Temiko
First Post
This may seem kind of strange at first, so let me give you a little background: I'm currently playing in a campaign where we are using Iron Heroes class, skill and combat rules in an Iron Kingdoms world with a few things like World of Warcraft RPG technology thrown in. Got it? Good. Keep holding on because we're not done yet. It's currently a low/emerging magic realm and we're using standard magic rules (no arcanists) in order to fit better with the Iron Kingdoms theme. Needless to say, it's a pretty interesting place. So...
As it turns out, our party is in need of an arcane mechanik-type character. I was inspired by various things like EVE online to create a character that would use a relatively large number of small drones (or, in this case, servitors) rather than a single large construct like a warjack to get things done. The mechanist class and servitors found in the Iron Kingdoms Liber Mechanika seem to be the ideal foundation for this, and I figured that creating an Iron Heroes mastery feat tree specifically focusing on servitors would be a good way to expand upon these concepts. Of course, this feat tree is by no means strictly limited to mechanists, but they have the potential to get the most out of these feats.
What do you think of this feat tree? Is there anything over/under powered or unbalanced in any way? Do you know of any other feats or abilities that might fit well with this theme? I appreciate any and all input.
SERVITOR MASTERY [Tactics]
Through extensive arcane study and mechanikal training, you are able form a close bond with additional servitors and use them to their fullest potential. Those of the mechanist class (Iron Kingdoms Liber Mechanika, p. 21) are able to improve upon their existing ability to control bonded servitors with impressive effectiveness.
Base Mastery: 1
Prerequisite: Craft (mechanika) 5 ranks, must have a mechanikal familiar
Benefit: You may build or bond another servitor in the same fashion as you would bond or build a mechanikal familar but without any associated cost for the actual forming of the bond.
The bonded servitor immediately gains the benefits of a mechanikal familiar but at reduced effect. For purposes of determining the benefits each servitor receives, your effective level drops by 1 for each bonded servitor you have. For instance, a 5th level arcane mechanik/5th level mechanist with 4 servitors would have an effective level of 6 for determining the benefits his servitors receive.
Bonded servitors do not impose any negative effect on you when they are destroyed or dismissed.
You may include Servitor Mastery as one of the bonus feats for the arcane mechanik or wizard classes.
Expanded Mastery: 2. (Without existing Skill Transference ability). You gain the Skill Transference supernatural ability (IKLM, p. 22):
As long as you are able to witness the actions of a bonded servitor, you may attempt to use a skill through it. For instance, a mechanist might want to attempt a Disable Device check through his servitor at a distance. Such actions always receive a -4 penalty to skill checks, and the servitor must have at least one functioning manipulator and the right sort of tools for the task when performing skills requiring them.
Bonded servitors may be used to perform the following skill checks with skill transference: Disable Device, Heal, Hide, Move Silently, Open Locks, and Use Rope.
Expanded Mastery: 2. (With existing Skill Transference ability). The penalty for skill checks when using the Skill Transference ability is reduced by 2.
Expanded Mastery: 3. Your arcane connection with your bonded servitors has grown close enough to make them more efficient.
For purposes of determining the mechanikal familiar benefits your servitors receive, treat your effective level as one higher than normal. For instance, a 5th level arcane mechanik/5th level mechanist with 4 servitors would have an effective level of 7 for determining the benefits his servitors receive.
Expanded Mastery: 4. You may build or bond another servitor. This servitor counts toward the number of servitors that reduce your effective level when determining mechanikal familiar benefits.
Expanded Mastery: 5. Using your extensive experience constructing servitors, you have discovered ways to give them an impressive array of abilities.
When building new bonded servitors (not non-bonded servitors), you may increase the maximum number of installed enhancements by one (see IKLM p. 47). For instance, a small servitor could have a total of three enhancements instead of two. Increase the base cost to craft this type of servitor from scratch by 50%.
Expanded Mastery: 6. The penalty for skill checks when using the Skill Transference ability is reduced by 2. This benefit is cumulative with the penalty reduction version of expanded master 2. You must also have the expanded master 2 ability to select this expanded feat option.
Expanded Mastery: 7. You may build or bond another servitor. This servitor counts toward the number of servitors that reduce your effective level when determining mechanikal familiar benefits.
Expanded Mastery: 8. The level of arcane connection between you and your servitors has reached nearly peak efficiency.
For purposes of determining the mechanikal familiar benefits your servitors receive, treat your effective level as two higher than normal. This benefit is cumulative with the benefit received by expanded mastery 3. For instance, a 10th level arcane mechanik/5th level mechanist with 6 servitors would have an effective level of 12 for determining the benefits his servitors receive.
Expanded Mastery: 9. You are now able to perform amazing feats of ingenuity when crafting your servitors.
When building new bonded servitors (not non-bonded servitors), you may increase the maximum number of installed enhancements by one. The benefit and cost is cumulative with expanded mastery 5. For instance, with expanded mastery 5 and expanded master 10 a small servitor could have a total of four enhancements instead of two. Increase the base cost to craft this type of servitor from scratch by 100%.
Expanded Mastery: 10. The servitors you create have reached a point where they can function with astounding level of intellect when working together.
Your bonded servitors receive the Servitor Swarm ability (IKLM, p.103):
A swarm of servitors can act with an Intelligence score equal to the number of servitors in the swarm + 3 (to a maximum of 12). A swarm is a cluster of servitors, and none can be more than 10 feet from another servitor in the swarm. If a servitor strays from its swarm, it loses all benefits of the swarms' collective intelligence.
