The Pretender Prestige Class - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Apr 17, 2008 11:51:49	Yes, this is inspired by the Pretender series. It's also inspired by a class from Dungeonscape (I think). I've only heard about what the aforementioned class can do, so I'm not sure how badly I've copied it. I'm not sure where this class is on the power scale, though I do know it'll give GM's some trouble if they don't keep an eye on players using this class. Tell me what you think! Thanks! The Pretender Prestige Class "Moondog, you'll stand here and tackle the guy when he comes around the corner. Yoriko, get ready to chase him down if Moondog doesn't get him. Hmm... Troy's out, so I guess I'll be the talker and lead him into the trap." Pretenders are interesting characters, able to switch their talents out daily, or on the fly if needed. They seem to know everything, but they never know all of it at the same time. A Pretender has no idea how his unique talent works, only how to use it. Requirements: To Qualify for the Pretender Prestige Class, a character must fulfill the following criteria. BaB: +3 Skills: At least 5 ranks in seven different skills. Feats: Jack of All Trades Special: At least one talent from three different base classes. Class Information: The Following Information Pertains to the Pretender Prestige Class. Hit Die: d6 Action Points: 7+1/2 character level Class Skills: Choose ten class skills and make sure to write down which ones they are. These will be class skills each time you level up in the Pretender Prestige Class. Skills per Level: 5+int modifier
#2 tema69 Apr 17, 2008 12:50:28	It sounds like a really good idea, I like the concept. I haven't heard of/seen the Pretender series. I don't really have any other comments, and I suck at balancing. Oh, just one thing. How does Shifting Skills and Cross Class skills work?
#3 zombiegleemax Apr 17, 2008 16:12:14	The Pretender was a TV series (running from 1996-2000) where the main character, Jarod, was a genius who spent his childhood in a testing facility. I don't remember if he remembered his time there or not, but when he escaped the facility he was able to do just about everything. One day he'd be a doctor, the next an engineer, technician, whatever. He could assume any occupation. He was also always on the run from the agency that owned the testing facility. Come to think of it, I need find the last season and the movie... Anyhow, this class is obviously less powerful than Jarod, but I feel it captures the character archetype pretty well. I'm glad you enjoyed it. As much as I'd like the Shifting Skillpoints to consider all skills class-skills, I'm almost positive that'd be unbalanced. You would probably have to purchase the skillpoints as normal, but you would use your current class's (even if it isn't Pretender) skill list.
#4 atanakar Apr 17, 2008 18:58:39	We have all the Pretenders (series & movies) at home. My wife is a big fan. Can you guess what prestige class her PC will choose? LOL My only question : Maybe a minimum intelligence score requirement? 16 or +
#5 zombiegleemax Apr 17, 2008 19:11:07	Though that certainly would fit Jarod, no official classes for D20Modern have ability requirements (at least, none that I know of do.) You can certainly put that requirement in for your games, though. ^_^ Glad everyone's enjoying the class so far. Are there any huge issues about it? Again, the only thing I'm seeing is that this could be trouble for a GM who does not keep an eye on what his player's skill/talent/feat selections of the day are. On a humorous note, I almost made the flavor text quote: "Are you a doctor?" "I am today."
#6 TheRealOrion Apr 17, 2008 23:54:13	If you're concerned about an Intelligence prerequisite, just make the classes so dependent on Intelligence that it wouldn't function without at least a 16. That's how Paladins are built!
#7 freefall357 Apr 18, 2008 23:59:20	-E- - ...TEXT error fixed... - It appears we have another interesting class from Vega...I will give it a shot some time this week and let you know how it works. It could make for an...eclectic...campaign. :D
#8 zombiegleemax Apr 19, 2008 0:32:18	Heh, so I copy/paste my previous classes for their template... :P Thanks for pointing that out. Fixed. I'm glad everyone seems to be liking the class. Thanks in advance for the playtesting. I'm very interesting to see how this thing works in action. :D
#9 freefall357 Apr 19, 2008 2:27:11	- Thus far: Character Creation... -This cat is paper heavy, I will enjoy the organization required to play him well. -After realizing this is a prestige class, and not an advanced , the requirements seem on a good track. Perhaps reduce the talents needed to "3 talents from at least 2 classes" or "2 talents from 2", though I do not feel it is unbalanced as is. (I do have a bias toward more focused characters...odd I should find such interest in this one, I suppose) -The only other change I think would help would be a slight change to 'Talent of the Day'. These should only stack if you had them at the beginning of the 'set talent' cycle (after sleep, meditation, action point). This would represent a learning curve into the Pretenders current endeavor, or a slower adjustment to the environment. - Still on character creation. So far, so good.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

zombiegleemax

Apr 17, 2008 11:51:49

Yes, this is inspired by the Pretender series. It's also inspired by a class from Dungeonscape (I think). I've only heard about what the aforementioned class can do, so I'm not sure how badly I've copied it.

