Barrakka, Wolverine, Guyver, retractable blades class [Archive] - Wizards Community

Barrakka, Wolverine, Guyver, retractable blades class [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Omya
06-21-05, 05:00 AM All this talk about a non-psionic, or naturally-bladed fighter has started me thinking about if it would be possible to create a base class that uses some sort of retractable weapons?

Unfortunatley, I have no confidence when it comes to creating a new class, so anyone with class making experience care to have a go?

Mechanically, I see this simular to the soulknife but without the ability to throw his blade and not so magical?

Fluff-wise this class could be spawned by a special kind of ritual that is performed upon any race, leaving them with retractable claws, elbow blades, raptor talons (whatever flavour of slicers the player or DM wishes to have for their character).

You could even throw in a healing ability too!
Creeg
06-21-05, 05:31 AM In 2nd Edition they had a monster called a Bionode (I think) that was basically the Guyver. Knee and elbow spikes, body armor. Thinks like that if you could find the stats for that(it's in the old Spelljammer Compendium, the binder one) revamp it into 3.5 and well you'd have the race free to take any class. Race would have a high level adjustment but if you could level in the race like it talks about in savage species (again I think) it would work out nicely. Aquire the Gem slowly gain it's powers...

Hmm it wasn't really a race but... well it's a start..

Edit... Something along the lines of a PrC that advanced like a greenstar adept might work too
D.K.R.
06-21-05, 01:37 PM I'd think a race or racial template would be the best way to go with that - it isn't really a class type of thing. Alternately, a PrC could work too...
TwistedShadow
06-21-05, 06:55 PM I would have to agree with it being a race or a prestige class
If you were going to go with a prestige I might recommend the following requirements.
Improved Unarmed feat <or> Exotic Proficency Bladed guantlet
and +4 or +5 base attack

I would mold it on the concept of a warrior character who undergoes a ritual that grafts bladed guantlets to them, I would not make the Retractable option immediately available, but it should come into play fairly quickly. Depending on your flavor, I might have the PrC progression start to develop more blades or larger ones (like the elbow blades). If you going with the Logan flavor I would also introduce somekind of regeneration and or damage reduction. But If your going to do that I recommend putting the Faster Healing feat (Unearthed Arcana) in the requirements as well.

If you really must have the character have the blades from first level, think about doing it as a template that can be added to the character, on that Note if your looking to do it as minimal as possible don't do any change in ability scores from the base race and simply add that they are the product of some twisted experament that has grafted the weapon(s) into their body, I would very much recommend that you take some care about this though and provide somekind of baseline idea for either regenerating the weapons or having them made from something like Admamantine so that they have a high hardness and HP for the blades themselves because it would be next to impossible to reforge one of these retractable grafted weapons. So it would really be sad to build a character on this idea and then have someone sunder the weapon and have no way of getting it repaired or replaced. :)
Drakos
06-21-05, 07:13 PM I have actually done a class similar to this for v3.0. The Idea was a agility based warrior type that specialized in fighting using natuarl weapons or weapons that enulated natural weapons (Bladed Gauntlets, Katar, Whip etc...). He didn't gain the retractable ability but you could emulate this effect with the 3rd level Assassin spell Absorb Weapon. You could enchant the weapon to have the absorb weapon as a special property.

I never really finished the class nor did I get to play test it instead I went with a Scout 10/Tempest 5/Thief Acrobat 5 character to do a Wolverine clone. I had him go with the Panthers Claw weapon instead of Bladed Gauntlets, but they are similar weapons. He ended up with 3 primary hand attacks and 3 secondary attacks with NO two-weapon penalties. He also gets +3d6 damage and +3 AC when he moves at least 10' in a round. With the Two-weapon Spring Attack he can run in do two attacks and run back out gaining +3d6 on both attacks. He has Camoflague(sp?) from Scout but not the Hide in Plain Sight (needed more Scout for that).
Rulebook
06-21-05, 07:55 PM cant Psions and PsyWar's do that kind of stuff?
Angel Black
06-22-05, 11:38 AM Guyver and Wolverine seem to be Prestige (the adamiantum and alien things), and I think Baraka is a core class guy.

But anyway the retractable blades can be given as either class feature or as a racial trait.

To use this as core class look at the monk, and use some of that stuff, also make a good background that explains how anyone can get this.

