i need some help making a class

[Pinhead45]

im working on a class that focuses on vermin. Rats, spiders, wasps, all of them. but so far the only abilities i have benn able to come up with are.

Handle vermin: allows the character to use the handle animal skill on vermin.

Vermin empathy: the character adds his class level+Cha mod to influance the attitude of vermin.

i havent been able to come up with any other ideas though. any suggestions and ideas would be awesome

 

[FrostedMini1337]

DR to swarm based damage.

Immunity to disease.

The ability to make some sort of check(Vermind Empathy most likely) to actually form a swarm in a non magical manner. For example: by spening 50 GP per hitdie worth swarm he wishes to summon. This represents select pieces of carrion and various lures he uses to attract the swarm. The ritual takes 3 hours per hitdie to be attracted. The swarm is in no way under his control when and if it arrives.

The ability to let swarms "swarm" him granting him bonus AC, and the ability to make them attack.

Animal Growth a limited number of times per day but only effect vermin.

The ability (and a bonus) to hide vermin on his body.

Gaining natural bite or claw attacks that carry disease.

The ability to sense what vermin sense. To use them as scouts and whatnot.

 

[Shades of Green]

Is this class a Conjourer specializing in vermin? A Druid specializing in vermin? Or a Cleric of the God of Vermin (or of Disease or of Filth or of The Sewers)? Or is he a Rogue with vermin-related abilities (think Rat shaman from Shadowrun)?

I'd add Shapeshift into Vermin (great for spying in natural size, and later on you'd want to shapeshift into giant/dire versions of these vermin ) and Control Vermin on higher levels; immunity (or resistance?) to poison and disease would also fit well with this class.

I was thinking lately of a wizard NPC who is fascinated by cockroaches (and other insects, to a lesser degree); she'd probably have uniqe spells, or her own versions to PHB spells, and maybe even access to Insect Swarm and Insect Plague instead of higher-level combat spells, not to mention Mage Armor looking like an exoskeleton and Fly giving her (temporary) cockroach-style wings. She'd also, probably develop spells to converse with insects.

 

[Pinhead45]

thanx for the ideas they could really help , i want to make a class that is pretty close to a rogue with vermin related abilities. but i dont really know about the shape shifting. not really what i want. this class is more like an outcast who found companionship in vermin instead of animals. anymore ideas would be welcome though

 

[Nifft]

Is this for an Evil character, or a not-so-evil one?

I've got a Vile Vermin guy here: http://enworld.org/showpost.php?p=1647324&postcount=46

(You could probably adapt the abilities to someone less vile than all that. )

-- N

 

[Kafkonia]

A few points:

In d20, the term "vermin" doesn't apply to rats and such -- only to bugs, colloquially speaking. So I'd be careful about terminology here.

As for abilities, I would look at something between ranger and rogue. The favoured enemy from rangers, applying to vermin only, would work. Perhaps a gradual bonus to reflex and/or fortitude saves to represent the surprising survivability of his chosen animals. I would suggest beginning with a resistance to disease and poison, gradually building to an immunity at high levels.

 

[FrostedMini1337]

I've actually wanted to make a class like this too. Just becaus I find pheromones amazing after an episode of x-files i saw. This kid had way to much of them, and these insects would respond to subliminal urges his body was putting out.

Wild Empathy to vermin only.
Give him a little sneak. 5-7d6 at most.
Gradual increase going to immunity like the guy above me said.
Somewhere near level 7ish give him an aura of calm emotions that only works vermin. Upgrade it 14-16th to charm them instead. (pheromones woot!)
Work in the ability to let swarms "swarm" him from the other guys class. I'd make the DR a bit more gradual than going right from 4 to 10 though.
Give him the ability to actually form swarsm from smaller ones somehow. You know, he spends enough time gathering up rats to make a rat swarm.
Give him something where anytime he is in panic or trouble he can inadvertandly summon rats or swarm with a check or % chance.

All of those could be EX abilities, thus making him "magic free".

 

[dvvega]

There was a PrC in the Book of Evil Deeds that dealth with vermin (can't remember the name exactly) but they could use vermin (insects etc) to form chitin armour etc around themselves.

 

[Pinhead45]

Thanx for the ideas they really helped . well heres the class let me know what you think and if anything should change alittle. Thanx again.

Vermin Friend

The vermin friends are men and women that never really fit in, always being the outcast in school and being pushed aside by parents either because the parents were busy or because they cared for their first born more. Well these poor neglected souls soon found new companions. The insects and arachnids of the world, these souls develop a close bond with these vermin by spending time with them huddled in a forgotten corner while life goes on around them. As these people grow older most forget their childhood companions and move into the world to make a name for them. Some however remember the bugs that helped them. From the spiders that world spend time with them while they sat ignored and alone at home. To the ants that bit the bully; before he could harm them. These people become friends to all vermin and the vermin in return treat them as one of their own.

