Black Powder Mage [PEACH] [Archive] - Wizards Community

Black Powder Mage [PEACH] [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gideon_Gideonson
01-02-08, 10:19 PM BLACK POWDER MAGE

http://images.elfwood.com/fanq/r/a/randy78/rifleman.jpg

“That be a damn gud fireball there, laddie…but step ye aside. I’ve got sommat t’will rattle ‘is very bones.”
-Brak Fiedalbak, Black Powder Mage

Black Powder Mages are earthly mages, those without arcane power of any sort. Yet their skill with firearms is almost magical, and thus the name was born. In the hands of a Black Powder Mage a simple gun becomes an incredible instrument of death and destruction, and woe betide the one who makes an enemy of a mage.

The rest of the class is located HERE (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3742075#post3742075) to protect it from the new Wizards posting rules. Please stop by and check it out...comments are welcome on either thread.
Talisman
01-02-08, 10:36 PM I tried the link, but no go...it looks like you've linked to the "edit" version (based on the "editpost.php" I'm seeing). Gimme a clean link and I'll take a look!
Gideon_Gideonson
01-02-08, 10:40 PM Ah. My bad. It's all fixed now. :D
ExpansionRod
01-03-08, 01:48 AM Really liking the flavor of the class but there's only one thing I dont really understand; the range increments? How much is the 1st 2nd and 3rd "increments"? Is it something like 30, 60, 90 ft. respectively?

An additional thought (curiosity) - you only get one attack per round (due to the BAB, that is) since you need to reload the weapon, right?
Gideon_Gideonson
01-03-08, 01:53 AM Yep. Standard ranged attack rules. The weapon's range is the range increment, and ranged weapons fire up to 10 range increments.

0-30ft is 3d10 damage
31-60ft is 2d10 damage
61-300ft is 1d10 damage

That help clarify things for you?

EDIT: Yes, you only get one attack per round (two with Blast ‘em wit’ Both Barrels), but it's balanced by high damage and a host of area attacks/effects. :D
Gideon_Gideonson
01-04-08, 11:51 AM *Bump*

Come on...I know it's on another site, but if anyone could take a look and leave a response it would be amazing. I intend to use this soon and want it to be as balanced as possible.

Thanks in advance!
ExpansionRod
01-04-08, 01:21 PM I read the comments and I believe, if anything (according to the damage output you stated), it should be slightly buffed. If a pure damage class is getting "outdamaged" by a half-decent fighter, then there is something wrong. I really want to try this class out though, but my DM has had many problems in the past few days...
Rikandur_Azebol
01-04-08, 02:39 PM Nice thing. What kind of damage is Bluderbuss causing ? Bludgeoning, piercing and/or fire ?
Gideon_Gideonson
01-04-08, 05:27 PM The Blunderbuss deals piercing damage, as does the pistol.
ExpansionRod
01-04-08, 09:00 PM I'm slightly confused... again... At 20th level, if you choose to do a "full-round" attack, does that mean he shoots the blunderbuss 4 times (due to the BAB), or up to a maximum of 2 (2 standard actions, 2 free reloads...)? If not, then I'm assuming the BAB is for the sake of melee weapons?

...or 1 blunderbuss shot, 3 pistol shots? :P

If you could recommend feats and the like to boost up the damage, I'd also appreciate that since tomorrow I'm actually implementing this class on a campaign to sort of playtest it. (if it's alright with you)
sally_jones
01-04-08, 09:09 PM im running a steampunk campaign soon and this class rocks. would it sit well with you if i made it avaiable to my players?
Gideon_Gideonson
01-04-08, 09:45 PM All playtests are VERY much appreciated, and if you could tell me any and all problems/balance issues that come up I'd be very grateful.

With regards to the 20th level ability...you make any number of attacks, up to one per opponent in range, each at your highest BaB. That's it. :D

BaB is really only there for pistols and melee weapons, since (outside of Flingin' Lead and Black Powder Mage) you only get one shot/round with your Blunderbuss.

That clear things up?