Also check Lycanthropes info (were-tiger,were-lion) and check out how do they use those claws.
ReadError
06-22-05, 11:44 AM Check my sig ! :D
Lyinginbedmon
06-22-05, 01:19 PM My Wizard character, Morganth, isn't human, but he does have powerful blades in his arms that are useable only when he's on 5% health.

The rules go like this:
Masterwork Natural Arm Blades 19-20/x2
2d6 +1 per level.
When used in battle will temporarily reduce the character's hp by dropping the Con bonus to hp by 1 every 5 character levels, level 1 counting as the first (-1 for being level 1-4, -2 for 5-9, -3 for 10-14, etc.). The Con of the character is still the same in respect to every other angle, except the hp.

Feel free to alter this mix (Preferably to weaken them since these were created by an extremely powerful psychopath who also turned his own 8-yr old daughter into the Tarrasque)
D.K.R.
06-22-05, 01:37 PM Okay, if you're a wizard and have, say... 12 Constitution, and get an average of 3/4 hit points from rolls (3/level, better than the normal average of 2.5/level)...

3rd level you have 12 hit points. 5% of 12 is .06, so say 1 hit point left before you can use them? Then they immediately drop your Con 1, losing 3 hit points, and dropping you to -2?

6th level, you have 24 hit points. 5% of 24 is 1.2, or 1 hit point left still before you can use them... but now they drop you by 2 points of con - still 1/level but you lose 6hp, down to -5 as soon as you use them?

12th level, you have 48 hit points. 5% is 2.4, or 2 hit points... now you drop to 9 con, and lose half your hitpoints, 24... putting you at -22 as soon as you try to use them.

20th level, you have 80 hit points. 5% is an even 4. You use them and lose 40 hit points from con loss (con drops to 8, costing 2hp/level), putting you at -36 hit points.

So... your blades kill you as soon as you try to use them at higher levels, and knock you out as soon as you try to use them at low levels?

[Edit - another example]

Even with 18 Con and maximum hit points per level, giving you 8hp at each level, you'd still come out horribly. At 5th level you can't use them until you're down to 2 hit points (5% of 40), and then you lose 5 hit points as soon as you use them, dropping you to -3. At 8th level you can't use them until you are at 3 or less (5% of 64), and you lose 8 hit points as soon as you use them.

You'd start dying at 10th level, where you can use them at 4 hit points or less (5% of 80), and lose 20 hit points (-2/level from 3 con loss) as soon as you use them.
narukagami
06-22-05, 02:12 PM My Wizard character, Morganth, isn't human, but he does have powerful blades in his arms that are useable only when he's on 5% health.

The rules go like this:
Masterwork Natural Arm Blades 19-20/x2
2d6 +1 per level.
When used in battle will temporarily reduce the character's hp by dropping the Con bonus to hp by 1 every 5 character levels, level 1 counting as the first (-1 for being level 1-4, -2 for 5-9, -3 for 10-14, etc.). The Con of the character is still the same in respect to every other angle, except the hp.
See D.K.R.'s post as to why this is pure idiocy. Also, these blades are on par with a greatsword. A two handed weapon about as tall as a man in each arm? I wouldn't let them go passed flat 1d6 at the most But thats the opinion of someone with a sense of balance.

... extremely powerful psychopath who also turned his own 8-yr old daughter into the Tarrasque) ...no comment, as they say, if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. :rolleyes:
Crispy_Spellthief
06-22-05, 03:30 PM Guyver and Wolverine seem to be Prestige (the adamiantum and alien things), and I think Baraka is a core class guy.

Actually, the arm blades for everybody's favorite bald bladed Mortal Kombatant is a racial trait. It's all part of his tarkatan blood (Mileena doesn't have them since she's only half-Tarkatan.)

Indeed, the best way for these arm blades is either racial template or Prestige class, with a special requirement involving some kind of method of getting the blades placed in your arms.. maybe alien artifact or special procedure done by a specific NPC...

