Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jonrea 05-23-06, 06:01 PM	Alrighty, so this is my first stab at making a class. A master of the wooden sword who uses secret techniques. The class focuses on speed and it's techniques. It is supposed to be assassin-esqe and geared to basically be a beast in one-on-one combat. The character strikes and ends the battle as soon as possible. I've had a bit of difficulty coming up with a proper name, and I came up with them from my rather poor, mangled knowledge of the Japanese language: Bokkensai, Bokkujutsu Master, etc. So, need help there. Anyway, here is what I have so far: EDIT: I think I'm happy with Bokkensai, a combination of 'bokken' and 'kensai'. I'm sure anyone with a decent knowledge of Japanese wants to scratch out there eyes at that, so tell me a better name if you can. Aligment: Any Lawful Hit Die: d8 Lvl BAB Fort Ref Will Abilities 1. +1 +0 +2 +0 Bokken Mastery, Sudden Strike +1d6, Secret Technique 1, Dodge+1 2. +2 +0 +3 +0 Evasion 3. +3 +1 +3 +1 Dodge+2 4. +4 +1 +4 +1 Sudden Strike +2d6, Secret Technique 2 5. +5 +1 +4 +1 6. +6 +2 +5 +2 Dodge+3 7. +7 +2 +5 +2 Sudden Strike +3d6 8. +8 +2 +6 +2 Secret Technique 3 9. +9 +3 +6 +3 Dodge+4 10. +10 +3 +7 +3 Sudden Strike +4d6, 11. +11 +3 +7 +3 12. +12 +4 +8 +4 Improved Evasion, Secret Technique 4, Dodge+5 13. +13 +4 +8 +4 Sudden Strike +5d6 14. +14 +4 +9 +4 15. +15 +5 +9 +5 Dodge+6 16. +16 +5 +10 +5 Sudden Strike +6d6, Secret Technique 5 17. +17 +5 +10 +5 18. +18 +6 +11 +6 Dodge+7 19. +19 +6 +11 +6 Sudden Strike +7d6 20. +20 +6 +12 +6 Secret Technique 6 Class Features Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Simple Weapon Proficiency and isn't proficient with any armor or shield. Unable to use ranged weapons. Class Skills: Balance(Dex), Climb(Str), Hide(Dex), Intimade(Cha), Jump(Str), Listen(Wis), Move Silently(Dex), Spot(Wis), Survival(Wis), Swim(Str), and Tumble(Dex). Skill Points per Level: 4 x (4+int mod) at first level, 4+int mod every level after. Bokken Mastery You've studied and learned the techniques to use the Bokken, a wooden sword. Usually a weapon reserved for pacifists and those wishing to subdue but not kill, in your hands it is just as deadly as any blade. In your pursuit of mastering the bokken, you have neglected ranged combat, instead relying on your speed and mastery to do the job for you. A bokken is a two-handed sword that deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage and has a critical range of 20/x2. Dodge Bonus The Bokkensai gains the feat Dodge. At every third level the bonus given by Dodge increases by 1. The bonus can be distributed as you choose over your opponents. Secret Techniques In the pursuit and study of the bokken, you have mastered secret techniques that make you more deadly. These techniques are considered supernatual abilities and are only useable with the bokken. 1. Improved Speed: You're training has developed your body to great speed. At 1st level, you gain the ability to move faster than most people, gaining +10 to your base land speed and +2 to your initiative. At level 10 the bonus to speed increases to +20 and the bonus to initiative increases to +4. 2. Sonic Attack: Your speed with the bokken allows you to deliver attacks at a distance. As a standard action, you may make a ranged touch attack at any opponent within 10 feet per level, dealing damage equal to 1d8+ your sudden strike dice. This deals sonic damage and can be used once every 5 rounds. The sudden strike dice apply to creatures that are normally immune to criticals, but not to incorporeal creatures. 3. Empowered Charge: Whenever you make a charge attack, you must continue to move through your opponent's square up to any distance, but not farther than you are allowed to move. When you use this ability, you add your sudden strike dice to the attack. This ability is can be used once every 5 rounds. The sudden strike dice don't apply against creatures immune to criticals. 4. Destructive Strike: Your skill in the bokken has given you the ability to destroy any obstacle that stands in your way. You ignore hardness when attacking objects and attacks made with your bokken are considered adamantine for purposes of overcoming damage reduction. 5. ? 6. ? Note: If the Bokkensai dons armor or changes his alignment from lawful, he loses the ability to use his secret techniques and loses his dodge bonus. I'm going to add the background and flavor to the class once I finish making the abilities. As you can see, I'm unsure of what to do for the last secret technique (help?), and I'm unsure if I should keep the order as is, change it, or let the player pick a technique from a pool of techniques. Also, I may cut the light armor and buckler proficiency, as the class is designed to end the battle in one or two strikes, and avoid getting hit in combat. Plus, it would enable the class to jump like a monk, which actually is rather useful. EDIT: I did cut the armor proficiency. Thanks in advance and please be gentle.