As it turns out, our party is in need of an arcane mechanik-type character. I was inspired by various things like EVE online to create a character that would use a relatively large number of small drones (or, in this case, servitors) rather than a single large construct like a warjack to get things done. The mechanist class and servitors found in the Iron Kingdoms Liber Mechanika seem to be the ideal foundation for this, and I figured that creating an Iron Heroes mastery feat tree specifically focusing on servitors would be a good way to expand upon these concepts. Of course, this feat tree is by no means strictly limited to mechanists, but they have the potential to get the most out of these feats.
What do you think of this feat tree? Is there anything over/under powered or unbalanced in any way? Do you know of any other feats or abilities that might fit well with this theme? I appreciate any and all input.
Code:
Feat Name Mastery Category Base Feat Prerequisites Benefit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Servitor Mastery 1 Tactics - Craft (mechanika), Extra bonded servitor
mechanikal familiar
- 2 Tactics Servitor Mastery - Skill Transference or +2 Skill Transference bonus
- 3 Tactics Servitor Mastery - +1 effective level for bonded servitors
- 4 Tactics Servitor Mastery - Extra bonded servitor
- 5 Tactics Servitor Mastery - Extra servitor enhancement
- 6 Tactics Servitor Mastery Expanded Mastery 2 +2 Skill Transference bonus
- 7 Tactics Servitor Mastery - Extra bonded servitor
- 8 Tactics Servitor Mastery Expanded Mastery 3 +2 effective levels for bonded servitors
- 9 Tactics Servitor Mastery - Extra servitor enhancement
- 10 Tactics Servitor Mastery - Servitor SwarmSERVITOR MASTERY [Tactics]
Through extensive arcane study and mechanikal training, you are able form a close bond with additional servitors and use them to their fullest potential. Those of the mechanist class (Iron Kingdoms Liber Mechanika, p. 21) are able to improve upon their existing ability to control bonded servitors with impressive effectiveness.
Base Mastery: 1
Prerequisite: Craft (mechanika) 5 ranks, must have a mechanikal familiar
Benefit: You may build or bond another servitor in the same fashion as you would bond or build a mechanikal familar but without any associated cost for the actual forming of the bond.
The bonded servitor immediately gains the benefits of a mechanikal familiar but at reduced effect. For purposes of determining the benefits each servitor receives, your effective level drops by 1 for each bonded servitor you have. For instance, a 5th level arcane mechanik/5th level mechanist with 4 servitors would have an effective level of 6 for determining the benefits his servitors receive.
Bonded servitors do not impose any negative effect on you when they are destroyed or dismissed.
You may include Servitor Mastery as one of the bonus feats for the arcane mechanik or wizard classes.
Expanded Mastery: 2. (Without existing Skill Transference ability). You gain the Skill Transference supernatural ability (IKLM, p. 22):
As long as you are able to witness the actions of a bonded servitor, you may attempt to use a skill through it. For instance, a mechanist might want to attempt a Disable Device check through his servitor at a distance. Such actions always receive a -4 penalty to skill checks, and the servitor must have at least one functioning manipulator and the right sort of tools for the task when performing skills requiring them.
Bonded servitors may be used to perform the following skill checks with skill transference: Disable Device, Heal, Hide, Move Silently, Open Locks, and Use Rope.
Expanded Mastery: 2. (With existing Skill Transference ability). The penalty for skill checks when using the Skill Transference ability is reduced by 2.
Expanded Mastery: 3. Your arcane connection with your bonded servitors has grown close enough to make them more efficient.
For purposes of determining the mechanikal familiar benefits your servitors receive, treat your effective level as one higher than normal. For instance, a 5th level arcane mechanik/5th level mechanist with 4 servitors would have an effective level of 7 for determining the benefits his servitors receive.
Expanded Mastery: 4. You may build or bond another servitor. This servitor counts toward the number of servitors that reduce your effective level when determining mechanikal familiar benefits.
Expanded Mastery: 5. Using your extensive experience constructing servitors, you have discovered ways to give them an impressive array of abilities.
When building new bonded servitors (not non-bonded servitors), you may increase the maximum number of installed enhancements by one (see IKLM p. 47). For instance, a small servitor could have a total of three enhancements instead of two. Increase the base cost to craft this type of servitor from scratch by 50%.
Expanded Mastery: 6. The penalty for skill checks when using the Skill Transference ability is reduced by 2. This benefit is cumulative with the penalty reduction version of expanded master 2. You must also have the expanded master 2 ability to select this expanded feat option.
Expanded Mastery: 7. You may build or bond another servitor. This servitor counts toward the number of servitors that reduce your effective level when determining mechanikal familiar benefits.
Expanded Mastery: 8. The level of arcane connection between you and your servitors has reached nearly peak efficiency.
For purposes of determining the mechanikal familiar benefits your servitors receive, treat your effective level as two higher than normal. This benefit is cumulative with the benefit received by expanded mastery 3. For instance, a 10th level arcane mechanik/5th level mechanist with 6 servitors would have an effective level of 12 for determining the benefits his servitors receive.
Expanded Mastery: 9. You are now able to perform amazing feats of ingenuity when crafting your servitors.
When building new bonded servitors (not non-bonded servitors), you may increase the maximum number of installed enhancements by one. The benefit and cost is cumulative with expanded mastery 5. For instance, with expanded mastery 5 and expanded master 10 a small servitor could have a total of four enhancements instead of two. Increase the base cost to craft this type of servitor from scratch by 100%.
Expanded Mastery: 10. The servitors you create have reached a point where they can function with astounding level of intellect when working together.
Your bonded servitors receive the Servitor Swarm ability (IKLM, p.103):
A swarm of servitors can act with an Intelligence score equal to the number of servitors in the swarm + 3 (to a maximum of 12). A swarm is a cluster of servitors, and none can be more than 10 feet from another servitor in the swarm. If a servitor strays from its swarm, it loses all benefits of the swarms' collective intelligence.
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