Cool Down?

[chronoplasm]

Imagine a class that, like the Psion, does not have encounter powers.
Instead, you get at-wills with an 'Exhaust X' keyword or something like that. (X is a number, like 1 or 2.)
You have an 'Exhaust' aura.
Whenever you use a power with the Exhaust X keyword, you first take damage equal to your aura, and then your aura increases by X.
If you want to use your powers safely, you have to wait for them to 'cool down'. At the beginning of each turn, your aura decreases by 1.
You also have other means of cooling off (Powers, Feats, etc.)

Some of your daily powers may reward you for increasing your Exhaust aura though. Powers like... Meltdown, or Overload. You might get bonuses to damage, or your close blasts may affect a larger area.


As far as power source goes, I'm leaning possibly toward Elemental.
I dunno, what do you guys think?

 

[fissionessence]

Even before I read your last couple lines, I was going to say it sounded like a mechanic for a fiery elemental class.

Seems like a good idea that could work. Now just write up hundreds of powers and you should be all set

~

 

[Eric Finley]

Honestly, rather than fit that idea (which is indeed quite cool) into a new power source, I'd say jack that into the Psionic power source and the rules they've already set up. It's just a class that has a very different relationship to Power Points; it starts out with none, can augment itself into negatives, suffers damage (or, IMO, conditions + damage) for using one while in the negatives, and gains 1 at the end of each turn (up to its max of zero PP).

Pyrokinetic, say? Or perhaps (esp. if it were more self-inflicted-condition heavy) Mad Psion?

 

[Dire Human]

Interesting design challenge, I'd think.

• How do you prevent a self-damaging, self-boosting class from burning through HP/Surges too quickly?
• Is a damaging aura a detriment, or a feature? Will it damage allies enough to equal out the damage to enemies? If not, which way does the balance need to swing?
• If the damaging aura is too harmful to you and your allies, what would make this class playable or desirable?
• If the damaging aura is a viable damage source against enemies/deterrent against attack, how does one prevent "bloodclaw syndrome"? I.E., why ever be at anything less than maximum burn for maximum damage?

Perhaps do something like the Sorcerer: give the class a "favored damage type" that the aura and a ranged-basic at-will always deals. For extra points, sync it up with a Tiefling's resist/Dragonborn's breath/Genasi's manifestation for bonuses.

Wait, is this class a Striker at all? A damaging aura would be the perfect defense for a ranged Controller or Leader.

Just a few thoughts.