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darkfire12 01-29-04, 11:34 AM

One thing I have never liked about 3rd edition D&D is the total lack of a "pure skill" class. In d20 Modern, they came up with the "Smart Hero", a character which has poor class advancement, but makes up for it by having crudloads of skill points and some useful talents, making it among the more desireable classes in the game. D&D lacks such a class, which should exist. What about all those educated scolars, scribes, wise men, libarians? the people with the knowledge but not nessarally spellcasters. In fact the Wizard and Sorcerer classes have CRAP skill points for their characters, because they don't spend all that time researching knowledge skills, but instred conconcentrate on magic. The Expert class does not work for sages, as it lacks any additional feats or special ablities, and only has a 6+int modifier skill raiting, which seems quite low compared to rogues who get an 8+int modifer, and are not as well educated. The Sage Class works well as both a Non Player Character class represeting exceptional scolars, or as a Player Character class as traveling scolars, who accompany adventuring parties, in the pursuit of knowledge. So for your approval, allow me to bring forth, the Sage Class. Sage Class The university professor, the court hearld, the knowledgable hermit, the the libarian researcher, and the researching scribe. What do all these people have in common? They are all indivuals who concentrate on skills for their livelyhood. In the world there is no shortage of Indivuals who take up intellectual pursuits. One might ask why would such educated indivuals actually take up adventuring? there is arguments on both sides of the coin. True, most Sages would stay in secure enviroments, researching various books and tomes, educating within the walls of a secure university, or doing a variety of jobs for the service of the populace. But, there are many Sages which in the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom would join adventuring parties. For going on an adventure provides many opportunites which are not easlily found within the walls of libary, the opportunity for wisdom and true discovery. From anchent long forgotton tomes and writings, to wonderous artifacts and treasues. Some sages may accompy an adventuring group, to record their exploits, while providing knowledge support to a party. Although sages are not overly competent in combat, their knowledge and expertese in their trades is unmatched. A sage can be a useful addition to any adventuring party. Sage Advancement Table Level BAB FORT REFL WILL Special 1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Sage Knowledge 2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 Skill Speclization 3rd +1 +1 +1 +3 Fast Researcher 4th +2 +1 +1 +4 Bonus Feat 5th +2 +1 +1 +4 6th +3 +2 +2 +5 Skill Ease 7th +3 +2 +2 +5 Scolarful Aspect 8th +4 +2 +2 +6 Bonus Feat 9th +4 +3 +3 +6 10th +5 +3 +3 +7 Sage Insight (1/Day) 11th +5 +3 +3 +7 12th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8 Bonus Feat, Skill Mastery 13th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8 Secondary Field 14th +7/+2 +4 +4 +9 15th +7/+2 +5 +5 +9 Skill Ease, secondary field. 16th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 Bonus Feat, Sage Insight (2/day) 17th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 18th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11 Skill Mastery, secondary field. 19th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11 20th +10/+5 +6 +6 +12 Bonus Feat, Legendary Sage. Hit Dice: 1d4 Skill Points: (8+Int Mod)*4 (1st level). 8+int mod per level. All skills except those of strengh (like climb, jump) or of a physical nature (like tumble), are considered class skills, as a Sage researches a wide variety of skills in his career. He must still must purchase ranks in a skill which requires training, requiring two skill points to purchase the initial dot in those skills when purchased with further level up skill points (and then it costs 1 point from then on) Races: Every race in existance has Sages in its ranks. Humanity of course has its share of learned scolars, who rise to prestgeous positions in a number of educational facilities. Elven Sages are among the wizest in the world, with many years of knowledge stored in their long lived minds. Dwarf Sages, perform important bookeeping fuctions, for history is the pride of the dwarven people, and there is always a need of lorekeepers, and sages to guide the generations of dwarves further in their pursuits for the future. Gnome sages, can be excentric, but perform important functions, and often have wisdom in their antics. Of all the races, half orcs and halflings have the least use for sages. Half-Orcs lack the intelligence to become true sages, and halflings with their frivlous nature rarely have the paitence for the contemplative lifestyle of the sage, but exceptions do exist. Important Statistics: Intelligence is the core attribute for every sage. Intelligence not only allows the sage to gain more skill points, but also is important for the variety of knowledge they profoundly use. 14+ in intelligence is typical for any sage, although some less learned indivuals may have lower raitings. Next to intelligence, wisdom is the most important attribute to a stage. Wisdom, is reguarded highly among sages, for the ability to have one's thoughts flow, and to learn from experience is paramont to being an effective sage. Charisma is important for sages who chose to interact with the public, although