Post/Author/DateTime	Post
aka_tarquin 09-26-07, 02:24 PM	If we assume that there are two kinds of people - those who like the Tome of Battle and those who do not - then I am one of the former. However, it's certainly not perfect - issues of mechanics and flavor aside, the Martial Lore skill to some extent and the Martial Scripts in particular seems useless and redundant compared to the rest of the book. I personally found the idea of a martial adept who depended on these items instead of personal knowledge intriguing... and a fighter-character who was also a crafter (beyond just having ranks in a craft skill) seemed at least original and interesting on its own. I had some free time off today, so on a whim I decided to write a PrC around the concept. The Master of Ninefold Calligraphy, a.k.a. Script Adept Entry Requirements: Skills: Craft (Calligraphy) 6 ranks, Martial Lore 9 ranks. Feats: Skill Focus (Martial Lore). Martial maneuvers: Must know at least two maneuvers. Special: Must receive training from a Script Master of at least 4th level, or acquire a Scroll of Heaven and Earth. Table: Script Adept Hit die: d10 Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special 1st +1 +0 +0 +2 Script Mastery (creation), Scribe Martial Script 2nd +2 +0 +0 +3 Initiate of Heaven and Earth, Script Versatility 1/day 3rd +3 +1 +1 +3 Script Mastery (duration), Scribble 3/day 4th +4 +1 +1 +4 Efficient Scribe (materials) 5th +5 +1 +1 +4 Script Mastery (power) 6th +6/+1 +2 +2 +5 Script Versatility 2/day, Scribble 4/day 7th +7/+2 +2 +2 +5 Script Mastery (activation) 8th +8/+3 +2 +2 +6 Efficient Scribe (time) 9th +9/+4 +3 +3 +6 Script Mastery (potential), Scribble 5/day 10th +10/+5 +3 +3 +7 Script Versatility 3/day, Scroll of Heaven and Earth Class skills (4 + Int modifier per level): Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Forgery (Int), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (local) (Int), Martial Lore (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex). CLASS FEATURES Script Mastery: The Script Adept is not an actual master of the Sublime Way; this class does not grant a full initiator level increase, and she doesn't learn additional maneuvers or stances as they progress. Script Mastery abilities apply only to the martial scripts the Adept creates herself. Creation (Ex): The Script Adept can create martial scripts for maneuvers without actually knowing them. This requires a successful Martial Lore check against a DC of 25 + the Initiator Level of the script she intends to create. She cannot take 10 or 20 on this check, but failing it only arrests the creation process - it does not waste the resources (that having been said, the resources cannot be salvaged to create a different script), and she can continue the process after gaining at least one additional rank in Martial Lore and succeeding on this check. Note: If the adept hasn't seen the maneuver in question been performed, the Martial Lore DC increases by 5. If the adept has a martial script of the relevant maneuver on hand, the DC lowers by 10. If the adept has never read/used a scroll of the maneuver in question, it's impossible to create a script of the maneuver. The adept can never create a script with an initiator level higher than her character level. Additionally, the Script Adept can ignore 5% of the XP cost per class level (5% at 1st, 10% at 2nd, and so on, up to a maximum of 50% at level 10) when creating her scrolls. Duration (Ex): The Script Adept holds the knowledge of martial scripts for longer periods of time. She can "hold" the maneuver for one additional hour per class level. This doesn't allow her to use it more than once, however (but See Potential below). Power (Su): The Script Adept can draw more power out of martial scripts. When using a script, the Adept can opt to use a level check to determine the initiator level in place of the actual initiator level of the script. If this check fails to meet the minimum initiator level of the script's maneuver, the martial script does not activate (though it is still expended). Activation (Ex): The Script Adept needs little time to use martial scripts. If she has at least one free hand and has a martial script readily available (meaning that it is in her hand or kept in a place from which can be grabbed as a move action or quicker), she can activate the script as a swift action. Using a martial script does not provoke attacks of opportunity if activation applies. Potential (Ex): The Script Adept can use maneuvers more than once per script. After she has used a martial script, she can use the maneuver a number of times equal to her Intelligence modifier instead of just once (unless her modifier is +1 or less to begin with). If the maneuver in question is a stance, the stance can be maintained for as long as the adept can hold it (as per duration). Scribe Martial Script: The Script Adept gain Scribe Martial Script as a bonus feat at 1st level, even if she does not normally meet its prerequisites. If she already has this feat, she may take another feat she meets the prerequisites for. Initiate of Heaven and Earth (Ex): At 2nd level, the Script Adept becomes able to read and use manuscripts of the martial arts with ease. This