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Looking for a Trap Master

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi
May 21, 2008 10:08:13 I'm interested in looking into a "trap master" type character. Mainly to interest my bro - since he's hooked on PSU's Protranser (a trap master). Also, it fits very well into my favorite campaign setting (DragonMech) which includes a ranger variant that has a "trap master" combat style. Does anyone know of any good sources? I remembered the trapsmith, so I searched WotC. There's two: Dungeonscape has the trapsmith, and Complete Scoundrel has the combat trapsmith. Does anyone know anything about these two PrCs and how they compare? I don't really want to buy both sources - although I'd still be willing to buy one despite 4e being so close. My favorite setting is 3rd party, and it'll take a while to convert. I'm inclined to buy Dungeonscape because I've noticed a lot of other stuff in there that looks like it'll interest me, but CSc does have its appeal as well. Especially since the combat trapsmith sounds like it should be good for battle. Wand modulation and smoke stairs also look interesting. And DragonMech has a lot of wands (and wand-wielding mechs), so it ought to be more useful than normal. But Dungeonscape also really captures DragonMech well - especially the encounter traps.

Summary: I want a trap-using character. I'm torn between trapsmith and combat trapsmith. Which should I go for? And which book is overall the better source?
#2
foxtail
May 21, 2008 15:24:38 Trapsmith, IIRC, makes your character much more adept at setting the standard type of traps; i.e., those that take a significant amount of time and money and are fixed on a location. Which is useful if you have a home base or camp you want to defend, but not so much when you're mobile - in most campaigns, this is the grand majority of the time.

Combat Trapsmiths get their own special kind of instant traps that they can lay quick enough to get use out of them in the middle of combat. Hence the name. These typically have less dramatic effects than the big ones planned and built by a trapsmith, only work once, and only effect one creature or at most a 3x3 square at a time. I've never played one before, but listening to the forum rumor mill and just looking at the trap descriptions, it strikes me as underpowered.

Having read both books, I think Dungeonscape has a lot more useful crunch in it, but I don't regret my purchase of Scoundrel, either.
#3
galaktia
May 21, 2008 20:47:06 Depending on how flexible your DM is, a good flare item for a trap specialist character is an item based on an old trappers and poachers weapon.

The bear chain, or biting whip, was a length of chain with a desensatised bear trap like contraption on the end. Designed to be laid down and then used to drag an animal. Or to be throw at legs of an animal or into the path of a charging animal.

One would assume in combat with people coming at the trap maker, a bear chain. (Spiked chain with the ability to exchnage a full attack, for a no AoO grapple or trip), would be useful and quite a fun little bit of flair for your character.

of course any sane DM would demand you spend one of your feets on proficiency and you might not be willing to do that.
#4
Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi
May 22, 2008 8:21:27 All right. It sounds like the Combat Trapsmith is closer to what I'm looking for thematically, but it's also of limited usefulness. I'll probably stick with the regular trapsmith and Dungeonscape. It's got more stuff that I'm interested in and can't come up with a logical homebrew equivalent. Thanks. (Example: Wand Modulation I'll say requires Craft Wand and spellcraft 8 ranks. Spend 2 charges to instead cast any spell you have prepared without using a spell slot, so long as it's of equal or lower level).

The beartrap-spiked chain sounds amazing. I'd definitely spend a feat on that. Although it strikes me that it might be more like the kusari-gama, just focusing on the weighted end. (The setting has stats for the kusari-gama). Thanks. This'll be great.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi May 21, 2008 10:08:13	I'm interested in looking into a "trap master" type character. Mainly to interest my bro - since he's hooked on PSU's Protranser (a trap master). Also, it fits very well into my favorite campaign setting (DragonMech) which includes a ranger variant that has a "trap master" combat style. Does anyone know of any good sources? I remembered the trapsmith, so I searched WotC. There's two: Dungeonscape has the trapsmith, and Complete Scoundrel has the combat trapsmith. Does anyone know anything about these two PrCs and how they compare? I don't really want to buy both sources - although I'd still be willing to buy one despite 4e being so close. My favorite setting is 3rd party, and it'll take a while to convert. I'm inclined to buy Dungeonscape because I've noticed a lot of other stuff in there that looks like it'll interest me, but CSc does have its appeal as well. Especially since the combat trapsmith sounds like it should be good for battle. Wand modulation and smoke stairs also look interesting. And DragonMech has a lot of wands (and wand-wielding mechs), so it ought to be more useful than normal. But Dungeonscape also really captures DragonMech well - especially the encounter traps. Summary: I want a trap-using character. I'm torn between trapsmith and combat trapsmith. Which should I go for? And which book is overall the better source?
#2 foxtail May 21, 2008 15:24:38	Trapsmith, IIRC, makes your character much more adept at setting the standard type of traps; i.e., those that take a significant amount of time and money and are fixed on a location. Which is useful if you have a home base or camp you want to defend, but not so much when you're mobile - in most campaigns, this is the grand majority of the time. Combat Trapsmiths get their own special kind of instant traps that they can lay quick enough to get use out of them in the middle of combat. Hence the name. These typically have less dramatic effects than the big ones planned and built by a trapsmith, only work once, and only effect one creature or at most a 3x3 square at a time. I've never played one before, but listening to the forum rumor mill and just looking at the trap descriptions, it strikes me as underpowered. Having read both books, I think Dungeonscape has a lot more useful crunch in it, but I don't regret my purchase of Scoundrel, either.
#3 galaktia May 21, 2008 20:47:06	Depending on how flexible your DM is, a good flare item for a trap specialist character is an item based on an old trappers and poachers weapon. The bear chain, or biting whip, was a length of chain with a desensatised bear trap like contraption on the end. Designed to be laid down and then used to drag an animal. Or to be throw at legs of an animal or into the path of a charging animal. One would assume in combat with people coming at the trap maker, a bear chain. (Spiked chain with the ability to exchnage a full attack, for a no AoO grapple or trip), would be useful and quite a fun little bit of flair for your character. of course any sane DM would demand you spend one of your feets on proficiency and you might not be willing to do that.
#4 Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi May 22, 2008 8:21:27	All right. It sounds like the Combat Trapsmith is closer to what I'm looking for thematically, but it's also of limited usefulness. I'll probably stick with the regular trapsmith and Dungeonscape. It's got more stuff that I'm interested in and can't come up with a logical homebrew equivalent. Thanks. (Example: Wand Modulation I'll say requires Craft Wand and spellcraft 8 ranks. Spend 2 charges to instead cast any spell you have prepared without using a spell slot, so long as it's of equal or lower level). The beartrap-spiked chain sounds amazing. I'd definitely spend a feat on that. Although it strikes me that it might be more like the kusari-gama, just focusing on the weighted end. (The setting has stats for the kusari-gama). Thanks. This'll be great.