Onyx
First Post
I've devised a mechanism for a template in my campaign that is applied to those whom have either been subjected to 'the Void' or whom were spawned by it. While the particulars of what 'the Void' represents are setting specific (think of it as The Far Realm meets Deep Space with a flair of the dreamscape for color) what I need help with is balancing the template relative to the powers that it grants. I have used the repetitive application of the Evolved Undead template as a model for the mechanical skeleton of the template.
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CREATING A VOID SHAPER
“Void Shaper” is an acquired template that can be added to any creature with an Intelligence score (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A Void Shaper uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here. This template does not alter the creature’s type.
Note: Unlike most templates, a Void Shaper can potentially acquire this template more than once, attuning to the void more with
each application.
Armor of the Void (Su): A corporal Void Shaper gains a +1 enhancement bonus to her Natural Armor for each application of the template. An incorporeal Void Shaper gains a +1 enhancement bonus to her Deflection Bonus for each application of the template.
Special Attacks: A Void Shaper retains all the special attacks of the base creature and gains one Void Shape of her choice from
the following list. If the Void Shape possesses more than one tier, each application of that Void Shape grants access to a single tier. For example, if a Void Shaper chooses the Void Sight Void Shape she would gain access to tier (I) Low-Light Vision.
If she chose Void Sight a second time, she would retain (I) Low-Light Vision and gain (II) Darkvision 120' . If the Void Shape grants access to spell-like abilities, each maybe used once per day (unless otherwise stated) as long as the Void Shaper possesses
the prerequisite HD for that ability (see below). If the base creature already has the indicated ability, it gains another use. Void Shape spell-like abilities have a caster level equal to the Void Shaper’s HD. The save DCs are Charisma-based:
Void Shapes
Force of Nothing- (0) Mage Hand at will, (1) Mage Armor, (5) Telekinesis, (9) Wall of Force
Heart without Pretense- (1) Undetectable Alignment (self only), (3) Immunity to Fear, (5) Nondetection (self only), (11) Sequester (self only), (15) Mind Blank (self only)
Movement Void of Motion- (0) Continuous Feather Fall, (3) Fly, (9) Dimension Door, (13) Teleport, (17) Teleport, Greater
Shapes in the Void- (1) Disguise Self at will, (2) Enlarge Person, Reduce Person (self only) (3) Alter Self, (5) Polymorph (self only), (15) Shapechange
Whispers in Darkness-(0) Guidance at will (self only), (1) Augury, (4) Divination, (7) Commune, (11) Find the Path, (15) Moment of Prescience, (19) Foresight
Fill the Nothing- (0) Ghost Sounds at will, (1) Silent Image, (3) Minor Image, (5) Major Image, (7) Illusionary Wall, (9) Persistent Image, (11) Permanent Image, (13) Programmed Image
Void Magic- Gain one Metamagic Feat or Item Creation Feat that you meet the prerequisites for.
Void Sight- (I) Low-Light Vision (if you already possess this ability, you can instead see four times as far), (II) Darkvision 120' (use this or existing darkvision, which ever is greater), (III) Continuous Detect Magic, (IV) Continuous See Invisibility, (V) Continuous True Seeing
Void Sense- (I) Continuous Detect Thoughts, (II) Continuous Discern Lies (self only), (III) Detect Evil/Good/Chaos/Law (as Paladin 'Detect Evil' ability, may only use one each round)
Know Nothing- (I) +2 Wisdom, (II) +2 Wisdom, (III) +2 Wisdom
Spirit of the Void- (I) +2 Charisma, (II) +2 Charisma, (III) +2 Charisma
A Void Shaper gains the following changes upon acquiring the template.
Note: These changes are applied only once regardless of the number of template applications to the base creature.
Special Qualities: A Void Shaper retains all the special qualities of the base creature and gains the one described
below.
Fast Healing (Ex): A Void Shaper heals 3 points of damage each round so long as it has at least 1 hit point.
Void Use (Ex): A Void Shaper learns to use the emptiness the surrounds everything for her benefit. A Void Shaper gains the ability to spend Void Points. As a swift action a Void Shaper may spend a Void Point in order to gain a +2 circumstance bonus to armor class or any attack roll, skill check, or ability check until the beginning of her next turn. A Void Shaper may also spend a Void Point as an immediate action in order to gain a +2 circumstance bonus to any saving throw until the beginning of her next turn. As a free action a Void Shaper may apply the effect of any metamagic feat she knows to a spell she is casting by spending a Void Point plus an additional Void Point for each level increase in the metamagic feat she wishes to apply. A Void Shaper regains all used Void Points at dawn, but may spend an hour in mediation and attempt a Concentration check (DC 15 +1 per Void Point to recover) in order to recover all lost Void Points. A Void Shaper has a number of Void Points equal to her Wisdom modifier +1 per application of this template.
Abilities: A Void Shaper gains +4 Wisdom and +4 Charisma.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +1.
Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +2 (+1 for each additional application).