means that she is capable of reading (but not in any way editing or creating) Scrolls or Heaven and Earth and using the techniques within. Note that this only applies to techniques up to a level of her Script Adept level -1; hence, a 4th-level Adept would only be able to use or copy a 1st, 2nd- or 3rd-level maneuver. See Scroll of Heaven and Earth below for more details on these items. Script Versatility (Su): Starting at 2nd level and usable once per day, the Script Adept learns how to use the knowledge of one maneuver to inspire another, similar one. The new maneuver must be of the same discipline and level as the original one, and it is used at the same initiator level. For example, she could use a tenth-level martial script of Mountain Avalanche to activate Elder Mountain Hammer, initiated at tenth level. Script Versatility may only be used at the time of script activation, not maneuver initiation. The Adept gains additional uses of this ability at 6th and 10th level. Note: Script versatility applies only to martial scripts, not items such as White Raven Crowns (and Desert Wind Cloaks, etc.), magical scrolls or the Scroll of Heaven and Earth. The Script Versatility ability cannot be used to learn a maneuver from a stance script, or vice versa. Scribble (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, the Script Adept becomes able to quickly create a copy a martial script in her possession (she may also copy a script from a Scroll of Heaven and Earth). The scribbled script is exactly the same as the script it is copied from, except that only the Script Adept can use the copy, and she must use it within a number of hours after copying equal to her class level. Script Mastery applies to scripts made using Scribble, as does Script Versatility. Creating a scribbled script costs no XP and takes only a minute per maneuver level to create; by actually writing the script (in mechanical terms, expending only 10% of the script's ordinary market price - this represents ink and paper/cloth/skin), the Adept automatically succeeds. However, she is also able to copy the scroll without any such resources by etching runes onto wood or stone, painting with mud or blood, or even tracing elaborate letters glowing with ki in the air. This requires a Craft (Calligraphy) check with a DC of 20 + script's initiator level. The adept can take 10 on this check if she is out of combat (or is otherwise undisturbed), but she can't take 20. Efficient Scribe (Ex): At 4th level, the Script Adept learns to make the most of her resources. The gp cost of her martial scripts are reduced by 25%. At 8th level, she becomes even more efficient, and the time spent writing martial scripts is reduced by 25%. Note: The gp cost reduction does not reduce the time spent crafting the item in itself; until level 8, calculate the time spent crafting as if the script was made at full price. Efficient Scribe is the equivalent of the Extraordinary Artisan and Exceptional Artisan item creation feats. A Script Adept who already possesses either of these feats do not get to choose new feats. Efficient Scribe applies only to martial scripts, not magical scrolls or the Scroll of Heaven and Earth. Scroll of Heaven and Earth (Ex): The ultimate art of the Script Adept is the Scroll of Heaven and Earth, the martial script that has no end. The Scroll works very much like the wizard's spellbook in that it allows the Adept to copy maneuvers into it for later use. Creating a Scroll of Heaven and Earth is a long and arduous task; treat the process as the same as that of creating a martial script with a market price of 200,000 gp, but without the benefit of the Efficient Scribe class feature. The scroll also requires a DC 20 Craft (Calligraphy) check and a DC 30 Martial Lore check to finish. Writing a maneuver into the Scroll of Heaven and Earth requires a script of the maneuver in question (this needn't be created by the adept herself) and additional inks with a cost equal to 50 gp x the level of the maneuver. The scribed maneuver keeps its initiator level, and the adept must find or create a script with a higher initiator level and scribe it to improve the IL of the maneuver in the Scroll. An adept can keep only a single version of any one technique in the scroll at any time, though she is free to overwrite an existing maneuver with the same maneuver but with a higher (or lower) initiator level. In theory, a Script Adept of this magnitude is capable of scribing every maneuver in existence given time, but the greatest techniques are jealously guarded by the few who know them more often than not, and martial scripts detailing these are often impossible to find. Script Mastery applies to the Scroll of Heaven and Earth, with the exception that using the scroll is always a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity. After using a technique within the Scroll, its writings disappear until a set time on the next day (usually morning, but this is up to the individual Script Adept when creating their Scroll), rendering the maneuver in question impossible to use or reference. New feats: Martial Lore Training Benefit: Martial Lore is always considered a class skill for you. If you have bought cross-class