Crimson Sakura- Ninja/Geisha Prestige class [Design Diary]

[Sound of Azure]

Ok here goes...

Shadow Arts: All these have been added to the OP

 

[Sound of Azure]

Extra Mastery
You have mastered another Shadow Arts School.
Prerequisites: Three Shadow Arts Disciplines from the same School, Shadow Mastery.
Benefit: You gain the Mastery Ability of a School you have three Disciplines in.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Each time you take it, it applies to another School.

Call of the Shadows
You can use your Shadow Arts Techniques more often.
Prerequisites: Shadow Arts class feature
Benefit: You gain two additional uses of Shadow Arts per day.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Its effects stack.

 

[smootrk]

Very cool. I like it as a set of flexible options. You can build your character according to your desire/concept this way. You might want to add on the levels that grant sneak/sudden strike, the Crimson Sakura practitioner can exchange a power (one exchange only), allowing some small recourse when a poor choice might have been made at an earlier level.

Nice thing about design like this, is that others can come up with new disciplines/paths, and the PRC can be even more flexible.

For my own contribution to the creative process (and specifically catering to the Geisha side of things)...

Path of Dance essentially the dodge/mobility/spring attack feat tree or emulating aspects of the Dervish line of abilities (from Complete Warrior book).

Path of the Songbird essentially adding some songs that can aid subterfuge. Ideas for Song of Distraction (like a Ghost Sound, but musical), Cricket's Song (Invis effect - how hard is it to find a chirping cricket?) , Night Song (lullaby - sleep effect)... just a couple of ideas

 

[Sound of Azure]

Ooh, I like your path suggestions (especially the Songbird), as well as the idea to be able to "retrain" every so often.

I was having trouble coming up with a "Geisha-esque" Path that didn't duplicate the existing features of that class. Although, that might not be so bad either.

Yeah, I really wanted some flexibility with this one, since the role is expected to be multitalented, but with the capability of specialisation.

Thanks for the input!

Now, to start folding all this into the OP....

 

[smootrk]

Back on basic requirements:
Maybe remove the Hide & Move Silently Requirement, and replace with a Perform requirement.

Reasoning: a Geisha/Ninja (basic class combo expected) is generally not going to be an invisible warrior - but more of hidden in plain sight type of warrior - the surprise attack from where you would never expect... the girl serving you tea and dancing for you.
Additionally, the Ninja side of things is probably going to take those skills regardless (hide/move silently), so it is a rather negligible prereq. On the other hand, a non-geisha like a sorcerer, wizard, assassin might take the class, and a prerequisite like perform forces some degree of devotion to something non-class specific. Making the prereq a real dedication to something outside the normal. A Geisha, being a skill-monkey (as called previously) is not going to have much trouble in any case, having Skill Points to burn in all likelyhood.

Slightly related topic - maybe the 'Paths' should have minor prerequisites as well. Path of Lotus requires x ranks of Craft Poisonmaking, Path of Songbird requires Bardic/Geisha Performance or x Perform ranks (non-bardic types)... etc.

Just more fuel for thought

 

[Sound of Azure]

I see what you mean about hide/move silently. In the original conception I was using hide in the sense of blending in and being unnassuming (like a grey man or something). Kind of the opposite of the Inspire Infatuation and Fascination abilities, when I think about it.

As for Perform, it would have to be Perform (Act), yes? Possibly oratory, though.

I'll have a think about prerequisites for certain Disciplines. I'm thinking spellcraft and a certain caster level for the "Metamagic" ones.

 

[smootrk]

As for Perform, it would have to be Perform (Act), yes? Possibly oratory, though.

I think a more open ended choice of perform might be more flexible, allowing players to design in unconventional ways or ways that might seem more appropriate to a specific campaign. Perhaps the ninja uses an instrument with a hidden blade, or sings a target to sleep before slitting his throat, or even poisons the client/mark's tea (Perform tea ceremony with Sleight of Hand). I am sure when presented to players, they can form many other 'sneaky-bastard' ways of combining Perform with Ninja Duties.

 

[smootrk]

On the Path of Dance, perhaps something with a little more Asian flair for a name?

Path of the Dancing Crane? something similar?

 

[Sound of Azure]

I think a more open ended choice of perform might be more flexible, allowing players to design in unconventional ways or ways that might seem more appropriate to a specific campaign. Perhaps the ninja uses an instrument with a hidden blade, or sings a target to sleep before slitting his throat, or even poisons the client/mark's tea (Perform tea ceremony with Sleight of Hand). I am sure when presented to players, they can form many other 'sneaky-bastard' ways of combining Perform with Ninja Duties.

True enough. Players are good that way.

Names? Well....

...

...Path of the Clever Crane?

 

[smootrk]

Path of Ghosts insubstantial (miss chance?), Frightening, Wail of the Banshee