Dragoon
“You may outrun my horse, but you can’t outrun an arrow.”
Class Traits
Role: Striker. You wheel around the battlefield, shouting and assaulting your foe with a constant barrage of attacks. Because of your ability to strike fear into your enemies and drive them across the battlefield, you also tend to lean toward Controller as a second role.
Power Source: Primal. You call upon the spirits of your ancestors and the preternatural bond you have with your faithful mount to carry the day.
Key Abilities: Dexterity, Constitution, Charisma
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, Leather, Hide, Chainmail, Light Shield
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, one-handed Military melee, Military Polearms, Simple ranged, Military ranged.
Implements: Bows, Ancestral Weapon
Bonus to Defense: +1 Reflex, +2 Will
Hit Points at 1st Level: 14 + Constitution score
Hit Points per level gained: 5
Healing Surges/day: 7 + Constitution modifier.
Trained Skills: Nature. Choose three more trained skills at 1st level from this list.
Class Skills: Athletics (Str), Perception (Wis), Arcana (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), History (Int), Nature (Wis), Insight (Wis), Religion (Int), Thievery (Dex).
Build Options: Cavalier Dragoon, Noble Dragoon
Class Features: Noble Steed, Dragoon's Bond, Champion’s Boon.
Role: Striker. You wheel around the battlefield, shouting and assaulting your foe with a constant barrage of attacks. Because of your ability to strike fear into your enemies and drive them across the battlefield, you also tend to lean toward Controller as a second role.
Power Source: Primal. You call upon the spirits of your ancestors and the preternatural bond you have with your faithful mount to carry the day.
Key Abilities: Dexterity, Constitution, Charisma
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, Leather, Hide, Chainmail, Light Shield
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, one-handed Military melee, Military Polearms, Simple ranged, Military ranged.
Implements: Bows, Ancestral Weapon
Bonus to Defense: +1 Reflex, +2 Will
Hit Points at 1st Level: 14 + Constitution score
Hit Points per level gained: 5
Healing Surges/day: 7 + Constitution modifier.
Trained Skills: Nature. Choose three more trained skills at 1st level from this list.
Class Skills: Athletics (Str), Perception (Wis), Arcana (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), History (Int), Nature (Wis), Insight (Wis), Religion (Int), Thievery (Dex).
Build Options: Cavalier Dragoon, Noble Dragoon
Class Features: Noble Steed, Dragoon's Bond, Champion’s Boon.
Dragoon
“You may outrun my horse, but you can’t outrun an arrow.”
Nice.
Role: Striker. You wheel around the battlefield, shouting and assaulting your foe with a constant barrage of attacks. Because of your ability to strike fear into your enemies and drive them across the battlefield, you also tend to lean toward Controller as a second role.
Also nice.
Power Source: Primal. You call upon the spirits of your ancestors and the preternatural bond you have with your faithful mount to carry the day.
Hmmm, that's a little iffy. Focus on the Ancestors concept when continuing the class further.
Key Abilities: Dexterity, Constitution, Charisma
We'll see about these.
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, Leather, Hide, Chainmail, Light Shield
No problems here.
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, scimitar, Longsword, Broadsword,
Up to this point, it's OK.
axes, spears, sling, War club,1. Proficiency with Superior weapons is a no-no without a feat (except for Rogue/Shuriken, not sure why.)
2. #1 applies because it lists ALL axes and spears.
3. Sling is Simple Ranged already, you have that covered.simple ranged, military ranged.
Implements: Bows, Ancestral Weapon, Totems
Based on the Ancestor Spirit fluff, the Totem doesn't make sense to me.Bonus to Defense: +1 Reflex, +2 Will
That's higher than any other clss out there. I'd reduce it to +1 to each, but if everything else is weaker, than this could be balanced.Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + Constitution score
Too low. Look at the Ranger class.
Hit Points per level gained: 6
Too high. Look at the Ranger class.Healing Surges/day: 8 + Constitution modifier.
Too high. Look at the Ranger class.Trained Skills: Nature.