ranks in the skill, you immediately gain additional ranks as if it had always been a class skill for you. Normal: Martial Lore is only a class skill for martial adepts. Special: This feat can be taken as a Fighter bonus feat. Script Dancer You draw on the "magic" of script and steel to grant you defensive insight into the arts of war. Prerequisite: Scribe Martial Script, Dodge. Benefit: When someone with this feat activates a script, she gains her Intelligence bonus (or the maneuver level of the script, whichever is lower) as an Insight bonus to AC until the maneuver is first activated. Special: This feat can be taken as a Fighter bonus feat. Note: Initiating a maneuver you know by virtue of levels in a martial adept class or the Martial Study feat likewise ends the benefit of this feat, as does initiating a stance (maintaining a stance, however, does not). Script Warrior You draw on the "magic" of script and steel to grant you offensive insight into the arts of war. Prerequisite: Scribe Martial Script, Power Attack. Benefit: When someone with this feat activates a script, he gains his Intelligence modifier as an Insight bonus to damage rolls with melee attacks until the maneuver is activated (he may also add this bonus to the maneuver, if the maneuver deals damage). Special: This feat can be taken as a Fighter bonus feat. Note: Initiating a maneuver you know by virtue of levels in a martial adept class or the Martial Study feat likewise ends the benefit of this feat, as does initiating a stance (maintaining a stance, however, does not). Practical Application You draw on your knowledge when you need it. Prerequisite: Martial Lore 4 ranks. Benefit: A number of times per day equal to 1 + your Intelligence modifier, you may use Martial Lore instead of your ordinary save against martial maneuvers. You may apply abilities such as Mettle or Evasion to this roll. Special: This feat can be taken as a Fighter bonus feat. Master of the Written Weapon You have breached yet another limit that once held you back. Prerequisite: Script Mastery (potential). Benefit: You may hold maneuvers from two scripts without losing the one you activated first for up to five rounds per day. These rounds need not be used consecutively. Special: This feat can be taken as a Fighter bonus feat. This feat can also be taken multiple times; each additional time, you can hold two maneuvers at the same time for an additional five rounds per day. Note: This feat is applicable with the Script Dancer and Script Warrior feats. A Script Adept may also activate a maneuver or initiate a stance without losing the benefits of said feats, though any round in which she does so counts as a round of maintaining maneuvers from two scripts. These two benefits are not cumulative, however, and the Script Adept loses the benefit of Script Warrior and Script Dancer if she is holding two maneuvers while initiating another.
aka_tarquin 10-06-07, 06:19 PM	Bump for great justice (and PEACHification too, I guess).
aka_tarquin 10-11-07, 07:47 PM	I'm going to assume that people aren't replying because they find the class uninteresting. So, in the interest of making this class more attractive, I am considering the following changes and additions: - An ability that negates 5% per class level of the XP cost when creating martial scripts. They are probably using these items all the time, and unlike the Artificer, they don't have an XP pool for item creation (although that is a possibility, as well). - Introducing the Scroll of Heaven and Earth at an earlier level; probably granting the feature at 2nd level and imposing a maximum level of Script Adept level -1 to to the maneuvers within. This way, the Script Adept gets something original fairly early instead of sludging her way through a class that lets her do the same thing (but more effectively) and then getting the original thing. - New abilities that are related to scripts but not to their use, and the Sublime Way in general: - [Class feature name here]: If the adept does not attack or initiate a maneuver in the same round she activates a script in, she gains half her class level (rounded down) as a Dodge bonus to AC until the beginning of her next round. If she attacks or initiates a maneuver before then, the Dodge bonus disappears. This might represent the scroll unfurled and floating in mid-air around the Script Adept in a gravity-defying circle/spiral, shielding the adept; it might also be the resident divination magic of martial scrolls granting the Adept momentary insight. - [Class feature name here]: Use Martial Lore in place of save modifier on saves against martial maneuvers a number of times per day (1 + Int, perhaps?). Obviously, this represent the practical application of the Script Adept's knowledge of the Sublime Way. - [Class feature name here]: The Adept is capable of exploiting the magic of the martial script (as well as magical scrolls, but not spelbooks, the SoHE, or similar writings). By intentionally damaging the script (the Adept can never activate this feature by accident), she can create an unstable catalyst of magical energy. This energy explodes 1d3-1 rounds after the Adept lets go of it (if the result is 0, the Adept is caught in the explosion) in a ten-foot burst, dealing one d12 of force damage per level of the maneuver (or spell), with the side effect of pushing anyone caught in the blast as if with a bull rush (as a medium creature with a Strength score of 15 + maneuver/spell level. This feature wastes the script used. Depleted scripts cannot be used for this ability. - Letting the players choose the good save instead of making Will arbitrary. - A full BAB. I'm somewhat unsure about this, however. I am in any case still interested in seeing the class PEACHed. In other words, bump. :bump:
