Cloudgatherer
First Post
Those of you not familiar with the concept, check it out in this thread: http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12113
Whether you are familiar with the Lone Wolf books or not, I'd like to see what people think of a possible core class. I have not done the full write up with descriptions, but I've put together some game stats.
Also, if you have your own versions, feel free to post them.
Kai Lord
Abbreviation: Kai
Notes: While not a perfect adaptation of Joe Dever’s Kai Lord as presented in his books, this is a version relatively closely balanced to the Dungeon and Dragons 3rd Edition core classes. An unmodified Kai Lord, one adapted directly from the books, in my opinion would be grossly overpowered compared to the core classes.
Adventures: A Kai Lord adventures out of necessity or request, never out of greed or desire for power. Kai Lords are often looked upon for leadership due to their versatility, extensive training, and traditional roles as protectors.
Characteristics: Kai Lords train their personal energy, gaining additional abilities as they learn more about themselves and their limits. In addition to their combat skills, Kai Lords train their minds and survival skills in order to survive in extreme circumstances.
Kai Lords receive their training from monasteries or a similar order. Kai Lords are still considered initiates until 6th level, when they are considered full-fledged Kai Lords. At 10th level, a Kai Lord achieves the title of Master, and is capable of passing on her knowledge to students as well as starting down the path of the Magnakai. Upon reaching 20th level, a Kai Lord achieves the rank of Kai Grand Master, which there are very few, if any, alive at any one time.
Kai Lords are given titles based upon their abilities as follows:
1st level: Novice
2nd level: Intuite
3rd level: Doan
4th level: Acolyte
5th level: Initiate
6th level: Aspirant
7th level: Guardian
8th level: Warmarn or Journeyman
9th level: Savant
10th level: Master
11th level: Kai Master
12th level: Kai Master Senior
13th level: Kai Master Superior
14th level: Primate
15th level: Tutelary
16th level: Principalin
17th level: Mentora
18th level: Scion-kai
19th level: Archmaster
20th level: Kai Grand Master
Alignment: Kai Lords are of Lawful Good or Nuetral Good alignment. Candidates of different alignments are rejected when requesting training as a Kai Lord, typically through a test of character. Through the tests of character and a long-standing tradition, Kai Lords possess a reputation for helping those in need of their skills.
Religion: Kai Lords do not have an established religion or draw their powers from a specific deity. They are closer to monks in their beliefs on religion: as an order they do not worship a particular god, but saying a prayer to good gods is a common practice.
Background: Kai Lords receive extensive training and are put through a careful selection process by Kai Masters. During their training, they often play some dangerous, combat oriented games along with exercising their mental powers. A Kai Lord is considered an initiate until she learns her 6th discipline, after which a Kai Lord is considered capable of carrying out important assignments, leading men in battle, and serving a lord to benefit a kingdom.
Races: Kai Lords are, by tradition, exclusively human.
Other Classes: Kai Lords are by nature independent. They have an array of talents, and can compliment a number of other classes. Their combat skills work well with fighters, and other melee characters. Additionally, Kai Lords are good protectors of spellcasters and more than capable of undertaking stealth operations with rogues and monks. A Kai Lord often lacks the specialization of her fellow adventurers, but her flexibility makes her a valuable asset to any party.
Game Rule Information
Kai Lords have the following game statistics.
Abilities: Kai Lords depend upon their fighting abilities and mental powers. Strength is an essential combat stat and Dexterity allows a Kai Lord to evade her enemies’ attacks. To enhance the power of her mental attacks, a Kai Lord needs a good Charisma to impose her will against others.
Alignment: Lawful Good or Neutral Good
Hit Die: d8
Starting Gold: 4d4 x 10 gold pieces
Class Skills
The Kai Lord’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Intuit Direction (Wis), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str) and Wilderness Lore (Wis).