Err, since when do ancestor spirits have anything to do with the Nature skill?Choose three more trained skills at 1st level from this list.
Class Skills: Athletics (Str), Perception (Wis), Arcana (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), History (Int), Nature (Wis), Insight (Wis), Religion (Int), Thievery (Dex).
Very nice choices for the most part, but I don't know about theivery.Build Options: Cavalier Dragoon, Noble Dragoon
Class Features: Noble Steed, Dragoon's Bond, Champion’s Boon.
No comment yet.The Dragoon is a special type of warrior who rides into battle on a noble stallion, and is trained to fight as one with their mount to create a fighting force which unites the talents of beast and man. Dragoons surpass other characters who merely ride their mount; your Noble Steed is not just a beast that gets you from place to place, it is a creature to whom you share a mystical connection which links your souls.
You may be a knight from a distant realm who’s sworn to protect your lord with your very life, or you could be a simple nomad setting out on your own to win glory for your people. You could be a simple farmer from the country who has been drawn into a conflict you know little about, but in which your natural talent with handling animals can win you success and admiration from other men-at-arms. Regardless of your past, all Dragoons are united by their quest for honor and glory, and their prowess with the art of war. Whether they seek to uphold their honor, or merely to win personal fame and fortune by defeating strong opponents, Dragoons and their mounts are a force to be reckoned with.
You're great at the flavor text. It doesn't seem very Primal, though. What happened to "Ancestor spirits?"Cavalier Dragoon
As a warrior you are headstrong and rely on your natural talent with your steed to get you through a battle. You focus on powers that will confuse and control the enemy, pinning them down and forcing them in circles, while your allies tear them apart in your wake. Your Dexterity should be top notch, and your bond with your Mount is of paramount importance, so make sure you also have a relatively high Charisma score.
Very nice...Suggested Class Feature: Bond of Loyalty
Suggested Feat: Distant Advantage
Suggested Skills: Athletics, Insight, Perception
Suggested At-Will Powers: Primal Arrow, Turnabout Strike
Suggested Encounter Power: Rider’s Fusillade
Suggested Daily Power: Cavalier’s Gambit.No comments yet.Brave Dragoon
A Brave Dragoon perseveres to show his courage and vigor to all who oppose him. You are never far from the lines of battle, ripping among your enemies and cleaving into them left and right. Your Dexterity should still be your top score, as your attacks all key off it. Your success depends on your ability to take hits in battle, so you r next best score should be Constitution.
Suggested Class Feature: Bond of Rivalry
Suggested Feat: Toughness
Suggested Skills: Intimidate, Bluff, Athletics
Suggested At-Will Powers: Charging Smite, Whirling Assault
Suggested Encounter Power: Roaring Strike
Suggested Daily Power: Thundering Charge
Good stuff.All Dragoons have the following Class Features.
Noble Steed
At 1st level you may choose any Mount which your DM allows, and can make available to you. Throughout your adventuring career this mount counts as your Noble Steed, and you may not choose a different Noble Steed unless your first one is killed, stolen, sent to a place where you cannot retrieve it (such as another plane), or is otherwise rendered unavailable indefinitely.
While riding your Noble Steed you may use its mount abilities as if you had the Mounted Combat feat. Your Noble Steed gains experience along with you and it is considered to have the minimum number of experience points for its level when you start out. Your Noble Steed gains a cumulative +1 bonus to all defenses at 1st, 6th, 11th , 16th, 21st, and 26th levels, adds 1 to its total of healing surges at each of these levels, and gains 5 additional hit points per tier as if it had the Toughness feat. Your Noble Steed may also use the Second Wind power once per encounter, as if it were a PC.
Your Noble Steed is considered an ally, and can be targeted by any powers that effect allies. Your Noble Steed also gains a bonus to its intelligence score equal to your intelligence modifier, and can understand 1 language per point of your Intelligence modifier, so long as you know that language. It cannot speak unless a normal creature of its type could.