Ultima0071 10-11-07, 08:23 PM	If we assume that there are two kinds of people - those who like the Tome of Battle and those who do not - then I am one of the former. However, it's certainly not perfect - issues of mechanics and flavor aside, the Martial Lore skill to some extent and the Martial Scripts in particular seems useless and redundant compared to the rest of the book. I personally found the idea of a martial adept who depended on these items instead of personal knowledge intriguing... and a fighter-character who was also a crafter (beyond just having ranks in a craft skill) seemed at least original and interesting on its own. I had some free time off today, so on a whim I decided to write a PrC around the concept. Looks good. *Starts reading* The Master of Ninefold Calligraphy, a.k.a. Script Adept Entry Requirements: Skills: Craft (Calligraphy) 6 ranks, Martial Lore 9 ranks. Feats: Skill Focus (Martial Lore). Martial maneuvers: Must know at least two maneuvers. Seems decent. Kind of easy to acheive though. I'll look through this class and see how powerful it is comparing to its easy entry fee. Table: Script Adept Hit die: d10 Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special 1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Script Mastery (creation), Scribe Martial Script 2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 Script Versatility 1/day 3rd +2 +1 +1 +3 Script Mastery (duration) 4th +3 +1 +1 +4 Efficient Scribe (materials) 5th +3 +1 +1 +4 Script Mastery (power) 6th +4 +2 +2 +5 Script Versatility 2/day 7th +5 +2 +2 +5 Script Mastery (activation) 8th +6/+1 +2 +2 +6 Efficient Scribe (time) 9th +6/+1 +3 +3 +6 Script Mastery (potential) 10th +7/+2 +3 +3 +7 Script Versatility 3/day, Scroll of Heaven and Earth I would think anything from the tomb of battle would have a full Base Attack Bonus. Whatever though; it's fine. Class skills (2 + Int modifier per level): Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Forgery (Int), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (local) (Int), Martial Lore (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex).[/CODE] Sense Motive has nothing to do with this class. I reccomend removing it. Just a suggestion. CLASS FEATURES Script Mastery: The Script Adept is not an actual master of the Sublime Way; this class does not grant a full initiator level increase, and she doesn't learn additional maneuvers or stances as they progress. Script Mastery abilities apply only to the martial scripts the Adept creates herself. Fine with me. Creation: The Script Adept can create martial scripts for maneuvers even though she doesn't actually know them. This requires a successful Martial Lore check against a DC of 25 + the Initiator Level of the script she intends to create. She cannot take 10 or 20 on this check, but failing it only arrests the creation process - it does not waste the resources (that having been said, the resources cannot be salvaged to create a different script), and she can continue the process after gaining at least one additional rank in Martial Lore and succeeding on this check. Note: If the adept hasn't seen the maneuver in question been performed, the Martial Lore DC increases by 5. If the adept has a martial script of the relevant maneuver on hand, the DC lowers by 10. If the adept has never read/used a scroll of the maneuver in question, it's impossible to create a script of the maneuver. The adept can never create a script with an initiator level higher than her character level. Suggestion Time: Maybe creating a script takes 24 hours and a cost of X gp and no less. Duration: When the Script Adept uses a martial script, she can "hold" the maneuver for one additional hour per class level. This doesn't allow her to use it more than once, however. Oh, she can use it only once. Then change it to creating a script takes 1 minute. I think that's fair. Also, a script should start to decay 7 days after it has been made. Every day (after the 7th day), she must make a DC 10 + Days Passed martial lore check or loose the script. Power: When using a script, the Adept can opt to use a level check to determine the initiator level in place of the actual initiator level of the script. If this check fails to meet the minimum initiator level of the script's maneuver, the martial script does not activate (though it is still expended). Fine. Activation: If the Script Adept has at least one free hand and has a martial script readily available (meaning that it is kept in a place from which can be grabbed as a move action or less), she can activate the script as a move action. Alternately, if it is already in her hand, it can be