Gunmage Arcane Striker class - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Gunmage Arcane Striker class

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ulmus
Apr 18, 2009 17:42:14 Over at my blog (http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/) I've got a running project creating a Gunmage for D&D 4E, loosely inspired by the gunmage from Iron Kingdoms.

It's just starting up, but when done, I will compile it together with my black powder weapon rules into a black powder compendium and I would be very thankful to anyone who would take some time to critique the class and also, of course, the black powder weapon rules in themselves.

The class can be found at:
http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/the-gunmage-i-class-description-and-features/
http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/the-gunmage-ii-at-will-powers-lvl-1/
and
http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/gunmage-iii-encounter-powers-lvl-1/

And the weapons can be found at:
http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/black-powder-weapons-in-dd-4e/

Take a look and leave your comments here or on my blog (or mail [email]polyhedral@me.com[/email])

Thanks!

/Jens
#2
Lugritor
Apr 19, 2009 3:02:31 I love what you have so far I am a huge fan of Iron Kingdoms and was very interested at the conversions that were being made on their boards but they were left unfinished.

Elemental bullets are great, probably the thing i love the most with this class it really makes them have a feeling all of there own.
(maybe make it a move action to switch bullet types instead of a minor, the ability to swich your damage type is signifigant once you start coming across enemies with reductions)

Your black powder weapon look remarkably balanced, you didn't go for the obseen damage most people go for or the ridiculously long reload time. I love shot gun and double barrel but feel that High accuracy is a touch to powerful I would instead have it only work for offsetting penalties from cover and the like instad of a flat bonus to hit. (by the way 4th ed did away with ammo for bows and crossbows is you having it intentional or just an oversight)
grenades look perfect
#3
ulmus
Apr 19, 2009 3:31:06 Hmpf, the forums ate my reply, retyping...

Good (and kind ) comments:

* Switching bullet type as a move action: Great idea, makes planning power use more challenging and interesting for the player, I'll ponder on it a bit, as it is quite a change, but I think I'll go with your suggestion.

* High accuracy. Also a good idea, I wasn't quite happy with High Acc as written, but wanted the flavor and couldn't find a better mechanic. Ignoring the -2 for cover or concealment strikes a good balance with playability and wantability

* Ammo cost. It was unintentional for sure, but flavorwise I like it. It conveys the "we're down to the last bullet, let 'em count" feel that I connect with firearms more than with bows, but it also adds complexity. I think I'll keep it, but make a note that it (like anything else) is optional and perhaps not for everyone. The magelock gun would of course not require any ammunition.

Speaking of unintentional, I reread my first post, "tarting up"... sigh
#4
ulmus
Apr 21, 2009 1:49:45 New post, daily powers lvl 1:

http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/the-gunmage-iv-daily-powers-lvl-1/
#5
tcg_researcher
Apr 21, 2009 14:10:26 Just looking at it, seems like it could be a bookkeeping nightmare for the GM. ("I'll use my daily on that guy, he now has such-and-such a save ends effect, and I deal my SO damage, now I'll switcheroo my elemental damage type, action point, quickdraw my other pistol, twin strike him for [x] type damage and him for [y] type damage and did you remember those vulnerabilities from last turn...")

Why is Wis a secondary? Aside from putting Perception and Insight on the class skills list, it doesn't play into the class at all. Honestly, though, if it weren't for required Arcana and the flavor of the class, I'm tempted to dump Int entirely, pick Dex-only powers, and invest in Wis and Con for NADs. (Roll an Int attack roll to do Int modifier damage? Thanks, but no.)

Being able to "turn off" Single Out as a minor would make it strictly better than Hunter's Quarry, but a Standard seems like it would never be used. (Can multiple Gunmages SO the same target? Comp. Warlock, who can't "turn off" his Curse.)