At any time, in or out of combat, you may spend a minor action to call your Noble Steed by asking the spirits of your ancestors to guide it to your location. In 1d10 rounds, or 1d4 minutes, your Noble Steed approaches your location from the nearest entrance, even if you can’t think of any possible way it could’ve gotten through the preceding area (such as across the ocean, or through a treacherous cavern). If you attempt to ask the Steed how it got there (such as through a ritual that allows one to speak with animals), it will respond with a deliberately ambiguous answer such as “I walked”, or “I went through the door”, and, if pressed, will admit to being just as clueless as you and your allies.
If you do not choose a Noble Steed at 1st level, you instead gain the Mounted Combat feat as a bonus feat, and may choose a Noble Steed at any future point by giving up this bonus feat for the above benefits. Conversely, if your Noble Steed dies or is otherwise rendered unavailable to you indefinitely, you may give up the above benefits and gain Mounted Combat as a bonus feat. You may then, at any time, give up this bonus feat to regain the benefit of this Class Feature, choosing either a new Noble Steed, or the same one (if it becomes available again).Looks great, but I'd look at the Ranger's Animal Companion, and base it off that. I've been mentioning the Ranger a lot haven't I?Dragoon's Bond
You may choose either the Bond of Rivalry or Bond of Loyalty feature when making your Dragoon. Both features work like a power.
Hmmm, that's a little iffy. Focus on the Ancestors concept when continuing the class further.
Yeah, I do mostly focus on the ancestor spirits and stuff for most of the powers, but the point was also to make mounted combat a viable option for this class (if not others).
Too high. Look at the Ranger class.
I mostly based it on the Barbarian, but yeah, I tweaked it around a bit for you. The idea is to give it more staying power (so you could play it either as a lurker-type striker, or a melee bruiser).
Err, since when do ancestor spirits have anything to do with the Nature skill?
What else would they be? Also, it's to fit in with the mounted combat theme. "Handle animal", y'know?
Very nice choices for the most part, but I don't know about theivery.
Well, when you see the powers you'll know it's obviously based mostly on Native Americans, but I wanted it also to be flexible enough to accommodate other archetypal mounted warriors like Saracen raiders or Mongols (hence the Scimitar and Chainmail proficiencies). Thievery seems to go in hand with that.
You're great at the flavor text. It doesn't seem very Primal, though. What happened to "Ancestor spirits?"
I may have to tweak that a little bit. The original concept was a mounted Samurai, so the Ancestor spirits thing was a later addition once I switched the focus over to Natives (could still work for Samurai, though: Longsword = Daitou, Shortsword = Shotou, Dagger = Kodachi, Glaive = Naginata, etc.).
Looks great, but I'd look at the Ranger's Animal Companion, and base it off that. I've been mentioning the Ranger a lot haven't I?
I'll probably tweak it around a little, yeah, but I wanted to stay away from the whole, "This is an Archer ranger that rides a horse and does elemental damage" thing.
Sweet concept, I see that you have a reasonable grasp of the rules when I read this. It looks okay, but I'm feeling lazy right now and don't feel like comparing stuff.
I worked on this a lot, so it should be good. Interestingly enough, this power was the original basis of the entire class. :D
Sounds defender-y, but it's another great concept.
This was back from when it was a Samurai. I'll probably replace it with something different, but I haven't really had time to think of an alternative...
This looks really cool and makes the class different from other classes. Nice job. However, I'd make minions one-quarter point, elites 2, and Solos 5.
Well, I wanted to keep things balanced. The idea would be to give the character a chance to use an upgraded power once or twice an encounter, but not enough that he'd have an effectively infinite supply of points to use. I based it somewhat on the Psion's power points, but instead of being linked to level it's linked to how well the character is fulfilling their role as a Striker. I might raise it to 2 points for Elites, but giving extra points for Solo enemies is kind of pointless since the counter resets after a short rest anyway. :P
You are really good at this compared to some people I've seen. This looks great.
