PrC Whale Rider - Comments suggestions?

[Tonguez]

Amongst The People of the South Seas whales are revered as lords of the ocean, children of the Sea god Tangaroa. Mortal races live in awe of the mighty beasts and are humbled by the beauty of their song.

There are some for whom the song is a lure, The Crescent Island Spellsingers are one such who learn the song of the sea and the Whale riders are another. The Whale Rider become attuned to the Song of the Whales (and their cousins the dolphins), they learn to sing the song of the whales, become companions to the whales and even learn to ride upon the mighty beasts.

Alignment Any
Hit Dice d8
BAb - as Cleric
Fort Good
Reflx ?
Will ?
Skills 4+int
Animal Empathy (Cha,exclusive skill),Concentration (Con),Intuit Direction (Wis), Knowledge (nature)(Int), Listen (Wis), Perform(Cha), Profession (Wis), Speak Language (none), Swim (Str),and Wilderness Lore (Wis)

Requirements
Skills Swim 6 ranks, Animal Empathy 8 ranks, Listen 8 Ranks
Feats Endurance
Other: The character has had an encounter with a Cetacean whilst swimming (including drowning if applicable ie was saved by a dolphin)

Abilities per Level
1 Ride Skill, Improved Swim, Hold Breath x3

2 Whale Companion, Mounted Combat,

3 Hold Breath x4, Whale Song (Listen)

4 Hold Breath x 5, Blind fight

5 Water breathing (1 hour), Whale Song (Speak)

6, Deep Diving, Song of the Sea (Rebuke)

7 Whale Call, Water breathing (1d4 hours)

8 Whale Song (Emotion), Blindsight

9 Song of the Sea (Command)

10 Aquatic nature


Ride Skill: The Whale Rider gains character level +2 ranks in this unique skill. The skill is considered a class skill and can be increased normally There are no large land animals imc and so no ‘standard’ ride skill. However this is the same skill granted as an ability

Improved Swim (new feat)– The Whale rider is able to swim at ½ their base speed as a move action or ¾ their base speed as a full round action. Additionally Whale riders do not suffer the –1 penalty for swimming underwater (but still drown as per usual if they run out of breath)

Whale Companion – The Whale Rider is able to summon a Cetacean (Whale or Dolphin) who is willing to carry the rider on its back. The cetacean has an intelligence score of at least 6 and speaks the language of the Whale song (which may or may not be aquan)

Hold Breath – A normal character is able to hold their breath for constitution x 2 rounds. A Whale Rider through constant practice is able to extend this for much longer periods (initially Con x 3 etc)

Mounted Combat – The Whale Rider can use the Mounted Combat feat whilst riding her whale/dolphin companion

Deep Diving – The Whale rider does not suffer any ill effects from deep water (either due to pressure or cold)

Blind Sight – The Whale Rider is so attuned to the sounds around her that she is able to 'see' by sound alone.

Whale Song (Listen) The Whale Rider is able to understand the song of various cetaceans (whales and dolphins etc). Whale song travels for up to a mile and is likely to have information about weather conditions, food sources, sharks and other hazards in or on the water within a 1-mile radius. The Whale Rider should make a Wis mod+ level Check vs DC 15 to determine if a required peace of information is heard in the song (use the Bardic Knowledge chart to determine results)

Whale Song (Speak) The Whale Rider has gained mastery of the language of the Whale Song and is able to ask up to 3 questions (per day) of all Cetaceans (and other listeners (eg other Whale Riders, Merfolk etc). The Whale Rider may ask and (be informed) about the weather conditions, plants, minerals, ships, seabed topography, people, general animal population, presence of marine creatures, presence of powerful unnatural creatures, or even the general state of the surrounding sea in a 1 mile radius.

Whale Call: The Whale Rider is able to call to all cetaceans in a 1-mile radius, any cetaceans in the area they will gather within 1d6 minutes and respond positively to any reasonable request

Whale Song (Emotion) – By causing subtle changes in the ambient song the Whale Rider is able to affect the emotions of all creatures able to hear her within 100ft (+10ft per level). The effects are like those of the Emotion Spell

Water breathing – The Whale rider is able to breathe underwater for 1 - 4 hours allowing them to dive to great depths

Song of the Sea - The Whale Rider can use the Whale song to command other sea animals and beasts (sharks, fish, octopi, Sea Lions etc). Initially she can only rebuke non-cetaceans, however as she gains greater understanding of the Song she also gains the ability to give basic commands to non-cetaceans. The Whale Rider must make a perform check DC 10+creature int mod to succeed

Aquatic – The Whale Rider has become an Aquatic creature as at home in The water as on land. The Character suffers no penalties wshen swimming and is able to breath water for an indefinite period of time (Add Aquatic to the Characters creature type (eg Humanoid, Aquatic)

NOTE: Alterations made as per suggestions below

 

[Crothian]

THis is a pretty cool and original prestige class.

I'd up the requirements a little. Right now it's easy to qualfy for this by 3rd level and that seems a little low. I'd up Animal Emapathy to say 8 ranks.

Hold Breath x3: So, this meanthey can hold their breath 3 times normal or 6 times constitution?

Whale Companion: I'd give some actually specifics to this like a Paladins mount table. THat way the creature can improve as the Whale Rider improves.

 

[the Jester]

Two questions- how many ranks in Ride do they get? (Is it considered maxed out or what?)

Is the sonic blast really only 1d8?

Also- what BAB and saving throw progressions do these guys have?

I really dig the idea! I may have to steal it for my campaign.

