Exterminators

[jaker2003]

[sblock=Long Post]

Cool. The harpoon mechanics might need a bit more tuning, like what if a foe readies an action to sunder the cable, and is using an adamantine weapon?

Do you allow characters to sunder incoming arrows midflight?

Ranger favored class and a NEGATIVE caster level if he takes Ranger? What's your goal here?

This was in responce to

Restrict them from any spellcasting class. Constructs shouldn't be using spells.

I kinda agree with him, but didn't want to spoil the creature with an absolute. So I imposed a half caster level penalty. This means halved damage, range, and duration for exterminator wizards and such, and that exterminator rangers and paladins have no spellcasting ability (as their caster level is equal to their caster level penalty).

How about: Focused Enmity (Su): An Exterminator's natural weapons are considered to be whatever alignment or material is necessary to penetrate the damage reduction of any of its favored enemies.
Still seems like more of a class feature than a race feature... or maybe a racial feat.

I went with adamantine fists because sundering weapons and items with bare hands is impressive, even for constructs. Also, not every creature in the MM (Monster Manual) has Damage Reduction, so while your suggestion is useful, it isn't always applicable. I figured that potential foes would be the stronger, more intelligent monsters who can augment their abilities with items, like liches or mind flayers. If it's too much of a hassle, I could pull it; It doesn't contribute much to the flavor.

It's a better Ranger than the Ranger. Does this stack with a Ranger's favored enemy bonus?
I don't like this racial feature, since it looks like a bonus class feature hidden in the race section.
How about some racial substitution levels instead?

Yes, it stacks.
I wanted it to progress with the character, so it would remain effective against its foe. Not every exterminator is going to be a ranger. Should we punish an exterminator for advancing as a fighter? That class gets so little love already.
Please remind me, what are racial substitution levels?

Hmmm... so an Undead Exterminator would have some trouble "smelling" his prey. IMHO this feature is unnecessary, and also wonky. Is this sense foiled by nondetection? How about mind blank? Does it stack or overlap with the normal favored enemy bonus to tracking?

Valid points. Exterminators would already get a bonus to track their favored enemies; I can cut this out.

Here's an idea: make the harpoon and natural slam attacks into some sort of psionic mind-blade kinda things. That allows them to be sundered, and yet still usable the next round.
You could also make him able to boost his harpoons via the Soulknife class.
Hmm, as a combo Ranger / Soulknife, he could be pretty cool.

Personally, I'm not ready for psionics, so i'm hesitant to include it in the creature concept. How about assigning AC and HP to the cable, and allow the exterminator to conjure replacements during combat?[/sblock]

 

[Land Outcast]

Personally, I'm not ready for psionics, so i'm hesitant to include it in the creature concept. How about assigning AC and HP to the cable, and allow the exterminator to conjure replacements during combat?

Just making the harpoon into mindblade-like attacks, that has little to do with psionics themselves ('tis basically what you suggested about them being "conjured")

 

[Nifft]

Just making the harpoon into mindblade-like attacks, that has little to do with psionics themselves ('tis basically what you suggested about them being "conjured")

Land Outcast has it exactly correct. The "soulknife" label was just so players would have a familiar concept for the mechanic -- it works fine without any Psionics at all, it's just a mystical bolt that he can create as a Move action, but can otherwise be Sundered, deflected, etc. just like a normal weapon.

-- N

PS: Jaker2003, do you have an abiding hate for Warforged? If not, I think this concept could be an excellent six-level Paragon Class for a Warforged. It would get a few Ranger tricks, and a few Soulknife tricks (the harpoons), and then the PC could continue as whatever he wished. It would use the fewest new mechanics, so that appeals to my sense of simplicity.

 

[jaker2003]

Jaker2003, do you have an abiding hate for Warforged? If not, I think this concept could be an excellent six-level Paragon Class for a Warforged. It would get a few Ranger tricks, and a few Soulknife tricks (the harpoons), and then the PC could continue as whatever he wished. It would use the fewest new mechanics, so that appeals to my sense of simplicity.

I'm fond of the warforged. I like the idea of changing this into a prestige class, but I'm not sure it would fit as a paragon.
[sblock=Exterminator Prestige Class]Not sure about the prerequisites.
Lvl..BAB..Fort..Ref...Will...Special
.1...+1...Good.poor.poor..Favored Enemy
.2...+2.........................Favored Enemy Sense (60 feet)
.3...+3.........................Powerful Build
.4...+4.........................Favored Enemy Sense (120 feet)
.5...+5.........................Harpoons

Favored Enemy (Ex): An exterminator is expert at dealing with a particular creature (not type) and its kin. The exterminator gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks when using these skills against their favored enemy. Likewise, she gets a +2 bonus on weapon damage rolls against creatures of this kind.

