Will Doyle
Explorer
I've been working with my friends recently to think up some steampunk themes for a new campaign I'm planning.
This one's given us some problems, but I think I'm sort of happy with it now. It's a supporter role based around battlefield control: shifting allies about, and keeping mobile. The base utility is perhaps a little powerful, but maybe not moreso than other themes out there.
What do you think? Too powerful / too weak / improvements?
EDIT: Upon reflection this is a leader role, not a controller role, so the thread title's a little misleading.
AERONAUT
BACKGROUND
Associated skills: Acrobatics, Nature
STARTING FEATURE
You begin the game with an enchanted cablebelt:
--
Cablebelt Level 4 Rare
This iron girdle has a length of high tensile cable wound about it, and is powered by hissing canisters of compressed air.
Waist Slot 840gp
Utility Power * Encounter (Minor Action)
You fire your cable at an unattended object or square of solid terrain within close burst 5, automatically latching onto it with your grappling hook. Once latched, the cable can support up to 800lbs of hanging weight. As a minor action, you can activate the belt’s motor, pulling you 2 squares towards a hooked square or heavy object. If the hooked object weighs less than you, it is instead pulled 2 squares towards you. As a free action, you can unhook the grapple and retract the cable.
--
As a practised Aeronaut, you can also pull your companions out of trouble. Whenever you spend a move action to shift, another ally within close burst 5 may shift 1 as a free action (increasing to close burst 10 at 5th level).
LEVEL 5 FEATURE
Your mastery over the enchanted belt has improved, increasing its range to close burst 10 and pulling you 5 squares when you activate its motor.
LEVEL 10 FEATURE
You can now fire multiple cables to aid your allies. Whenever you spend a move action to shift, all allies within close burst 10 of the belt may shift 1 as a free action.
OPTIONAL FEATURES
Back from the Precipice Aeronaut Utility 2
You snapshot a life-saving cable to prevent the fall.
Encounter * Arcane
Immediate Interrupt Close Burst 5 (increases to close burst 10 at 5th level)
Trigger: You or an ally within the burst falls from a solid surface.
Effect: The target does not fall. If the target is an ally, they are knocked prone and pulled 2 squares towards you (unless such movement would cause them to fall again).
Slingshot Leap Aeronaut Utility 5
You flip and swing through the fray, hooking your belt to friend and foe alike.
Encounter * Arcane
Move Action Personal
Effect: You shift up to your speed. During this movement you can pass through enemy squares freely without provoking opportunity attacks.
Aeronaut’s Flight Aeronaut Utility 10
You punch your grapple into the ceiling and swing over the heads of your enemies.
Daily * Arcane
Move Action Close Burst 10
Requirement: There must be a ceiling within range, or a square of solid terrain at least 2 squares above you.
Effect: You fly up to ten squares without provoking opportunity attacks.[/spoiler]
This one's given us some problems, but I think I'm sort of happy with it now. It's a supporter role based around battlefield control: shifting allies about, and keeping mobile. The base utility is perhaps a little powerful, but maybe not moreso than other themes out there.
What do you think? Too powerful / too weak / improvements?
EDIT: Upon reflection this is a leader role, not a controller role, so the thread title's a little misleading.
AERONAUT
BACKGROUND
Associated skills: Acrobatics, Nature
STARTING FEATURE
You begin the game with an enchanted cablebelt:
--
Cablebelt Level 4 Rare
This iron girdle has a length of high tensile cable wound about it, and is powered by hissing canisters of compressed air.
Waist Slot 840gp
Utility Power * Encounter (Minor Action)
You fire your cable at an unattended object or square of solid terrain within close burst 5, automatically latching onto it with your grappling hook. Once latched, the cable can support up to 800lbs of hanging weight. As a minor action, you can activate the belt’s motor, pulling you 2 squares towards a hooked square or heavy object. If the hooked object weighs less than you, it is instead pulled 2 squares towards you. As a free action, you can unhook the grapple and retract the cable.
--
As a practised Aeronaut, you can also pull your companions out of trouble. Whenever you spend a move action to shift, another ally within close burst 5 may shift 1 as a free action (increasing to close burst 10 at 5th level).
LEVEL 5 FEATURE
Your mastery over the enchanted belt has improved, increasing its range to close burst 10 and pulling you 5 squares when you activate its motor.
LEVEL 10 FEATURE
You can now fire multiple cables to aid your allies. Whenever you spend a move action to shift, all allies within close burst 10 of the belt may shift 1 as a free action.
OPTIONAL FEATURES
Back from the Precipice Aeronaut Utility 2
You snapshot a life-saving cable to prevent the fall.
Encounter * Arcane
Immediate Interrupt Close Burst 5 (increases to close burst 10 at 5th level)
Trigger: You or an ally within the burst falls from a solid surface.
Effect: The target does not fall. If the target is an ally, they are knocked prone and pulled 2 squares towards you (unless such movement would cause them to fall again).
Slingshot Leap Aeronaut Utility 5
You flip and swing through the fray, hooking your belt to friend and foe alike.
Encounter * Arcane
Move Action Personal
Effect: You shift up to your speed. During this movement you can pass through enemy squares freely without provoking opportunity attacks.
Aeronaut’s Flight Aeronaut Utility 10
You punch your grapple into the ceiling and swing over the heads of your enemies.
Daily * Arcane
Move Action Close Burst 10
Requirement: There must be a ceiling within range, or a square of solid terrain at least 2 squares above you.
Effect: You fly up to ten squares without provoking opportunity attacks.[/spoiler]
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