comrade raoul
Explorer
Along with many others, I think the Tempest prestige class in Masters of the Wild offers too little, too late. Is this version balanced? (Note that revisions to requirements and class skills are noted in parenthetical italics; revisions to class features aren't noted, since the section is more or less entirely overhauled).
Requirements: To qualify as a tempest, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
Base Attack Bonus: +6
(lowered from +9)
Feats: Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, and Weapon Finesse (any one-handed melee weapon) or Weapon Focus (any one-handed melee weapon or double weapon)
Special: Ability to fight with two weapons with the benefits of the Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting feats while wearing light armor (this may result from actually having the appropriate feats, or by taking levels in a class, such as the ranger, that grants them as virtual feats).
(Changed the weapon requirement from "Any"; tempests should be good at weapons they can use with the class abilities.)
Class Skills
The tempest's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex)*, Climb (Str), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex)*, Ride (Dex), Tumble (Dex)*, and Wilderness Lore (Wis).
(Skills marked with an asterisk are added; the tempest is an agile class and should have some good movement-oriented skills.)
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Base Attack Bonus: Excellent (as fighter)
Strong Saves: Reflex
(Changed from Fortitude; again, the tempest should feel more like an "agile" class.)
Class Features
1st - Improved two-weapon fighting
2nd - Superior ambidexterity (full strength bonus)
3rd - Whirling defense (+2)
4th - Twin strike
5th - Superior ambidexterity (+1)
6th - Greater two-weapon fighting
7th - Whirling defense (+4)
8th - Superior ambidexterity (+2)
9th - Improved twin strike
10th - Perfect two-weapon fighting
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Tempests gain no weapon or armor proficiencies. They may not use their Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Superior Ambidexterity, Whirling Defense, Twin Strike, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, or Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting abilities when wearing medium or heavy armor.
(Note that this requirement has been loosened: previously, tempests were limited to light or no armor, and couldn't use their class features with double weapons.)
Improved Two-Weapon Fighting: Beginning at first level, the tempest may fight with two weapons as if she had the Improved Two-Weapon Fighting feat.
Superior Ambidexterity (Ex): Beginning at second level, the tempest may add her full strength bonus to damage rolls with her off-hand. At fifth level, she may also reduce her attack penalties for fighting with two weapons by 1; at 8th level, she may reduce it by 2. Thus, if she fights with a light weapon in her off-hand, she suffers no penalties on her attack roll for fighting with two weapons. (If the off-hand weapon is not light, she suffers a -2 penalty on attack rolls with both her primary hand and off-hand).
Whirling Defense (Ex): At 3rd level, the tempest may designate a single opponent at the beginning of her action when fighting with two weapons. Until her next action, she gains a +2 armor bonus to her AC against that opponent as she uses her two weapons to frustrate his attacks. This is treated as though it were a bonus from a shield: it stacks with bonuses from existing armor, but not with armor bonuses from shields. At 7th level, the tempest gains a second +2 armor bonus, and may apply each bonus the same foe (gaining a total +4 armor bonus) or a different one (for a +2 bonus against each).
Twin Strike (Ex): At 4th level, a tempest gains the ability to perform a twin strike on a standard attack or an attack of opportunity, when she would not normally be able to attack with her off-hand weapon. When using this ability, she may make two attacks (one with each of her weapons); however, she makes her off-hand attack at a -5 penalty. A tempest may use this ability in conjunction with the Spring Attack feat, combining her two attacks with her movement in any way she chooses (she may move, attack, move, attack again, and move). At 9th level, she may use this ability without penalty to her off-hand attack.
Greater Two-Weapon Fighting: Beginning at 6th level, the tempest may fight with two weapons as if she had the Greater Two-Weapon Fighting feat.
Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting: At 10th level, the tempest may fight with two weapons as if she had the Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting feat.
Edited to according to suggestions and commentary from kreynolds, Anabstercorian, Cyraneth, and Plane Sailing, as below.
Requirements: To qualify as a tempest, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
Base Attack Bonus: +6
(lowered from +9)
Feats: Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, and Weapon Finesse (any one-handed melee weapon) or Weapon Focus (any one-handed melee weapon or double weapon)
Special: Ability to fight with two weapons with the benefits of the Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting feats while wearing light armor (this may result from actually having the appropriate feats, or by taking levels in a class, such as the ranger, that grants them as virtual feats).
(Changed the weapon requirement from "Any"; tempests should be good at weapons they can use with the class abilities.)
Class Skills
The tempest's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex)*, Climb (Str), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex)*, Ride (Dex), Tumble (Dex)*, and Wilderness Lore (Wis).
(Skills marked with an asterisk are added; the tempest is an agile class and should have some good movement-oriented skills.)
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Base Attack Bonus: Excellent (as fighter)
Strong Saves: Reflex
(Changed from Fortitude; again, the tempest should feel more like an "agile" class.)
Class Features
1st - Improved two-weapon fighting
2nd - Superior ambidexterity (full strength bonus)
3rd - Whirling defense (+2)
4th - Twin strike
5th - Superior ambidexterity (+1)
6th - Greater two-weapon fighting
7th - Whirling defense (+4)
8th - Superior ambidexterity (+2)
9th - Improved twin strike
10th - Perfect two-weapon fighting
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Tempests gain no weapon or armor proficiencies. They may not use their Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Superior Ambidexterity, Whirling Defense, Twin Strike, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, or Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting abilities when wearing medium or heavy armor.
(Note that this requirement has been loosened: previously, tempests were limited to light or no armor, and couldn't use their class features with double weapons.)
Improved Two-Weapon Fighting: Beginning at first level, the tempest may fight with two weapons as if she had the Improved Two-Weapon Fighting feat.
Superior Ambidexterity (Ex): Beginning at second level, the tempest may add her full strength bonus to damage rolls with her off-hand. At fifth level, she may also reduce her attack penalties for fighting with two weapons by 1; at 8th level, she may reduce it by 2. Thus, if she fights with a light weapon in her off-hand, she suffers no penalties on her attack roll for fighting with two weapons. (If the off-hand weapon is not light, she suffers a -2 penalty on attack rolls with both her primary hand and off-hand).
Whirling Defense (Ex): At 3rd level, the tempest may designate a single opponent at the beginning of her action when fighting with two weapons. Until her next action, she gains a +2 armor bonus to her AC against that opponent as she uses her two weapons to frustrate his attacks. This is treated as though it were a bonus from a shield: it stacks with bonuses from existing armor, but not with armor bonuses from shields. At 7th level, the tempest gains a second +2 armor bonus, and may apply each bonus the same foe (gaining a total +4 armor bonus) or a different one (for a +2 bonus against each).
Twin Strike (Ex): At 4th level, a tempest gains the ability to perform a twin strike on a standard attack or an attack of opportunity, when she would not normally be able to attack with her off-hand weapon. When using this ability, she may make two attacks (one with each of her weapons); however, she makes her off-hand attack at a -5 penalty. A tempest may use this ability in conjunction with the Spring Attack feat, combining her two attacks with her movement in any way she chooses (she may move, attack, move, attack again, and move). At 9th level, she may use this ability without penalty to her off-hand attack.
Greater Two-Weapon Fighting: Beginning at 6th level, the tempest may fight with two weapons as if she had the Greater Two-Weapon Fighting feat.
Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting: At 10th level, the tempest may fight with two weapons as if she had the Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting feat.
Edited to according to suggestions and commentary from kreynolds, Anabstercorian, Cyraneth, and Plane Sailing, as below.
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