Favored Enemy Sense (Su): An exterminator can sense the presence of its favored enemy within 60 feet, even if they are hidden by darkness or walls, but cannot discern their exact location.

Powerful Build (Ex): The physical stature of exterminators lets them functions in many ways as if they were one size category larger. Whenever an exterminator is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull ruch attempts, and trip attempts), the exterminator is treated as one size category larger if doing so is advantageous to him. An exterminator is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature's special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. An exterminator can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subjects's size category.

Favored Enemy Sense (Su): The detection range extends out to a 120 feet. The exterminator may now discern direction and distance, knowing which square has its favored enemy.

Harpoons (Ex): As ranged attacks, an exterminator can fire one or two of its harpoons up to 20 feet (no range increment). The exterminator can fire at two different targets if it chooses. A successful hit deals 1d6 points of damage as the harpoon hooks the flesh of the target. The exterminator then reels in a harpoon as a free action; treat this as a trip attack against any creature attached to the harpoon. Failure indicates that the harpoon rips free (and deals another 1d6 points of damage to the victim). Success indicates that the victim is pulled off its feet and dragged back to the exterminator, who can immediately make a free attack against the victim. The harpoons automatically release at the end of the round that they are fired. An exterminator can only pull a creature smaller than itself in this manner. Attempts to retract a creature of its own size or larger automatically cause the harpoon to rip free as if the trip attack failed. The harpoon and cable have 10 hp, hardness 20, and AC of 20. If a harpoon is destroyed, the exterminator can conjure a replacement as a move action.[/sblock]Any suggestions?

 

[Nifft]

Cool. The whole idea of a Paragon is IMHO: prestige class with only racial pre-reqs, and can be taken at 1st level.

So, here goes:

Exterminator (Warforged Paragon)
HD: d10
BAB: Full
Good Save: Fort
Proficiencies: Simple weapons; Heavy armor and Shields.
Skills: 4 + Int -- Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local) (Int), Listen (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), and Use Rope (Dex).

1/ Favored Enemy +2
2/ Favored Enemy Sense (60 ft.), Extra Slam
3/ Str +2, Energy Harpoon
4/ Powerful Build, Penetrate Enemy
5/ Favored Enemy +4, Favored Enemy Sense (120 ft.)
6/ Str +2, Twin Harpoons

Favored Enemy: If you do not have a Favored Enemy, you gain one. If you do have a favored enemy, your existing bonus improves by the indicated amount. (If you have more than one, choose one.) At 5th level, the bonus to your chosen favored enemy increases to +4.

Favored Enemy Sense / Improved Favored Enemy Sense (Su): (as above)

Extra Slam (Ex): You can make two Slam attacks as a full attack action.

Energy Harpoon (Su): As a Move action, you can conjure an energy harpoon which is identical to a javelin except as noted here. Energy harpoons dissipate one round after they leave your grasp.
Your energy harpoon penetrates DR as a magic weapon.
Your energy harpoon has a range of 20 ft. (no range increment).
If you hit a foe your size or smaller, you may elect to reel him in before the energy harpoon dissipates. Make a Trip check. If you succeed, your foe moves 10 ft. towards you, provoking AoOs normally. If you fail, your foe can attempt to counter-trip you, which could render you prone.
Any spell or magic item which augments or benefits your slam attacks likewise augments or benefits your energy harpoons.
At 6th level, you can conjure and fire two energy harpoons as a full attack action.

Powerful Build (Ex): ...

Penetrate Enemy (Su): Your slam attacks penetrate one kind of DR which is commonly associated with your Favored Enemy. Choose from: Silver, Cold Iron, Adamantine, Evil, Good, Chaos, Law.


How's that look? I'm a bit worried about the Strength bonus, but compared to a Ranger, he loses a lot of Feats. (Same compared to a Fighter.)

Hmm... -- N

 

[jaker2003]

It looks good, but what if they are in an antimagic field?
That's a main reason I wanted the Harpoons as an (Ex) ability.
Maybe make the harpoons a feat, like the armor types?
I dunno.

 

[Nifft]

It looks good, but what if they are in an antimagic field?
That's a main reason I wanted the Harpoons as an (Ex) ability.

I just have trouble seeing "conjure" as an (Ex) kinda ability.

Also, an antimagic field is a 10 ft. radius spell, so he could just take a 5 ft. step (at most) and kill the guy who cast it.

-- N