The name of the damage type is "Cold."
#6
ulmus
Apr 22, 2009 13:43:57 Fair criticisms, I'll try to address them one by one:

* Bookkeeping: It is an advanced class, but not much more so in my opinion than the rogue (stealth rules, sigh!). Still, I can't really judge this until I use it in play. If it plays like you suggest, the complexity would definitely have to be scaled back!

* Wisdom as a secondary probably isn't that interesting, might skip it or try to include it more in the powers, probably the latter. Otherwise i believe the class behaves pretty much as the ranger or rogue, it's pretty easy to create a single-stat character, but you're missing out on some of the cool powers.

* You're not supposed to turn off the Single Out, otherwise, it would, as you suggest, be strictly better than Hunter's Quarry. The standard action to turn off is there as a safety hatch if your target disappears to some kind of demiplane or something. As I see it, multiple Gunmages could very well SO the same target, is this a balance problem?

* Fixed the Cold keyword, did you find it in more places than the bullet types in the class description?
#7
ulmus
Apr 22, 2009 13:49:18 Just realized that one reason why Wisdom isn't used more is that I've only done one build so far (I've thought of a Gunmage Commander build, leant more on leadership than control as a trapping, perhaps more Wisdom -based, though Charisma would probably be better).
#8
gavin_silverstream
Apr 27, 2009 3:05:32 You know I've got a great suggestion for this class (by the way I love IK.)

Instead of having the ability to use different ammunition, you don't you make the ammunition part of the attack powers. Like the Dailies are rounds that are hard to make so he can only make a few a day. Encounters are a more simplistic round, and At-Wills can probably be purchased at any magik shop.

Much like a Wizard picks his dailies in the morning, the Gun Mage chooses which rounds to build when he wakes up. It would clear up any accounting problems for the player and speed up some game play.

The class seems to remind me a lot of a Ranged Sword Mage. Also a striker class is usually built for damage, so you could make two builds (one focused on single target damage and the second for wide scale destruction.) Don't forget that WotC made class creation unbelievably simple to follow. Remember to add a path option at every encounter power level and feats to back each path up.

