Recreating bardic lore, wild shape for Generic Classes

[joela]

From Unearthed Arcana (via d20srg.org):

You can't recreate all of the standard character classes with these generic versions, particularly classes with complicated, unique, or specialized features such as bardic music, a wizard's familiar, or a druid's wild shape ability. If your game master allows it, you might be able to select other class features in place of one or more feats.

Any ideas/suggestions on making such lore, the familiar, and wild shape as a feat available for the Generic Classes? Any other classes features that would be difficult to convert into a feat?

 

[Corvus_Obscurus]

I once converted all class features of the core classes for the generic classes, unfortunately the file is lost by now.

Basically you just have to ensure that class abilities don't become available earlier than they would become in the normal system. Skill prerequisites naturally lend themselves to that approach.

Another problematic area are class level dependent abilities like Lay on Hands. A simple solution would be to substitute class level with character level in the ability's description (or Magic Rating if the ability is of supernatural character).

Separating normal Feats from Class Features might be a good idea too (a bit like the d20 Modern Base Classes).

Hope that was helpful.

 

[Nifft]

Familiar is easy, since there's already a feat which grants one.

For Wild Shape, I'd suggest a prestige class which does NOT grant any bonus feats. 10 levels would grant (almost) full spellcasting and Wild Shape into animal forms. (Elemental shapes kick in after level 16, so IMHO level 6-16 would cover animals pretty well.)

Cheers, -- N

 

[joela]

replies

Basically you just have to ensure that class abilities don't become available earlier than they would become in the normal system. Skill prerequisites naturally lend themselves to that approach.

True. Noted that with several of the class abilities --> generic class feats. But Wildshape was such a powerful ability that I was thinking to require a spell minimum like Alter Self or even Polymorph for the higher abilities.

Another problematic area are class level dependent abilities like Lay on Hands. A simple solution would be to substitute class level with character level in the ability's description (or Magic Rating if the ability is of supernatural character).

I believe Smiting had something similar.

Separating normal Feats from Class Features might be a good idea too (a bit like the d20 Modern Base Classes).

UA did a pretty good job. Was now just trying to figure out how to do the rest.

Hope that was helpful.

Yes. Thanks!

 

[joela]

PrC

For Wild Shape, I'd suggest a prestige class which does NOT grant any bonus feats. 10 levels would grant (almost) full spellcasting and Wild Shape into animal forms. (Elemental shapes kick in after level 16, so IMHO level 6-16 would cover animals pretty well.)

Cheers, -- N

Understood, but the prerequisite would be...?

 

[Masquerade]

Familiar is easy, since there's already a feat which grants one.

For Wild Shape, I'd suggest a prestige class which does NOT grant any bonus feats. 10 levels would grant (almost) full spellcasting and Wild Shape into animal forms. (Elemental shapes kick in after level 16, so IMHO level 6-16 would cover animals pretty well.)

Cheers, -- N

It might be worth looking at the Shapeshifter PrC from the Urban Arcana web enhancement .

 

[joela]

Urban Arcana Shapeshifter PrC

It might be worth looking at the Shapeshifter PrC from the Urban Arcana web enhancement .

Nice. I like the prerequisites. Thanks!

 

[Nifft]

Understood, but the prerequisite would be...?

Let me see...

Prereqs: 7 ranks in Kn (nature) and Handle Animal, ability to cast 1st level Divine spells, the Wild Cohort feat from the WotC website, and Light armor proficiency.

Benefits:
- Full spellcasting progression (but see below)
- BAB: 3/4 (as Druid)
- Skill points: 2/level
- Saves: Good Fort and Will
- HD: d8

Specials by Level:
1: Natural Bond, Wildshape (small or medium) 1/day
2: Wildshape 2/day
3: Wildshape 3/day
4: Wildshape (large)
5: Natural Spell
6: Wildshape 4/day
7: Wildshape (tiny)
8: Wildshape (humanoid)
9: Wildshape 5/day
10: Wildshape (huge)

Natural Bond (Su): You forever lose access to the Necromancy school. Any Necromancy spells you know are immediately replaced with other spells (preferably from the Druid spell list).

Wildshape (Su): As the Druid ability, but use your character level in place of Druid level for duration and HD. Also, when you get (humanoid) wild shape, you can emulate the effect of alter self but with the duration of Wildshape.

- - -

However, thinking it over, you could probably do Wildshape as [Reserve] feats.

Wildshape [Reserve]
Prereqs: Ability to cast a 3rd level spell of the Polymorph subschool, Knowledge (nature) 8 ranks

Benefit: Choose one Small or Medium animal. You gain the Alternate Form supernatural ability with this specific animal as your alternate form. You always take the form of the same animal -- minor details do NOT vary between uses.

