A D.M.'s opinion please vote. [Archive] - Wizards Community

A D.M.'s opinion please vote. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mordin
02-24-05, 12:01 PM I kwon this is a Prc but I want a D.M.'s opinion on this and to know if any of you would use this version yourself. I personaly like it quite a bit but would like any advice on if it is over/underpowered etc...

Class feature outline by SmiloDan (thanx again).

Animal Lord (Shifter)

Requirements-
Alignment: Any neutral
Base Attack Bonus: +4

Skills: Handle Animal 4 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 8 ranks, 4 ranks in the appropriate skill as fallows. Apelord: Climb, Bearlord: Intimidate, Birdlord: Spot, Catlord: Move Silent, Horselord: Jump, Sharklord: Swim, Snakelord: Escape Artist and Wolflord: Survival.

Feats: Each animal lord must have a specific feat as fallows; Apelord: Branchiation, Bearlord: Power Attack, Birdlord: Flyby Attack, Catlord: Stealthy, Horselord: Run, Sharklord: Improved Swimming, Snakelord: Combat Reflexes, Wolflord: Track.

Special: Animal Companion as a class feature. The animal companion must be from his chosen group.

Class Features:
BAB: +3/4 (as druid).
Good Saves: Fort and Reflex. Poor Save: Will
Hit Dice: 1d8

Class Skills: Climb (Str), Escape Artist (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silent (Dex), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis) and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4+ Int modifiers.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Animal Lords gain no new armor or weapon proficiencies. Animal Lords in Lesser Wild Shape are proficient in their natural weapons.

Spells per Day/Spells Known: Whenever an even numbered level in this prestige class is gained, the animal lord gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he/she had also gained a level in whatever spellcaster class to which he/she belonged before adding the prestige class. He/she dose not, however, gain any other benefit a character of the class would have gained (additional wild shape options, metamagic or item creation feats, or the like).

LEVEL ABILITY

1. Animal Bond, Wild Empathy, Zone of Detection.
2. Animal Speech, First Totem, +1 level of spellcasting ability.
3. Lesser Wild Shape.
4. Second Animal Companion, +1 level of spellcasting ability.
5. Second Totem
6. Summon Animal, +1 level of spellcasting ability.
7. Animal Growth, Major Detection, Lesser Wild Shape (Dire).
8. Animal Telepathy, +1 level of spellcasting ability.
9. Animal Perception.
10. Third Totem, +1 level of spellcasting ability.

Animal Bond (Ex): An animal lord develops a bond with animals of his selected group (see below). He gains a +4 bonus on Handle Animal and wild empathy checks made to influence animals from his chosen group. Also, an animal lord adds his/her animal lord levels to his druid and/or ranger levels for the purpose of determining his animal companion’s Hit Dice, special abilities and so forth.

Animal Groups:
Apelord: ape, baboon, dire ape, monkey.
Bearlord: black, brown, and polar bears.
Birdlord: all common, dire and giant birds.
Catlord: all common and dire felines.
Horselord: horses, donky and ponies.
Sharklord: all common and dire sharks.
Snakelord: all common, dire and giant snakes.
Wolflord: all common and dire wolves and canines.

Wild Empathy (Ex): An animal lord can improve the attitude of animals. See the druid class feature, page 35 of the Player’s Handbook. If an animal lord has wild empathy from another class, his levels stack for determining the bonus.

Zone of Detection (Sp): Beginning at 1st level, an animal lord can detect the presence of all animal of his/her selected group in a 20 foot radius.

Fist Totem: At 2nd level, an animal lord gains the Skill focus feat for skills determined by his selected group as follows; Apelord: Climb, Bearlord: Intimidate, Birdlord: Spot, Catlord: Move Silent, Horselord: Jump, Sharklord: Swim, Snakelord: Escape Artist, Wolflord: Survival.

Animal Speech (Sp): At 2nd level, an animal lord can converse at will with animals of his/her chosen group as though a speak with animals spell were in effect.