Awesome work by the way, keep it up.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ulmus Apr 18, 2009 17:42:14	Over at my blog (http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/) I've got a running project creating a Gunmage for D&D 4E, loosely inspired by the gunmage from Iron Kingdoms. It's just starting up, but when done, I will compile it together with my black powder weapon rules into a black powder compendium and I would be very thankful to anyone who would take some time to critique the class and also, of course, the black powder weapon rules in themselves. The class can be found at: http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/the-gunmage-i-class-description-and-features/ http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/the-gunmage-ii-at-will-powers-lvl-1/ and http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/gunmage-iii-encounter-powers-lvl-1/ And the weapons can be found at: http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/black-powder-weapons-in-dd-4e/ Take a look and leave your comments here or on my blog (or mail [email]polyhedral@me.com[/email]) Thanks! /Jens
#2 Lugritor Apr 19, 2009 3:02:31	I love what you have so far I am a huge fan of Iron Kingdoms and was very interested at the conversions that were being made on their boards but they were left unfinished. Elemental bullets are great, probably the thing i love the most with this class it really makes them have a feeling all of there own. (maybe make it a move action to switch bullet types instead of a minor, the ability to swich your damage type is signifigant once you start coming across enemies with reductions) Your black powder weapon look remarkably balanced, you didn't go for the obseen damage most people go for or the ridiculously long reload time. I love shot gun and double barrel but feel that High accuracy is a touch to powerful I would instead have it only work for offsetting penalties from cover and the like instad of a flat bonus to hit. (by the way 4th ed did away with ammo for bows and crossbows is you having it intentional or just an oversight) grenades look perfect
#3 ulmus Apr 19, 2009 3:31:06	Hmpf, the forums ate my reply, retyping... Good (and kind ) comments: * Switching bullet type as a move action: Great idea, makes planning power use more challenging and interesting for the player, I'll ponder on it a bit, as it is quite a change, but I think I'll go with your suggestion. * High accuracy. Also a good idea, I wasn't quite happy with High Acc as written, but wanted the flavor and couldn't find a better mechanic. Ignoring the -2 for cover or concealment strikes a good balance with playability and wantability * Ammo cost. It was unintentional for sure, but flavorwise I like it. It conveys the "we're down to the last bullet, let 'em count" feel that I connect with firearms more than with bows, but it also adds complexity. I think I'll keep it, but make a note that it (like anything else) is optional and perhaps not for everyone. The magelock gun would of course not require any ammunition. Speaking of unintentional, I reread my first post, "tarting up"... sigh
#4 ulmus Apr 21, 2009 1:49:45	New post, daily powers lvl 1: http://polyhedral.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/the-gunmage-iv-daily-powers-lvl-1/
#5 tcg_researcher Apr 21, 2009 14:10:26	Just looking at it, seems like it could be a bookkeeping nightmare for the GM. ("I'll use my daily on that guy, he now has such-and-such a save ends effect, and I deal my SO damage, now I'll switcheroo my elemental damage type, action point, quickdraw my other pistol, twin strike him for [x] type damage and him for [y] type damage and did you remember those vulnerabilities from last turn...") Why is Wis a secondary? Aside from putting Perception and Insight on the class skills list, it doesn't play into the class at all. Honestly, though, if it weren't for required Arcana and the flavor of the class, I'm tempted to dump Int entirely, pick Dex-only powers, and invest in Wis and Con for NADs. (Roll an Int attack roll to do Int modifier damage? Thanks, but no.) Being able to "turn off" Single Out as a minor would make it strictly better than Hunter's Quarry, but a Standard seems like it would never be used. (Can multiple Gunmages SO the same target? Comp. Warlock, who can't "turn off" his Curse.) The name of the damage type is "Cold."
#6 ulmus Apr 22, 2009 13:43:57	Fair criticisms, I'll try to address them one by one: * Bookkeeping: It is an advanced class, but not much more so in my opinion than the rogue (stealth rules, sigh!). Still, I can't really judge this until I use it in play. If it plays like you suggest, the complexity would definitely have to be scaled back! * Wisdom as a secondary probably isn't that interesting, might skip it or try to include it more in the powers, probably the latter. Otherwise i believe the class behaves pretty much as the ranger or rogue, it's pretty easy to create a single-stat character, but you're missing out on some of the cool powers. * You're not supposed to turn off the Single Out, otherwise, it would, as you suggest, be strictly better than Hunter's Quarry. The standard action to turn off is there as a safety hatch if your target disappears to some kind of demiplane or something. As I see it, multiple Gunmages could very well SO the same target, is this a balance problem? * Fixed the Cold keyword, did you find it in more places than the bullet types in the class description?
#7 ulmus Apr 22, 2009 13:49:18	Just realized that one reason why Wisdom isn't used more is that I've only done one build so far (I've thought of a Gunmage Commander build, leant more on leadership than control as a trapping, perhaps more Wisdom -based, though Charisma would probably be better).
#8 gavin_silverstream Apr 27, 2009 3:05:32	You know I've got a great suggestion for this class (by the way I love IK.) Instead of having the ability to use different ammunition, you don't you make the ammunition part of the attack powers. Like the Dailies are rounds that are hard to make so he can only make a few a day. Encounters are a more simplistic round, and At-Wills can probably be purchased at any magik shop. Much like a Wizard picks his dailies in the morning, the Gun Mage chooses which rounds to build when he wakes up. It would clear up any accounting problems for the player and speed up some game play. The class seems to remind me a lot of a Ranged Sword Mage. Also a striker class is usually built for damage, so you could make two builds (one focused on single target damage and the second for wide scale destruction.) Don't forget that WotC made class creation unbelievably simple to follow. Remember to add a path option at every encounter power level and feats to back each path up. Awesome work by the way, keep it up.