Thanks.Military or Superior? It's too good for Military at any rate. One- or Two-handed
Both of them have the Versatile property, so they're either one or two handed. Also, if the weapon is a Superior weapon I make note of it in the description. Also, I nerfed them a little bit... are they better now?
Take out the +2 attack. Make it +1 or something. No bonus is probably better. Damage is OK I guess maybe. Maybe not.
I made it a +1.
Same as before- Handedness? Military/Superior?
It's doesn't have Versatile, and I'd have mentioned if it was two-handed or superior. So yeah, it's a one-handed Military weapon.
This had better be Superior. Prolly Two-handed, but the entry doesn't say so.
As noted in the description, both are superior weapons, and it's a bow, so it's two-handed.
I, unfortunately, refuse to rate the firearms. Change the weapon group to "Firearm" instead of Crossbow. They're not Crossbows, they're Firearms.
Why are the Weapons included? Are they specific to the class? If not, they probably deserve their own thread, or you could make this "Chameleon-X's Homebrew Thread".
I included the weapons because they didn't exist, and some of them are iconic to the class (like a war club). They're not specific to this class (any Primal character is as likely to want an Obsidian Spear, for instance), but I figured I would include them here for the hell of it.
As for the class, it seems nice so far, but needs comparison that I'm to lazy to give. Powers come later. Besides, I'm distracted right now because of a severe tornado watch in my area right now.
I can tell that you have a nice grasp of 4E mechanics by reading this. You're also good at coming up with ideas. Although, it seems... loose. Undefined. Not sure why.
Good luck on the class.
Mostly because I have only a loose understanding of what belongs with what concept. But yeah, thanks for taking the time to give me some feedback.
Good work Chameleon-X! I REALLY like the flavour and how you have captured the heavy cavalry and horse archer concepts in the class.
But I'll have to let someone more experienced in creating 4e classes take on the technical details (which someone seems to have done already).
Implements: Bows, Ancestral Weapon, Totems
why?
only one of the powers isn't a weapon power.
The class would work fine without implements
oh and if you're gonna add in guns you should add in carbines, since it was the fire from carbines that gave dragoons their name
Too much damage... Maybe 1[w]. This is because you could take a Mordenkrand and use this. Yuck. It's fine otherwise.
Well, they'd have to take a feat to use one... but yeah, I thought it might be a little powerful.
You realize that if you shift 1 square before the attack to shift away, you can't hit with melee? If you do, then you've still created a very useful power.
Yeah. The idea is to shift into melee, strike, and then shift out so the dude has to pursue you if it wants to get at you.
Nice job. Strikery AND flavorful. Edit: Actually, this is really powerful. Needs some way to reduce the damage to to something more like Twin Strike; this is about 10 more damage if both attacks hit. Also, it'd be useful to include "Other creatures can make oppurtunity attacks as normal."
The opportunity attack this is implied, I thought.
Anyway,Nice, but it doesn't give a duration for the OA block. Also, it'd be useful to include "Other creatures can make oppurtunity attacks as normal."
Again, it was implied. It specifically says "the target", so even RAW it excludes other creatures besides the target.
Damage from weapon attacks exists, but weapon damage does not. Good otherwise.
Are you sure? I swear I've seen powers that say something like "Resist x to weapon damage", or something. In any case, it's fairly clear what it means, isn't it?
I just realized that you can use this attack, technically, with a melee weapon.
Fixed.
I'd restrict this to basic attacks, otherwise it looks nice.
Do monsters technically have basic attacks?
Do you apply the Champion Points during the main attack or when you deal Charisma modifier damage?
Unless specifically noted, whenever a Champion Point augment mentions a specific contingency (like a target scoring a critical hit, or some such), the points are always spent after the triggering event happens. In this case the augment is a part of the effect of the attack, not a triggered augment, so you spend the points as part of the attack itself.
Under the Champion Points section it says "creature" but under the Hit it says "enemy." Which is it?
Ah, typo. Sorry, it's supposed to be "enemy".
Seems a bit powerful.
Fixed.
That is definitely too good. It needs some nerfing.
I cut it by 1[W] and added a qualifier for the daze. Good now?
"The Battlefield?" How big is that? The planet? The universe? Of course not, but "The Battlefield" isn't defined within the 4E rules. Close Burst 20 maybe?
Fixed.
How many points do I have to spend to increase it by 1? By 5?
Fixed. Again.
Seems a bit useless, seeing as I haven't had an encounter where I can't find out what a monster is. However, when it's needed, It'd be really needed, so I suggest increasing the bonus.
Well, basically it's designed to be situationally useful. I myself never take these kinds of powers, so I basically added in this one so there would be one sucky power to make the other powers look better. :D
Even though Rogues will MC into Dragoon just to get this power, it works fine for the class.
Well, the ability focus overlaps with the Rogue anyway, and they wouldn't have trouble finding an Implement for these powers, so I think a Rogue would MC into this even if the power wasn't there. :D
Boy, these Dragoons are really mobile. I like the power, but it looks really damaging.
That be the idea. Anyway, lowered it by 1[W].
One creature within an area burst? What?
How the hell did I do that? Fixed.You mean against any creature, right?
Yes.
I dunno, I don't have the PHB here (meh, I don't feel like getting it from my bedroom) but if you haven't yet, you should compare this to Ranger powers.
:D Errr... okay, I guess I was pushing it with that one. It was better than Triple Shot, which is a level 17 Ranger encounter.
Too much damage on these level 3 encounters. By about 1[w].
Fixed. Now they're all 2[W] or below.
Nice job on these. I like meeting someone who knows how 4E works when so many people don't.
Edit: Also, Mount is not a keyword. (Wait, is it?) And, Implement attacks will be innacurate against AC. Maybe give them a +2 or something?
I added the mount keyword, but I forgot to copy it from the .doc file:
Mount Keyword: Powers that have the Mount keyword can only be used when your Noble Steed is present and conscious during the encounter. In addition, many mount powers require that you be mounted to use that power. In these cases, “mounted” refers only to riding your Noble Steed, and doesn’t apply to other mounts. If a power allows your mount to attack, you do not apply any bonuses to that attack for items, powers, or feats, unless those bonuses apply to your Noble Steed (such as magic mount items).
As for Implement attacks... would it be unbalancing to just let them add their proficiency bonus to the attack roll?
why?
only one of the powers isn't a weapon power.
The class would work fine without implements
oh and if you're gonna add in guns you should add in carbines, since it was the fire from carbines that gave dragoons their name
What are you talking about, there's plenty of Implement powers.
Also, I was actually thinking of adding a carbine, but I figured the Rifle was basically the same thing.
Edit: After researching this, I discovered Carbines and Rifles are indeed quite different, so I went ahead and added one. ^_^;
Example: Rogue AW 1, Piercing Strike, targets Reflex. No other bonus.
However, the Rogue AW 1 Sly Flourish targets AC, but deals more damage. They both have a slight bonus compared to MBA (as goes for all at-wills) but they're equal*.
* Well, maybe going to the CharOp boards would imply that they aren't, but still...
Mmkay, my point is that targeting NADs with Weapons is just another bonus that you should factor in to the power.
I'd imagine you already knew, but just in case...
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I suggest adding the other-creatures-OAs line because novice players would miss that entirely.
Are you sure? I swear I've seen powers that say something like "Resist x to weapon damage", or something. In any case, it's fairly clear what it means, isn't it?
Well, I guess so... I don't recall any powers hat do that, but if I see one, I'll let you know.
Do monsters technically have basic attacks?
Yep! It's usually "Slam" or "Bite." Otherwise, how could monsters make opportunity attacks?
I cut it by 1[W] and added a qualifier for the daze. Good now?
Yeah.
Mount Keyword: Powers that have the Mount keyword can only be used when your Noble Steed is present and conscious during the encounter. In addition, many mount powers require that you be mounted to use that power. In these cases, “mounted” refers only to riding your Noble Steed, and doesn’t apply to other mounts. If a power allows your mount to attack, you do not apply any bonuses to that attack for items, powers, or feats, unless those bonuses apply to your Noble Steed (such as magic mount items).
