brainstorming... Prototype

[chronoplasm]

Prototype
Your martial prowess is the result of alchemical augmentation. Nonmagical substances infused into your body during your formative years, from either accident or design, have granted you unusual physical abilities but have also branded you as an outcast.

I know that I want this to be a martial class, but I'm not exactly sure what I want to do with it as far as role goes. I think maybe I want to give this class some ranged stuff simply because I think we need more classes that can use bows and arrows or firearms and whatnot.

I think it would be cool if the class could get Alchemist as a bonus feat.

...Beyond that, I'm not exactly sure what I want this class to do. All I have here is a flavor. The inspiration here actually comes from Hugo Danner, The Gladiator. I'm thinking though that it might be neat to incorporate elements from other proto-superheroes into this class. Perhaps the superhuman strength could be accompanied by an emphasis on gadgets... kinda like John Carter of Mars, Spring Heeled Jack, or like Green Hornet and the classic Sandman with their knockout-gas guns.
Somehow though, this should work differently from the Artificer.

Any suggestions?

 

[Garthanos]

In 4e one of the design problems I am having and I am seeing it here too I think ... is
I cant decide sometimes if I am designing a race with a complex background and advanced feats associated or if I am designing a class which fits a race unusually well.
And which parts of the design should go in to the race and which in the background and which in the class.

your first paragraph says strength race with what I looked up saying use some sort of regenerative abilities that are impeded by lightning.

give the race the +2 with alchemy.

The artificer is a leader type for some reason I would have designed it as a controller (they dont strike me as inspiring types usually)

There is a character class on the list called the Inquisitive.. who is definitely an alchemy user and more of a striker/controller mix check it out.

 

[Garthanos]

double post.

 

[chronoplasm]

Thanks!

I think I'll start by seeing where I can go with top-down design and see if I can fit this into a role from there.

Influences...

Captain America
He gained his powers from an experimental serum. I think this might be a good place to start.
I think this class ought to be able to use shields. However, the rest of their bodies are light armored. So...

Armor Proficiency: Cloth, Leather, Hide, Shields

Hellboy
He's not enhanced with alchemy, but he does have an artifact attached to his body (his stone fist). Also, he is a martial character who uses a lot of magical items. So, Hellboy influence...

Prototype Weapon Talent:
When you wield an improvised weapon, that weapons damage die is increased by one size.
When you wield a hand crossbow or a hand gun, you gain a +1 bonus to attacks.


Maybe a better name for this class would be...


Super Hero


Hey... back in the old Chainmail game by TSR, Super Hero was a type of unit you could use. One of their features was that nearby enemies had to make morale checks. Your guy was just so powerful that you could scare enemies away.


OK, so...


Super Hero
Armor Proficiency: Cloth, Leather, Hide, Shield
Weapon Proficiency: Simple melee, Simple ranged, Military ranged
Defenses: +2 to any one of your choice.

Primary Stat: Strength
Secondary Stats: Charisma or Intelligence

Class Features:

Super Weapon Talent:
When wielding an improvised weapon, your damage die is increased by one size.
When wielding hand crossbows or hand guns, you gain a +1 bonus to attacks.

Alchemist:
You gain the alchemist feat as a bonus feat. You also get an alchemy book containing two 1st level formulas of your choice.

Super Aura:
Whenever an enemy starts its turn adjacent to you, you may make one of the following two attacks against it.

Scare Off- Super Hero Feature
At-Will. Martial, Fear
Immediate Reaction
Trigger: An enemy starts its turn adjacent to you.
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: The target is pushed one square and takes a -2 penalty to attacks until the end of your next turn.

Clever Maneuver- Super Hero Feature
At-Will. Martial
Immediate Reaction
Trigger: An enemy starts its turn adjacent to you.
Attack: Dexterity vs. Reflex
Hit: The target slides one square and falls prone.



Other Ideas...


Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Perhaps this class could feature stances that represent temporary transformations in mind and body caused by your alchemical infusion?
These stances could add additional effects to your Super Aura class feature.
This might be good for the Charisma based build.

Gun Kata
This might be a good source of inspiration for the Dexterity based build; a combination of ranged attacks and melee attacks made using ranged weapons.
See also; Equilibrium, The Matrix, Ultraviolet, Johnny Mnemonic, etc.
See also; Hellboy punching monsters and shooting them at point-blank range.


What do you think?

 

[Garthanos]

heh, humorous and imaginative I give you that... I do note the only character you are mentioning who would know or use alchemy themselves... is actually Jekyll. Captain America would translate as a Charismatic knight Shield Master who happens to have chain armor. (itty bitty links like Eladrin Chain)

 

[chronoplasm]

*edit*

Some of my ideas up there are based on using alchemy as kind of a stand-in for serums and radiation and whatnot.
It might not work though... flavorwise...

Part of my problem with designing classes is that I try to go in too many different directions at once and my ideas get a bit muddled and schizophrenic.

I need to concentrate...

I think my initial idea for a class that's based around alchemical infusion might work better as a multiclass-only class rather than a full class. You know, like spellscarred.


OK, so what do you think of this?

Prototype [MULTICLASS FEAT]
Prerequisite: Alchemist
Benefit: Whenever you are hit with an attack that has the cold, fire, or lightning keyword, you gain 1d6 temporary hit points.
Increase to 1d8 temporary hit points at 11th level.
Increase to 1d10 temporary hit points at 21st level.

...and, here's some powers to use as examples...

Jekyll and Hyde- Prototype Utility ?
Encounter. Stance, Fear
Minor Action
Effect: Whenever an enemy begins its turn adjacent to you while you are in this stance, you may push it one square.

Lead Suit- Prototype Utility ?
Encounter. Stance
Minor Action
Effect: You gain resist 10 necrotic and resist 10 radiant as long as you remain in this stance.

Tech Power- Prototype Attack ?
Daily.
Standard-Action
Close burst 1
Target: Each creature in burst.
Attack: Your highest stat vs. Reflex
Hit: Xd4 lightning damage where X is the number of magic items you have equiped.