A Spy in Sharn

[LatreyaSena]

I totally dig the spy of the ancient world and methinks they'd do well in Eberron.

Initial thoughts are taking the Rogue, Ninja, and Scout for inspiration but I'm sure someone out there has made the Spy class.

Could you kind folk please point me to a Spy class? Or do I have the pleasure of creating one myself?

- Latreya

 

[Sound of Azure]

I totally dig the spy of the ancient world and methinks they'd do well in Eberron.

Initial thoughts are taking the Rogue, Ninja, and Scout for inspiration but I'm sure someone out there has made the Spy class.

Could you kind folk please point me to a Spy class? Or do I have the pleasure of creating one myself?

- Latreya

Cool, I rather like the archetype(/s) myself. You could take inspiration from the Spymaster Prestige Class in Compete Adventure. It has 7 levels, so it's a little different that the usual ones. It gives you several cover identities and resistances to divinations. Eventually it gains the ability to fool detection magic into seeming like a cover identity.

I'd stick with Rogue myself until qualifying for the Spymaster PrC. Rogues are pretty flexible in their role.

I'm not familiar with the system, but perhaps you could look at the Spycraft d20 (I believe they have a 2nd edition now) game for a base class, otherwise I'd say yes, you're fairly on your own in that regard (as far as official stuff goes). Dragon also had an issue devoted to Spy "Stuff" based on the the usual Base Classes, and recommendations for skills to use and feats to take. It was issue #316. You may be able to back order it from the Paizo website.

Of course, we do like hashing stuff like this out here, if you want to work out a Base Class for yourself.

What exactly do you like about the Ninja, Rogue, and Scout that you want to emulate in addition to the spy-based stuff in your Base Class?

Ninjas have:

Sudden Strike (weaker than sneak attack)
Great skill list
Unarmoured AC
Ki powers (many evasive and stealth powers)
Slow fall
Acrobatics
Social skills

Scouts have:

Skirmish
Mobility fighting style
Bonus feats
Terrain advantages and movement enabling stuff
Wilderness survival stuff
Excellent sense
Hide in plain sight
better hit die than rogues and ninjas

Rogues Have:

Sneak Attack
Interesting and varied Special abilities
Uncanny Dodge
Trap Sense
Excellent stealth (but no HiPS)

So what is it you want from this class?
Very flexible skill list

 

[szilard]

There are some prestige classes that would work for this: Spymaster (Complete Adventurer), Master Inquisitive (Eberron Campaign Setting), some agent class in Cityscape, and a Changeling-specific class in Races of Eberron... and there are probably others.

As far as base classes go, add Beguiler to the list.

-Stuart

 

[LatreyaSena]

Hey thanks for the input,

If you think I can nut one out right here you’re kidding! I’m pretty green with D&D, it would take me some time to make a new class I think. But if you’re up for it, with your help, we could have a shot.

Could do Rogue then Spymaster but… Base class would be nice.

Sound of Azure that’s a nice summation of the classes but I must also check out the Master Inquisitive (which I completely forgot about) as suggested by Stuart. It might be possible to milk most of the ideas from the Spymaster and Master Inquisitive.

Also I think it would help to be absolutely clear on the role of a Spy as there is a fair bit of crossover between other various archetypes; Detectives, Scouts, Ninjas, Rogues, etc. What I mean is that we should be very focused on real Spycraft to bring out the subtle differences to the other classes.

Spycraft d20? Could be a source of inspiration, but it is modern. Kewl Gadgets are a big part of the modern spy; I wonder how many Kewl gadgets the ancient/fantasy spy could have?

Anyhow, I’m off to do some reading. I’m going to peruse the Spymaster, Master Inquisitive, and Beguiler, while pondering Sound of Azures list.

Anymore input is warmly welcome.

- Latreya.

 

[Sound of Azure]

No worries. I have absolutely no Eberron-fu at all, so I can't really say anything about that.

As for magic Gadgets, I'd think Eberron would be a great world for that kind of thing. The gist I've gotten is that there's a lot of basic low-level magic around, thanks to the Magewrights. When I think Eberron, I think of the industrial revolution, or Van Halsing, or Indiana Jones, but with magic and other D&D stuff in it as well.

With a friendly Artificer (a mentor, or somebody as part of your spy organisation), you could get well outfitted within a few levels. He'd be Q to your Bond, in that sense.

The Spycraft suggestion... well, I thought you might be able to mine some rules ideas from there. Having not seen it, I don't know how close it would cleave to your aims.

Anyway... as I said, most folk here are happy to help people hash out an idea... most of us have a good grasp of balance, so if you need a hand, keep on posting. Someone will be sure to lend a hand. So you're not really on your own.

Myself, I'm rather interested in this idea, so I may well take the idea and put it down as an option for my own game.

 

[LatreyaSena]

O.K. So here’s my homework:

1. Think about exactly what a spy can bring to the party.
2. Research these classes for inspiration:
Rogue
Scout
Ninja
Assassin
Spymaster
Master Inquisitive
Beguiler
Artificer (for gadgetry)
Bard (for contacts/bardic knowledge)
3. Write up some drafts and post them here for scrutiny.

See you in another year :-/

- Latreya

 

[Glyfair]

As for magic Gadgets, I'd think Eberron would be a great world for that kind of thing. The gist I've gotten is that there's a lot of basic low-level magic around, thanks to the Magewrights. When I think Eberron, I think of the industrial revolution, or Van Halsing, or Indiana Jones, but with magic and other D&D stuff in it as well.

Pretty much, but it's not industrial revolution with magic "as well." The industrial revolution is in magic. You don't really add technology to Eberron, you replace it with magic.

As for the original topic, there are a few prestige classes that are tied around spymasters. The Citadel Elite in Sharn: City of Towers is one that comes to mind (make sure to read the errata).

 

[Sound of Azure]

Ah, I see. I might have been getting Eberron and Iron Kingdoms mixed up or something. I've thought it sounds interesting, but my gaming budget is fairly limited right now, so I haven't picked it up.

I guess this is what happens when I comment based on hearsay.

 

[LatreyaSena]

Kewl, another one to add to the list.

Rogue
Scout
Ninja
Assassin
Spymaster
Master Inquisitive
Beguiler
Artificer (for gadgetry)
Bard (for contacts/bardic knowledge)
Citadel Elite

- Latreya

 

[szilard]

Ebonmar Infiltrator (in Cityscape.)

-Stuart