Tilting with Windmills [Archive] - Wizards Community

Tilting with Windmills [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
heax
04-20-07, 03:08 PM Everyone (or maybe everyone in my neighbourhood... we're yuppies) has heard the stories of Don Quixote and how he tilted with imaginary giants. His squire saw him only tilting with windmills, Don Quixote screaming insults to the heavens as he charged towards them. These are, somehow, what makes legends.
In the universe of D&D, those windmills were probably 25th level sorcerer Storm Giants, polymorphed into windmills, and they had probably made fun of Quixote's mother.
My intent with this post isn't merely to rouse old memories of Quixote's inquisitive and erratic behaviour, yet to formualte a mini think tank. I have an idea for a prestige class, but I don't know which angle to take on it.

IDEA: The Legend Hunter.
Not the 'legendary hunter', as in he's awsome, but that he hunts legends. He makes the checks (gather info, knowledge local, knowledge history, what have you) to see if he knows any particularily interesting legends. Then, well, he hunts them. Myth Busters D&D style.

My problem is this: Should I make it an extension of a specific class? Like, an offshoot of ranger? Should it be spellcasting enabled? Should I make it five or ten levels? I have a huge bucket of ideas... just no self drive to organize my creativity.

Any suggestions? Anything will be welcome.
Thanks.
Nalreth
04-20-07, 05:01 PM This PrC sounds like it would take a lot of work on the part of the DM to implement this, but there would obviously be a lot of use of the Legendary template, and where appropriate, the Paragon template.

I think making it a 10-level PrC would be fitting given that the description you have going is something that would be a significant part of who that character is. I like the idea of having a ranger-like feel to the class, but I'd make it more of a ranger/paladin hybrid in feel, having Track Legend and Smite Legend as class features. Obviously a good BAB, and I'd have good Fort and Will saves. Might I also suggest a class feature that bestows a half rank in all monster IDing knowledge classes and grants a competence bonus equal to class levels on relevant knowledge checks to learn vital information to slay the legend. You might also want to look at the Bloodhound for some inspiration.
Nalreth
04-23-07, 10:09 AM :bump:
This one has some potential.
Daergal_the_Black
04-23-07, 10:15 AM I'd suggest that it should not be an extension of a particular class, though it does seem to have some thematic commonalities with the Ranger. I could very easily imagine a rogue or other generic "adventurer" whose goal was to hunt down the "legendary" monsters and kill them.
heax
04-23-07, 06:33 PM I like the idea about the Knowledge checks. 'Can make any knowledge check untrained when used to identify creatures or to ascertain their weaknesses.'

Knowledge (History) and Knowledge (local) are going to be requirements for the class. Maybe giving it a variant upon the Archivist's ability? I don't know it very well, so maybe I'll read up on that.

The Extreme Explorer PrC mixed with parts of a ranger and archivist is a good feel so far... I like the idea of a legendary dragon/giant/tarrasque hunter. That would be sweet. Track Legend using the rules for Urban Tracking (slightly tweaked of course) and Knowledge checks is a sweet idea, and Smite Legend is a neat idea. Not exactly sure if Smite is right for it though- maybe just Favoured Enemy if you study up on them enough? Or a bonus to all the same things Favoured Enemy gives you if you get X on your Knowledge check?

I'm still at a loss here. It's going to be 10 levels, med or high BAB, and two good saves- either fortitude and will or reflex and will- depending on if I want it to be more of a 'hunter' feel or a 'explorer' feel.

Any other ideas for abilities?
heax
04-24-07, 01:17 AM Alright, here he is. It's my first run through. I'm going to play test this alot, but I think one of the main problems is too many abilities. Sure, it gives Med BAB, but it nets Mettle, Evasion, and Uncanny dodge- but none of the improved versions. Slippery mind I thought was a neat toss in. The Adopt Ability can be fun, and I guess a little overpowered- I was thinking about limiting how many times it can be used, too.
PEACH? RAPE? Please?

The Hunter of Legends

Requirements
BAB +5

K History 8
K Local 4
Gather Info 8

Educated
Heroic Spirit
Action Boost
Urban Tracking

LVL BAB F R W SPECIAL
----------------------------------------------------------------
1 0 0 2 2 Track Legend, Information Monger
2 1 0 3 3 Research Ready+2
3 2 1 3 3 Evasion, Additional Action Points
4 3 1 4 4 Mettle
5 3 1 4 4 Uncanny Dodge, Research Ready+4
6 4 2 5 5 Slippery Mind, Improved Monger
7 5 2 5 5 Additional Action Points
8 6 2 6 6 Research Ready+6
9 6 3 6 6 Keen Eyesight
10 7 3 7 7 Adopt Ability
SPTS: 4+int mod
SKILLS: (27)
Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Climb, Decipher Script, Diplomacy,
Gather Information, Jump, Knowledges (All), Listen, Ride, Sense Motive,
Speak Language, Survival, Swim, Tumble, Use Magic Device, Use Rope

TRACK LEGEND 1
------------
You are able to track down legendary creatures. Anytime during a campaign,
after you have learned the specific type or name of a creature,
you may make a relevent Knowledge check based on the type and subtype
of the creature. If successful, you may make an Urban Tracking check
to find it's location to within 1d4 miles of its habitat.

