I know that some of the material in the example NPC is not done - like the DC for the powers and some other things, but this is just an example.
As always - comments and such are welcome.
Member of the Order
“Your childish antics are making me angry. Submit or face the full fury of a true master of the Unseen Way!”
Baranus, entrant of the Order, renegade hunter
Latent, raw potential for the Unseen Way, resides in most any creature that calls Athas its home, and throughout most of the turbulent history of since the coming of the Green Age, those who have wielded these forces have done so with the sophistication of a mekillot trampling through a tent city. But there are those who walk the world - pure students of the body and mind - who carry within themselves the true gift of psionics. These few are able to rise above the mindless masses of the untrained and undisciplined minds to gain a glimmer of understanding of the potential they carry within themselves. These pure students of the Unseen Way are sometimes sought out to become a member of the Order.
The Order is the self-appointed guardian of the Unseen Way and dedicates themselves to two core precepts; that psionics should be studied for its own sake, and that psionic talents should only be used to preserve the natural order and balance of the world. Members of the Order are culled from only the most powerful practitioners of psionics who are free from the polarization of morality that has corrupted the harmony of the world. Upon admittance to the Order, these few are given the task of watching for and stamping out psionic heresy where they find it with ruthless and deadly efficiency. While the lower echelons of the Order carry out this one going battle, the higher ranking members focus upon expanding their knowledge of the Way and strengthening their font of Will.
Due to the rigorous requirements, psions most easily qualify to become a member of the Order. A shift has occurred within the ranks of the organization recently, and some psychic warriors and even wilders have been allowed membership, with each of these two classes being likened to the noble psionic beasts that dwell upon Athas, though they must still meet the requirements like every other member of the Order.
Hit Dice: d4
Requirements
To qualify to become a member of the Order, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
Skills: Knowledge (psionics) 24 ranks, Psicraft 24 ranks
Feats: Skill Focus (either knowledge [psionics] or psicraft), any three metapsionic feats
Epic Feat: Improved Manifestation
Powers: Ability to manifest 9th level psionic powers, four of which must be of 7th level
Alignment: Must be either Lawful-, True, or Chaotic-Neutral
Special: Cannot have any levels the grants him access to arcane or divine magic, nor can they have spell-like abilities.
Special: Must be invited to join by a current member of the Order.
Entrant (Ex): As an entrant, a member of the Order may stay and live within the Order’s secret stronghold known as the Nexus. They receive quarters and food free of charge and can also attend meeting as classes held by other members on the nature of the Will and the Way. They also have limited access to item creation workshops and libraries, though all costs for item creation must be supplied by the member of the Order.
Nexus is a psionic school run by Guleum (sp?) the Gray. If I'm not mistaken, he broke off his affiliation to the Order (I'm not positive on that last point though). I'm also under the impression that it wasn't just for epic level students.
More to come later... ;)
Nexus is a psionic school run by Guleum (sp?) the Gray. If I'm not mistaken, he broke off his affiliation to the Order (I'm not positive on that last point though). I'm also under the impression that it wasn't just for epic level students.
More to come later... ;)
Darn you Sysane...but for some reason I have a sinking feeling that you are correct.
If you are, then it will be a huge set back in this PrC and I will have to take it back to the drawing board to re-examine this PrC.
Of course - maybe some things in the Order has changes since the Dragon's Crown and the Order is now reformatted itself a bit...
It is a stretch for sure, one of desperation and sorrow.
If you are, then it will be a huge set back in this PrC and I will have to take it back to the drawing board to re-examine this PrC.
Nothing that some reflavoring of the fluff couldn't fix.
Don't go solely on my word about this either. I'm just going off the top my head. You may want to double check Will & The Way and the Wanderer's Journal to verify this.
Nothing that some reflavoring of the fluff couldn't fix.
Don't go solely on my word about this either. I'm just going off the top my head. You may want to double check Will & The Way and the Wanderer's Journal to verify this.
Oh - don't worry Sysane - the only persons word I trust 100% is my own ;) ...well even then maybe only 99%.
But you are right - it may not be as big of a fix as I initially thought...if you are right
At 1st, 4th, and 7th, you give a rank to the character...but not at 10th, but you do go on about cerebral masters...shouldn't that be a 10th level rank, just like psiologist is for the 7th level?