Lesser Wild Shape (Su): At 3rd level, an animal lord can use wild shape to take the form of any kind of natural animal in his/her selected group. This ability otherwise functions like the druid’s wild shape, except that an animal lord can use it as often as desired (can only be used to heal wounds 1/day). At 7th level, an animal lord can use this ability to adopt the dire form of an animal in his/her selected group.

Extra Animal Companion (Ex): At 4th level, an animal lord gains a second animal companion from his/her selected group.

Second Totem: At 5th level, an animal lord gains a bonus feat related to his/her selected group, even if he/she doesn’t meet the prerequisites. Apelord: Improve Bull Rush, Bearlord: Improved Grapple, Birdlord: Improved Flight, Catlord: Quick Reconnoiter, Horselord: Trample, Sharklord: Improved Critical (bite), Snakelord: Improved Initiative, Wolflord: Improved Trip.

Summon Animal (Sp): Beginning at 6th level, an animal lord can summon one or more animals of his/her selected group once per day. This ability functions identically to summon nature’s ally V, except than an animal lord can summon creatures only from his/her selected group, as detailed below. The duration of the effect is 1 minute per class level.

Apelord: 1d3 dire apes or 1d4+1 apes.
Bearlord: 1 polar bear, 1d3 brown bears or 1d4+1 black bears.
Birdlord: 1d4+1 eagles, hawks, ravens, or owls. Giant eagle or owl (only by nonevil birdlords)
Catlord: 1 dire lion, 1d3 tigers, or 1d4+1 lions.
Horselord: 1d4+1 heavy or light horses, warhorses, ponies or warponies.
Sharklord: 1d3 huge sharks or 1d4+1 large sharks.
Snakelord: 1 giant constrictor snake, 1d3 huge vipers or 1d4+1 constrictors or large vipers.
Wolflord: 1d4+1 dire wolves or wolves.

Major Detection (Sp): At 7th level, an animal lord can detect the presence of all animal of his/her selected group in a radius of 10 feet per class level.

Animal Growth (Sp): Once per day, an animal of 7th level or higher can use animal growth on a single animal from his/her selected group, as a swift action as a spellcaster of his/her class level. Otherwise this ability functions just like the spell.

Animal Telepathy (Su): At 8th level, an animal lord can use his/her animal speech ability to converse telepathically with any animal of his/her selected group that she can detect.

Animal Perception (Su): At 9th level, an animal lord can share the sensory input of any animal of his/her selected group that is within range of his/her Zone of detection.

Third Totem: At 10th level, an animal lord gains a permanent 2-point increase to one of his/her ability scores, determined by his/her chosen animal group as follows; Apelord: +2 Strength, Bearlord: +2 Constitution, Birdlord: +2 Wisdom, Catlord: +2 Dexterity, Horselord: +2 Constitution, Sharklord: +2 Strength, Snakelord: +2 Dexterity or Charisma, Wolflord: +2 Strength.
clarkvalentine
02-24-05, 12:12 PM A few random observations:

Some of those required feats are useful, others not so much. Consider making them all non-combat feats. Such as: Birdlord requires Alertness, Snakelord requires Lightning Reflexes, that sort of thing.

Why the discussion of animal companions in the Animal Bond ability?

Can the bearlord speak to dire bears?

Wild shape at will seems a very powerful ability, and might be overpowered.

In all, not a bad PrC at all, I think.
Jayr
02-24-05, 12:20 PM I can't tell this apart from the Masters of the Wild version. Could you please point out the changes?
Jagyr Ebonwood
02-24-05, 12:24 PM This really belongs in the PrC Forums.
On_the_wings_of_TPK
02-24-05, 01:09 PM Ok, well, it is subtly broken, but broken nonetheless.

1) Wild shape at will?
What were you thinking man!? Not even the master of many forms can do that! Personally, I would put a duration on it, and make it a standard action to use, and only usable an amount of times per day equal to class level divided by 3 or 4.

