Revised C-Aug Soldier

Roudi

First Post
In anticipation of more C-Aug classes, I have revised the C-Aug Soldier. Mainly, I have changed the Defense progression to a standard one (one point less than a Fast Hero) and added an Effective Level Adjustment into the class writeup. This should help keep the C-Aug Soldier balanced with others of the same (effective) level.

Requirements
Base Attack Bonus:
+3 or higher
Starting Occupation: Military
Cybernetics: Neurocomp
Special: must be a soldier in a military offering Chemical Augmentation and agree to a minimum five years of service.

Hit Die: d12
Action Points: 6 + one-half character level, rounded down, every time the character attains a new level in this class.

Class Skills
Climb (Str), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (current events, tactics) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Navigate (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str).
Skill Points per Level: 5 + Intelligence modifier

BAB: Good (equal to level)
Fort Save: Good
Ref Save: Good
Will Save: Bad
Defense: +2 at first level, +7 at tenth
Rep: +0 at first level, +1 at fifth level, +2 at ninth level

Class Features and Abilities
1. Chemical Augmentation, Increased Consumption, Lessened Sleep Requirement, Short Life Span, EL Adjustment
2. Evasion
3. Chemical Augmentation, Bonus Feat, EL Adjustment
4. Improved Evasion
5. Chemical Augmentation, EL Adjustment
6. Instinctive Dodge, Bonus Feat
7. Chemical Augmentation, EL Adjustment
8. Induced Insomnia
9. Chemical Augmentation, Bonus Feat, EL Adjustment
10. Pain Immunity, Regeneration

Chemical Augmentation
The key to the C-Aug Soldier’s enhanced abilities is the potent mix of stimulants, amphetamines, and other chemicals that are gradually introduced into and regulated by the soldier’s Neurocomp system. The results are a dramatic and exponential enhancement of the soldier’s strength, agility, and toughness. At first level, the C-Aug Soldier gains a +1 enhancement bonus to his Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores. This bonus increases to +2 at third level, +4 at fifth level, +8 at seventh level, and to a whopping +16 at ninth level! If the Neurocomp is ever destroyed or disabled, he instantly loses all abilities granted by this class (except for Short Lifespan) and half of his Chemical Augmentation bonus, rounded down. If the Neurocomp is not repaired, the enhancement bonuses decreases by 1 per day until it is gone and the soldier must make a Fortitude save each day (DC 15 + C-Aug Soldier level) or die. This save stops once the soldier’s enhancement bonuses have disappeared or the Neurocomp is repaired (if this occurs, all class abilities and enhancement bonuses return the following day).The chemical cocktail must be flushed and refreshed every three months, or the soldier suffers as if his Neurocomp had broken.

Increased Consumption
Most humans require the equivalent of three meals a day to function properly. C-Aug Soldiers require the equivalent of an additional meal per day for every two levels of this class. By 10th level, a C-Aug Soldier requires the equivalent of eight meals a day simply to be properly nourished.

Lessened Sleep Requirement
A C-Aug Soldier requires one hour less of sleep each day per level in this class. For example, a 5th level C-Aug Soldier requires only three hours of sleep each night. At 8th level, this ability is replaced with Induced Insomnia.

Short Lifespan
Once a Neurocomp-enhanced human begins incorporating the C-Aug cocktail into his system, he condemns himself to a shortened life. Because of the sheer strain the enhancements force the body to heap on itself, C-Aug Soldiers usually find their bodies fail on them after a given period of time. The lifespan of a first level C-Aug Soldier is 10 years and 9d6 months. Each time the soldier’s Chemical Augmentation improves, it reduces his lifespan by one year and 1d6 months. On the soldier’s last month of life, he must make a Fortitude save each day (DC 30) or permanently lose 2 points of Constitution. The DC for this save increases by 2 each day. Most C-Aug Soldiers commit suicide during this time, or pick a fight they know they cannot win, to quicken their unavoidable fate. It’s theorized that a C-Aug Soldier may be able to cheat an early death by undergoing Detox. However, no person has ever survived a detox attempt.

EL Adjustment
Each time the C-Aug Soldier receives a Chemical Augmentation boost, his effective level raises by 1. He is treated as being 1 level higher for any level-dependent effects or considerations, such as determining his CR and gaining new levels.

Evasion
This ability is identical to the Fast Hero Talent of the same name.