Skill points at 1st Level: (4 + Intelligence modifier) x 4
Skill points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Intelligence modifier
Level Base Attack Bonus Fortitude Save Reflex Save Will Save Special
1 +0 +2 +0 +0 Kai Discipline
2 +1 +3 +0 +0 Kai Discipline
3 +2 +3 +1 +1 Kai Discipline
4 +3 +4 +1 +1 Kai Discipline
5 +3 +4 +1 +1 Kai Discipline
6 +4 +5 +2 +2 Kai Discipline
7 +5 +5 +2 +2 Kai Discipline
8 +6/+1 +6 +2 +2 Kai Discipline
9 +6/+1 +6 +3 +3 Kai Discipline
10 +7/+2 +7 +3 +3 Kai Discipline
11 +8/+3 +7 +3 +3 Magnakai Discipline
12 +9/+4 +8 +4 +4 Magnakai Discipline
13 +9/+4 +8 +4 +4 Magnakai Discipline
14 +10/+5 +9 +4 +4 Magnakai Discipline
15 +11/+6/+1 +9 +5 +5 Magnakai Discipline
16 +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +5 Magnakai Discipline
17 +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +5 Magnakai Discipline
18 +13/+8/+3 +11 +6 +6 Magnakai Discipline
19 +14/+9/+4 +11 +6 +6 Magnakai Discipline
20 +15/+10/+5 +12 +6 +6 Magnakai Discipline
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Kai Lord.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Kai Lord is proficient with all simple and martial weapons as well as light, medium armor and shields.
All spells and spell like abilities have a caster level of half the Kai Lord’s level and a DC of 10 + spell level + Charisma bonus.
From levels 1-10, a Kai Lord selects a Kai Discipline. Each discipline is unique and can be selected only once.
Kai Disciplines
Animal Kinship: The Kai Lord gains Animal Empathy as a class skill. When selecting this discipline, the Kai Lord is granted 1 free rank in the skill, but this does not allow her to exceed her maximum ranks for a skill.
Camouflage: The Kai Lord gains a +1 bonus to Disguise, Hide, and Move Silently checks.
Healing (Sp): The Kai Lord can heal 1 hit point per level per day. She can use this healing in any amount she chooses and can heal others as well. Additionally, this ability can be used to damage undead. To use this ability, the Kai Lord must simply use her will to heal herself, or be able to touch the one she is healing.
Hunting (Su): The Kai Lord gains a +1 bonus to Wilderness Lore checks and a +1 bonus to Reflex saves.
Mindblast (Su): When engaging in melee combat, a Kai Lord can focus her mind against her opponent. As a free action, the Kai Lord can attack her opponent’s mind (Will save DC of 10 + half level + Cha bonus). Opponents who fail their saving throw grant the Kai Lord a +1 attack bonus against them for the duration of the battle. Those who succeed cannot be affected by another Mindblast attack for the rest of the combat. This is a mind-affecting ability that can only be used against an opponent the Kai Lord is making a melee attack against. Mindblast does not work on creatures that do not have minds, such as constructs, mindless undead, or creatures with Intelligence scores of 3 or lower.
Mindshield (Ex): Kai Lords receive special mental training, and gain a +2 saving throw bonus against Enchantment [Mind-Affecting] spells. Additionally, a Kai Lord with Mindshield is immune to Mindblast.
Mind Over Matter (Sp): At will a Kai Lord can use the mage hand spell without verbal or somatic components.
Sixth Sense (Sp, Ex): A Kai Lord gains detect evil at will as a spell-like ability. In addition, the Kai Lord gains a +1 bonus on Sense Motive checks.
Tracking: A Kai Lord gains the Track feat.
Weaponskill: A Kai Lord gains the Weapon Focus feat with a weapon from the following list: dagger, spear (any), mace (any), sword (any), warhammer, bow (non-crossbow), axe (any), and quarterstaff.
From levels 11-20, a Kai Lord selects a Magnakai Discipline. Each discipline is unique and can be selected only once.
Magnakai Disciplines
Animal Control (Sp): A Kai Lord with Animal Control receives a second skill rank in Animal Empathy. This rank cannot be used to exceed the maximum ranks for a level.
Curing (Su): As the Kai Discipline Healing, but the Kai Lord can restore 2 hit points per level per day and can cure disease and cure blindness/deafness each once per week. The Magnakai Discipline of Curing replaces the Kai Discipline of Healing.
Divination (Sp): A Kai Lord with Divination can see invisible. She can turn this ability on or off as a free action and invisible creatures appear slightly transparent, making their invisibility obvious to the Kai Lord. In addition, a Kai Lord gains a +1 bonus on Sense Motive checks (for a total of +2).
Huntmastery (Ex): A Kai Lord with Huntmastery gains the Uncanny Dodge ability, using her level to determine if rogues can flank her. In addition, the Kai Lord adds 10 to her speed.