2) A second animal companion? I'd drop that all together. If you want multiple animal companions, become a Beastmaster.

I would not recomend empowering multiple major class ablities. Basically what this is for a druid is "give up half of your spells for wild shape at will and a second animal companion". For a ranger it is "hey take this and gain +2 to ability score, wild shape, wild shape at will! Pardon me -- and a second animal companion." Why wouldn't you take it?
Mordin
02-24-05, 01:44 PM Lesser wild shape functions like the druid wild shape therefor it is a standard action and dosen't provoke AoO.

At will and as often as you want, I thought it a little mean but you are extreamly limited in what you can change into. This was my reasoning.

The feats ill have to think on I tried to make the required feats sute the animal as best I could. And yes you can comunicate with dire bears thanx for pointing that out.

The major diferance between this and the MotW version is no share wild shape and spell progresion is changed. Other changes are what level you aquire sertain abilities, the required feats and some changes to the Totem abilities.

Thanx for the imput
Ack'noth Necrom
02-24-05, 02:55 PM Looks like an interesting PrC. The only problem I have with it is wildshape at will which can be pretty powerful. What I would sudgest is either raise the requirments so its harder to get into (thus giving an acceptable raise in power compared to normal characters) or perhaps lower spellcasting to 1 spellcasting level every 3 levels. Those are the only fixes that come to mind at the moment.

Ild also recomend posting this in the PrC forum. You should get a lot more advice there.
Mordin
02-25-05, 10:24 AM Fixed the wild shape hope you like.