As for the Nexus being a place with a purpose different from what you setup...well, like Sysane mentionned, keep it as "Nexus" for now but later on change it to something else. As simple. Everything else is still valid.
Knowledge of Power: The member of the Order can select any psionic or metapsionic. The selected feat must be one that he meets the prerequisites for. The member of the Order is able to retain the knowledge of how to use the feat for up to 1 round per class level, or until the power is used.
You could mention that if the feat is a psionic item creation feat, then the member of the Order retain the knowledge of how to use the feat for up to 1 week per class level.
This is your best class yet, man
At 1st, 4th, and 7th, you give a rank to the character...but not at 10th, but you do go on about cerebral masters...shouldn't that be a 10th level rank, just like psiologist is for the 7th level?
As for the Nexus being a place with a purpose different from what you setup...well, like Sysane mentionned, keep it as "Nexus" for now but later on change it to something else. As simple. Everything else is still valid.
You could mention that if the feat is a psionic item creation feat, then the member of the Order retain the knowledge of how to use the feat for up to 1 week per class level.
The reason for not rank at 10th level is becuase there are only 6 CMs - whereas there are 36 psiologists. And - it also states in the Dragon Kings that:
Advancement from psiologist to cerebral master: This promotion is a matter of seniority within a specialty discipline. When a cerebral master dies, the most senior psiologist takes his place. Experience level has no effect. A 27th level psiologist might become a cerebral master, though this is unlikely.
It was because if the underlined part that I did not include an advancement to become a CM. Maybe I sould state something like the above materail from the DK...
As for the language of the abilities and the Nexus thing - I found that that Sysane was right and wrong
Nexus is an academy of the Way located high within a small range of mountains northeast of Kurn. The hidden site is hard to reach and well protected by a group of powerful psionicists and their students. Gulem the Gray (male dwarf/22nd-level psionicist/LN) runs the academy....
There are rumors that Nexus has binding ties to the mysterious Order. In fact, Gulem is an entrant of the Order, but his agenda is his own. He had no part in therecent plot involving the psionatrix, and he has cautioned his colleagues to keep a low profile in the wake of those events. It appears that Gulem remains an influential member of the Order despite his low status thanks to his words of wisdom and his prudent actions.
I will keep it as is and then change it later if the need arises.
Finally - for the item creation feats - I was actually going to put in there that item creation feats are not accessible for this ability - because I wanted to keep all the limits to the duration of access limited to the same time.
Thanks for the praise on the class, Penn - it means a lot because I know you do not just go around saying that stuff is good if it isn't
Oh - and thanks also to my man Sysane - I was getting worried that no one was reading this class before you posted - so thinks man! ;)
The place you are seeking (obviously) is Dasaraches, but since that place has been deserted we officially do not know where the Order has relocated. Maybe calling the new place Refuge would do for now...
The place you are seeking (obviously) is Dasaraches, but since that place has been deserted we officially do not know where the Order has relocated. Maybe calling the new place Refuge would do for now...
What source is this place named in - I would like to find out a bit more on it.
I was going to add more to this class in the way of stating where the orginization was at in terms of recovering from the Dragon's Crown - all kind of tied to an artifact I have been kind of working on called the Dread Masters Crown, but I did not want to go to far afield.
IMO, in the wake of the huge losses the Order suffered, it might be resonable to assume that they would consolidate and begin some re-evaluation of what they are doing and the level of supervision needed to ensure that this does not happen again.
Member of the Order
I’m not very fond of this name. Perhaps something shorter and more elegant would be better, say “Order acolyte”?
Epic Feat: Improved Manifestation
Order members aren’t required to manifest epic powers, they’re only required to be epic manifesters. This shouldn't be a requirement.
Alignment: Must be either Lawful-, True, or Chaotic-Neutral
While it doesn’t mention otherwise, I think that the Order would really frown upon chaotic manifesters. It is called the Order.
Special: Cannot have any levels the grants him access to arcane or divine magic, nor can they have spell-like abilities.
I think that “cannot have levels in a spellcasting class and cannot have spell-like abilities” would be enough.
