any alignment.

Favored Soul (Complete Divine, Miniatures Handbook)
Spellcasting:
You may choose whether to use your CHA or WIS to determine whether you can learn a spell. CHA and WIS affect your bonus spells and save DCs as normal.
Skills: Add Knowledge (Religion) to your list of class skills.

Fighter (Player's Handbook)
Skill Points:
4+INT
Skills: Add Sense Motive and Tumble to the Fighter's class skill list.

Healer (Miniatures Handbook)
Advanced Learning: At levels 3, 6, and 10, you may add a spell from the Cleric list to your class list. This spell must be of the Conjuration school.

Monk
(Player's Handbook)
Multiclassing:
You may continue to take levels in Monk as long as your alignment is Lawful, regardless of what other classes you have taken.

Paladin (Player's Handbook)
Multiclassing: You may continue to take levels in Paladin as long as your alignment is Lawful Good, regardless of what other classes you have taken. This is also true for variant Paladins (Unearthed Arcana) but with the corresponding alignment requirement.

Samurai (Complete Warrior)
Two Swords as One:
You gain Two-Weapon Fighting as a bonus feat.
Iajutsu Master: You gain Quick Draw as a bonus feat. In addition, you deal +1d6 damage with any weapon you have drawn during the same turn.
Staredown: At 6th level, a Samurai gains a +4 bonus to Intimidate checks. Furthermore, he can attempt to demoralize an enemy as a free action once per encounter when he draws his weapon.
Bonus Feat: At 8th level, a Samurai may choose a bonus feat. He must qualify for the bonus feat, and the feat must be listed as a fighter bonus feat.
Mass Staredown: As written, but can be used with his modified Staredown class feature. In addition, he becomes immune to fear.
Kiai Smite: Functions per encounter rather than per day.
Multiclassing: You may continue to take levels in Samurai as long as your alignment is Lawful, regardless of what other classes you have taken.

Shugenja (Complete Divine)
Proficiencies:
Add light armor, medium armor, and shields (but not tower shields) to the Shugenja's Armor and Weapon proficiencies.
Advanced Learning: At levels 3,6, and 10, you may add a spell from the Druid list to your class list. This spell can be of any school, but must have the elemental subtype of his Element focus (Cold for Water and Lightning for Air).
Spellcasting: After choosing your elemental focus, you must forbid one other element of your choice. You do not need to forbid the diametrically opposed element.

Warlock (Complete Arcane)
Alignment:
Warlocks may be of any alignment.

Warmage (Complete Arcane, Miniatures Handbook)
Proficiencies:
In addition to listed proficiencies, a Warmage gains proficiency with one martial weapon of his choice.
Base Attack Bonus: Change the Warmage's Base Attack bonus to 3/4 (as Rogue).
Advanced Learning: A Warmage gains his third use of Advanced Learning at level 10 instead of level 11.

No comments: