Help with alternative class abilities? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help with alternative class abilities? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Old Sparky
03-06-05, 10:31 PM Okay, I've been trying to nail down a specific character conversion from 2nd Edition rules without any luck and I've decided to try a different tactic using the alternate class abilities idea found in UA.

The character in question was a beast cult specialty priest as detailed in the old Forgotten Realms Adventures sourcebook. I had been looking for a prestige class that I could adopt that would grant the ability to transform into the priest's chosen form, but short of multi-classing as a druid it doesn't seem like it'll work out.

What I'd like to do is make a cleric and trade in standard cleric stuff (such as the ability to turn undead or something) to gain limited ability to wild shape (a single pre-determined form only, depending on what beast the cleric's cult worships). The problem for me is in figuring out the whole balance issue... as in, I don't want to take away too much and end up shorting myself, but I don't want to abuse the DM's generousity in allowing me to go this route. So I need to explain what I'm trading and why its balanced.

I realize the DM has the final say, but in my group, I am the senior DM (meaning I'm usually the one to run things... almost always since 3rd Edition came out, anyhow). When I proposed it to him, he told me to work something out and present it to him for review since I seem to have a better understanding of this sort of thing.
:confused:
Ehhh... being primary DM has me looking like I know more than I do.
Lord_Anthrax
03-07-05, 07:34 AM Hmm...giving up your turning ability might balance it, if you allow in your games some or all of the options that let you use turning attempts for other things(such as the infamous Divine Metamagic feat). If not, then perhaps giving up a spell Domain would be a good pick. There's also losing spontaneous casting of Cure/Inflict, but that might be too harsh.
okaynowa
03-07-05, 08:46 AM Instead of taking the wild shape class feature, you could add a special, limited form of polymorph to the cleric's domain spell list. Call it shape of the beast, make it a divine spell, and adjust the duration according to levels in cleric. It certainly minimizes the amount of balancing you'd have to do-- instead of sacrificing class features, you just limit your spell selection slightly.
Old Sparky
03-09-05, 10:26 AM I suppose I could just work up an initiate feat such as those in the Player's Guide to Faerun, making it generic for all beast cults and requiring a selection of a specified beastie. Benefit would be the ability to rebuke or command that type of critter as an evil cleric rebukes or commands undead (3 + Cha times per day)... and throw that Shape of the Beast spell on its additional spells list.

Thanks, that's a pretty good idea!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Old Sparky 03-06-05, 10:31 PM	Okay, I've been trying to nail down a specific character conversion from 2nd Edition rules without any luck and I've decided to try a different tactic using the alternate class abilities idea found in UA. The character in question was a beast cult specialty priest as detailed in the old Forgotten Realms Adventures sourcebook. I had been looking for a prestige class that I could adopt that would grant the ability to transform into the priest's chosen form, but short of multi-classing as a druid it doesn't seem like it'll work out. What I'd like to do is make a cleric and trade in standard cleric stuff (such as the ability to turn undead or something) to gain limited ability to wild shape (a single pre-determined form only, depending on what beast the cleric's cult worships). The problem for me is in figuring out the whole balance issue... as in, I don't want to take away too much and end up shorting myself, but I don't want to abuse the DM's generousity in allowing me to go this route. So I need to explain what I'm trading and why its balanced. I realize the DM has the final say, but in my group, I am the senior DM (meaning I'm usually the one to run things... almost always since 3rd Edition came out, anyhow). When I proposed it to him, he told me to work something out and present it to him for review since I seem to have a better understanding of this sort of thing. :confused: Ehhh... being primary DM has me looking like I know more than I do.
Lord_Anthrax 03-07-05, 07:34 AM	Hmm...giving up your turning ability might balance it, if you allow in your games some or all of the options that let you use turning attempts for other things(such as the infamous Divine Metamagic feat). If not, then perhaps giving up a spell Domain would be a good pick. There's also losing spontaneous casting of Cure/Inflict, but that might be too harsh.
okaynowa 03-07-05, 08:46 AM	Instead of taking the wild shape class feature, you could add a special, limited form of polymorph to the cleric's domain spell list. Call it shape of the beast, make it a divine spell, and adjust the duration according to levels in cleric. It certainly minimizes the amount of balancing you'd have to do-- instead of sacrificing class features, you just limit your spell selection slightly.
Old Sparky 03-09-05, 10:26 AM	I suppose I could just work up an initiate feat such as those in the Player's Guide to Faerun, making it generic for all beast cults and requiring a selection of a specified beastie. Benefit would be the ability to rebuke or command that type of critter as an evil cleric rebukes or commands undead (3 + Cha times per day)... and throw that Shape of the Beast spell on its additional spells list. Thanks, that's a pretty good idea!