As for damage increasing feats, I'm not sure they're necessary. It's a high damage class (it deals good damage, although not comparable to a solid full-attack from a fighter who knows what he's doing), but if playtests show that it needs still more of a boost, I'll work out some feats/etc to help it along. :D I think that the class's other abilities will compensate for the bit it might lag behind in terms of raw power. The only feat advice I can give is to think about picking up Quick Draw and packing some pistols to allow you to have the ability to fire every round (as you have to use a round to reload your Blunderbuss, having some pre-loaded pistols as backup is a pretty good idea).
ExpansionRod
01-04-08, 09:54 PM Well, my worry is that you keep saying that fighters can out damage this "Damage" class...

Aside from that; since I've never truly played a non-caster ranged class, it would really help me if I knew certain feats to take to pretty much just help me out. :D

Edit: Would choosing a Warforged as a race also sort of fit the theme of this class? :P What do you think?
Gideon_Gideonson
01-04-08, 10:09 PM A damage focused Fighter can outdamage them easily, but I'm hesitant to fix anything until I see some tests of the class. After all, it's easier to add damage and abilities than it is to decide which ones to remove. :D

If you run into damage problems, alert me and I'll do some tweaking to bring it up to par.

As for feats, Quick Draw is a solid choice for the reasons stated above. Things like Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot are usually pretty standard, and Far Shot wouldn't go amiss for increasing those pesky range increments (allowing you to deal 3d10 damage out to 45ft instead of 30). I'd take Quick Draw and Point Blank Shot (and then Precise Shot) as soon as possible, as Quick Draw will help you a TON early on, and Precise Shot allows you to fire more accurately into a melee. When you get the option (probably around level 9, as Quick Draw, Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot will probably be your first three feats), consider Ranged Sunder, given your high damage potential. Aside from that, you're pretty much free to pick anything you desire. :D