Additionally, choose one ability score (Str, Dex or Con) which complements this form. If your highest available Polymorph spell is higher than 3rd level, you gain a +2 bonus to the selected ability score for each extra spell level. (For example, a Bear-shaper might choose Strength. If her highest available Polymorph spell were baleful polymorph, she'd gain a +4 bonus to Strength when taking the form of a bear, because baleful polymorph is a 5th level spell.)

Special: You may take this feat multiple times, each time choosing a different specific animal.


Improved Wild Shape [Reserve]
Prereqs: Wild Shape, Ability to cast a 5th level spell of the Polymorph subschool, Knowledge (nature) 12 ranks

Benefit: Choose one Small or Medium form you know from your Wild Shape feat(s). You may now take the form of a Large animal of this type -- an advanced or Dire version, if such exists.

Special: You may take this feat multiple times, up to once per Wild Shape feat you have taken.


Tiny Wild Shape [Reserve]
Prereqs: Wild Shape, Ability to cast a 5th level spell of the Polymorph subschool, Knowledge (nature) 12 ranks

Benefit: Choose one Tiny animal. You gain the Alternate Form supernatural ability with this specific animal as your alternate form. You always take the form of the same animal -- minor details do NOT vary between uses.

Special: You may take this feat multiple times, each time choosing a different specific animal.

- - -

Cheers, -- N

 

[joela]

Reserve Feat

However, thinking it over, you could probably do Wildshape as [Reserve] feats.

Wildshape [Reserve]
Prereqs: Ability to cast a 3rd level spell of the Polymorph subschool, Knowledge (nature) 8 ranks

Benefit: Choose one Small or Medium animal. You gain the Alternate Form supernatural ability with this specific animal as your alternate form. You always take the form of the same animal -- minor details do NOT vary between uses.

Additionally, choose one ability score (Str, Dex or Con) which complements this form. If your highest available Polymorph spell is higher than 3rd level, you gain a +2 bonus to the selected ability score for each extra spell level. (For example, a Bear-shaper might choose Strength. If her highest available Polymorph spell were baleful polymorph, she'd gain a +4 bonus to Strength when taking the form of a bear, because baleful polymorph is a 5th level spell.)

Special: You may take this feat multiple times, each time choosing a different specific animal.


Improved Wild Shape [Reserve]
Prereqs: Wild Shape, Ability to cast a 5th level spell of the Polymorph subschool, Knowledge (nature) 12 ranks

Benefit: Choose one Small or Medium form you know from your Wild Shape feat(s). You may now take the form of a Large animal of this type -- an advanced or Dire version, if such exists.

Special: You may take this feat multiple times, up to once per Wild Shape feat you have taken.


Tiny Wild Shape [Reserve]
Prereqs: Wild Shape, Ability to cast a 5th level spell of the Polymorph subschool, Knowledge (nature) 12 ranks

Benefit: Choose one Tiny animal. You gain the Alternate Form supernatural ability with this specific animal as your alternate form. You always take the form of the same animal -- minor details do NOT vary between uses.

Special: You may take this feat multiple times, each time choosing a different specific animal.

- - -

Cheers, -- N

WOW [Notes feat for future Generic Class campaign....]

 

[Corvus_Obscurus]

Here's the Bard:

Bardic Music [Bard]
Prerequisites: Perform 1 rank, Cha 13
Benefit: You gain the ability to use the Bardic Music class feature like a bard of your character level. Upon taking this feat you have access to the Countersong and Fascinate abilities.

Inspire Courage [Bard]
Prerequisites: Perform 3 ranks, Bardic Music
Benefit: Your Bardic Music ability now allows you to Inspire Courage +1. This bonus increases to +2 at 8th level, to +3 at 14th level and to +4 at 20th level.

Inspire Competence [Bard]
Prerequisites: Perform 6 ranks, Bardic Music
Benefit: Your Bardic Music ability now allows you to Inspire Competence.

Suggestion [Bard]
Prerequisites: Perform 9 ranks, Bardic Music
Benefit: You Bardic Music ability now allows you to use Suggestion like a bard of equal level.

Inspire Greatness [Bard]
Prerequisites: Perform 12 ranks, Bardic Music, Inspire Competence
Benefit: Your Bardic Music ability now allows you to Inspire Greatness.

Song of Freedom [Bard]
Prerequisites: Perform 15 ranks, Bardic Music
Benefit: You Bardic Music ability now allows you to use Song of Freedom like a bard of equal level.

Inspire Heroics [Bard]
Prerequisites: Perform 18 ranks, Bardic Music, Inspire Greatness
Benefit: Your Bardic Music ability now allows you to Inspire Heroics.

Mass Suggestion [Bard]
Prerequisites: Perform 21 ranks, Bardic Music
Benefit: You Bardic Music ability now allows you to use Mass Suggestion like a bard of equal level.

The feats are tagged as Bard feats so one could write a feat in the vein of Psionic Body in order to provide some special bonuses for "staying in class".