I have the book and like the class, though I can't comment on how they look in play yet. I think they have a very Eberron feel though (Morgrave, for example).
But if no one else has the book, its mechanics are a bit too odd to clearly explain.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
6 months old, its now available for proposal. I've updated my list of when books become available in the first page of the Discussion thread ~Link. I don't believe we stick to specific days, just dealing with months. Note that Secrets of Sarlona is also available this month too.
Well regarding it. have seen factotum in action at Undermountain events and I have to say, they break alot of encounters. because of the way their stuff works they can have like +30 to certain skills by 4th level(and I am not talking diplomacy).
I would think carefully about whether to allow them.
__________________ my characters: Zook Archizald : currently in Last Words
Well regarding it. have seen factotum in action at Undermountain events and I have to say, they break a lot of encounters. because of the way their stuff works they can have like +30 to certain skills by 4th level(and I am not talking diplomacy).
Assume 33 point by and 4th level (where Brains over Brawn kicks in) w/ the 4th point in Str and no magic items.
Str 16, Dex 15, Con 8, Int 18, Wis 9, Cha 8
The factotum has 11 skill points per level in this build, and they'll need at least one point in each to use the inspiration ability to add Factotum level 1/day.
For skills w/o any ranks, Str skills/checks will have a +7 bonus (+3 Str + 4 Int), Dex skills/checks a +6 (+2 Dex + 4 Int) bonus (including init). If they are fully trained, that is +14 and +13 respectively and once per day they can bump it up to +18/+17 is they add in their factotum bonus. As they can only add their factotum bonus to classes that they are trained in, the majority of these skills will not be at this maximum level. Even with +5 competence bonus from a magic item and +2 synergy bonus, that is +25/+24 once per day which is going to be rare; it would take another pair of attribute +2 items to get it to +27/+26; but at forth level, this level of magic enhancement could only be temporary (not permanent items).
They are, however, flexible, and can choose to boost the right skill at the right moment and thus choose to apply the bull's strength and fox's cunning potions at the right moment).
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Hmmm...aren't most of their abilities once per encounter? Being able to boost skills into the stratosphere with per encounter would be really unfair for out-of-combat skill challenges, since you'd basically eliminate them. I'd need to look at specifics.
Hmmm...aren't most of their abilities once per encounter? Being able to boost skills into the stratosphere with per encounter would be really unfair for out-of-combat skill challenges, since you'd basically eliminate them. I'd need to look at specifics.
Most abilities have a refresh of per encounter except the "add factotum class to skill" and "add Int to Str/Dex checks". The former is once per day (but costs an inspiration point), the latter is all day.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Most abilities have a refresh of per encounter except the "add factotum class to skill" and "add Int to Str/Dex checks". The former is once per day (but costs an inspiration point), the latter is all day.
Well, I admit that proves they are smarter than I thought when I heard there was a +skill ability. A per-encounter +skill ability would be gamebreakingly stupid. "Oh look, that door was trapped. Let me use my per encounter +skill ability on Disable Device for this encounter with the trap"
__________________ "That's so far over the line between genius and madness, it passed all the way through Cthulhuville and normalcy and all the way back to brilliance!"--MoogleEmpMog
Well, I admit that proves they are smarter than I thought when I heard there was a +skill ability. A per-encounter +skill ability would be gamebreakingly stupid. "Oh look, that door was trapped. Let me use my per encounter +skill ability on Disable Device for this encounter with the trap"
And, I'll point out that the 'add level to skill' ability only works with skills that you have at least 1 rank in, not any skill. Its what forces factotums to spend a lot of little skill points everywhere in games where Jack of all Trades isn't house ruled.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
And, I'll point out that the 'add level to skill' ability only works with skills that you have at least 1 rank in, not any skill. Its what forces factotums to spend a lot of little skill points everywhere in games where Jack of all Trades isn't house ruled.
Well, without houserules, Jack of All Trades 3.5 version actually doesn't have any effect on your character except to jumpstart your purchase of cross-class skills by reducing their first rank's price by 1 skill point since you now have a half rank. It does not actually let you use those skills as intended.
Besides, while adding level to skill to pretend you've maxed out a skill you didn't bother to take beyond 1 rank is an effective way to be thrifty, the real danger is adding level to a maxed out skill and (at high levels when the +3 ranks at level 1 become less significant) essentially doubling your ranks. This makes many of the epic skill uses a cakewalk for a mid-to-high level Factotum, and by virtue of their presence in the SRD, I believe we are by default allowing them.
Of course, it's quite possible that the skill checks aren't really the main thing about which to be concerned--I can only comment on what I see. I'll try to get my Dungeonscape from my little brother eventually. I never had a chance to read it.
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