Of course, you could just make a special weapon where the blades hide within special gauntlets, and can be retracted or brought out with a clench of the wrist.. then you can make a PrC where characters have the option of proficiency with the weapon, or undergoing the procedure.. naturally, those who undergo the procedure would get a few.. extra bonuses, if they survive (the procedure would be like that of the Acolyte of the Skin's Ritual of Bonding, where the character needs to survive in order to become part of the class.)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Omya 06-21-05, 05:00 AM	All this talk about a non-psionic, or naturally-bladed fighter has started me thinking about if it would be possible to create a base class that uses some sort of retractable weapons? Unfortunatley, I have no confidence when it comes to creating a new class, so anyone with class making experience care to have a go? Mechanically, I see this simular to the soulknife but without the ability to throw his blade and not so magical? Fluff-wise this class could be spawned by a special kind of ritual that is performed upon any race, leaving them with retractable claws, elbow blades, raptor talons (whatever flavour of slicers the player or DM wishes to have for their character). You could even throw in a healing ability too!
Creeg 06-21-05, 05:31 AM	In 2nd Edition they had a monster called a Bionode (I think) that was basically the Guyver. Knee and elbow spikes, body armor. Thinks like that if you could find the stats for that(it's in the old Spelljammer Compendium, the binder one) revamp it into 3.5 and well you'd have the race free to take any class. Race would have a high level adjustment but if you could level in the race like it talks about in savage species (again I think) it would work out nicely. Aquire the Gem slowly gain it's powers... Hmm it wasn't really a race but... well it's a start.. Edit... Something along the lines of a PrC that advanced like a greenstar adept might work too
D.K.R. 06-21-05, 01:37 PM	I'd think a race or racial template would be the best way to go with that - it isn't really a class type of thing. Alternately, a PrC could work too...
TwistedShadow 06-21-05, 06:55 PM	I would have to agree with it being a race or a prestige class If you were going to go with a prestige I might recommend the following requirements. Improved Unarmed feat <or> Exotic Proficency Bladed guantlet and +4 or +5 base attack I would mold it on the concept of a warrior character who undergoes a ritual that grafts bladed guantlets to them, I would not make the Retractable option immediately available, but it should come into play fairly quickly. Depending on your flavor, I might have the PrC progression start to develop more blades or larger ones (like the elbow blades). If you going with the Logan flavor I would also introduce somekind of regeneration and or damage reduction. But If your going to do that I recommend putting the Faster Healing feat (Unearthed Arcana) in the requirements as well. If you really must have the character have the blades from first level, think about doing it as a template that can be added to the character, on that Note if your looking to do it as minimal as possible don't do any change in ability scores from the base race and simply add that they are the product of some twisted experament that has grafted the weapon(s) into their body, I would very much recommend that you take some care about this though and provide somekind of baseline idea for either regenerating the weapons or having them made from something like Admamantine so that they have a high hardness and HP for the blades themselves because it would be next to impossible to reforge one of these retractable grafted weapons. So it would really be sad to build a character on this idea and then have someone sunder the weapon and have no way of getting it repaired or replaced. :)
Drakos 06-21-05, 07:13 PM	I have actually done a class similar to this for v3.0. The Idea was a agility based warrior type that specialized in fighting using natuarl weapons or weapons that enulated natural weapons (Bladed Gauntlets, Katar, Whip etc...). He didn't gain the retractable ability but you could emulate this effect with the 3rd level Assassin spell Absorb Weapon. You could enchant the weapon to have the absorb weapon as a special property. I never really finished the class nor did I get to play test it instead I went with a Scout 10/Tempest 5/Thief Acrobat 5 character to do a Wolverine clone. I had him go with the Panthers Claw weapon instead of Bladed Gauntlets, but they are similar weapons. He ended up with 3 primary hand attacks and 3 secondary attacks with NO two-weapon penalties. He also gets +3d6 damage and +3 AC when he moves at least 10' in a round. With the Two-weapon Spring Attack he can run in do two attacks and run back out gaining +3d6 on both attacks. He has Camoflague(sp?) from Scout but not the Hide in Plain Sight (needed more Scout for that).
Rulebook 06-21-05, 07:55 PM	cant Psions and PsyWar's do that kind of stuff?
