Post by johannhowitzer on Aug 3, 2007 21:35:26 GMT
Inspired by my suggestion in dodrudon's Shadow Cloaker thread, here is my take on a Shadowdancer-based quasiclass. I'm unsure about the name, as it would imply a coeurl-like appearance and I'm not sure how many people would go for that. Taking suggestions.
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A quasiclass is an atypical class combination that gains special abilities once it meets certain requirements. They still gain all the normal benefits of the classes they take, and get special bonuses if they meet the requirements of a quasiclass.
Displacer Beast Quasiclass
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Requirements: Must have 10 levels of Ranger, 15 levels of Shadowdancer, 25 ranks each in Hide and Move Silently, and the Stealthy and Improved Initiative feats before level 27. The Displacer Beast cannot have and cannot take any levels in Monk
Benefits:
-On achieving Displacer Beast status at level 25 or 26, the character is automatically given Skill Focus (hide), Skill Focus (move silently), and Spring Attack as bonus feats. Note that Dodge, Mobility, and Expertise will still be necessary prerequisites for Whirlwind Attack.
-The level used for determining the strength of the Shadow Evade ability is equal to Shadowdancer level + (Ranger level x 2/3), plus Legendary Levels if the character's control class is Ranger or Shadowdancer.
-The changes to the Shadowdancer's Whirlwind Attack are modified to use the above level calculation for the negative energy attack as well.
-All Hide/Move Silently checks made against the character's Favored Enemies bypass enemy True Seeing.
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I think this would rapidly gain acceptance, as there are many who would love to be able to revive some of the power of Hide in Plain Sight on this module. You can either take more Ranger levels for more favored enemies, and utilize the stealth abilities in conjunction with Whirlwind Attack to deal large amounts of negative damage; or take more Shadowdancer to retain the Shadowdancer's special abilities and use the stealthiness to defend against a few particularly dangerous foes.
It doesn't seem overpowered to me, as pure Rangers are still better at attacking their Favored Enemies, summoning pets, and casting Blade Thirst... while Shadowdancers benefit from the quasi greatly without becoming invincible and being able to solo the Hells for loot, and the gains to usefulness for Hide and Move Silently make the Shadowdancer's Epic Skill Focus bonus feats more useful. Some tweaks might need to be made to some Hells enemies' Spot and Listen skills.
-------------------------
A quasiclass is an atypical class combination that gains special abilities once it meets certain requirements. They still gain all the normal benefits of the classes they take, and get special bonuses if they meet the requirements of a quasiclass.
Displacer Beast Quasiclass
============
Requirements: Must have 10 levels of Ranger, 15 levels of Shadowdancer, 25 ranks each in Hide and Move Silently, and the Stealthy and Improved Initiative feats before level 27. The Displacer Beast cannot have and cannot take any levels in Monk
Benefits:
-On achieving Displacer Beast status at level 25 or 26, the character is automatically given Skill Focus (hide), Skill Focus (move silently), and Spring Attack as bonus feats. Note that Dodge, Mobility, and Expertise will still be necessary prerequisites for Whirlwind Attack.
-The level used for determining the strength of the Shadow Evade ability is equal to Shadowdancer level + (Ranger level x 2/3), plus Legendary Levels if the character's control class is Ranger or Shadowdancer.
-The changes to the Shadowdancer's Whirlwind Attack are modified to use the above level calculation for the negative energy attack as well.
-All Hide/Move Silently checks made against the character's Favored Enemies bypass enemy True Seeing.
-------------------------
I think this would rapidly gain acceptance, as there are many who would love to be able to revive some of the power of Hide in Plain Sight on this module. You can either take more Ranger levels for more favored enemies, and utilize the stealth abilities in conjunction with Whirlwind Attack to deal large amounts of negative damage; or take more Shadowdancer to retain the Shadowdancer's special abilities and use the stealthiness to defend against a few particularly dangerous foes.
It doesn't seem overpowered to me, as pure Rangers are still better at attacking their Favored Enemies, summoning pets, and casting Blade Thirst... while Shadowdancers benefit from the quasi greatly without becoming invincible and being able to solo the Hells for loot, and the gains to usefulness for Hide and Move Silently make the Shadowdancer's Epic Skill Focus bonus feats more useful. Some tweaks might need to be made to some Hells enemies' Spot and Listen skills.