Dragon 400 Jester Article: 4ED conversion - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dragon 400 Jester Article: 4ED conversion

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
DavidFoxfire
Jun 02, 2011 2:33:08 Link: www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/d...

Who among us wants to try our hands in making a 4ED version of this character. I might even design a PC out of the result.
#2
wrecan
Jun 02, 2011 13:21:42 Intriguing. The jester class features (translated to 4e terms) are:

Armor proficiency: Cloth, leather, light shield

Weapon proficiency: Simple melee, simple ranged, military melee

Learn additional language every odd-numbered level (there aren't enough languages in 4e for that!)

+1 to initiative

+1 to non-AC defenses

Immune to insanity (however that translates)

Bonus to allies' morale (however that translates)

Bonus to Athletics checks related to climbing

Bonus to Bluff checks for throwing one's voice up to two squares.

Bonus to Intimidate checks

Immediate interrupt power that lets them juggle and return a ranged attack directed against them.

At 3rd level, bonus to Thievery checks related to picking pockets.

At 16th level, character gets free feat to multiclass into an arcane class of their choice.

Pretty much all of the jester's spells are wizard enchantment spells and bardic rituals. So, to me, this means the jester should either be a Wizard Paragon Path, a Theme, a feat chain (sort of like the duelist is to the rogue).

I vote Theme. First of all, I see no reason Jester couldn't be taken by Rogues, Wizards, Bards, even Barbarians, Clerics, and Psions. The signature juggling power makes a great Theme Encounter Attack power. Everything else can be presented as level 5 and 10 theme features, and optional utility powers.

I'd drop all the small bonuses and proficiencies. The only things of importance to the class are:

Arcane Juggle. Jester Theme Encounter Power. Immediate interrupt that lets you return a ranged attack that targets you at the target, using the enemy's own attack roll. If the target misses itself, it can attack you as normal.

Nimble of Body. Level 2 optional encounter Utility power than grants a bonus to one Athletic checks for climbing, one Thievery check for picking pockets, or one Bluff check for throwing one's voice.

Multilingual. Level 5 Theme Feature that grants proficiency in five languages.

Nimble of Mind. Level 6 optional daily Utility power that grants a Stance that makes you immune to conditions (but not damage) imposed by attacks with the Charm or Fear keywords.

Nimble of Spirit. Level 10 optional daily Utility power. Choose a language you know. Each ally that understand you gains a bonus to attacks, and each enemy that can understand you incurs a penalty to attacks, until the end of your next turn.

Prince of Fools. Level 10 Theme Feature. Choose an Arcane Class. You may retrain one of your encounter attack powers to an encounter attack power of equal or lower level from that class. You may have one such power retrained at any time. You still need to have proficiency with the appropriate implement and/or weapon.

#3
kilpatds
Jun 02, 2011 13:34:23 You'll want to tighten up Prince of Fools I think. "Choose an Arcane Class. You may retrain one of your encounter attack powers to an encounter attack power of equal or lower level from that class. You may have one such power retrained at any time. You still need to have proficiency with the appropriate implement and/or weapon."
#4
wrecan
Jun 02, 2011 14:12:35 Good suggestion. I've edited the post.
#5
efutch
Jun 03, 2011 11:09:56 The Jester should have been a Rogue build like the Thief. In fact, it should have been mostly the Thief with some arcana (auto-train stealth switched to arcana) Int bonus to SA. Backstab to some sort of trick that Dazed and did Int mod damage. Skill Mastery at level 2 switched to the ritualist feat.

Make some utilities. Done.
#6
frothsof
Jun 03, 2011 13:08:14 no
#7
wrecan
Jun 03, 2011 13:41:35
no

To whom or what does this refer?
#8
frothsof
Jun 03, 2011 15:04:54
no

To whom or what does this refer?

that the jester "should have been mostly the Thief with some arcana"
#9
JMCampbell
Jun 03, 2011 15:42:30 I made a Jester Theme, based off the 1e NPC class.
It's just a framework, I still need to fill out the fluff side.
if you guys want to take a look at it, and let me know what you think, I'd appreciate it.
community.wizards.com/jmcampbell/blog/20...

It's over on my blog.
#10
lord_rock
Jun 03, 2011 21:55:21 I like the above listed theme... I'd play it...