Angel Black 06-22-05, 11:38 AM	Guyver and Wolverine seem to be Prestige (the adamiantum and alien things), and I think Baraka is a core class guy. But anyway the retractable blades can be given as either class feature or as a racial trait. To use this as core class look at the monk, and use some of that stuff, also make a good background that explains how anyone can get this. Also check Lycanthropes info (were-tiger,were-lion) and check out how do they use those claws.
ReadError 06-22-05, 11:44 AM	Check my sig ! :D
Lyinginbedmon 06-22-05, 01:19 PM	My Wizard character, Morganth, isn't human, but he does have powerful blades in his arms that are useable only when he's on 5% health. The rules go like this: Masterwork Natural Arm Blades 19-20/x2 2d6 +1 per level. When used in battle will temporarily reduce the character's hp by dropping the Con bonus to hp by 1 every 5 character levels, level 1 counting as the first (-1 for being level 1-4, -2 for 5-9, -3 for 10-14, etc.). The Con of the character is still the same in respect to every other angle, except the hp. Feel free to alter this mix (Preferably to weaken them since these were created by an extremely powerful psychopath who also turned his own 8-yr old daughter into the Tarrasque)
D.K.R. 06-22-05, 01:37 PM	Okay, if you're a wizard and have, say... 12 Constitution, and get an average of 3/4 hit points from rolls (3/level, better than the normal average of 2.5/level)... 3rd level you have 12 hit points. 5% of 12 is .06, so say 1 hit point left before you can use them? Then they immediately drop your Con 1, losing 3 hit points, and dropping you to -2? 6th level, you have 24 hit points. 5% of 24 is 1.2, or 1 hit point left still before you can use them... but now they drop you by 2 points of con - still 1/level but you lose 6hp, down to -5 as soon as you use them? 12th level, you have 48 hit points. 5% is 2.4, or 2 hit points... now you drop to 9 con, and lose half your hitpoints, 24... putting you at -22 as soon as you try to use them. 20th level, you have 80 hit points. 5% is an even 4. You use them and lose 40 hit points from con loss (con drops to 8, costing 2hp/level), putting you at -36 hit points. So... your blades kill you as soon as you try to use them at higher levels, and knock you out as soon as you try to use them at low levels? [Edit - another example] Even with 18 Con and maximum hit points per level, giving you 8hp at each level, you'd still come out horribly. At 5th level you can't use them until you're down to 2 hit points (5% of 40), and then you lose 5 hit points as soon as you use them, dropping you to -3. At 8th level you can't use them until you are at 3 or less (5% of 64), and you lose 8 hit points as soon as you use them. You'd start dying at 10th level, where you can use them at 4 hit points or less (5% of 80), and lose 20 hit points (-2/level from 3 con loss) as soon as you use them.
narukagami 06-22-05, 02:12 PM	My Wizard character, Morganth, isn't human, but he does have powerful blades in his arms that are useable only when he's on 5% health. The rules go like this: Masterwork Natural Arm Blades 19-20/x2 2d6 +1 per level. When used in battle will temporarily reduce the character's hp by dropping the Con bonus to hp by 1 every 5 character levels, level 1 counting as the first (-1 for being level 1-4, -2 for 5-9, -3 for 10-14, etc.). The Con of the character is still the same in respect to every other angle, except the hp. See D.K.R.'s post as to why this is pure idiocy. Also, these blades are on par with a greatsword. A two handed weapon about as tall as a man in each arm? I wouldn't let them go passed flat 1d6 at the most But thats the opinion of someone with a sense of balance. ... extremely powerful psychopath who also turned his own 8-yr old daughter into the Tarrasque) ...no comment, as they say, if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. :rolleyes:
Crispy_Spellthief 06-22-05, 03:30 PM	Guyver and Wolverine seem to be Prestige (the adamiantum and alien things), and I think Baraka is a core class guy. Actually, the arm blades for everybody's favorite bald bladed Mortal Kombatant is a racial trait. It's all part of his tarkatan blood (Mileena doesn't have them since she's only half-Tarkatan.) Indeed, the best way for these arm blades is either racial template or Prestige class, with a special requirement involving some kind of method of getting the blades placed in your arms.. maybe alien artifact or special procedure done by a specific NPC... Of course, you could just make a special weapon where the blades hide within special gauntlets, and can be retracted or brought out with a clench of the wrist.. then you can make a PrC where characters have the option of proficiency with the weapon, or undergoing the procedure.. naturally, those who undergo the procedure would get a few.. extra bonuses, if they survive (the procedure would be like that of the Acolyte of the Skin's Ritual of Bonding, where the character needs to survive in order to become part of the class.)