Shedeo 05-23-06, 07:27 PM	Well, I will say that while the class looks nice, it looks somewhat,... Bland. But being a big fan of Suzuka, here's what I would suggest. Drop the light armor and buckler proficiency, and grant them a bonus to their AC along with their wisdom modifier, just like a monk. Also, somewhat taking a hint from the Iaijutsu master, I'd say that perhaps one of their secret techniques allows them to apply their Sudden Strike damage to the first attack they make with their bokken immediately after drawing the weapon. For the Fourth secret technique, you could consider giving them an ability to ignore harness instead. Just a few hopefully helpful suggestions.
Jonrea 05-23-06, 10:13 PM	Yeah, Sazuka definitely inspired this And I was thinking about giving this class cumulative dodge bonuses like the swashbuckler, and also the monk's bonus to ac. But AC isn't very fun, so do you have any suggestion about making it less bland? Is it the lack of abilities new abilities or what?
Damon_Caskey 05-23-06, 11:22 PM	I like the concept. You might want to note however, a Bokken is primarily a practice weapon, it is not particularly useful to subdue, as in many cases it is nearly lethal as a live blade, just lacking the tensile strength. I say this because it makes you master seem even better, using a practice implement as a powerful weapon for putting foot to a**. But enough of that, there is a small problem I see mechanically, and that is Sonic Strike. A ranged touch attack for a Full BAB character is all but a guaranteed hit, and scoring sneak attack damage even to something immune is a bit much, even with the use limitation. Remove the immunity busting and it should be fine. I see the logic of sonic waves bypassing critical resistance, but one can argue that even sonic pulses cannot critical against something like a cube that has nothing to crit. Logically it could be either way, but balance should take precedence. It does need tweaking, but is a great start. I see some real potential here, good job! Cheers, Damon Caskey
Fuzzy_Logic 05-23-06, 11:51 PM	Why? What does this class do? why not just play a fighter, or rogue, or CAdv ninja, and give him a bokken? or allow monks bokken proficiency and flurry of blows? if you are REALLY attached to some of the special techniques, make a PrC.
WhiteHarness 05-24-06, 02:02 AM	I don't think a bokken could really hurt anyone in rigid armour. I mean, it's kinda like a club, but doesn't have the proper mass distribution...
The_Normal_Anomaly 05-24-06, 07:50 AM	*Ominous whispers* ...anime...
Jonrea 05-24-06, 04:23 PM	WhiteHarness: I did think about that, and have two points: 1. bokkens are more manageable and precise than clubs and 2. the Bokkensai damages people the same way a monk striking with his fists does: he hits them where it hurts, most notably joints. Armor doesn't give complete protection, because it if did you wouldn't be able to move. I did lower the bokken's damage to 1d6 and made the critical 20/x2 since it is an awkward weapon to use against someone in armor. The_Normal_Anomaly: yeah, it was inspired by an anime character. It shouldn't come as a surprise, as we are all dorks here and DnD dorks have as much rights to be anime dorks as anyone else. If you are saying 'anime' to describe my class as unrealistic, no offense, but sit back and look at DnD as a whole and tell me how much realistics you see. Okay, changes I've made to the class: 1. I've changed the number of techniques. Looking back, I forget why I did that, but it probably had to do with filling in gaps. I'm flexible on changing it back to just five techniques. 2. I've changed the Improved Speed technique to also give an initiative bonus. 3. Destructive Strike was changed to ignore hardness and is considered adamantium to overcome DR. 4. I dropped the armor and buckler proficiency for a dodge bonus. I toyed with the idea of using the monk's AC bonus instead, but decided against it as the Bokkensai focuses on speed and skill, not physical perfection. Still unsure of: 1. Sonic Attack. Yeah, as it stands it may be broken with the ability to deal sudden strike damage to creatures immune to critical, and as noted above it is a ranged touch attack in a full BAB class. 2. Skills and Skill Points: I'm not uncomfortable with the setup, but also not sure if this is alright or not. 3. Overpowered? The Bokkensai seems to be getting a lot of abilities for a full BAB class, even for it's drawbacks. So yes, thanks for the advice and keep it coming please.
The_Normal_Anomaly 05-24-06, 07:49 PM	I myself am a fan of select anime shows. I was only poking a bit of fun at all the talk of anime-D&D after re-reading the "101 benefits of weilding a katana" thread. I have an easier time with this class than the monk, as far as realism goes. I haven't seen the show in question, but I think that the class doesn't look bad as is.