Bonus Feat
At 3rd, 6th, and 9th levels, the C-Aug Soldier gains a bonus feat from the following list. The soldier must meet all prerequisites for the feat: Action Boost, Advanced Firearms Proficiency, Armor Proficiency (light), Brawl, Blind-Fight, Burst Fire, Cleave, Combat Expertise, Combat Martial Arts, Combat Reflexes, Cybertaker, Defensive Martial Arts, Far Shot, Great Cleave, Improved Brawl, Improved Combat Martial Arts, Improved Knockout Punch, Improved Trip, Knockout Punch, Power Attack, Streetfighting, Toughness, Weapon Focus.

Improved Evasion
Whenever the C-Aug Soldier is allowed to make a Reflex save to avoid damage, he only takes half damage on a failed save (a successful save deals no damage as per Evasion). Improved Evasion can only be used when the soldier is wearing light or no armor.

Instinctive Dodge
Whenever a successful attack roll is made against the C-Aug Soldier, he may make a Reflex save to avoid it (the Evasion and Improved Evasion abilities apply to this save). This ability works even if the soldier is flatfooted or unaware of the attack, but not while he is restrained, entangled, immobilized, unconscious, or in a similar state.

Induced Insomnia
The C-Aug Soldier has shrugged off nearly all need for sleep on a daily basis. He may require 3-4 hours of sleep once a week, but he cannot fall asleep normally (most soldiers resort to taking medication or other substances to “knock them out”). A C-Aug Soldier who neglects to sleep at least once a week suffers from Fatigue.

Pain Immunity
By 10th level, C-Aug Soldiers are immune to pain. They never have to make any saves against pain-based effects, and are immune to physical torture.

Regeneration
The body of a C-Aug Soldier becomes so advanced that it actually heals in minutes what a normal body would take days to recover from. The soldier recovers one hit point per round (roughly 10 a minute). He cannot recover more than his maximum amount of hit points.


New Cybernetics
Neurocomp (PL6)

The Neurological Biofeedback Synchronization Computer (Neurocomp) consists of a series of neural implants with wire links to injection strips along the subject’s body. The whole system is connected to a computer that monitors the subject’s internal chemical balances and makes minute adjustments to keep the body running at peak optimal performance. Those augmented with Neurocomps note a slight enhancement of their endurance and sensory perception. While this expensive and surgically invasive process might seem at first to offer little benefit, the Neurocomp enhancement is a key element in the creation of chemically-augmented humans.
The Neurocomp counts as three pieces of cybernetic equipment (the neurological wire links, the biofeedback synchronization computer, and the chemical injection system). Installing a Neurocomp requires extensive brain surgery. Failing the Treat Injury check to install it deals 1d4 points of permanent Intelligence loss in addition to the usual repercussions.
Benefit: The user gains a +1 bonus to attack rolls, a +1 dodge bonus to Defense (this stacks with other dodge bonuses), a +2 bonus to Fortitude and Reflex saves, and a +4 bonus to Spot and Listen checks. A Neurocomp also allows a human to become a C-Aug Soldier (see above) or another type of chemically-augmented human.
Type: External/Internal
Hardness/Hit Points: 5/10
Purchase DC: 30
Restriction: Mil (+3)
 

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To the best of my recollection, all that's needed to use the C-Aug Soldier in SWd20 would be three things.

1. Change the Hit Die to Vitality Die. The C-Aug Soldier gains 1d12 vitality points each level

2. Remove the current Knowledge skills from the class skill list and replace them with the two most appropriate Knowledge skills from the SWd20 list. I cannot remember just how different the SWd20 skill list is from d20 Modern, so there may be more room for adaptation here; I cannot remember.

3. Lower the Defense progression by one point.
 

Instinctive Dodge
Whenever a successful attack roll is made against the C-Aug Soldier, he may make a Reflex save to avoid it (the Evasion and Improved Evasion abilities apply to this save). This ability works even if the soldier is flatfooted or unaware of the attack, but not while he is restrained, entangled, immobilized, unconscious, or in a similar state.

What is the DC for the Reflex save? The attack roll?

This ability seems very powerful to me. Could the character make any number of reflex saves in a round to avoid any number of attacks. Does this count versus area effect attacks?