activated as a swift action. Using a martial script does not provoke attacks of opportunity if activation applies. Does she have to be in concentration to use it? If so, she should have to make a concentration check. Low one at that. Potential: After the Script Adept used a martial script, she can use the maneuver a number of times equal to her Intelligence modifier instead of just once (unless her modifier is +1 or less to begin with). If the maneuver in question is a stance, the stance can be maintained for as long as the adept can hold it (as per duration). Fine with me. Scribe Martial Script: The Script Adept gain Scribe Martial Script as a bonus feat at 1st level, even if she does not normally meet its prerequisites. If she already has this feat, she may take another feat she meets the prerequisites for.[/QUOET] Fine with me...de javou (spelling?) [QUOTE]Script Versatility: Starting at 2nd level and usable once per day, the Script Adept becomes able to use a martial script to produce a different maneuver than the one which has been written down. The new maneuver must be of the same discipline and level as the original one, and it is used at the same initiator level. The Adept gains additional uses of this ability at 6th and 10th level. A second script, when activated, should disable the first one. Note: Script versatility applies only to martial scripts, not items such as White Raven Crowns (and Desert Wind Cloaks, etc.), magical scrolls or the Scroll of Heaven and Earth. Ok. Efficient Scribe: At 4th level, the Script Adept learns to make the most of her resources. The gp cost of her martial scripts are reduced by 25%. At 8th level, she becomes even more efficient, and the time spent writing martial scripts is reduced by 25%. Reduced by 30%. Makes this class MUCH better. Note: The gp cost reduction does not reduce the time spent crafting the item in itself; until level 8, calculate the time spent crafting as if the script was made at full price. Efficient Scribe is the equivalent of the Extraordinary Artisan and Exceptional Artisan item creation feats. A Script Adept who already possesses either of these feats do not get to choose new feats. Efficient Scribe applies only to martial scripts, not magical scrolls or the Scroll of Heaven and Earth. Fine. Scroll of Heaven and Earth: The ultimate art of the Script Adept is the Scroll of Heaven and Earth. The Scroll works very much like the wizard's spellbook in that it allows the Adept to copy maneuvers into it for later use. Creating a Scroll of Heaven and Earth is a long and arduous task; treat the process as the same as that of creating a martial script with a market price of 200,000 gp, but without the benefit of the Efficient Scribe class feature. The scroll also requires a DC 20 Craft (Calligraphy) check and a DC 30 Martial Lore check to finish. Writing a maneuver into the Scroll of Heaven and Earth requires a script of the maneuver in question (this needn't be created by the adept herself) and additional inks with a cost equal to 50 gp x the level of the maneuver. The scribed maneuver keeps its initiator level, and the adept must find or create a script with a higher initiator level and scribe it to improve the IL of the maneuver in the Scroll. An adept can keep only a single version of any one technique in the scroll at any time, though she is free to overwrite an existing maneuver with the same maneuver but with a higher (or lower) initiator level. In theory, a Script Adept of this magnitude is capable of scribing every maneuver in existence given time, but the greatest techniques are jealously guarded by the few who know them more often than not, and martial scripts detailing these are often impossible to find. Script Mastery applies to the Scroll of Heaven and Earth, with the exception that using the scroll is a full-round action which provokes attacks of opportunity. The adept can take any one maneuver from the Scroll no more than once per day, and she can take a number of different techniques from the scroll per day equal to her class level. Awesome ability. Balances out this class. All in all, this class is good. I really like the potential of this class and wish to see it go further. Please make more feats for this class and continue to edit it. Consider this class PEACHed :) Hope I could help, [INSERT SIGNATURE HERE] Ultima0071
aka_tarquin 10-15-07, 05:08 PM	Many thanks, Ultima. :) Sense Motive has nothing to do with this class. I reccomend removing it. Just a suggestion. Sense Motive is central to at least a few Setting Sun techniques; while the low number of skill points kind of discourages players from investing in new techniques (perhaps raising the skill points to 4 + Int per level is an idea?), I still think the option should be there. Oh, she can use it only once. Then change it to creating a script takes 1 minute. I think that's fair. Also, a script should start to decay 7 days after it has been made. Every day (after the 7th day), she must make a DC 10 + Days Passed martial lore check or loose the script. Scripts are usually created in the same way as other magic items (though not actually requiring caster levels), scrolls being the primary example; martial scripts are essentially