Cool. I just noticed that Mount attack rolls don't scale by level. Or maybe I just didn't read hard enough.
What are you talking about, there's plenty of Implement powers.
Also, I was actually thinking of adding a carbine, but I figured the Rifle was basically the same thing.
take bow of storms for example, yes it's an implement power, but it would be trivial to make it a weapon power.
only Autumn’s Embrace really compels the use of implements. And I think it dilutes the focus of the class, mounted bowman. Autumn’s Embrace is better suited to a shaman.
a Carbine is a rifle adapted to close combat and mounted combat. It's a sawed off rifle. Shorter range but much less awkward aim in dynamic situations.
The main issue I see is that you've made it too much like a druid or shaman in an effort to not make it a ranger clone.
But the ranger like aspects of the class are the strongest aspects. It might be best implemented as a new build of ranger. A mounted ranger.
That being said, I like most the class features.
so more critique
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, Scimitar, Longsword, Shortsword, Broadsword, War Club, Military axes, Military spears, Military Polearms, Simple ranged, Military ranged.
too close to simple melee, military melee, simple ranged, military ranged to not make it so.
Whirling Assault, Primal Arrow
it would make a good encounter power, but I see no reason the class needs an at will close burst. Area at wills are the exception.
also if you're making them implement powers they should target NACDs to make up for the lack of weapon proficiency. And Implement powers should never have [w] damage. (what's the [w] of a totem?)
Charging Smite
this is good stuff
Turnabout Strike
how about, effect: shift two squares; and make an attack at any point within that move.
Team Attack
good stuff
Cool. I just noticed that Mount attack rolls don't scale by level. Or maybe I just didn't read hard enough.
Well, they're technically monsters, right? Wouldn't their attack bonus go up by level automatically anyway?
take bow of storms for example, yes it's an implement power, but it would be trivial to make it a weapon power.
only Autumn’s Embrace really compels the use of implements. And I think it dilutes the focus of the class, mounted bowman. Autumn’s Embrace is better suited to a shaman.
Yeah, I was thinking that power was a little of a stand-out, but ultimately as the levels go up more of the powers become less "lolz I shuut a arrow", and more with the spirits and control effects and such.
Edit: I tweaked that power to be a little more Striker-y and a little less Controller-y. It still works as both, I think, but I'll have to wait for opinions.
a Carbine is a rifle adapted to close combat and mounted combat. It's a sawed off rifle. Shorter range but much less awkward aim in dynamic situations.
Yeah, that's what I figured.
too start, I like it.
The main issue I see is that you've made it too much like a druid or shaman in an effort to not make it a ranger clone.
How is it like a Shaman, other than the names of some of the powers? There's nothing at all leader-like, that I can see. Druid, maybe, since its a secondary Controller, but I still put in Striker mobility and damage capacity.But the ranger like aspects of the class are the strongest aspects. It might be best implemented as a new build of ranger. A mounted ranger.
That being said, I like most the class features.
I've been using the Barbarian and Ranger as most of my inspiration, but I've been trying to keep things unique so it's not, as you say, just a primal build for a ranger.
too close to simple melee, military melee, simple ranged, military ranged to not make it so.
Hm... you do have a point. I'll tweak it.
it would make a good encounter power, but I see no reason the class needs an at will close burst. Area at wills are the exception.
How about now?
also if you're making them implement powers they should target NACDs to make up for the lack of weapon proficiency. And Implement powers should never have [w] damage. (what's the [w] of a totem?)
I took out the totems. Now, all it can use as implements are weapons.
how about, effect: shift two squares; and make an attack at any point within that move.
I guess that could work, but I think I'll try something else.
Yeah, I was thinking that power was a little of a stand-out, but ultimately as the levels go up more of the powers become less "lolz I shuut a arrow", and more with the spirits and control effects and such.
what class shifts focus like that as they level?
imo a class should stick to it's core from 1 to 30.