And Warforged would probably fit quite well depending on the campaign world. I see no reason it wouldn't fit perfectly.
Gideon_Gideonson
01-05-08, 11:43 PM Bumping one more time, as more critique is never a bad thing. :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gideon_Gideonson 01-02-08, 10:19 PM	BLACK POWDER MAGE http://images.elfwood.com/fanq/r/a/randy78/rifleman.jpg “That be a damn gud fireball there, laddie…but step ye aside. I’ve got sommat t’will rattle ‘is very bones.” -Brak Fiedalbak, Black Powder Mage Black Powder Mages are earthly mages, those without arcane power of any sort. Yet their skill with firearms is almost magical, and thus the name was born. In the hands of a Black Powder Mage a simple gun becomes an incredible instrument of death and destruction, and woe betide the one who makes an enemy of a mage. The rest of the class is located HERE (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3742075#post3742075) to protect it from the new Wizards posting rules. Please stop by and check it out...comments are welcome on either thread.
Talisman 01-02-08, 10:36 PM	I tried the link, but no go...it looks like you've linked to the "edit" version (based on the "editpost.php" I'm seeing). Gimme a clean link and I'll take a look!
Gideon_Gideonson 01-02-08, 10:40 PM	Ah. My bad. It's all fixed now. :D
ExpansionRod 01-03-08, 01:48 AM	Really liking the flavor of the class but there's only one thing I dont really understand; the range increments? How much is the 1st 2nd and 3rd "increments"? Is it something like 30, 60, 90 ft. respectively? An additional thought (curiosity) - you only get one attack per round (due to the BAB, that is) since you need to reload the weapon, right?
Gideon_Gideonson 01-03-08, 01:53 AM	Yep. Standard ranged attack rules. The weapon's range is the range increment, and ranged weapons fire up to 10 range increments. 0-30ft is 3d10 damage 31-60ft is 2d10 damage 61-300ft is 1d10 damage That help clarify things for you? EDIT: Yes, you only get one attack per round (two with Blast ‘em wit’ Both Barrels), but it's balanced by high damage and a host of area attacks/effects. :D
Gideon_Gideonson 01-04-08, 11:51 AM	Bump Come on...I know it's on another site, but if anyone could take a look and leave a response it would be amazing. I intend to use this soon and want it to be as balanced as possible. Thanks in advance!
ExpansionRod 01-04-08, 01:21 PM	I read the comments and I believe, if anything (according to the damage output you stated), it should be slightly buffed. If a pure damage class is getting "outdamaged" by a half-decent fighter, then there is something wrong. I really want to try this class out though, but my DM has had many problems in the past few days...
Rikandur_Azebol 01-04-08, 02:39 PM	Nice thing. What kind of damage is Bluderbuss causing ? Bludgeoning, piercing and/or fire ?
Gideon_Gideonson 01-04-08, 05:27 PM	The Blunderbuss deals piercing damage, as does the pistol.
ExpansionRod 01-04-08, 09:00 PM	I'm slightly confused... again... At 20th level, if you choose to do a "full-round" attack, does that mean he shoots the blunderbuss 4 times (due to the BAB), or up to a maximum of 2 (2 standard actions, 2 free reloads...)? If not, then I'm assuming the BAB is for the sake of melee weapons? ...or 1 blunderbuss shot, 3 pistol shots? :P If you could recommend feats and the like to boost up the damage, I'd also appreciate that since tomorrow I'm actually implementing this class on a campaign to sort of playtest it. (if it's alright with you)
sally_jones 01-04-08, 09:09 PM	im running a steampunk campaign soon and this class rocks. would it sit well with you if i made it avaiable to my players?
Gideon_Gideonson 01-04-08, 09:45 PM	All playtests are VERY much appreciated, and if you could tell me any and all problems/balance issues that come up I'd be very grateful. With regards to the 20th level ability...you make any number of attacks, up to one per opponent in range, each at your highest BaB. That's it. :D BaB is really only there for pistols and melee weapons, since (outside of Flingin' Lead and Black Powder Mage) you only get one shot/round with your Blunderbuss. That clear things up? As for damage increasing feats, I'm not sure they're necessary. It's a high damage class (it deals good damage, although not comparable to a solid full-attack from a fighter who knows what he's doing), but if playtests show that it needs still more of a boost, I'll work out some feats/etc to help it along. :D I think that the class's other abilities will compensate for the bit it might lag behind in terms of raw power. The only feat advice I can give is to think about picking up Quick Draw and packing some pistols to allow you to have the ability to fire every round (as you have to use a round to reload your Blunderbuss, having some pre-loaded pistols as backup is a pretty good idea).
ExpansionRod 01-04-08, 09:54 PM	Well, my worry is that you keep saying that fighters can out damage this "Damage" class... Aside from that; since I've never truly played a non-caster ranged class, it would really help me if I knew certain feats to take to pretty much just help me out. :D Edit: Would choosing a Warforged as a race also sort of fit the theme of this class? :P What do you think?
Gideon_Gideonson 01-04-08, 10:09 PM	A damage focused Fighter can outdamage them easily, but I'm hesitant to fix anything until I see some tests of the class. After all, it's easier to add damage and abilities than it is to decide which ones to remove. :D If you run into damage problems, alert me and I'll do some tweaking to bring it up to par. As for feats, Quick Draw is a solid choice for the reasons stated above. Things like Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot are usually pretty standard, and Far Shot wouldn't go amiss for increasing those pesky range increments (allowing you to deal 3d10 damage out to 45ft instead of 30). I'd take Quick Draw and Point Blank Shot (and then Precise Shot) as soon as possible, as Quick Draw will help you a TON early on, and Precise Shot allows you to fire more accurately into a melee. When you get the option (probably around level 9, as Quick Draw, Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot will probably be your first three feats), consider Ranged Sunder, given your high damage potential. Aside from that, you're pretty much free to pick anything you desire. :D And Warforged would probably fit quite well depending on the campaign world. I see no reason it wouldn't fit perfectly.
Gideon_Gideonson 01-05-08, 11:43 PM	Bumping one more time, as more critique is never a bad thing. :D