INFORMATION MONGER 1
------------------
You gain a insight bonus equal to half your class level on all Gather
Information, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and bluff checks. At 6th level,
this bonus is instead an insight bonus equal to your full class level.
You are also treated as having half a rank in all knowledge skills-
you can make checks even with no ranks in the required skill.

RESEARCH READY 2,5,8
--------------
Your abilities to research a particular creature are so thorough
that you gain unmatchable insight in dealing with them. At 2nd level,
if you beat the DC of the Knowledge check by 5 or more to identify
a monster you are tracking, and then beat the Gather Information DC
by 10, you gain a +2 insight bonus to all Spot, Listen, Move Silently,
Hide, Survival, and Sense Motive checks against the creature.
You also gain a +2 insight bonus to hit and damage against the creature.
These bonuses last until you bring in your quarry, or you select a new
creature to hunt. You may only ever have these bonuses apply to one creature:
The one exception to this rule is if three creatures of the same type and
subtype travel together; you may hunt three anthropomorphic wyverns
and gain the bonus for all three, but not against a cult of goblins
worshiping a mishappen illithid mineral warrior and the aberration
itself.

EVASION, METTLE, UNCANNY DODGE, SLIPPERY MIND
----------------------------------------------
3,4,5,6 respectively

As the Rogue's abilities. As the Hexblade's ability. As the Barbarian's
ability.

ADDITIONAL ACTION POINTS
---------------------- 3,7
You gain two additional action points per level each time you gain this feat.
These action points per level stack with Heroic Spirit, eventually
giving you 12+half your character level action points per level.

KEEN EYESIGHT 9
-------------
You gain Darkvision 60ft., or increase your existing darkvision by 30ft.
Also, you may use True Seeing as a sorcerer of your class level. This
ability has a fixed duration of 3 rounds. You may use this ability
a number of times per day equal to your charisma modifier.

ADOPT ABILITY 10
-------------
You absorb a certain amount of power from every legendary creature you kill.
You need not deal the lethal blow for this ability to activate, but you
need to be present and conscious for it. You can absorb any one supernatural
or spell like ability possessed by the creature. You retain this ability
for one month or until you absorb a new quality, whichever is shorter.
The_Shaman
04-24-07, 03:03 AM Interesting, if a bit more research-oriented than I would expect. BTW, it's a bit late now, but you might want to check Stormwrack's Leviathan Hunter - it's a PrC specializing in fighting BIG creatures.
JolanthusTrel
04-24-07, 06:09 PM The Quixiotic knight might be what you are after in the ultimate prestige classes vol. 2

"He's like a paladin only less sane!"