How is it like a Shaman, other than the names of some of the powers? There's nothing at all leader-like, that I can see. Druid, maybe, since its a secondary Controller, but I still put in Striker mobility and damage capacity
I didn't mean it as a comment on the class's role but rather on the classes power source, and flavor.
"quest for honor and glory" is imo the best stuff in the class so far from the Bond of Rivalry to Run to Ground.
Like the barbarian it's almost martial. I wouldn't rule out changing the class to martial. Which isn't to say I don't think it can be built well as primal, just that I would tone down the elemental and spiritual aspects.
I think Bow of Storms has the balance about right. It's not martial, and it's not a spell
though I'd change it slightly
More Noble Steed stuff.
There are level 10 and higher mounts you realize.
This part is fine.
Good stuff.
Why not share XP together? Or give the mount no XP and have it level up when the Dragoon does?
Doesn't scale properly.
Monsters have 1 healing surge per tier you realize.
Doesn't scale.
Mention the Intelligence requirement somewhere in the "Builds" section. Also, "minimum 1" would be a good idea. Maybe Primal Power 1.5 could have an Intelligence build for the Dragoon?
I thought that the mount couldn't talk. Also, why are you telling people how to roleplay their own mounts? Just say that they're as clueless as you are. EDIT: Well, not you, but as the player is. You, Chameleon, are not clueless. :P
That's fine.
At 1st level you may choose any Mount which your DM allows, and can make available to you.
There are level 10 and higher mounts you realize.
Throughout your adventuring career this mount counts as your Noble Steed, and you may not choose a different Noble Steed unless your first one is killed, stolen, sent to a place where you cannot retrieve it (such as another plane), or is otherwise rendered unavailable indefinitely.
This part is fine.
While riding your Noble Steed you may use its mount abilities as if you had the Mounted Combat feat.
Good stuff.
Your Noble Steed gains experience along with you and it is considered to have the minimum number of experience points for its level when you start out.
Why not share XP together? Or give the mount no XP and have it level up when the Dragoon does?
Your Noble Steed gains a cumulative +1 bonus to all defenses at 1st, 6th, 11th , 16th, 21st, and 26th levels,
Doesn't scale properly.
adds 1 to its total of healing surges at each of these levels,
Monsters have 1 healing surge per tier you realize.
and gains 5 additional hit points per tier as if it had the Toughness feat. Your Noble Steed may also use the Second Wind power once per encounter, as if it were a PC.
Doesn't scale.
Your Noble Steed is considered an ally, and can be targeted by any powers that effect allies. Your Noble Steed also gains a bonus to its intelligence score equal to your intelligence modifier, and can understand 1 language per point of your Intelligence modifier, so long as you know that language. It cannot speak unless a normal creature of its type could.
Mention the Intelligence requirement somewhere in the "Builds" section. Also, "minimum 1" would be a good idea. Maybe Primal Power 1.5 could have an Intelligence build for the Dragoon?
At any time, in or out of combat, you may spend a minor action to call your Noble Steed by asking the spirits of your ancestors to guide it to your location. In 1d10 rounds, or 1d4 minutes, your Noble Steed approaches your location from the nearest entrance, even if you can’t think of any possible way it could’ve gotten through the preceding area (such as across the ocean, or through a treacherous cavern). If you attempt to ask the Steed how it got there (such as through a ritual that allows one to speak with animals), it will respond with a deliberately ambiguous answer such as “I walked”, or “I went through the door”, and, if pressed, will admit to being just as clueless as you and your allies.
I thought that the mount couldn't talk. Also, why are you telling people how to roleplay their own mounts? Just say that they're as clueless as you are. EDIT: Well, not you, but as the player is. You, Chameleon, are not clueless. :P
If you do not choose a Noble Steed at 1st level, you instead gain the Mounted Combat feat as a bonus feat, and may choose a Noble Steed at any future point by giving up this bonus feat for the above benefits. Conversely, if your Noble Steed dies or is otherwise rendered unavailable to you indefinitely, you may give up the above benefits and gain Mounted Combat as a bonus feat. You may then, at any time, give up this bonus feat to regain the benefit of this Class Feature, choosing either a new Noble Steed, or the same one (if it becomes available again).
