Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 JMCampbell Jun 03, 2011 17:29:43	Decided to make a Jester Theme based on the NPC class they put out in Dragon earlier this week. Let me know what you think. Creating a Jester Most adventurers walk into battle with grim determination. The Jester walks in with a laugh on his lips and a smile in his hearts. They roam from place to place, telling tales, pulling practical jokes, insulting the most fearsome of monsters and characters, and generally making nuisances of themselves. Because of their outlook on the world and their special powers, they may prove potentially useful (or annoying) to adventuring parties. Starting Feature Benefit: You know one additional language from the PHB. In addition, you gain the Distracting Smile Power. Distracting Smile Jester Utility  Daily * Arcane No action Personal Trigger: You roll initiative and are not surprised. Effect: Make a Diplomacy or Bluff check. You can use this result as your initiative instead. Additional Features Level 5 Feature One of the jester's most valuable skills is knowing how to read a crowd. Jester's become so adept at reading they can even sense when they are being manipulated. Benefit: Jester's gain a +2 power bonus to their insight skill. Jester's Also gain +2 to their defenses against psychic attacks. Level 10 Feature Jesters learn many skills in their travels, including the ability to throw their voice. Benefit: Jesters can make their voice come from anywhere within 3 squares of them. They can make any sound they normally could with their mouth. including a loud yell or a soft whisper. Optional Powers Level 2 Utility Power Through the Jester's continuous joking he can lead his allies to lower their inhibitions and do things they wouldn't dare do otherwise. Easy as Pie Jester Utility Encounter * Martial Minor Close Burst 5 Trigger: You succeed a skill check with a skill you are trained in Effect: One ally within the burst gains a +4 power bonus to their next roll with a skill they are untrained in. Level 6 Utility Power No, Sir, Not I Jester Utility At-Will * Arcane Free Action  Close Burst 5 Trigger: An Enemy marks you Effect: One Willing ally in the burst is marked instead. Special: You must be able to speak to use this power. Level 10 Utility Power Juggler's Trick Jester Utility Daily * Martial Immediate Interrupt    Close Burst 10 Trigger: An enemy making a ranged or area attack against you Target: The triggering enemy in the burst Effect: The triggering attack misses you. Secondary attack: Highest stat + 4 vs. Reflex Hit: Damage equal to what the triggering attack would have dealt. Still working on the flavour text, but what do you think of it from a mechanical standpoint?
#2 natural20username Jun 03, 2011 21:20:55	Seems balanced. Glad someone statted this out for 4e. Maybe make distracting smile a bonus to the initiative check so it is equally useful to dex-based classes, so that it definitely will be useful. I know rogues who routinely have  initiative scores theat are greater than their diplomacy/bluff. I also agree with your decision to use a theme, it gives the concept more flexibility, and it's much less work, with less room for mechanical problems.