The Black Company D20: Weapon master class: would it be balanced for normal D&D?

frankthedm

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The Black Company D20: Weapon master class: would it be balanced for normal D&D?

A player in my group has mentioned interest in the class. Could anybody mention how it would stack up against the core classes?

{Game is close to core rules, druids slightly pinned back]

Thoughts? Experiences?
 

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Weapon Master is basically a cross between a Monk and a Fighter or Ranger. If you don't already have the class details, get them and read through them.

It has a limited choice of bonus feats and a slightly slower base attack bonus progression, unlike the fighter, but it does get a class feature or bonus feat at every level for a long time. For best results, the Weapon Master isn't going to be in heavy armor. I think Light armor is about as good as it gets before a weapon master loses access to class abilities.

There's one class feature in there called "Avoid damage" or "mitigate damage" or something like that. Basically, it takes a limited amount of lethal damage done to the Weapon Master and turns it into subdual damage. 3? x Wisdom modifier x (level / 2) hit point damage per day, IIRC. At 6th level, a Weapon Master (wis 12) can turn 9? points of damage into subdual damage every day. The choice to use it has to be made at the time the damage is taken, but the entire amount doesn't have to be used at the same time though. Think of a weaker version of the Paladin's "lay on hands" ability. It's a class feature found at 6th level. It's definitely something you have to look at and potentially adjust.

Of course, there is one major balancing point between the Fighter and the Weapon Master that doesn't exist in a the core rules; action points. A Fighter in Black Company gets more action points than any other class per level. Also, Command is a class skill for BC Fighters and a cross-class skill for Weapon Masters; another skill not found in a normal D&D game.

Finally, ask your player why he wants to use the Weapon Master class. If he's evasive about answering, tell him he can't use the class; odds are there's something about it that he plans to exploit ruthlessly later on.
 
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From what I remember of the class (don't have the book infront of me) it is essentially a monk with a weapon, minus some of the more supernatural monkish class features. The main thing I can remember that the above poster did not mention is that it gets monk BAB but is able to flurry with its favored weapon.

I'll be able to check my book tomorrow, I'm out of town currently, if you'd like more information.
 

I did say that it was a cross between Monk and Fighter or Ranger. I may not have explicitly said that it gets a Monk's BAB and Flurry, but it is implied.
 

To help comparison...

HD: d8
Skills: Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Listen, Move Silent, Spot, Swim, Tumble.
Skill points: 4+Int (Black Company fighter class gets 4+Int also, however)
Weapons and Armor: Simple and martial, Light armor, no shields.
AC Bonus: As monk.
BAB: As monk.
Fort: Poor
Reflex: Good
Will: Average

Level, and Special
1st: Bonus feat (Weapon Focus: choice), flurry of blows (similar to monk but in light armor or none, with Weapon Focus weapon only, Str bonus only not Str x 1.5)
2nd: Evasion
3rd: +2 to saves against mind-affecting
4th: Bonus feat (Combat Expertise or Weapon Finesse)
5th: Uncanny dodge
6th: Overcome injury (each day, convert lethal damage to nonlethal damage equal to Wis bonus x WM level)
7th: Bonus feat (Cleave or Weapon Specialization)
8th: Imp. evasion
9th: Imp. uncanny dodge
10th: Bonus feat (Imp. Critical or Spring Attack)
11th: Greater flurry
12th: Burst 1/day (as free action, add +10 to speed until end of encounter. Use action point to make it +20)
13th: Bonus feat (Greater Weapon Focus or Deflect Arrows)
14th: Burst 2/day
15th: —
16th: Bonus feat (Greater Weapon Specialization or Whirlwind Attack), Burst 3/day
17th: —
18th: Burst 4/day
19th: Bonus feat (Onslaught or Weapon Mastery; both new feats to the BCCS)
20th: Burst 5/day

 
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Okay, I've read up on it:

Overcome Injury:

The Weapon master can convert his wisdom bonus x 1/2 his Weapon Master class levels of lethal damage to non-lethal damage every day. He can only choose to convert lethal damage to non-lethal damage at the time the damage is taken, and he can choose how much of it to convert, up to his limit.

Though this is contradicted by the example in the text, which says it is wisdom bonus x W.M. class level.

It's like a Paladin's Lay On Hands... the Paladin can choose how much of his curing capacity to use each time he uses that ability, up to his limit, every day.

Also, about the "Bonus feat" class ability of the Weapon Master; each time it comes up, it refers to a specific pair or trio of feats that can be taken at that level. Only one of those specific feats can be taken, and a feat that's available at one level isn't likely to be offered again at a higher level.
 
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I certainly think the weapon master is close to balanced, but there are two things I'd look at carefully. First, does the player expect to get bonus feats from Black Company, and would you allow them. (Weapon Mastery is designed for a low-magic universe for example.)

Second, is there some D&D feat or PrC he can qualify for more easily with the weapon master? It doesn't worry about options outside it's own rulebook, and thus odd synergies can sometimes come up.
 

First, does the player expect to get bonus feats from Black Company.
None of the games in out group ever got to 19. The player did not expect the issue to come up.

Second, is there some D&D feat or PrC he can qualify for more easily with the weapon master? It doesn't worry about options outside it's own rulebook, and thus odd synergies can sometimes come up.
I loathe most splat PRCs and entry requirments to the ones i would allow are the quest / challenge / Roleplay entry as suggested in unearthed arcana.

Sure, I'd allow a Human fighter to try and become a Dwarvern Defender, but the trial is going to make him wish he had Endurance, Toughness, 6 levels worth of HP, the dwarf's racial bonuses [con, darkvision, stability] and the frame to fit into the Ceremonial Dwarven halfplate, the only armor one can wear during the trial.
 

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