That's fine.
There are level 10 and higher mounts you realize.
I know, that's why I said they can choose any mount the DM allows. If they start an adventure pre-leveled, it's assumed that the DM would allow them to start with a higher leveled mount.
Why not share XP together? Or give the mount no XP and have it level up when the Dragoon does?
What I meant was that if the Mount starts above Level 1, it would have the minimum number of XP for that level, but would otherwise gain XP with the character.
Doesn't scale properly.
Do you have any suggestions?
Monsters have 1 healing surge per tier you realize.
Oh... Right.
Mention the Intelligence requirement somewhere in the "Builds" section. Also, "minimum 1" would be a good idea. Maybe Primal Power 1.5 could have an Intelligence build for the Dragoon?
Ah, right. I didn't think about that.
I thought that the mount couldn't talk. Also, why are you telling people how to roleplay their own mounts? Just say that they're as clueless as you are. EDIT: Well, not you, but as the player is. You, Chameleon, are not clueless. :P
That's what I said; the mount is as clueless as the player is as to how it got there. And I specifically mentioned that this is only if the players are talking to the mount using a ritual that would allow them to communicate with it. I don't know if there's any, off-hand, but something like "Commune with Nature" or whatever, that would let you talk to animals.
Edit: Btw, sorry about the sloppy looking powers; I did some editing, and this crazy new forum auto-formated all my writing so it looks like rubbish. Hopefully this bullshit is only temporary, because this new system is horrible... >_<
I know, that's why I said they can choose any mount the DM allows. If they start an adventure pre-leveled, it's assumed that the DM would allow them to start with a higher leveled mount.
What if my DM hates me? Or if my DM hates the guy sitting next to me, who's ALSO playing a Dragoon? What if the DM is so new to 4th edition that he puts artillery on the front lines, and doesn't know how level works now? DM judgement =/= reliable.
What I meant was that if the Mount starts above Level 1, it would have the minimum number of XP for that level, but would otherwise gain XP with the character.
Mounts do not technically have XP.
Do you have any suggestions?
Yeah. Ranger Beastmaster as inspiration.
That's what I said; the mount is as clueless as the player is as to how it got there. And I specifically mentioned that this is only if the players are talking to the mount using a ritual that would allow them to communicate with it. I don't know if there's any, off-hand, but something like "Commune with Nature" or whatever, that would let you talk to animals.
I didn't see you specifically mention it. I'll look again.
What I was concerned about was that you said "The mount responds with 'I walked'". That's telling people how to roleplay their mounts. What if my riding lizard mount wants to say "'Twasss the power of loyalty, o massster, that brought me back to you."?
Edit: Btw, sorry about the sloppy looking powers; I did some editing, and this crazy new forum auto-formated all my writing so it looks like rubbish. Hopefully this bullshit is only temporary, because this new system is horrible... >_<
I hope so too.
What if my DM hates me? Or if my DM hates the guy sitting next to me, who's ALSO playing a Dragoon? What if the DM is so new to 4th edition that he puts artillery on the front lines, and doesn't know how level works now? DM judgement =/= reliable.
Yeah. Ranger Beastmaster as inspiration.
What I was concerned about was that you said "The mount responds with 'I walked'". That's telling people how to roleplay their mounts. What if my riding lizard mount wants to say "'Twasss the power of loyalty, o massster, that brought me back to you."?
Alright, I did an overhaul of the Noble Steed feature, and based it partially on the Beast Mastery feature. I also redid the powers (again) to tweak a few things I wasn't happy with. Incidentally, it seems they fixed the formating problem, so now all they need to do is nix that stupid auto-spacebar effect, and bring black the spoiler tags, and I'll be all set.
On a positive note, not having to type Bold-tags for every damn line is more convenient than the old forums.