A Dr. Jackyll/Mr. Hide take on the War Hulk

[Sammael]

An idea just occured to me; it requires a bit of creative breaking of the rules, but I think I like it nevertheless. Namely, I think the war hulk prestige class (Miniatures Handbook) can be used to recreate the Dr. Jackyll/Mr. Hyde stereotype!

The class is only open to large creatures. With a bit of aforementioned "creative rule-breaking," this can be translated to "any creature that has a means of becoming large," which includes humans who can drink potions of enlarge person. How was it that Dr. Jackyll transformed into Mr. Hyde? By drinking a potion? Exactly.

So, if we declare that the enlarge person potion can be created as an alchemical item (which is not too far-fetched), the prerequisites turn into Craft (Alchemy) 8 ranks, and Skill Focus (Craft (Alchemy)).

The class has a "monster" flavor to it, which fits perfectly. No BAB will hurt the character somewhat when he's not in monster form, but the presumption is that he will be able to make more and more potent potions as with increased durations as the time passes. Saving throw bonuses apply to both forms, as do the bonus Toughness feats, but other abilities are only usable in monster form.

How does this sound? Crazy?

 

[Zappo]

It actually doesn't even require that much bending of the rules. You can take PrCs or feat for which you only have the requirements temporarily, if you had the requirements for most of the previous level. So, a fighter with Str 11 can take Power Attack if he has worn gauntlets of ogre strength for a while.

Only, all the abilities of the PrC or feat will be lost when the requirements are not met, and reappear when they are.

So, just assume that Mr. Jekyll drinks a potion of Enlarge Person. He whacks some people around and in doing so gains a level worth of experience (or most of a level). He levels in War Hulk. The effect of the potion disappears, and he returns medium-sized, without the War Hulk abilities. When he drinks another potion, he returns large-sized and regains the War Hulk abilities... and can gain XP that go towards successive War Hulk levels.

 

[Pyrex]

That's a really nifty idea.

Consider it stolen.

 

[Piratecat]

I love it. The PC would be able to use intelligence/wisdom/charisma based skills when in his "true" form, which would help counter having to spend a round changing when combat was required. I'd let him apply all xp gained in either form to the war hulk class, under the assumption that his body begins processing the alchemical formula more efficiently.

Wow, this is a great idea. Mister Hyde, come on down!

 

[MarauderX]

I thought Jekyl/Hyde was just a high-level barbarian with Int=~14 or something. I do like the idea of the concoction swigging lunitic wizard/lore master/alchemist who has found a way to switch ability scores for a short amount of time. Int 22, Str 8 etc becomes Int 8, Str 22, and no longer a robe-wearing daisy!