Hd: D6
Class skills: Hide, move silently, spot, listen, handle animal, knowledge, survival, open lock, pick pocket.
Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) x4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.


Level Base attack bonus Fort Ref Will Special abilities
1 +0 +2 +2 +0 Handle vermin, vermin empathy
2 +1 +3 +3 +0
3 +2 +3 +3 +1 Swarm companion
4 +3 +4 +4 +1
5 +3 +4 +4 +1 Gather swarms
6 +4 +5 +5 +2 Sneak attack +1d6
7 +5 +5 +5 +2 Calming Aura
8 +6/+1 +6 +6 +2
9 +6/+1 +6 +6 +3 Vermin spies, Sneak attack +2d6
10 +7/+2 +7 +7 +3 Vermin’s gift
11 +8/+3 +7 +7 +3
12 +9/+4 +8 +8 +4 Vermin’s gift, Sneak attack +3d6
13 +9/+4 +8 +8 +4
14 +10/+5 +9 +9 +4 Charming Aura
15 +11/+6/+1 +9 +9 +5 Vermin’s gift, Sneak attack +4d6
16 +12/+7/+2 +10 +10 +5
17 +12/+7/+2 +10 +10 +5
18 +13/+8/+3 +11 +11 +6 Army of vermin, Sneak attack +5d6
19 +14/+9/+4 +11 +11 +6
20 +15/+10/+5 +12 +12 +6





Class Abilities:
Armor And Weapon Proficiencies:
The vermin friend is proficient with all simple weapons and with light and medium armor, but not with shields.

Handle vermin: This ability allows a vermin friend to use the handle animal skill on vermin without penalty.
Vermin empathy: This ability functions exactly like wild empathy, except it is only useable on vermin

Swarm companion: the vermin Friend attracts a loyal swarm to protect, and help him. The swarm can be chosen from the following, Locust swarm, beetle swarm, or wasp swarm. This swarm grows in power with the vermin friend. See progression chart below


Level Extra HD Special abilities
1-5 1 Swarm damage +1d6
5-9 2
9-13 3 Swarm damage +2d6
13-17 4
17-20 5 Swarm damage +3d6


Gather swarms: the vermin friend can gather swarms around him. The vermin friend must spend 50gp per Hit die of the swarm he wishes to gather, this is spent on various reagents and lures. The vermin friend must make one vermin empathy check Dc 20 every 20 min, for every Hit Die of the swarm. If the vermin friend succeeds on all checks he successfully summons the swarm. This swarms not under the vermin friends control initially. The vermin friend must use other methods to control it.

Sneak Attack: A vermin friend deals an extra 1d6 points of damage when flanking and opponent or at anytime an opponent would be denied its dexterity bonus.

Calming Aura: the vermin friend radiates a strange scent, though undetectable by most creatures vermin find it soothing, all vermin within 15ft must make a will save DC 10+1/2 the vermin friends class level+ the vermin friends Con mod. Or be affected by a calm emotions effect. This is an extraordinary ability creatures with scent Gain a +5 bonus when attempting to track a vermin friend by scent

Vermin Spies: the vermin friend develops supernatural connection with the vermin of the world. By spending 20 minutes in meditation the vermin friend can see though the eyes of all vermin friendly to him. The vermin friends cannot hear only see. When the vermin friends senses are divided this way. He is considered flat-footed. It takes 3 rounds to pull back his senses, Should the vermin he is currently Spying though be killed has his senses automatically thrown back and is stunned for 1d4 rounds.

Vermin’s gift: the first time this ability is gained the vermin friend gains immunity to a swarms damage and distraction abilities. The second time the vermin friend gains immunity to poison, and the final time immunity to disease.

Charming aura: The soothing Aroma that the vermin friend exudes grows stronger, the new scent is similar to that exuded by a queen bee, all vermin within 30 ft. Must make a will save DC 10+1/2 the vermin friend’s class level+ the vermin friends Con mod. Or be affected by a Charm monster effect. This is an extraordinary ability creatures with scent Gain a +10 bonus when attempting to track a vermin friend by scent

Army of vermin: the strongest vermin friends can call upon the might of the creatures underfoot. Twice a day the vermin friend can summon either 3d6 large monstrous vermin of his choice or 6 swarms of his choice. These vermin remain for 1 hour or until slain

 

[atomn]

There's a PrC from the Underdark sourcebook called the Vermin Keeper. Although as I remember, it wasn't that great.