D20 classes help

[escaflowne777]

Heya, working on a scifi homebrew and I just finished my ranged class and melee class, and was wondering if you people could look em over real quick, see if they're even semi balanced or not. Any help would be appreciated thanks!!!!

 

[ValhallaGH]

Heya, working on a scifi homebrew and I just finished my ranged class and melee class, and was wondering if you people could look em over real quick, see if they're even semi balanced or not. Any help would be appreciated thanks!!!!

Wow. Both are fairly boring and the Ranger is also weak.
The D&D-style proficiencies help, keeping the character from wasting too many feats on proficiency.

The Striker's Blitz is really good, good enough that I don't mind (too much) giving up all talents. Super-Rage, without the penalties or the Will save increase is a neat feature and one I like. The classes automatic feats are too few and should already be taken by the time the class grants them (Power Attack and Cleave at first level are no-brainers).

The Ranger's Deadeye Shot is meh. His feat acquisition is, again, too few and too slow (I have yet to see a shootist character that didn't have Double Tap by level 3, for example). His other class features are bland to alright.

What gets kind of sick is a multi-class Striker/Ranger that uses his Greater Blitz and Deadeye Shot to get another +5 to his Double Tap damage (example: 3d8+5+X = 18.5+X average, and should force a Massive Damage Save).

 

[escaflowne777]

Wow thank you for the feed back!!!! I struggled with the feats as I should give them earlier, but then i have nothing to give the classes later on. Also the guns will do way more damage than melee weapons of coarse, so hence why ranger is a tad weaker than striker. what other suggestions do people have? what could i add to improve?

 

[ValhallaGH]

Do you have the core rules?

I like your idea of a base ability that defines the classes. That's cool. What I'd advise is putting together lists of selectable abilities, like the talents in the core d20 modern rules (only, ones that don't suck). Most should only be able to be taken once, that way they can be extremely cool.

So Blitz could get a few trees: Close Combat, Fast Mover, Unbreakable, Champion, and Vid Star.
Close Combat talents emphasize melee combat (+2 melee damage, +1 to melee attacks, improved unarmed damage, +2dX on melee critical hits, improved critical, etc).
Fast Mover talents emphasize speed, using cover, and closing with the enemy (+10 ft speed, charge at angles, +20 ft charge speed, +2 attack / defense when charging, x2 damage when charging, etc).
Unbreakable talents emphasize durability and willpower (+1 DR per, energy resistance, evasion-like ability for Fortitude, evasion-like ability for Will, bonus hp equal to class level, +5 bonus on MDT saves, etc).
Champion talents would be more mystical, kind of like D&D paladin powers. (+X to saves, SR 5 + Class level + Charisma, +10 vs fear and +4 to allies, don't auto-fail on natural 1, etc).
Vid Star talents are for those Blitz characters that are celebrities, granting both social and action benefits. (+X to interaction checks, +X to stuff done in front of an audience, etc).

Then do something similar for the Ranger: Sniper Shot, Close Quarters Shooting, Quick Draw Artist, Exhibition Shooter, Zen Shooter.
Sniper Shot is all about long range, aimed fire.
Close Quarters Shooting is about gunfire in people's faces. The high end would be some kind of gun-fu.
Quick Draw Artist is a reactive shooter, good for duels (think Old West) or reacting when surprised. Emphasize drawing, firing, and holstering for each shot.
Exhibition Shooter is the Ranger version of Vid Star; a performance shootists, best when "on stage", with a few benefits from his reputation.
Zen Shooter is somewhat mystical, pulling some inspiration (if not mechanics) off the Arcane Archer prestige class.


Good luck.