Post/Author/DateTime	Post
xaqariah 12-07-06, 09:35 PM	Zeuge (It means "witness" in German) Mysterious fortune teller, keeper of Spirits, seller of Fate, seer of time... Like many Bards, Zeuges are travelers and collectors of knowledge. The difference between Zeuges and standard Bards is three-fold. First, for Bardic Music, a Zeuge relies more on ritual dance, and percussion instruments, like drums and tambourines, where most Bards tend to focus on song, flute and mandolin. (This is more flavor, than an actual mechanic difference.) Second, a Zeuge draws power and mystical ability from her magic, at the expense of variety in Spell selection. Finally, because Zeuges spend so much energy learning how to draw power from their magic, that they have little time to collect random gossip. TECHNICAL INFO: ----- Zeuges have the exact same number of “Spells per Day” and “Spells Known” as a standard Bard, and the “0 Level” Spells and selection remains unchanged. The difference becomes apparent, when one looks beyond this. Instead of the 1st through 6th Level selection of Spells, a Zeuge chooses Cleric Domains that grant special abilities to the Zeuge, while focusing the selection of “Spells Known”, for higher level Spells. At 1st Level, a Zeuge gains access to the Spells and special ability of the Knowledge Domain. At 2nd, 3rd 5th and 16th Levels, a Zeuge chooses a new Domain, and adds the 1st Level Spell in that Domain to her “Spells Known”, while also gaining the special ability granted by that Domain. As a Zeuge advances in Levels, and Gains “Spells Known” in 2nd through 6th Level Spells, she may only select a Spell from a Domain list that she already knows. *Two Domain Powers need slight adjustments: Sun and Trickery Domains grant a +1 Caster Level for Spells from their list, instead of the listed Granted Power. ----- A Zeuge does not gain Bardic Knowledge. ----- There are no other differences between the Zeuge and the standard Bard. Questions, comments and concerns are welcome. :D
frasmage 12-07-06, 09:44 PM	I think this is more powerful than the standard bard, becomes you get the domain grsanted abilities. You would have to nerf other stuff to make it balanced. Might I suggest removing bardic knowledge (among other things) as you are granting the knowledge domain anyways.
ORC_Tuhteth 12-08-06, 03:32 AM	Just deleted a miniature flamewar before it got completely out of hand. There was one good point raised: "Gypsy" is a real-world (and current) ethnic group, so it's really not appropriate to use it as a class name on these boards. Try to come up with a different name that's descriptive of its function/role (e.g. "fortune teller") instead of using a real-world ethnic name.
xaqariah 12-08-06, 04:13 AM	OK, thanks for that. I am very sorry for offending anybody. It was not intentional. I will find another name for the Bard variant Class.
xaqariah 12-08-06, 08:50 AM	I have to agree, that removing Bardic Knowledge is probably a good idea, although more might be too much. Early on, the Zeuge has a little more magical "oomph", due to the Powers Granted from the Domain lists, but from Levels 6 through 15, the Zeuge begins to stagnate, because of the limited selection of spells to "choose" from. It is true, that Bards will tend to specialize, in one type of magic, but if it needs to, the Bard can adapt, during these Levels, as its adventuring career changes. The Zeuge is stuck with the Domains she chose by Level 5. This is my opinion. Further and opposing observations/discussion is welcome. :D
MareltEkiran 12-08-06, 09:15 PM	If you want to get a lesser version of bardic knowledge, then how about this: At first level, a Zeuge gets 8 extra skill points and every level thereafter, 2 extra skill points (on top of the normal amount). These bonus skill points can only be used to buy ranks in knowledge skills. It can easily be justified be claiming that while they don't hang around the people and gossip like bards do, their skills with divinations grant them deep insights into any topic they set their minds to. P.S. This may just be because I am originally from the Netherlands, but when seeing the word "Zeuge", I just can't help but think of a female pig (which is "Zeug" in Dutch). Also, I doubt that any Anglophone can pronounce this word, because the "eu"-dyphen doesn't exist in English. Just call them "Oracles". That term has been used for many cultures to describe people who gained knowledge from mystic sources.
xaqariah 12-08-06, 10:55 PM	If you want to get a lesser version of bardic knowledge, then how about this: At first level, a Zeuge gets 8 extra skill points and every level thereafter, 2 extra skill points (on top of the normal amount). These bonus skill points can only be used to buy ranks in knowledge skills. It can easily be justified be claiming that while they don't hang around the people and gossip like bards do, their skills with divinations grant them deep insights into any topic they set their minds to. P.S. This may just be because I am originally from the Netherlands, but when seeing the word "Zeuge", I just can't help but think of a female pig (which is "Zeug" in Dutch). Also, I doubt that any Anglophone can pronounce this word, because the "eu"-dyphen doesn't exist in English. Just call them "Oracles". That term has been used for many cultures to describe people who gained knowledge from mystic sources. Firstly, that's an interesting option about the Knowlede skills. We still don't want to overbalance the standard Bard, though... which the Domain powers would do, at the earliest Levels. Maybe choose one Knowlede Skill, and it gains automatic Ranks, like Bardic Knowledge would have? Either way, I'll give it some thought over the weekend. :) ***** As to the name of the Class. It looked easier to pronounce than Schicksal. (:P fate) Anyway, it's more that the Class needed a new name, because I made a rather dramatic mistake. I will cosider Oracle. It sounds more like what I was looking for, but if anyone else would like to suggest something, I'll make a more lasting decision after this weekend. Thanks! :D