I'm not sure where this class is on the power scale, though I do know it'll give GM's some trouble if they don't keep an eye on players using this class.

Tell me what you think!

Thanks!

The Pretender Prestige Class
"Moondog, you'll stand here and tackle the guy when he comes around the corner. Yoriko, get ready to chase him down if Moondog doesn't get him. Hmm... Troy's out, so I guess I'll be the talker and lead him into the trap."

Pretenders are interesting characters, able to switch their talents out daily, or on the fly if needed. They seem to know everything, but they never know all of it at the same time. A Pretender has no idea how his unique talent works, only how to use it.

Requirements:
To Qualify for the Pretender Prestige Class, a character must fulfill the following criteria.
BaB: +3
Skills: At least 5 ranks in seven different skills.
Feats: Jack of All Trades
Special: At least one talent from three different base classes.

Class Information:
The Following Information Pertains to the Pretender Prestige Class.
Hit Die: d6
Action Points: 7+1/2 character level

Class Skills:
Choose ten class skills and make sure to write down which ones they are. These will be class skills each time you level up in the Pretender Prestige Class.

Skills per Level: 5+int modifier

tema69

Apr 17, 2008 12:50:28

It sounds like a really good idea, I like the concept.
I haven't heard of/seen the Pretender series.

I don't really have any other comments, and I suck at balancing.

Oh, just one thing. How does Shifting Skills and Cross Class skills work?

zombiegleemax

Apr 17, 2008 16:12:14

The Pretender was a TV series (running from 1996-2000) where the main character, Jarod, was a genius who spent his childhood in a testing facility. I don't remember if he remembered his time there or not, but when he escaped the facility he was able to do just about everything. One day he'd be a doctor, the next an engineer, technician, whatever. He could assume any occupation. He was also always on the run from the agency that owned the testing facility.

Come to think of it, I need find the last season and the movie...

Anyhow, this class is obviously less powerful than Jarod, but I feel it captures the character archetype pretty well. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

As much as I'd like the Shifting Skillpoints to consider all skills class-skills, I'm almost positive that'd be unbalanced. You would probably have to purchase the skillpoints as normal, but you would use your current class's (even if it isn't Pretender) skill list.

atanakar

Apr 17, 2008 18:58:39

We have all the Pretenders (series & movies) at home. My wife is a big fan. Can you guess what prestige class her PC will choose? LOL

My only question : Maybe a minimum intelligence score requirement? 16 or +

zombiegleemax

Apr 17, 2008 19:11:07

Though that certainly would fit Jarod, no official classes for D20Modern have ability requirements (at least, none that I know of do.)

You can certainly put that requirement in for your games, though. ^_^

Glad everyone's enjoying the class so far. Are there any huge issues about it? Again, the only thing I'm seeing is that this could be trouble for a GM who does not keep an eye on what his player's skill/talent/feat selections of the day are.

On a humorous note, I almost made the flavor text quote: "Are you a doctor?"
"I am today."

TheRealOrion

Apr 17, 2008 23:54:13

If you're concerned about an Intelligence prerequisite, just make the classes so dependent on Intelligence that it wouldn't function without at least a 16. That's how Paladins are built!

freefall357

Apr 18, 2008 23:59:20

-E- - ...TEXT error fixed...

- It appears we have another interesting class from Vega...I will give it a shot some time this week and let you know how it works. It could make for an...eclectic...campaign. :D

zombiegleemax

Apr 19, 2008 0:32:18

Heh, so I copy/paste my previous classes for their template... :P

Thanks for pointing that out. Fixed.

I'm glad everyone seems to be liking the class. Thanks in advance for the playtesting. I'm very interesting to see how this thing works in action. :D

freefall357

Apr 19, 2008 2:27:11

- Thus far: Character Creation...

-This cat is paper heavy, I will enjoy the organization required to play him well.

-After realizing this is a prestige class, and not an advanced

, the requirements seem on a good track. Perhaps reduce the talents needed to "3 talents from at least 2 classes" or "2 talents from 2", though I do not feel it is unbalanced as is. (I do have a bias toward more focused characters...odd I should find such interest in this one, I suppose)

-The only other change I think would help would be a slight change to 'Talent of the Day'. These should only stack if you had them at the beginning of the 'set talent' cycle (after sleep, meditation, action point). This would represent a learning curve into the Pretenders current endeavor, or a slower adjustment to the environment.

- Still on character creation. So far, so good.