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
heax 04-20-07, 03:08 PM	Everyone (or maybe everyone in my neighbourhood... we're yuppies) has heard the stories of Don Quixote and how he tilted with imaginary giants. His squire saw him only tilting with windmills, Don Quixote screaming insults to the heavens as he charged towards them. These are, somehow, what makes legends. In the universe of D&D, those windmills were probably 25th level sorcerer Storm Giants, polymorphed into windmills, and they had probably made fun of Quixote's mother. My intent with this post isn't merely to rouse old memories of Quixote's inquisitive and erratic behaviour, yet to formualte a mini think tank. I have an idea for a prestige class, but I don't know which angle to take on it. IDEA: The Legend Hunter. Not the 'legendary hunter', as in he's awsome, but that he hunts legends. He makes the checks (gather info, knowledge local, knowledge history, what have you) to see if he knows any particularily interesting legends. Then, well, he hunts them. Myth Busters D&D style. My problem is this: Should I make it an extension of a specific class? Like, an offshoot of ranger? Should it be spellcasting enabled? Should I make it five or ten levels? I have a huge bucket of ideas... just no self drive to organize my creativity. Any suggestions? Anything will be welcome. Thanks.
Nalreth 04-20-07, 05:01 PM	This PrC sounds like it would take a lot of work on the part of the DM to implement this, but there would obviously be a lot of use of the Legendary template, and where appropriate, the Paragon template. I think making it a 10-level PrC would be fitting given that the description you have going is something that would be a significant part of who that character is. I like the idea of having a ranger-like feel to the class, but I'd make it more of a ranger/paladin hybrid in feel, having Track Legend and Smite Legend as class features. Obviously a good BAB, and I'd have good Fort and Will saves. Might I also suggest a class feature that bestows a half rank in all monster IDing knowledge classes and grants a competence bonus equal to class levels on relevant knowledge checks to learn vital information to slay the legend. You might also want to look at the Bloodhound for some inspiration.
Nalreth 04-23-07, 10:09 AM	:bump: This one has some potential.
Daergal_the_Black 04-23-07, 10:15 AM	I'd suggest that it should not be an extension of a particular class, though it does seem to have some thematic commonalities with the Ranger. I could very easily imagine a rogue or other generic "adventurer" whose goal was to hunt down the "legendary" monsters and kill them.
heax 04-23-07, 06:33 PM	I like the idea about the Knowledge checks. 'Can make any knowledge check untrained when used to identify creatures or to ascertain their weaknesses.' Knowledge (History) and Knowledge (local) are going to be requirements for the class. Maybe giving it a variant upon the Archivist's ability? I don't know it very well, so maybe I'll read up on that. The Extreme Explorer PrC mixed with parts of a ranger and archivist is a good feel so far... I like the idea of a legendary dragon/giant/tarrasque hunter. That would be sweet. Track Legend using the rules for Urban Tracking (slightly tweaked of course) and Knowledge checks is a sweet idea, and Smite Legend is a neat idea. Not exactly sure if Smite is right for it though- maybe just Favoured Enemy if you study up on them enough? Or a bonus to all the same things Favoured Enemy gives you if you get X on your Knowledge check? I'm still at a loss here. It's going to be 10 levels, med or high BAB, and two good saves- either fortitude and will or reflex and will- depending on if I want it to be more of a 'hunter' feel or a 'explorer' feel. Any other ideas for abilities?
heax 04-24-07, 01:17 AM	Alright, here he is. It's my first run through. I'm going to play test this alot, but I think one of the main problems is too many abilities. Sure, it gives Med BAB, but it nets Mettle, Evasion, and Uncanny dodge- but none of the improved versions. Slippery mind I thought was a neat toss in. The Adopt Ability can be fun, and I guess a little overpowered- I was thinking about limiting how many times it can be used, too. PEACH? RAPE? Please? The Hunter of Legends Requirements BAB +5 K History 8 K Local 4 Gather Info 8 Educated Heroic Spirit Action Boost Urban Tracking LVL BAB F R W SPECIAL ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1 0 0 2 2 Track Legend, Information Monger 2 1 0 3 3 Research Ready+2 3 2 1 3 3 Evasion, Additional Action Points 4 3 1 4 4 Mettle 5 3 1 4 4 Uncanny Dodge, Research Ready+4 6 4 2 5 5 Slippery Mind, Improved Monger 7 5 2 5 5 Additional Action Points 8 6 2 6 6 Research Ready+6 9 6 3 6 6 Keen Eyesight 10 7 3 7 7 Adopt Ability SPTS: 4+int mod SKILLS: (27) Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Climb, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Jump, Knowledges (All), Listen, Ride, Sense Motive, Speak Language, Survival, Swim, Tumble, Use Magic Device, Use Rope TRACK LEGEND 1 ------------ You are able to track down legendary creatures. Anytime during a campaign, after you have learned the specific type or name of a creature, you may make a relevent Knowledge check based on the type and subtype of the creature. If successful, you may make an Urban Tracking check to find it's location to within 1d4 miles of its habitat. INFORMATION MONGER 1 ------------------ You gain a insight bonus equal to half your class level on all Gather Information, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and bluff checks. At 6th level, this bonus is instead an insight bonus equal to your full class level. You are also treated as having half a rank in all knowledge skills- you can make checks even with no ranks in the required skill. RESEARCH READY 2,5,8 -------------- Your abilities to research a particular creature are so thorough that you gain unmatchable insight in dealing with them. At 2nd level, if you beat the DC of the Knowledge check by 5 or more to identify a monster you are tracking, and then beat the Gather Information DC by 10, you gain a +2 insight bonus to all Spot, Listen, Move Silently, Hide, Survival, and Sense Motive checks against the creature. You also gain a +2 insight bonus to hit and damage against the creature. These bonuses last until you bring in your quarry, or you select a new creature to hunt. You may only ever have these bonuses apply to one creature: The one exception to this rule is if three creatures of the same type and subtype travel together; you may hunt three anthropomorphic wyverns and gain the bonus for all three, but not against a cult of goblins worshiping a mishappen illithid mineral warrior and the aberration itself. EVASION, METTLE, UNCANNY DODGE, SLIPPERY MIND ---------------------------------------------- 3,4,5,6 respectively As the Rogue's abilities. As the Hexblade's ability. As the Barbarian's ability. ADDITIONAL ACTION POINTS ---------------------- 3,7 You gain two additional action points per level each time you gain this feat. These action points per level stack with Heroic Spirit, eventually giving you 12+half your character level action points per level. KEEN EYESIGHT 9 ------------- You gain Darkvision 60ft., or increase your existing darkvision by 30ft. Also, you may use True Seeing as a sorcerer of your class level. This ability has a fixed duration of 3 rounds. You may use this ability a number of times per day equal to your charisma modifier. ADOPT ABILITY 10 ------------- You absorb a certain amount of power from every legendary creature you kill. You need not deal the lethal blow for this ability to activate, but you need to be present and conscious for it. You can absorb any one supernatural or spell like ability possessed by the creature. You retain this ability for one month or until you absorb a new quality, whichever is shorter.
The_Shaman 04-24-07, 03:03 AM	Interesting, if a bit more research-oriented than I would expect. BTW, it's a bit late now, but you might want to check Stormwrack's Leviathan Hunter - it's a PrC specializing in fighting BIG creatures.
JolanthusTrel 04-24-07, 06:09 PM	The Quixiotic knight might be what you are after in the ultimate prestige classes vol. 2 "He's like a paladin only less sane!"