[/sblock]
As you can see, some of these abilities seem as if they're a hodgepodge of various doodads, some terribly powerful and others merely utilitarian curiosities. While creating a power-house template is no more my purpose than creating a 'pure fluff' space waster, I have crafted the template with an image or theme in mind and that is something I would like to remain somewhat loyal to. Yet, for balance sake I understand sacrifices must be made.
Any critiques?
[sblock]
CREATING A VOID SHAPER
“Void Shaper” is an acquired template that can be added to any creature with an Intelligence score (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A Void Shaper uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here. This template does not alter the creature’s type.
Note: Unlike most templates, a Void Shaper can potentially acquire this template more than once, attuning to the void more with
each application.
Armor of the Void (Su): A corporal Void Shaper gains a +1 enhancement bonus to her Natural Armor for each application of the template. An incorporeal Void Shaper gains a +1 enhancement bonus to her Deflection Bonus for each application of the template.
Special Attacks: A Void Shaper retains all the special attacks of the base creature and gains one Void Shape of her choice from
the following list. If the Void Shape possesses more than one tier, each application of that Void Shape grants access to a single tier. For example, if a Void Shaper chooses the Void Sight Void Shape she would gain access to tier (I) Low-Light Vision.
If she chose Void Sight a second time, she would retain (I) Low-Light Vision and gain (II) Darkvision 120' . If the Void Shape grants access to spell-like abilities, each maybe used once per day (unless otherwise stated) as long as the Void Shaper possesses
the prerequisite HD for that ability (see below). If the base creature already has the indicated ability, it gains another use. Void Shape spell-like abilities have a caster level equal to the Void Shaper’s HD. The save DCs are Charisma-based:
Void Shapes
Force of Nothing- (0) Mage Hand at will, (1) Mage Armor, (5) Telekinesis, (9) Wall of Force
Heart without Pretense- (1) Undetectable Alignment (self only), (3) Immunity to Fear, (5) Nondetection (self only), (11) Sequester (self only), (15) Mind Blank (self only)
Movement Void of Motion- (0) Continuous Feather Fall, (3) Fly, (9) Dimension Door, (13) Teleport, (17) Teleport, Greater
Shapes in the Void- (1) Disguise Self at will, (2) Enlarge Person, Reduce Person (self only) (3) Alter Self, (5) Polymorph (self only), (15) Shapechange
Whispers in Darkness-(0) Guidance at will (self only), (1) Augury, (4) Divination, (7) Commune, (11) Find the Path, (15) Moment of Prescience, (19) Foresight
Fill the Nothing- (0) Ghost Sounds at will, (1) Silent Image, (3) Minor Image, (5) Major Image, (7) Illusionary Wall, (9) Persistent Image, (11) Permanent Image, (13) Programmed Image
Void Magic- Gain one Metamagic Feat or Item Creation Feat that you meet the prerequisites for.
Void Sight- (I) Low-Light Vision (if you already possess this ability, you can instead see four times as far), (II) Darkvision 120' (use this or existing darkvision, which ever is greater), (III) Continuous Detect Magic, (IV) Continuous See Invisibility, (V) Continuous True Seeing
Void Sense- (I) Continuous Detect Thoughts, (II) Continuous Discern Lies (self only), (III) Detect Evil/Good/Chaos/Law (as Paladin 'Detect Evil' ability, may only use one each round)
Know Nothing- (I) +2 Wisdom, (II) +2 Wisdom, (III) +2 Wisdom
Spirit of the Void- (I) +2 Charisma, (II) +2 Charisma, (III) +2 Charisma
A Void Shaper gains the following changes upon acquiring the template.
Note: These changes are applied only once regardless of the number of template applications to the base creature.
Special Qualities: A Void Shaper retains all the special qualities of the base creature and gains the one described
below.
Fast Healing (Ex): A Void Shaper heals 3 points of damage each round so long as it has at least 1 hit point.
Void Use (Ex): A Void Shaper learns to use the emptiness the surrounds everything for her benefit. A Void Shaper gains the ability to spend Void Points. As a swift action a Void Shaper may spend a Void Point in order to gain a +2 circumstance bonus to armor class or any attack roll, skill check, or ability check until the beginning of her next turn. A Void Shaper may also spend a Void Point as an immediate action in order to gain a +2 circumstance bonus to any saving throw until the beginning of her next turn. As a free action a Void Shaper may apply the effect of any metamagic feat she knows to a spell she is casting by spending a Void Point plus an additional Void Point for each level increase in the metamagic feat she wishes to apply. A Void Shaper regains all used Void Points at dawn, but may spend an hour in mediation and attempt a Concentration check (DC 15 +1 per Void Point to recover) in order to recover all lost Void Points. A Void Shaper has a number of Void Points equal to her Wisdom modifier +1 per application of this template.
Abilities: A Void Shaper gains +4 Wisdom and +4 Charisma.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +1.
Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +2 (+1 for each additional application).
[/sblock]
As you can see, some of these abilities seem as if they're a hodgepodge of various doodads, some terribly powerful and others merely utilitarian curiosities. While creating a power-house template is no more my purpose than creating a 'pure fluff' space waster, I have crafted the template with an image or theme in mind and that is something I would like to remain somewhat loyal to. Yet, for balance sake I understand sacrifices must be made.
Any critiques?