 

[Tonguez]

I'd up the requirements a little. Right now it's easy to qualfy for this by 3rd level and that seems a little low. I'd up Animal Emapathy to say 8 ranks. [/b]

Okay done. I was thinking of having another feat requirement - maybe Blind Fight what do you think?

Hold Breath x3: So, this meanthey can hold their breath 3 times normal or 6 times constitution?

I orgiginally intended it to mean Constitution x3 rounds, but now that you mention it x6 might infact be a better alternative.

Whale Companion: I'd give some actually specifics to this like a Paladins mount table. THat way the creature can improve as the Whale Rider improves.

Yeah I was going to make this a Paladin-Mount type creature but decided that since Whales are already either huge or gargantuan creatures they didn't need much extra boosting. Also Cetaceans imc already gain 2d6 Int scores (dolphins gain 3d6 and might be a playable 'race')

Originally posted by the Jester
Two questions- how many ranks in Ride do they get? (Is it considered maxed out or what?)

I hadn't considered this actually - just that the PC gains the skill as a class skill however giving them a Skill of level +2 is probably a good idea

Is the sonic blast really only 1d8?

At the moment -yes. do you think its too low? The Sound Burst spell does !d8 damage and stuns for 1 round.

NB This PrC has not been played yet but is being prepared for use in the near future so any reccomendations are welcome

Also- what BAB and saving throw progressions do these guys have?

Okay BAb and Saves as per Warrior atm, still working on this

I really dig the idea! I may have to steal it for my campaign.

Your welcome - let me know how it goes

 

[the Jester]

Well, for an 8th-level prc power, 1d8 damage is piddling. Maybe make it something like 10d8 (Ref half, DC18+con bonus) usable 3/day, or maybe only underwater.

Regarding the ride skill, keep in mind that the mounted combat ability is based on it, so you really have to have a score to roll with.

I'd say that right now these guys are a little weak, I'd give 'em ok BAB (per cleric) and make both Fort and Ref good saves. I'd up the damage on the sonic blast as I noted.

I'd also increase the prereqs a little- maybe drop Alertness in favor of 6 ranks in Listen (a precursor to the blindsight ability), make it 6 ranks of Swim (keep Animal Empathy at 8, though)... something like that. I don't see Alertness as being all that vital to these guys, personally, but I really like using Endurance as a prereq- it only makes sense here. You could also require the ability to cast speak with animals... or else require that the character has spoken with a cetacean before, even if with a potion or something?

Just a few thoughts...

 

[Krug]

Why not link Water Breathing to class levels, rather than 1-4 hours?

Make Whale Song - speak the equivalent of a Commune With Nature usable once per day. Make Whale Song - sonic blast have a fear effect rather than damage.

Was this PrC based on a movie? Winner at the Toronto Film Fest I believe.

 

[Tonguez]

Well, for an 8th-level prc power, 1d8 damage is piddling. Maybe make it something like 10d8 (Ref half, DC18+con bonus) usable 3/day, or maybe only underwater.

Yeah I see what you mean although I tend not to like PrCs because they are too powerful! Anyway I've decided to drop the Sonic blast as per Krugs suggestion and replace it with an 'Emotion' like effect

Regarding the ride skill, keep in mind that the mounted combat ability is based on it, so you really have to have a score to roll with.

Yes so do you think character level +2 is fair? (ie a 6th level fighter gaining this PrC would get a Ride Skill 8 ranks)

I'd say that right now these guys are a little weak, I'd give 'em ok BAB (per cleric) and make both Fort and Ref good saves.

Cleric Bab, Good Fort and Ref we can do (although I was thinking of giving them a Good Will (being attuned to the WhaleSong and all)

I'd also increase the prereqs a little- maybe drop Alertness in favor of 6 ranks in Listen (a precursor to the blindsight ability), make it 6 ranks of Swim (keep Animal Empathy at 8, though)... something like that. I don't see Alertness as being all that vital to these guys, personally, but I really like using Endurance as a prereq- it only makes sense here.

Sounds reasonable. I tend to view Alertness as the default 'enhanced senses' feat but a listen requirement instead works too (so done)

You could also require the ability to cast speak with animals... or else require that the character has spoken with a cetacean before, even if with a potion or something?

I don't want to limit this PrCs to those able to cast spells (I actually intend to use it for a Fighter/Rogue NPC) however I would the requirement of having 'Encountered' a Cetacean in the water be adequate (which considering that my campaign is island based isn't too difficult)

Originally posted by Krug
Why not link Water Breathing to class levels, rather than 1-4 hours?

so level 5 = 1hr, Lv6=2hrs, Lv7=3hrs type thing? Its probably just because I like to randomise things but that would work too (I'll think about this though)

Make Whale Song - speak the equivalent of a Commune With Nature usable once per day.

So the Whale Rider asks the questions and gets the answers according to the spell (but applicable to marine enviroments not woodlands!)? - cool done

Make Whale Song - sonic blast have a fear effect rather than damage.

I've decided to make this an Emotion Spell-like effect 1 per day

Was this PrC based on a movie? Winner at the Toronto Film Fest I believe.

Not based on the Movie but on the same mythology (ie that of East Coast Maori in New Zealand) I've not seen the Movie but have skimmed through the book

Actually the concept of the Whale Rider is a motif in Polyneisan Myth and links to Tinirau (a brother-in-law of Maui) a legendary hero considered to be 'Lord of the Fishes' He had two sons who were whales and whom he sometimes rode on.