For those who are unfamiliar with the Persona setting, it takes place on modern day Japan, in which high school students muct use their inner demons or "Persona" to fight alongside them against the Shadows, mind-eating beasts formed by human's darkest toughts. A Persona is summoned and hen if fights as a spirit guardiang alongisde its master, and they are focused on different attack tactics such as attacking with melee, deffending or using raw elemental magic (not spells, only creating flames, poison, or making a lightning fall). A persona grows and evolves as his master does.
I made some mechanics some weeks ago but they made the game more complex/boring...
I KNOW it is possible to do it, to create a Persona to fight with the PC... here are some ideas:
IDEA 1:
Making a "homebrewed shaman". My characters want to have normal PCs with a class, but they also want to have a Persona Partner... I was thinking of using multiclass feats or hybrids to mix up the class they want with my homebrewed shaman... however, since Personae come in a variety of ways (as noted above, they have a vast array of melee, supporting and magic simple skills), making a homebrewed shaman with almost 200 powers would be... tough.
IDEA 2:
Making a hybrid of whatever class they want PLUS beastmaster ranger. However, to make sense of the Persona setting, the death of a Persona would severely screw up a character to the point he-she would become nuts (a Persona IS part of the character). AND they would be VERY limited in options when using their Personae, which is a very powerful spiritual entity. They would suck both as PCs and Personae masters.
IDEA 3:
Modding the Familiar feat and making Personae as Familiars. However it's HIGHLY IMPORTANT to use Personae in battle due to the plot and setting...
Some examples of Powers a Personae would have are (NOTE THAT I HAVEN'T ASIGNED THE TIER TO POWERS):
AGI (Encounter)
ATTACK: Intelligence vs Fortitude
RANGE: Melee
EFFECT: 1d4 + Intelligence Modifier Fire Damage. The target takes 3 ongoing fire damage (save ends)
BUFU (Encounter)
ATTACK: Intelligence vs Will
RANGE: Ranged 3
EFFECT: 1d6 + Intelligence Modifier Cold Damage. Target is slowed and takes 3 ongoing cold damage (save ends both).
ZIO (Encounter)
ATTACK: Intelligence vs AC
RANGE: Ranged 3
EFFECT: 1d6 + Intelligence Modifier Electric Damage. The target is inmobilized until the end of your next turn.
GARU (Encounter)
ATTACK: Intelligence vs Reflex
RANGE: Ranged 5
EFFECT: 1d4 + Intelligence Modifier Force Damage. The target is pushed a number of squares equal to your charisma modifier.
DIA (Encounter/Utility)
RANGE: Melee
EFFECT: One ally within range regains 1d6 + Your charisma modifier ammount of Hit Points.
RAKUKAJA (Encounter/Utility)
RANGE: Melee
EFFECT: One ally within range gains a +2 Bonus to AC for 3 rounds.
TARUKAJA (Encounter/Utility)
RANGE: Melee
EFFECT: One ally within range gains a +2 Bonus to damage rolls for 3 rounds.
SUKUKAJA (Encounter/Utility)
RANGE: Melee
EFFECT: One ally within range gains a +2 bonus to attack rolls until the end of the turn.
MEGIDOLAON (Dialy)
ATTACK: Intelligence vs AC
RANGE: Blast 10
EFFECT: 3d10+Charisa Modifier+Intelligence Modifier damage. Can not target allies.
That should fit nicely.
I think what you want to do is make getting the beastie a theme ability. Similar to the fey beast tamer.
That should fit nicely.
Hm... yup, that's kinda what I want. I haven't read that much my feywild book (didn't really like it) but I'll give it another run.
The problem is my characters want BOTH normal classing AND Persona summoning, so that could be a problem.
The idea, tough, is encouraging the ussarge of the Persona rather than the actual character class itself.
I want to make it a VERY tactical combat heavy campaign... specially when weakness exploiting.
A theme is added on over your basic racial and class abilities.
Right which is why I suggested the theme mechanic.
A theme is added on over your basic racial and class abilities.
Hm... sorry for sounding noobish to an exasperating point but... where can I find more info on applying themes? n_n;
I mean, like... your idea is making hybrid beastmasters/whatever class they want with a theme OR giving them the full character class PLUS a Persona (themed beaste) for plot and background? <_<
Anyway a theme is sort of a third character creation axis, some even have their own paragon paths and feats. At level 1 you pick a theme alongside your race and class. Each theme has features, usually including an encounter power, that you get for free, in the case of the fey beast tamer you also get a beastie, this is why I suggested using them as the startpoint. Most themems also possess optional powers that can be taken instead of your usual class power for the level.
There is no hybridizing, you play a half-elven barbarian fey beast tamer, not a half-elven barbarian/fey beast tamer.
The feywild book should have this information covered, but if it doesn't the shadow and darksun book do.
Anyway a theme is sort of a third character creation axis, some even have their own paragon paths and feats. At level 1 you pick a theme alongside your race and class. Each theme has features, usually including an encounter power, that you get for free, in the case of the fey beast tamer you also get a beastie, this is why I suggested using them as the startpoint. Most themems also possess optional powers that can be taken instead of your usual class power for the level.
There is no hybridizing, you play a half-elven barbarian fey beast tamer, not a half-elven barbarian/fey beast tamer.
Hm... so themes should be covered in the Feywild book? Ok, I'll give it a look when I get home.
Hm... and, so far, would you give me any advice with the powers I wrote? I have a LONG list of powers I made for Personae bu I am arguing whether I should or shouldn't put them a recharge value (since combat in my campaign is EVERYTHING abotu exploiting enemy weaknesses and I even made some weapon/melee inmune enemies)
And theme powers should use the primary ability score of the character. so the same theme uses different scores depending on the chareacter. A theme power generally runs off the highest ability, so two characters with the same theme could be very different.
As for your combat system, I don't know what's going on there but most 4e monsters don't have massive weaknesses to exploit, at least not the way you seem to be talking about.
And why would you want or need weapon immune monsters?
Well they're kinda puny for theme powers.
And theme powers should use the primary ability score of the character. so the same theme uses different scores depending on the chareacter. A theme power generally runs off the highest ability, so two characters with the same theme could be very different.
As for your combat system, I don't know what's going on there but most 4e monsters don't have massive weaknesses to exploit, at least not the way you seem to be talking about.
And why would you want or need weapon immune monsters?
Hm... they're puny cuz I made those intended for low lever characters :P
Hm... I see, and using their primary characteristics would make evem more sense about the whole "inner demon" thing, I'll give it a try.
Oh well, I'm using my vast array of customized monsters xD
I'm not using a single monster found on any 4E core book but the ones I made ^^
Y'know, to fit more in the Persona universe and the whole modern days Japan setting... like
If needed I can give you an example. Most of the monsters are living urban legends, ghosts and demons. Oh, and the weapon inmunity is to encourage the ussage of Personae in battle.
YEah that shouldn't be necessarry, just having the little pukes running around should be enough to ensure they get used. Otherwise you probably undeprowered them.
Hm... I see
However a Persona is meant to be way more powerful than its user.
Any tip on how can I tune them up? They are usually spirits ranged from Small to Large sizes as well, and the ones I would include in Epic Ter would be uhm... epic sized
Examples of how some Personae look
They are more like Demigods than Pets in any case xD Just that they grow stronger as their other part (teir masters) do.
The paragon path could make them large, and the ED could make them huge.