The member of the Order’s class skills (and key ability for each skill) are Autohypnosis (Wis), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Disguise (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Literacy (none), Profession (Wis), Psicraft (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis).
Some of these skills are odd. Why would they have Disguise, Gather Information, Jump, Listen, Sense Motive, and Spot as class skills? They are not class skills for most psions…
Entrant (Ex): As an entrant, a member of the Order may stay and live within the Order’s secret stronghold known as the Nexus.
Since the next release of the epic rules will be in the new format, this part here should go into Organization and not as a special ability per se, as the discounts they receive later on (after all, for a epic character, a measly 10% discount wouldn't much of a boon). Also, I think giving a +1 bonus on Knowledge (psionics) and Psicraft checks per level would be much more relevant and useful.
The member of the Order’s manifester level for augmentation a specific power cannot exceed +2.
Why not? We are talking freaking epic here!
I have some more comments, but I'll wait until the discussions settle a little bit...
Very good prc, Kal. I have some comments for now.
Thanks
I’m not very fond of this name. Perhaps something shorter and more elegant would be better, say “Order acolyte”?
I will think of something - I was nto a huge fan either - but nothing else came to mind.
Order members aren’t required to manifest epic powers, they’re only required to be epic manifesters. This shouldn't be a requirement.
It is like making the requirement for Epic spellcasters - they DO have to be epic manifesters - and I thought this feat fit.
While it doesn’t mention otherwise, I think that the Order would really frown upon chaotic manifesters. It is called the Order.
The reason for the alignment in 2e was that psionicists could not be chaotic - but in the fluff I said that psychic warriors and wilders were now being looked at as viable candidates
I think that “cannot have levels in a spellcasting class and cannot have spell-like abilities” would be enough.
But - IMO, having a spell-like ability would be just as tainting to a characters qualifications in the eyes of the Order as being able to cast spells - hense I added that language.
Some of these skills are odd. Why would they have Disguise, Gather Information, Jump, Listen, Sense Motive, and Spot as class skills? They are not class skills for most psions…
I thought they fit because in the DK it said that they are travelers at the early levels, looking for signs of psionic heresy, and maintaining a "under-the-radar" kind of profile - enough that the SKs and other groups are unsure of their existance.
Since the next release of the epic rules will be in the new format, this part here should go into Organization and not as a special ability per se, as the discounts they receive later on (after all, for a epic character, a measly 10% discount wouldn't much of a boon). Also, I think giving a +1 bonus on Knowledge (psionics) and Psicraft checks per level would be much more relevant and useful.
Most of the members of the order are granted rank via level - you got the level, you got the rank.
As for the 10% and the mod to checks - we will see....
Why not? We are talking freaking epic here!
I was actually going to change that soon - I did not like that cap either.
I have some more comments, but I'll wait until the discussions settle a little bit...
Cool and thanks
It is like making the requirement for Epic spellcasters - they DO have to be epic manifesters - and I thought this feat fit.
The Order looks for 21th level manifesters, regardless if they can manifest epic powers or not. This only increases the difficulty to qualify for it without adding to the flavor.
But - IMO, having a spell-like ability would be just as tainting to a characters qualifications in the eyes of the Order as being able to cast spells - hense I added that language.
I am saying the same thing you did, I just made it more clear.
The Order looks for 21th level manifesters, regardless if they can manifest epic powers or not. This only increases the difficulty to qualify for it without adding to the flavor.
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this point then
I am saying the same thing you did, I just made it more clear.
Well - I guess I should have read what you wrote then, hummm :P
I think you made a very nice connection to the old flavour of the Order in the requirement of a neutral alignment.
The Order seeks out every psionicist of epic power and ask them to join. If I remember correctly, if a candidate refuses to join, he is considered a Renegade and hunted down and killed. If it is that way, then the alignment requirement shows that the members of the order have changed their ways, if they were different before joining. Every epic manifester who doesn't change (his alignment) is killed.
No idea if this adds anything to the discussion
. I just like the connection of flavor and mechanics.That's a lot of work, but could be very very cool. Do you have an Order Beastmaster Epic PrC up your sleeve too?
;) maybe...
Oh! and check the sig Kal.
Well, then get it out there man! It ain't like you gots anything else you is working on.
Oh! and check the sig Kal.
You will pay!