The Mechanist - Issues

[DM-Frost]

I'm running a multi-versal campaign (think of it as being, in essence, similar to Kingdom Hearts without all the flowery "darkness" and "heart" bits). In this campaign, I have a large technological range, going from dark-age weaponry up to semi-futuristic firearms and robotics. One of my friends wants to join this campaign, and he wants a "mech" as a companion. I've come up with an idea on how to give him what he wants and also create a fun class. One I call the Mechanist

With Paizo releasing their 6 "advanced" base classes for testplay, I fell in love with the summoner. It's a bit overpowered, in my opinion, but I love it nonetheless. When my friend told me he wanted a mech, my first thought was to modify the Summoner to support a construct instead of an outsider. It's worked out so far, except I've run into one little hiccup.

The Summoner normally gets the ability to cast the "summon monster" spells as spell-like abilities. Obviously, this doesn't fit in with my Mechanist class, and I'm having trouble finding a replacement ability for it (or whether to just make all the creatures summoned through the spell clockwork).

Any input is absolutely helpful.

 

[ruemere]

(hopefully, you're not biased against anime)

There is a series titled Asura Cryin'. Among other things, there is a type of character capable of summoning large (Large to Huge) armored humanoid mech called Asura Machina.
The handlers, as these guys are known, summon the machinae out of their shadows, and... spoilers ahead.

Ideas to steal:
[sblock]Asura Machina is a construct powered by a soul of willing sacrifice known as Burial Doll/Sacrificial Doll.

In addition to being a large or huge mech, each machina has an array of special attacks built around certain unique theme - gravitation, electricity, ice, dimensional manipulation.
When summoned, the machina climbs out of handler's shadow - skilled handlers can summon only a part of the machina to perform a lightning quick attack or use its special ability.

A handler who lost its machina, becomes an ex-handler - a human immune to supernatural abilities.

Burial doll may manifest a spectral apparition - a ghostly image of oneself, capable of speaking, though visible and audible only to other handlers (not ex-handlers) or supernatural beings capable of noticing them.
[/sblock]

Story-related spoilers (also worth stealing)
[sblock]
The series itself is pretty dark, as supposedly divine in origin Asura Machinae, are actually a result of mix of science and pacts with otherworldly entities commonly known as demons.

The demons are humans stranded on a different plane (they have special powers due to being extraplanar, however they also are subject to special curses, like being forced to form contracts in order to survive).

Use of Machinae slowly exhausts the spirit energies of Burial Doll, eventually finally killing her.

Bodies of Burial Dolls are kept in near-death state in huge vats inside Asura Machinae.

Destroying body of a Burial Doll instantly turns off the Machina, while death by exhaustion causes the body to dissolve.

Progressive exhaustion of Burial Doll strength is shown by her spectral apparition becoming more aloof, less emotional, with image becoming transparent or fuzzy.

There is no escape from Burial Doll's fate once the sacrifice is made (unless an epic change to the nature of the world counts as escape).

It is possible, at least in one case, for a person to become a Burial Doll in order to bring someone else to life.
[/sblock]

Regards,
Ruemere

PS. The series has its moments, though some (with emphasis on some) plot holes and certain events may cause severe headaches.

 

[DM-Frost]

(hopefully, you're not biased against anime)

There is a series titled Asura Cryin'. Among other things, there is a type of character capable of summoning large (Large to Huge) armored humanoid mech called Asura Machina.
The handlers, as these guys are known, summon the machinae out of their shadows, and... spoilers ahead.

Ideas to steal:
[sblock]Asura Machina is a construct powered by a soul of willing sacrifice known as Burial Doll/Sacrificial Doll.

In addition to being a large or huge mech, each machina has an array of special attacks built around certain unique theme - gravitation, electricity, ice, dimensional manipulation.
When summoned, the machina climbs out of handler's shadow - skilled handlers can summon only a part of the machina to perform a lightning quick attack or use its special ability.

A handler who lost its machina, becomes an ex-handler - a human immune to supernatural abilities.

Burial doll may manifest a spectral apparition - a ghostly image of oneself, capable of speaking, though visible and audible only to other handlers (not ex-handlers) or supernatural beings capable of noticing them.
[/sblock]

Story-related spoilers (also worth stealing)
[sblock]
The series itself is pretty dark, as supposedly divine in origin Asura Machinae, are actually a result of mix of science and pacts with otherworldly entities commonly known as demons.

The demons are humans stranded on a different plane (they have special powers due to being extraplanar, however they also are subject to special curses, like being forced to form contracts in order to survive).

Use of Machinae slowly exhausts the spirit energies of Burial Doll, eventually finally killing her.

Bodies of Burial Dolls are kept in near-death state in huge vats inside Asura Machinae.

Destroying body of a Burial Doll instantly turns off the Machina, while death by exhaustion causes the body to dissolve.

Progressive exhaustion of Burial Doll strength is shown by her spectral apparition becoming more aloof, less emotional, with image becoming transparent or fuzzy.

There is no escape from Burial Doll's fate once the sacrifice is made (unless an epic change to the nature of the world counts as escape).

It is possible, at least in one case, for a person to become a Burial Doll in order to bring someone else to life.
[/sblock]

Regards,
Ruemere

PS. The series has its moments, though some (with emphasis on some) plot holes and certain events may cause severe headaches.

Thank you. I am a little biased against anime, however my issue with this isn't about that bias. You didn't really answer my question. I've got all the basics down. I just want advice on what to replace the "Summon Monster" spell-like abilities that the summoner gets with.

 

[ruemere]

Allow me to make myself clearer:

If you provide appropriate background information and change flavor of his abilities somewhat, you should be able to get unmodified base class into your game.

Flavor: In the examples given above Asura Machina would make for an interesting Sci-Fantasy version of Eidolon. Summon spells would result in smaller machinae analogons from Mechanus (or your version of axiomatic outer plane).

Background: In addition, sinister secrets of eidolon magitech (i.e. sacrifice of living beings to power constructs) could yield basis for forming ethical dilemmas and further character development.

Regards,
Ruemere

 

[Starbuck_II]

I'm running a multi-versal campaign (think of it as being, in essence, similar to Kingdom Hearts without all the flowery "darkness" and "heart" bits). In this campaign, I have a large technological range, going from dark-age weaponry up to semi-futuristic firearms and robotics. One of my friends wants to join this campaign, and he wants a "mech" as a companion. I've come up with an idea on how to give him what he wants and also create a fun class. One I call the Mechanist

With Paizo releasing their 6 "advanced" base classes for testplay, I fell in love with the summoner. It's a bit overpowered, in my opinion, but I love it nonetheless. When my friend told me he wanted a mech, my first thought was to modify the Summoner to support a construct instead of an outsider. It's worked out so far, except I've run into one little hiccup.

The Summoner normally gets the ability to cast the "summon monster" spells as spell-like abilities. Obviously, this doesn't fit in with my Mechanist class, and I'm having trouble finding a replacement ability for it (or whether to just make all the creatures summoned through the spell clockwork).

Any input is absolutely helpful.

Astral Constructs. As a Spell-like (psi-like by regardless the same) you get it for free (auto-augmented Power points up to Class level).
Just Describe the Astral Constructs as Machines insteasd of ectoplasm.

Astral Construct :: d20srd.org

This would require him to think about the type of "Mech/Robot" he wants
to summon, but would work great.

At level 1 he can summon a Level 1 Robot.
At level 5, a Level 3 Robot.
Etc.