Improving the Expert?

[randomling]

Strange idea I had recently.

I want to improve the NPC Expert class to make it comparable in power to a PC class (maybe giving the high-powered version of the class a different name). But I want to keep the non-combat-oriented theme of the class. Keeping in mind that the PC classes are the elite of the population - the best soldiers, singers, priests, etc - I would want the Expert to be a consummate professional. A Nobel-winning doctor, an Olympic athelte, a world-leading politician...

I've got a few ideas on how to do this. For instance, I might have a feat progression like a fighter's with skill-related feats. (Except that would require writing a whole bunch of new feats.) Or a 'favoured skillset', like a ranger's favoured enemy ability. And 8 skill points/level instead of 6.

Does anyone have any ideas? Or thoughts?

 

[Crothian]

Experts cover so many different areas it mighjt be hard to get one class to cover them all and have a decent amount of power. I would up the skill points and all class skills to be chosen. Bonus feats aren't bad and one could keep them simple by created feats like skill focus that can be applied to any skill. One could create a feat that allows one to take 10, or perform a skill faster.

 

[randomling]

Experts cover so many different areas it mighjt be hard to get one class to cover them all and have a decent amount of power. I would up the skill points and all class skills to be chosen. Bonus feats aren't bad and one could keep them simple by created feats like skill focus that can be applied to any skill. One could create a feat that allows one to take 10, or perform a skill faster.

Yeah, I see your point. But I think it's doable.

I'm also thinking of lists of bonus special abilities - like rogues get to choose Crippling Strike or whatever else it is. Some might be reputation-based (like having a reputation for being nice, which gives you +4 on Diplomacy but -2 on Intimidate), others... hm, I'm still thinking.

Confession: this all comes from me having tried to do stats for the West Wing characters and thinking the Expert class didn't do them justice. They're heroes, but they don't fight: hence PC-worthy Exoert class?

I'm a geek, huh?

 

[drdevoid]

Tech Specialist

You could try hacking the Tech Specialist PC class from the revised SW handbook. That might be easier to play with than rehauling the expert class.

 

[randomling]

Re: Tech Specialist

You could try hacking the Tech Specialist PC class from the revised SW handbook. That might be easier to play with than rehauling the expert class.

The what from the where?

I don't own a lot of books.... not enough money. Hoping Christmas is going to rectify this!

 

[Crothian]

He's talking about the revised Star Wars book.

Okay, so we are trying to come up with something that fits the characters of the West Wing. All those guys are beyond smart, so skill points should not be a problem but with the wide range of knowledges they have we might still need more then normal. So, what if we give 8 skill points a level, have all knowledges class skills, and then they might get a class bonus on certain skills that go along with the particuliar expertise.

 

[randomling]

He's talking about the revised Star Wars book.

Okay, so we are trying to come up with something that fits the characters of the West Wing. All those guys are beyond smart, so skill points should not be a problem but with the wide range of knowledges they have we might still need more then normal. So, what if we give 8 skill points a level, have all knowledges class skills, and then they might get a class bonus on certain skills that go along with the particuliar expertise.

Ah. I don't play Star Wars so that explains why that eluded me...

I definitely go with 8 skill points. But (just to diverge from the Expert class a little) they'd have horrible attack bonuses and hit points. Can you imagine any of these people surviving 10 seconds in a fight? LOL!

All knowledge skills are class skills. We definitely have new knowledge skills - like law, media, political procedure, etc.

Other necessary class skills for politicians:
Bluff, Sense Motive, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Perform.

All this sounds good, now I need to think...

 

[Hollywood]

All this sounds good, now I need to think...

Try my Journeyman class that was posted in this forum. At very laest you can use it to map out an expert class thats balanced and go from there.

 

[drdevoid]

Here's a very rough idea, I just threw together the last two abilities. It's a really hacked version of the D20 Star Wars Revised Core Rulebook's Tech Specialist PC class.

-BAB: Bad
-Will: Good
-Reflex: Bad
-Fortitude: Bad
-HD: d4
-Skill Points: 8 + Int
-Pick any 10 skills and make them class skills
-Bonus feats/abilities every four levels:
Skill Focus, Instant Mastery (from the Loremaster PrC and the SW Tech Specialist PC class), Research*, Known Expert*, Grant Synergy*

*Research- The expert can add her level to any knowledge check a number of times equal to her level per day. (from D20 Star Wars Revised Core Rulebook)

*Known Expert- when speaking to those who consider you an expert in the related field, you can add your charisma modifier (if positive) to any check with this group.

*Grant Synergy (DM discretion)- pick two skills. The expert now receives a +2 bonus in the first for every 5 ranks in the second.

Does this help? Any criticisms or suggestions are appreciated. I don't begin to pretend that I think this is balanced.

 

[Tiama'at]

Does anyone have any ideas? Or thoughts?

What I did:
Free feats slots (1 per 3 levels I believe) from the following list: Skill Focus, Greater Skill Focus, Epic Skill Focus (I made my own, grants +8 to skill roll), and Skill-related feats. MUST be used linked to skills the Expert has chosen as "class" skills.

Increase Skill Cap. (+1 at 4th level, increasing by +1 per 4 levels). This allows the Expert to outpace other classes by increasing the maximum number of ranks they may have in a particular skill. Every four levels the Expert must choose to either increase the maximum skill ranks of one "class" skill. Multiple skill cap increases stack.

Rapid "Take 10" (at level 10, with Greater Take 10 at 15 and 20). Allows the expert to "Take 10" with their chosen skill as a standard action (which is later increased to a partial, then a free action). This can only affect skills which can normally "Take 10", i.e. skills that have no catastrophic failure.

I think I also increased their hit dice to d6 but don't quote me on that (my rules are at home and I can't remember if Experts normally have d6 hit dice or not).

Anyway, no one ever used the class, but it did make it pretty much a PC class.

- Ma'at