Lesser Wild Shape (Su): At 3rd level, an animal lord can use wild shape to take the form of any kind of natural animal in his/her selected group. This ability otherwise functions like the druid’s wild shape ability. An animal lord can use this ability 1/Day per 2/class levels. The effect lasts 1 hour per animal lord level or until he/she changes back. Treat druid levels as animal lord levels (as well as levels in other prestige classes that allow this abilities to stack) to determine times per day. At 7th level, an animal lord can use this ability to adopt the dire form of an animal in his/her selected group.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mordin 02-24-05, 12:01 PM	I kwon this is a Prc but I want a D.M.'s opinion on this and to know if any of you would use this version yourself. I personaly like it quite a bit but would like any advice on if it is over/underpowered etc... Class feature outline by SmiloDan (thanx again). Animal Lord (Shifter) Requirements- Alignment: Any neutral Base Attack Bonus: +4 Skills: Handle Animal 4 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 8 ranks, 4 ranks in the appropriate skill as fallows. Apelord: Climb, Bearlord: Intimidate, Birdlord: Spot, Catlord: Move Silent, Horselord: Jump, Sharklord: Swim, Snakelord: Escape Artist and Wolflord: Survival. Feats: Each animal lord must have a specific feat as fallows; Apelord: Branchiation, Bearlord: Power Attack, Birdlord: Flyby Attack, Catlord: Stealthy, Horselord: Run, Sharklord: Improved Swimming, Snakelord: Combat Reflexes, Wolflord: Track. Special: Animal Companion as a class feature. The animal companion must be from his chosen group. Class Features: BAB: +3/4 (as druid). Good Saves: Fort and Reflex. Poor Save: Will Hit Dice: 1d8 Class Skills: Climb (Str), Escape Artist (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silent (Dex), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis) and Swim (Str). Skill Points at Each Level: 4+ Int modifiers. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Animal Lords gain no new armor or weapon proficiencies. Animal Lords in Lesser Wild Shape are proficient in their natural weapons. Spells per Day/Spells Known: Whenever an even numbered level in this prestige class is gained, the animal lord gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he/she had also gained a level in whatever spellcaster class to which he/she belonged before adding the prestige class. He/she dose not, however, gain any other benefit a character of the class would have gained (additional wild shape options, metamagic or item creation feats, or the like). LEVEL ABILITY 1. Animal Bond, Wild Empathy, Zone of Detection. 2. Animal Speech, First Totem, +1 level of spellcasting ability. 3. Lesser Wild Shape. 4. Second Animal Companion, +1 level of spellcasting ability. 5. Second Totem 6. Summon Animal, +1 level of spellcasting ability. 7. Animal Growth, Major Detection, Lesser Wild Shape (Dire). 8. Animal Telepathy, +1 level of spellcasting ability. 9. Animal Perception. 10. Third Totem, +1 level of spellcasting ability. Animal Bond (Ex): An animal lord develops a bond with animals of his selected group (see below). He gains a +4 bonus on Handle Animal and wild empathy checks made to influence animals from his chosen group. Also, an animal lord adds his/her animal lord levels to his druid and/or ranger levels for the purpose of determining his animal companion’s Hit Dice, special abilities and so forth. Animal Groups: Apelord: ape, baboon, dire ape, monkey. Bearlord: black, brown, and polar bears. Birdlord: all common, dire and giant birds. Catlord: all common and dire felines. Horselord: horses, donky and ponies. Sharklord: all common and dire sharks. Snakelord: all common, dire and giant snakes. Wolflord: all common and dire wolves and canines. Wild Empathy (Ex): An animal lord can improve the attitude of animals. See the druid class feature, page 35 of the Player’s Handbook. If an animal lord has wild empathy from another class, his levels stack for determining the bonus. Zone of Detection (Sp): Beginning at 1st level, an animal lord can detect the presence of all animal of his/her selected group in a 20 foot radius. Fist Totem: At 2nd level, an animal lord gains the Skill focus feat for skills determined by his selected group as follows; Apelord: Climb, Bearlord: Intimidate, Birdlord: Spot, Catlord: Move Silent, Horselord: Jump, Sharklord: Swim, Snakelord: Escape Artist, Wolflord: Survival. Animal Speech (Sp): At 2nd level, an animal lord can converse at will with animals of his/her chosen group as though a speak with animals spell were in effect. Lesser Wild Shape (Su): At 3rd level, an animal lord can use wild shape to take the form of any kind of natural animal in his/her selected group. This ability otherwise functions like the druid’s wild shape, except that an animal lord can use it as often as desired (can only be used to heal wounds 1/day). At 7th level, an animal lord can use this ability to adopt the dire form of an animal in his/her selected group. Extra Animal Companion (Ex): At 4th level, an animal lord gains a second animal companion from his/her selected group. Second Totem: At 5th level, an animal lord gains a bonus feat related to his/her selected group, even if he/she doesn’t meet the prerequisites. Apelord: Improve Bull Rush, Bearlord: Improved Grapple, Birdlord: Improved Flight, Catlord: Quick Reconnoiter, Horselord: Trample, Sharklord: Improved Critical (bite), Snakelord: Improved Initiative, Wolflord: Improved Trip. Summon Animal (Sp): Beginning at 6th level, an animal lord can summon one or more animals of his/her selected group once per day. This ability functions identically to summon nature’s ally V, except than an animal lord can summon creatures only from his/her selected group, as detailed below. The duration of the effect is 1 minute per class level. Apelord: 1d3 dire apes or 1d4+1 apes. Bearlord: 1 polar bear, 1d3 brown bears or 1d4+1 black bears. Birdlord: 1d4+1 eagles, hawks, ravens, or owls. Giant eagle or owl (only by nonevil birdlords) Catlord: 1 dire lion, 1d3 tigers, or 1d4+1 lions. Horselord: 1d4+1 heavy or light horses, warhorses, ponies or warponies. Sharklord: 1d3 huge sharks or 1d4+1 large sharks. Snakelord: 1 giant constrictor snake, 1d3 huge vipers or 1d4+1 constrictors or large vipers. Wolflord: 1d4+1 dire wolves or wolves. Major Detection (Sp): At 7th level, an animal lord can detect the presence of all animal of his/her selected group in a radius of 10 feet per class level. Animal Growth (Sp): Once per day, an animal of 7th level or higher can use animal growth on a single animal from his/her selected group, as a swift action as a spellcaster of his/her class level. Otherwise this ability functions just like the spell. Animal Telepathy (Su): At 8th level, an animal lord can use his/her animal speech ability to converse telepathically with any animal of his/her selected group that she can detect. Animal Perception (Su): At 9th level, an animal lord can share the sensory input of any animal of his/her selected group that is within range of his/her Zone of detection. Third Totem: At 10th level, an animal lord gains a permanent 2-point increase to one of his/her ability scores, determined by his/her chosen animal group as follows; Apelord: +2 Strength, Bearlord: +2 Constitution, Birdlord: +2 Wisdom, Catlord: +2 Dexterity, Horselord: +2 Constitution, Sharklord: +2 Strength, Snakelord: +2 Dexterity or Charisma, Wolflord: +2 Strength.
clarkvalentine 02-24-05, 12:12 PM	A few random observations: Some of those required feats are useful, others not so much. Consider making them all non-combat feats. Such as: Birdlord requires Alertness, Snakelord requires Lightning Reflexes, that sort of thing. Why the discussion of animal companions in the Animal Bond ability? Can the bearlord speak to dire bears? Wild shape at will seems a very powerful ability, and might be overpowered. In all, not a bad PrC at all, I think.
Jayr 02-24-05, 12:20 PM	I can't tell this apart from the Masters of the Wild version. Could you please point out the changes?
Jagyr Ebonwood 02-24-05, 12:24 PM	This really belongs in the PrC Forums.
On_the_wings_of_TPK 02-24-05, 01:09 PM	Ok, well, it is subtly broken, but broken nonetheless. 1) Wild shape at will? What were you thinking man!? Not even the master of many forms can do that! Personally, I would put a duration on it, and make it a standard action to use, and only usable an amount of times per day equal to class level divided by 3 or 4. 2) A second animal companion? I'd drop that all together. If you want multiple animal companions, become a Beastmaster. I would not recomend empowering multiple major class ablities. Basically what this is for a druid is "give up half of your spells for wild shape at will and a second animal companion". For a ranger it is "hey take this and gain +2 to ability score, wild shape, wild shape at will! Pardon me -- and a second animal companion." Why wouldn't you take it?
Mordin 02-24-05, 01:44 PM	Lesser wild shape functions like the druid wild shape therefor it is a standard action and dosen't provoke AoO. At will and as often as you want, I thought it a little mean but you are extreamly limited in what you can change into. This was my reasoning. The feats ill have to think on I tried to make the required feats sute the animal as best I could. And yes you can comunicate with dire bears thanx for pointing that out. The major diferance between this and the MotW version is no share wild shape and spell progresion is changed. Other changes are what level you aquire sertain abilities, the required feats and some changes to the Totem abilities. Thanx for the imput
Ack'noth Necrom 02-24-05, 02:55 PM	Looks like an interesting PrC. The only problem I have with it is wildshape at will which can be pretty powerful. What I would sudgest is either raise the requirments so its harder to get into (thus giving an acceptable raise in power compared to normal characters) or perhaps lower spellcasting to 1 spellcasting level every 3 levels. Those are the only fixes that come to mind at the moment. Ild also recomend posting this in the PrC forum. You should get a lot more advice there.
Mordin 02-25-05, 10:24 AM	Fixed the wild shape hope you like. Lesser Wild Shape (Su): At 3rd level, an animal lord can use wild shape to take the form of any kind of natural animal in his/her selected group. This ability otherwise functions like the druid’s wild shape ability. An animal lord can use this ability 1/Day per 2/class levels. The effect lasts 1 hour per animal lord level or until he/she changes back. Treat druid levels as animal lord levels (as well as levels in other prestige classes that allow this abilities to stack) to determine times per day. At 7th level, an animal lord can use this ability to adopt the dire form of an animal in his/her selected group.