some stoic and reclusive scolars may have low charisma ratings. Physical attributes are less important to a sage, for a sage is a patron of knowlege, not a warrior of battle, but good attributes in those skills can often be helpful in several endevors. Multiclassing: Sages who chose other paths of advancement, easily fall into more knoweldge based trades. A learned arcane sage, may take up the path of a wizard in the pursuit of magical knowledge. Some sages become rogues, chosing to become adventuers in search of hidden knowledge, dodging traps, and diving into deep un-explored dungeons. Some sages become bards, and thus become traveling educators, telling stories and poems to educate all who would listen. Of all the classes, the figher based classes (Fighter, Ranger, Paladin), are the least desireable to a Sage. Sages chose the pursuit of knowledge over battle and brawn, and do not fall into such weapon master classes easily. Adventuring: As stated before, a number of sages take up adventuring in the pursit of knowledge. Be it long forgotton tomes of anchent history, treasures of historical signafance, or field studies of long lost caverns, there are many things out in the world which can attract a sage to join an adventuring group. Some sages join adventurers in order to record their exploits. In a land of heros and heroines, there is no shortage of instances when such people make a difference in a dangerous world, and a learned sage can gain much prestege by keeping record of their acheivements (and failires) for future generations. Sages who a accompany adventuring parties, and survive, often have their share of gold and rewards. Eventually a sage will settle down from the life of the adventurer, and will continue a lone pursuit of knowledge, give their skills to a worthy learned organization, or even begin their own educative facilities. Special Abilities Bonus Feats: Every 4 levels, a Sage gets a bonus feat representing their educated knowledge. These feats can only be used for skill enhancing feats, not for combat related feats or abilities. Sage Knowledge: Like a bard, a sage picks up on a wide score of information in his career. A sage may therefore make a bardic knowledge check, much like a bard can, to draw upon their wide knowledge to deal with the situation at hand. Skill Speclization: A Sage at 2nd level choses one skill he is expecally good at, a skill which they have speclized the most throughout their career. This skill may be enhanced up to two points beyond the normal level cap (so a 2st level sage, may take up to 7 dots in a skill, instead of the usual 5). This modifer remains in play as the sage levels up. Fast Researcher: At this level, a sage has a natural ability to find information more quickly and accuratly than most, using conventinal resouces at his disposal. If the Sage has access to an appropiate libary, he gains a +2 bonus to any research checks using those resouces. Skill Ease: A sage at this level of education, can come up with the basic information relating to their speclization with ease. They may always take 10 on the skill relating to their speclization, and can do this instantly, without taking the time to perform it, and even in distracting circumstances. Scolarful Aspect: The character at this level becomes masterful in their chosen profession. They gain a +2 bonus to all profession checks. This does not nessarly represent fame, but merely one's talent with their occupation. In addition, when conversing with like minded indivuals, the PC gets a +2 bonus to any diplomacy checks for those aware of the sage's reputation (if the sage doesn't have one, then this diplomacy bonus does not apply). Sageful Insight: A sage of this level, is nearly flawless in their pursuit of the truth, able to give accurate information at the right moment. Once per day the character may reroll a failed skill check. This reroll can be for any skill which the character has at least one rank in. Pick the best result of the two rolls as final. At Level 16, the character may use this ability twice per day. Skill Mastery: The sage becomes a literal expert in their chosen field of study. The sage may therefore take 20 on their speclized skill, even on skills which this cannot usually be done. By taking 20, the sage does this in the same amount of time that is required to take 10 (Even though they are experts, they still need to gather their thoughts to such a degree). Secondary Field: At the 13th level, the sage having mastered their chosen skill, may chose a second specialization, representing the character branching off into alternate fields of study. The character gains the benifits of specialization for that skill (the +2 to the max rank in the skill), but does not get the benifits of Skill ease and skill mastery for that skill. At the 15th level the character gets the benifit of Skill Ease for that skill, at level 18 they gain the benift of skill mastery for that skill. Masterful Scolar: At this stage, the character's knowledge marks him/her among the brightest minds in their chosen profession. The character gains a +4 to all profession checks. This stacks with the bonus for scolarful aspect. The character also gains an additional +2 to any diplomacy checks, when dealing with those aware of the characters exploits. Legendary Sage: When a sage reaches the 20th level, the character literally becomes an authority in their chosen field(s). Other than possible fame for such a raiting, the character may take 10 every skill he has instantly, and take 20 for his chosen speclizations. So tell me what you think?