Of course I have a history with the jester. In 3rd edition I had one One-shot-One kill the main baddy we weren't even supposed to fight for 3 more levels with a timely crit and a lot of optimization.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 DavidFoxfire Jun 02, 2011 2:33:08	Link: www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/d... Who among us wants to try our hands in making a 4ED version of this character. I might even design a PC out of the result.
#2 wrecan Jun 02, 2011 13:21:42	Intriguing. The jester class features (translated to 4e terms) are: Armor proficiency: Cloth, leather, light shield Weapon proficiency: Simple melee, simple ranged, military melee Learn additional language every odd-numbered level (there aren't enough languages in 4e for that!) +1 to initiative +1 to non-AC defenses Immune to insanity (however that translates) Bonus to allies' morale (however that translates) Bonus to Athletics checks related to climbing Bonus to Bluff checks for throwing one's voice up to two squares. Bonus to Intimidate checks Immediate interrupt power that lets them juggle and return a ranged attack directed against them. At 3rd level, bonus to Thievery checks related to picking pockets. At 16th level, character gets free feat to multiclass into an arcane class of their choice. Pretty much all of the jester's spells are wizard enchantment spells and bardic rituals. So, to me, this means the jester should either be a Wizard Paragon Path, a Theme, a feat chain (sort of like the duelist is to the rogue). I vote Theme. First of all, I see no reason Jester couldn't be taken by Rogues, Wizards, Bards, even Barbarians, Clerics, and Psions. The signature juggling power makes a great Theme Encounter Attack power. Everything else can be presented as level 5 and 10 theme features, and optional utility powers. I'd drop all the small bonuses and proficiencies. The only things of importance to the class are: Arcane Juggle. Jester Theme Encounter Power. Immediate interrupt that lets you return a ranged attack that targets you at the target, using the enemy's own attack roll. If the target misses itself, it can attack you as normal. Nimble of Body. Level 2 optional encounter Utility power than grants a bonus to one Athletic checks for climbing, one Thievery check for picking pockets, or one Bluff check for throwing one's voice. Multilingual. Level 5 Theme Feature that grants proficiency in five languages. Nimble of Mind. Level 6 optional daily Utility power that grants a Stance that makes you immune to conditions (but not damage) imposed by attacks with the Charm or Fear keywords. Nimble of Spirit. Level 10 optional daily Utility power. Choose a language you know. Each ally that understand you gains a bonus to attacks, and each enemy that can understand you incurs a penalty to attacks, until the end of your next turn. Prince of Fools. Level 10 Theme Feature. Choose an Arcane Class. You may retrain one of your encounter attack powers to an encounter attack power of equal or lower level from that class. You may have one such power retrained at any time. You still need to have proficiency with the appropriate implement and/or weapon.
#3 kilpatds Jun 02, 2011 13:34:23	You'll want to tighten up Prince of Fools I think. "Choose an Arcane Class. You may retrain one of your encounter attack powers to an encounter attack power of equal or lower level from that class. You may have one such power retrained at any time. You still need to have proficiency with the appropriate implement and/or weapon."
#4 wrecan Jun 02, 2011 14:12:35	Good suggestion. I've edited the post.
#5 efutch Jun 03, 2011 11:09:56	The Jester should have been a Rogue build like the Thief. In fact, it should have been mostly the Thief with some arcana (auto-train stealth switched to arcana) Int bonus to SA. Backstab to some sort of trick that Dazed and did Int mod damage. Skill Mastery at level 2 switched to the ritualist feat. Make some utilities. Done.
#6 frothsof Jun 03, 2011 13:08:14	no
#7 wrecan Jun 03, 2011 13:41:35	no To whom or what does this refer?
#8 frothsof Jun 03, 2011 15:04:54	no To whom or what does this refer? that the jester "should have been mostly the Thief with some arcana"
#9 JMCampbell Jun 03, 2011 15:42:30	I made a Jester Theme, based off the 1e NPC class. It's just a framework, I still need to fill out the fluff side. if you guys want to take a look at it, and let me know what you think, I'd appreciate it. community.wizards.com/jmcampbell/blog/20... It's over on my blog.
#10 lord_rock Jun 03, 2011 21:55:21	I like the above listed theme... I'd play it... Of course I have a history with the jester. In 3rd edition I had one One-shot-One kill the main baddy we weren't even supposed to fight for 3 more levels with a timely crit and a lot of optimization.