Invisibility (Sp): The Kai Lord gains a+1 bonus to Disguise, Hide, and Move Silently (for a total of +2). When being tracked by scent or body heat, the tracker must make an opposed Listen check against the Kai Lord’s Hide skill in order to detect her.
Nexus (Ex, Sp): A Kai Lord with Nexus has fire and cold resistance 5. Also, at will a Kai Lord can use telekinesis (sustained force only) with a weight limit of 25 lbs. As with Mind Over Matter, Kai Lord does not need components to use this ability.
Pathsmanship (Ex): A Kai Lord with Pathsmanship has several abilities. She gains a +1 bonus to Intuit Direction checks, gains Decipher Script as a class skill with 2 free ranks (this does not allow her to exceed the maximum ranks for a skill), and can search for traps with a DC higher than 20 in the same manner as a thief.
Psi-surge (Su): As the Kai Discipline Mindblast, except the Kai Lord gains a bonus of +2 to attack instead of +1. Psi-surge replaces Mindblast.
Psi-screen (Ex): A Kai Lord with Psi-screen gains a +2 bonus to all Will saves. In addition, a Kai Lord with Psi-screen is immune to Psi-surge.
Weaponmastery (Ex): A Kai Lord can choose to gain the Weapon Specialization feat for the weapon she choose for weaponskill, or can take another Weapon Focus feat choosing a weapon from the Weaponskill discipline list.
Lore-circles
As a Kai Master gains Magnakai disciplines, she can complete schools of training, called Lore-circles. Completing a lore-circle increases a Kai Lord’s ability, achieving an increased physical and mental state. The four lore-circles, and the disciplines that complete the lore-circle, are listed below with their benefits.
Circle of Fire (Huntmastery & Weaponmastery)
+1 bonus to attack rolls, +2 Total Hit points
Circle of Light (Animal Control & Curing)
+4 Total Hit points
Circle of Solaris (Huntmastery, Invisibility, & Pathsmanship)
+4 Total Hit points, can understand any spoken language
Circle of the Spirit (Divination, Nexus, Psi-shield, & Psi-surge)
Psi-surge bonus becomes +3, +1 to all saving throws, and +1 dodge bonus to AC
Whether you are familiar with the Lone Wolf books or not, I'd like to see what people think of a possible core class. I have not done the full write up with descriptions, but I've put together some game stats.
Also, if you have your own versions, feel free to post them.
Kai Lord
Abbreviation: Kai
Notes: While not a perfect adaptation of Joe Dever’s Kai Lord as presented in his books, this is a version relatively closely balanced to the Dungeon and Dragons 3rd Edition core classes. An unmodified Kai Lord, one adapted directly from the books, in my opinion would be grossly overpowered compared to the core classes.
Adventures: A Kai Lord adventures out of necessity or request, never out of greed or desire for power. Kai Lords are often looked upon for leadership due to their versatility, extensive training, and traditional roles as protectors.
Characteristics: Kai Lords train their personal energy, gaining additional abilities as they learn more about themselves and their limits. In addition to their combat skills, Kai Lords train their minds and survival skills in order to survive in extreme circumstances.
Kai Lords receive their training from monasteries or a similar order. Kai Lords are still considered initiates until 6th level, when they are considered full-fledged Kai Lords. At 10th level, a Kai Lord achieves the title of Master, and is capable of passing on her knowledge to students as well as starting down the path of the Magnakai. Upon reaching 20th level, a Kai Lord achieves the rank of Kai Grand Master, which there are very few, if any, alive at any one time.
Kai Lords are given titles based upon their abilities as follows:
1st level: Novice
2nd level: Intuite
3rd level: Doan
4th level: Acolyte
5th level: Initiate
6th level: Aspirant
7th level: Guardian
8th level: Warmarn or Journeyman
9th level: Savant
10th level: Master
11th level: Kai Master
12th level: Kai Master Senior
13th level: Kai Master Superior
14th level: Primate
15th level: Tutelary
16th level: Principalin
17th level: Mentora
18th level: Scion-kai
19th level: Archmaster
20th level: Kai Grand Master
Alignment: Kai Lords are of Lawful Good or Nuetral Good alignment. Candidates of different alignments are rejected when requesting training as a Kai Lord, typically through a test of character. Through the tests of character and a long-standing tradition, Kai Lords possess a reputation for helping those in need of their skills.
