Advanced Class: Skateboard Ninja

[Old Gumphrey]

Ok, I'm very new to this game but I have the perfect idea for my friend's character. He's basically a scottish punk kid, plays guitar in one of those bands and can skate like hell (ala Tony Hawk). He's also an accomplished street brawler and martial artist. My task now is to create an AC that meshes street style skating with martial arts moves, and I have no idea where to start other than the Martial Artist class. It seems to me by taking down some of the BAB I can play around with other stuff.

I want it to be able to do things like trick off of opponent's body parts, do a flying kick with the board, and eventually do insane things like skate straight at a wall, grab the board and do a kick flip just before impact whereupon a slight jog up the vertical surface and a backflip would place you flying above the enemy for...some kind of nasty ass beating. You get the idea. Beat people up, with board or sword, fist or boot, while constantly on the move. We'll be testing the limits of the ride-by attack feat.

By the way, does anyone have any idea what I should do about stats for a skateboard? For tricks we're using the Ride skill, but what about movement etc? Any help will be much appreciated in the form of a button, cookie, or medal. Thanks.

 

[Dismas]

Sounds like a mix of Martial Artist, Daredevil, Speed Demon and Infiltrator.

Of the top of my head (I don;t have the books at work) UA has some info on self powered vehicles.

Perhaps have it as a prestige class rather than an Advanced Class.

 

[ThoughtBubble]

I guess my opinion on it depends on how serious your game is. = )

 

[Old Gumphrey]

serious.

That's another thing. The character itself is dark and serious, so even if the class was fruity it wouldn't come off as such. However, I'm not going to author a class that could even be remotely silly; unless it's for a joke or a one-shot in which case it would be fantastic.

It's probably not what you're thinking either. I used the name Skateboard Ninja because it very quickly sums up what the class is capable of. Technically, you don't even have to be a martial artist to use it. We were talking about him being a straight up street fighter with no real martial arts training, but still charging into gunfights on a board. More momentum for that knockout punch I guess.

I found stats for a skateboard in UA (I just got it today) but they're vague at best; +10 base speed, +20 on a downward grade, balance check DC 15 for tricks, and how much damage you take by falling off (which is entirely too much and allows no save that I can see).

I want to dispel the images of ninja turtles flying around saying "Dude!" while riding skateboards and doing things to the bad guys like jumping on their heads which slides their storm trooper helmet over their eyes, as they comically struggle to break free. This is not where I'm trying to go with this idea.

 

[ThoughtBubble]

Next trial image:

Neo on a skateboard.

Next image:

The scene in XXX where the guy grinds with a dinner plate down a guardrail to avoid a sniper.

Aside from those two instances, everything I can think of would be very Jackie Chan like in its imagry.

Maybe if we took some of the ideas behind the weapon uses of benches in Kung-Fu...

Well, I'll give it some thought. Would you think it's more of a mobility based class, a beat down based class, or something in the middle? I guess, strong or fast derrived?