Does Improved Evasion work with Instinctive Dodge?
Example: If the C-Aug Soldier failed his reflex save to avoid an attack does he only take half damage?
 
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Excellent points, Sushi. Instinctive Dodge does need more clairity.

Yes, the Reflex Save DC is equal to the attack roll.

It doesn't really matter much for area attacks, as area attacks require a Reflex Save anyways (no Reflex Save to avoid a Reflex Save here). I'll try and make this clear in the ability description.

The ability works as many times in a round as its activated (ie, as many times as opponents make attack rolls against the C-Aug Soldier). However, upon reflection, I think I will change the ability to work only in situations where the C-Aug Soldier is allowed his Dexterity bonus to Defense (meaning a flat-footed C-Aug Soldier won't benefit from Instinctive Dodge).

Yes, this ability works with Improved Evasion. This essentially means thats successful attack rolls against the C-Aug Soldier will only ever deal half damage. It is meant to be powerful. This is why the C-Aug Soldier gets Effective Level Increases every odd level. When taking on a 6th-level or higher C-Aug Soldier, you either have to deal double the amount of damage, find a way to catch the Soldier off-guard, or exploit another weakness (like the Will Save).
 

EL Adjustment
Each time the C-Aug Soldier receives a Chemical Augmentation boost, his effective level raises by 1. He is treated as being 1 level higher for any level-dependent effects or considerations, such as determining his CR and gaining new levels.

Let me see if I got this right. A 4th level Tough character takes the first level of C-Aug Solider for his next level. Now he is a 4th Tough/1st C-Aug with +1 EL Adjustment. So he counts as a 6th level character. To gain the next level of C-Aug he needs 6000 exp instead of the 5000 exp that you would normally need to level up a 5th level character. After his next level he is now a 4th Tough/2nd C-Aug but effectively a 7th level character and he needs 7000 exp to reach his next level. He takes another level of C-Aug and is now a 4th Tough/3rd C-Aug with a +2 EL adjust making him a effective 9th level character that needs 9000 exp to reach the next level.

Comparison.
10th level Tough that has 45,000 exp.

4th level Tough/ 4rd level C-Aug (+2 EL) has 40,000 exp.

You might want to just build in a few 'dead' levels into the class instead of using a EL adjustment.
 

Dead levels are never truely dead unless they don't grant anything, including BAB, Saves, Defense, and Rep. Level increases also grant potential increases in Wealth and a definite increase in Skill ranks. The EL Adjustment doesn't grant these things. Thus, a 10th level Strong Hero has more max skill ranks, better saves, and a better base attack bonus than an (effective) 10th level C-Aug Soldier. Combined with the C-Aug Soldier's other drawbacks (most of the first level abilities, like Increased Consumption and Shortened Life Span), the amazing abilities acquired by this class ought to be balanced.

Of course, your milage may vary. "Balance" is a very difficult thing to determine in some circumstances. The C-Aug Soldier obviously dominates certain types of scenarios, and has obvious weaknesses.
 

I am sure you realize this, Roudi, but I want to mention it the rest of the readers.

When using this AdC, you must realize that your C-Aug Soldier will become very resistant to near-impervious to Massive Damage, as determined in d20 Modern rules.

This is not a bad thing in all respects. In my Border Wars campaign, I actually sent a C-Aug Soldier (assassin) against my PCs. While they did survive (and even killed the C-Aug Soldier), they got more than a little worried when he (the C-Aug) took at least two direct hits from the Mecha Pilot's Warpath Rifle and never slowed down.

Additionally, I made one change to this. I lessened the amount of overall benefits the Chemical Augmentation (maxed out at +8), and increased the C-Aug Soldier's base speed (doubled at 3rd level) - since I remember the "original inspiration" of this AdC to be very quick.

Just weighing in.

Peterson
 
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My approach to the new C-Aug classes has been to make them a sort of semi-"prestige" class branching off from the core C-Aug Soldier. Since the C-Aug Soldier represents a person introducing a uniquie chemical blend to their system, each new C-Aug class represents a new addition of chemicals to that mix. Incidentally, the first class I've created is the C-Aug Sprinter, which certainly addresses the quickness that the C-Aug Soldier seems to lack.

That said, do the exponential ability increases from Chemical Augmentation go to far? Would a +2, +4, +6, +8 progression be more reasonable? Maybe with the EL Adjustments removed, they would. Opinions?
 

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