Religion: Kai Lords do not have an established religion or draw their powers from a specific deity. They are closer to monks in their beliefs on religion: as an order they do not worship a particular god, but saying a prayer to good gods is a common practice.
Background: Kai Lords receive extensive training and are put through a careful selection process by Kai Masters. During their training, they often play some dangerous, combat oriented games along with exercising their mental powers. A Kai Lord is considered an initiate until she learns her 6th discipline, after which a Kai Lord is considered capable of carrying out important assignments, leading men in battle, and serving a lord to benefit a kingdom.
Races: Kai Lords are, by tradition, exclusively human.
Other Classes: Kai Lords are by nature independent. They have an array of talents, and can compliment a number of other classes. Their combat skills work well with fighters, and other melee characters. Additionally, Kai Lords are good protectors of spellcasters and more than capable of undertaking stealth operations with rogues and monks. A Kai Lord often lacks the specialization of her fellow adventurers, but her flexibility makes her a valuable asset to any party.
Game Rule Information
Kai Lords have the following game statistics.
Abilities: Kai Lords depend upon their fighting abilities and mental powers. Strength is an essential combat stat and Dexterity allows a Kai Lord to evade her enemies’ attacks. To enhance the power of her mental attacks, a Kai Lord needs a good Charisma to impose her will against others.
Alignment: Lawful Good or Neutral Good
Hit Die: d8
Starting Gold: 4d4 x 10 gold pieces
Class Skills
The Kai Lord’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Intuit Direction (Wis), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str) and Wilderness Lore (Wis).
Skill points at 1st Level: (4 + Intelligence modifier) x 4
Skill points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Intelligence modifier
Level Base Attack Bonus Fortitude Save Reflex Save Will Save Special
1 +0 +2 +0 +0 Kai Discipline
2 +1 +3 +0 +0 Kai Discipline
3 +2 +3 +1 +1 Kai Discipline
4 +3 +4 +1 +1 Kai Discipline
5 +3 +4 +1 +1 Kai Discipline
6 +4 +5 +2 +2 Kai Discipline
7 +5 +5 +2 +2 Kai Discipline
8 +6/+1 +6 +2 +2 Kai Discipline
9 +6/+1 +6 +3 +3 Kai Discipline
10 +7/+2 +7 +3 +3 Kai Discipline
11 +8/+3 +7 +3 +3 Magnakai Discipline
12 +9/+4 +8 +4 +4 Magnakai Discipline
13 +9/+4 +8 +4 +4 Magnakai Discipline
14 +10/+5 +9 +4 +4 Magnakai Discipline
15 +11/+6/+1 +9 +5 +5 Magnakai Discipline
16 +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +5 Magnakai Discipline
17 +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +5 Magnakai Discipline
18 +13/+8/+3 +11 +6 +6 Magnakai Discipline
19 +14/+9/+4 +11 +6 +6 Magnakai Discipline
20 +15/+10/+5 +12 +6 +6 Magnakai Discipline
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Kai Lord.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Kai Lord is proficient with all simple and martial weapons as well as light, medium armor and shields.
All spells and spell like abilities have a caster level of half the Kai Lord’s level and a DC of 10 + spell level + Charisma bonus.
From levels 1-10, a Kai Lord selects a Kai Discipline. Each discipline is unique and can be selected only once.
Kai Disciplines
Animal Kinship: The Kai Lord gains Animal Empathy as a class skill. When selecting this discipline, the Kai Lord is granted 1 free rank in the skill, but this does not allow her to exceed her maximum ranks for a skill.
Camouflage: The Kai Lord gains a +1 bonus to Disguise, Hide, and Move Silently checks.
Healing (Sp): The Kai Lord can heal 1 hit point per level per day. She can use this healing in any amount she chooses and can heal others as well. Additionally, this ability can be used to damage undead. To use this ability, the Kai Lord must simply use her will to heal herself, or be able to touch the one she is healing.
Hunting (Su): The Kai Lord gains a +1 bonus to Wilderness Lore checks and a +1 bonus to Reflex saves.
