Knowledge is Power (Help me define a Champion of Learning)

[Sammael]

I'm posting this in General, rather than House Rules, because I'm looking for inspiration and flavor, rather than specific rules.

In my homebrew d20 revision, I have a class called "Champion." Basically, the Champion is a paladin without alignment restrictions and not tied to a specific deity.

At 1st level, the Champion chooses two Causes; all his abilities are linked to these Causes and fueled by the strength of Champion's beliefs. Current list of causes includes Chaos, Entropy, Freedom, Justice, Life, Nature, Order, Peace, Suffering, Trickery, Truth, Tyranny, Vengeance, and War.

The Champion receives two types of abilities: auras and pledges.

Auras are always active and affect either the Champion's allies or his enemies (withing a certain radius). For example, the Suffering cause allows the Champion to project an Aura of Anguish (enemies take a penalty to physical saves and related checks); the Order cause provides and Aura of Discipline (allies receive a bonus to initiative and mental saves).

Pledges are abilities channeled through the Champion's weapon, and usually used as a part of his attack. For example, the Pledge of Unmaking (causes: Entropy, Nature) grants a bonus to damage against constructs and manufactured items. Each currently active Pledge can be expended in a Smite, which can be focused on one opponent or used as an area attack. Example: Pledge of Consuming Flames can be expended to deal additional fire damage to one target, which also catches on fire, or to produce a burning-hands-like area effect.

So... sorry about the lengthy intro, but it's sort of necessary for my question. One of my players wants to play a Champion of Knowledge and Curiosity (for those familiar with Planescape, think Society of Sensation). Since the two causes are fairly similar, I'm thinking into combining them into one called "Learning" or "Experience". The problem is, while I have a few ideas about auras and pledges related to learning, I really cannot envision the entire progression for this cause. So, I'm fishing for ideas here - I'm hoping that the collective hivemind of ENW will be able to help! Don't worry about the implementation, I'll handle that myself - just toss me some ideas.

To start with, I though about the following:

• An aura that provides a bonus to all sorts of lore checks
• An aura that provides damage resistance (allowing allies to "experience" various attacks without harm)
• An aura that provides a bonus to AC to allies (they can anticipate their enemies' moves)
• A pledge that causes targeted enemies to forget to use their abilities
• A pledge that allows the champion to "steal" an ability from his target
• A pledge that outlines the target, showing weak spots
• A pledge that grants a growing bonus when the Champion continually attacks the same creature

 

[Dandu]

You might find the 3.5 Marshal base class interesting.

 

[Nifft]

Have you had a chance to look at Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved?

There is a Champion class in there which is somewhat similar to what you're describing. You might use it as a starting point.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Obryn]

Have you had a chance to look at Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved?

There is a Champion class in there which is somewhat similar to what you're describing. You might use it as a starting point.

Cheers, -- N

This, x100.

It even has a Champion of Knowledge built into the system.

-O

 

[Ahnehnois]

Abilities related to initiative, readied actions, or attacks of opportunity/combat reactions are a good way to represent the use of knowledge and insight in combat.

Auras could do insight bonuses to saves or evasion/mettle types of improvements.

It might also be good to give an aura that causes bonuses to perception checks or true seeing types of abilities.

Favored enemy-type stuff (bonus vs X creature based on ranks in X knowledge).

 

[Sammael]

Nifft, Obryn - I must wait a while longer before I can award you guys more XP.

I did use both the Marshal class and AE Champion as sources of inspiration, but I somehow managed to completely overlook the Champion of Knowledge. I think Loresight can be turned into an aura (magic objects glow faintly when the Champion approaches, allowing allies to better perceive them?), as can Combat Insight (allies gain a bonus to damage). Defensive Insight, Blindsight, True Shield, and True Weapon can be pledges. Seems like the Champion of Knowledge (at least the AE variant) is balanced between offense and defense, which creates a twist on my concept of pledges - but I think that twist can work nicely.

 

[Mistwell]

Have you had a chance to look at Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved?

There is a Champion class in there which is somewhat similar to what you're describing. You might use it as a starting point.

Cheers, -- N

I think on a related note but more to the point, check out Monte Cook's Akashic class.

 

[Michael Brancheau]

https://gyazo.com/b55eff13c590250e9a995410548a255d Here is your champion .

 

[Eltab]

Knowledge is Power
Power Corrupts
Study Hard
Be EVIL.

This is the origin of the Fallen Paladin.