scrolls for warriors. I still like your idea of rushed script writings, though. I'll add that next. Does she have to be in concentration to use it? If so, she should have to make a concentration check. Low one at that. Using a script provokes concentration checks when activation doesn't apply - there's always the option of using it defensively (per the Concentration skill) before gaining this class feature. A second script, when activated, should disable the first one. That has nothing to do with this ability; Script Versatility allows a Script Adept to take for example a Script of Stone Bonus (Stone Dragon 1st-level maneuver) and treat it as a Script of Charging Minotaur (Stone Dragon 1st-level maneuver). Given that there usually aren't more than three-four maneuvers in the same discipline at the same levels, there isn't a lot of versatility going on, but it still gives a Script Adept a few more options in a fight. Reduced by 30%. Makes this class MUCH better. You're probably right in that a further reduction in crafting time and price might be necessary; the question is whether to stop at 30%. Script Adepts are likely to write most of their scripts by themselves, and even though a lot more resources become available at higher levels, their crafting might leave them with less money and resources than equal-level fighter characters. Seems decent. Kind of easy to acheive though. I'll look through this class and see how powerful it is comparing to its easy entry fee. [...] Awesome ability. Balances out this class. I added another requirement (apprenticeship or finding a SoHE), as well as the ability to use (but not create or edit) existing SoHEs from 2nd level and onwards.
aka_tarquin 10-22-07, 04:31 PM	Bump for additional feedback. :) New abilities: - Scribble Updated abilities: - Script Mastery (creation) Other changes: - Increased skill points per level to 4 + Int. While Script Adepts are likely to have above-average Intelligence scores, they're likely to invest in both Craft (Calligraphy) and Martial Lore, which detracts from their ability to invest in other skills. - Improved the Scroll of Heaven and Earth to provide more of a mechanical 'oomph'; maneuvers within are still only usable once per day individually, but there is no longer any limit on how many of them the Adept may can use each day. Using the scroll also still takes a full-round actions provoking AoOs. Since Script Adepts can't use high-level maneuvers (or even low-level maneuvers) as often as the standard Martial Adept classes can, I figured that it was only fair for them to be able to use low-level maneuvers when fighting henchmen and so on without having to worry about saving the 'big' techniques for the bosses. I plan *edit* not to add additional class abilities. New feats: - Script Warrior - Script Dancer - Practical Application - Master of the Written Weapon
Ultima0071 10-22-07, 04:52 PM	Checking new abilities. :)
aka_tarquin 12-26-07, 07:36 PM	:bump:
sigma999 12-26-07, 10:59 PM	bump indeed! It's hard to sort the in-game info from all the descriptive text in each ability. Please consider shortening or simplifying each paragraph block into something that states what each ability does. If it can't be read within seconds, most gamers don't even bother. But oh is it worth it. What a unique class... It's just taking me a while to understand how it all works.
navar100 12-27-07, 01:39 AM	Burst Bubble To be blunt, I find this stupid. I don't see any reason why someone would play this prestige class. Any non-martial adept interested in just having a few maneuvers is better off multiclassing into a martial adept class. If not interested in multiclassing, take the Martial Study feat. To keep your concept, just create feats that improve upon Scribe Martial Script, such as a feat that allows for Martial Lore checks to scribe a script without actually knowing the maneuver, another feat that allows perhaps three uses before it's used up.
aka_tarquin 12-27-07, 10:22 PM	Thanks for the praise, Sigma. You make a good point, as well -- I'm not sure I want to simplify things too much, but I've underlined the basic idea of every special ability so that people can still get the gist of things without having to cross-examine everything. Navar; thanks for the criticism. Converting the class to one or more feat paths might be a good idea, particularly if the intent is to give the Fighter more feats to play with as he levels (Script Mastery would probably translate to five feats, each, at least in a direct translation, so almost everybody else would have trouble with taking the whole thing), but right now we are exploring options to improve the class instead of abandoning it completely.
navar100 12-28-07, 01:31 AM	Letting the prestige class gain maneuvers and stances, and initiaitor stacking, will go a long way to improve it. The characters is learning about lots of manevuers to scribe through a martial script. Some of it is bound to stick as normal knowledge of a maneuver. Access to all disciplines is appropropriate, just not as many maneuvers gained as Master of Nine. A new maneuver known every other level just like other martial adept prestige classes is fine. Get a new stance known at levels 5 and 10.