Mindblast (Su): When engaging in melee combat, a Kai Lord can focus her mind against her opponent. As a free action, the Kai Lord can attack her opponent’s mind (Will save DC of 10 + half level + Cha bonus). Opponents who fail their saving throw grant the Kai Lord a +1 attack bonus against them for the duration of the battle. Those who succeed cannot be affected by another Mindblast attack for the rest of the combat. This is a mind-affecting ability that can only be used against an opponent the Kai Lord is making a melee attack against. Mindblast does not work on creatures that do not have minds, such as constructs, mindless undead, or creatures with Intelligence scores of 3 or lower.
Mindshield (Ex): Kai Lords receive special mental training, and gain a +2 saving throw bonus against Enchantment [Mind-Affecting] spells. Additionally, a Kai Lord with Mindshield is immune to Mindblast.
Mind Over Matter (Sp): At will a Kai Lord can use the mage hand spell without verbal or somatic components.
Sixth Sense (Sp, Ex): A Kai Lord gains detect evil at will as a spell-like ability. In addition, the Kai Lord gains a +1 bonus on Sense Motive checks.
Tracking: A Kai Lord gains the Track feat.
Weaponskill: A Kai Lord gains the Weapon Focus feat with a weapon from the following list: dagger, spear (any), mace (any), sword (any), warhammer, bow (non-crossbow), axe (any), and quarterstaff.
From levels 11-20, a Kai Lord selects a Magnakai Discipline. Each discipline is unique and can be selected only once.
Magnakai Disciplines
Animal Control (Sp): A Kai Lord with Animal Control receives a second skill rank in Animal Empathy. This rank cannot be used to exceed the maximum ranks for a level.
Curing (Su): As the Kai Discipline Healing, but the Kai Lord can restore 2 hit points per level per day and can cure disease and cure blindness/deafness each once per week. The Magnakai Discipline of Curing replaces the Kai Discipline of Healing.
Divination (Sp): A Kai Lord with Divination can see invisible. She can turn this ability on or off as a free action and invisible creatures appear slightly transparent, making their invisibility obvious to the Kai Lord. In addition, a Kai Lord gains a +1 bonus on Sense Motive checks (for a total of +2).
Huntmastery (Ex): A Kai Lord with Huntmastery gains the Uncanny Dodge ability, using her level to determine if rogues can flank her. In addition, the Kai Lord adds 10 to her speed.
Invisibility (Sp): The Kai Lord gains a+1 bonus to Disguise, Hide, and Move Silently (for a total of +2). When being tracked by scent or body heat, the tracker must make an opposed Listen check against the Kai Lord’s Hide skill in order to detect her.
Nexus (Ex, Sp): A Kai Lord with Nexus has fire and cold resistance 5. Also, at will a Kai Lord can use telekinesis (sustained force only) with a weight limit of 25 lbs. As with Mind Over Matter, Kai Lord does not need components to use this ability.
Pathsmanship (Ex): A Kai Lord with Pathsmanship has several abilities. She gains a +1 bonus to Intuit Direction checks, gains Decipher Script as a class skill with 2 free ranks (this does not allow her to exceed the maximum ranks for a skill), and can search for traps with a DC higher than 20 in the same manner as a thief.
Psi-surge (Su): As the Kai Discipline Mindblast, except the Kai Lord gains a bonus of +2 to attack instead of +1. Psi-surge replaces Mindblast.
Psi-screen (Ex): A Kai Lord with Psi-screen gains a +2 bonus to all Will saves. In addition, a Kai Lord with Psi-screen is immune to Psi-surge.
Weaponmastery (Ex): A Kai Lord can choose to gain the Weapon Specialization feat for the weapon she choose for weaponskill, or can take another Weapon Focus feat choosing a weapon from the Weaponskill discipline list.
Lore-circles
As a Kai Master gains Magnakai disciplines, she can complete schools of training, called Lore-circles. Completing a lore-circle increases a Kai Lord’s ability, achieving an increased physical and mental state. The four lore-circles, and the disciplines that complete the lore-circle, are listed below with their benefits.
Circle of Fire (Huntmastery & Weaponmastery)
+1 bonus to attack rolls, +2 Total Hit points
Circle of Light (Animal Control & Curing)
+4 Total Hit points
Circle of Solaris (Huntmastery, Invisibility, & Pathsmanship)
+4 Total Hit points, can understand any spoken language
Circle of the Spirit (Divination, Nexus, Psi-shield, & Psi-surge)
Psi-surge bonus becomes +3, +1 to all saving throws, and +1 dodge bonus to AC
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