[Homebrew] Blinkblade - A teleporting combatant PrC


Homebrew and House Rules

Sovereign Court

One idea that I've been wanting to use for a character is something more or less inspired by Nightcrawler from X-Men. In particular his seamless use of rapid, short-range teleportation mixed with combat. I've been trying to decide, first, on how to best do this - a magus or bard archetype, an alternate class like the samurai or ninja, a new class entirely, or (what I've settled on for now) a prestige class.
I don't have much experience at making classes, however so I'm looking to you guys for advice and help.

So here's the basic outline I have so far:
Hit Die: d8
Requirements
Skills: Acrobatics 4 ranks.
Spells: Ability to cast dimension door or use it as a spell-like ability.
Special: Evasion class feature.

I can't decide whether the Dimensional Agility feat should be another requirement or granted at 1st level as a bonus feat.

Class Skills: Acrobatics, Bluff(?), Escape Artist, Knowledge (arcana)(?), Perception, Sleight of Hand, Spellcraft, Stealth.
2 + Int skill points per level

Class Features

  • Sneak Attack +1d6 at 1st level, increased by 1d6 every 3 levels thereafter (+2d6 at 4th, +3d6 at 7th, etc.)
  • +1 spellcasting level at every other level starting at 2nd (4th, 6th, etc.)
  • Blinkstrike: Once per day (increased periodically with level), a blinkblade may use a move action to treat an adjacent opponent as flatfooted/flanked until the end of the round. At the end of his turn, the blinkblade may choose to move to any other square adjacent to his target. This does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
  • Perhaps a +10 ft. increase to base land speed at some level.
  • Flash Step: At 10th level, a blinkblade may use dimension door as a spell-like ability once per day. This use may be used as part of a move action at any point during the movement.

Really, dimension door is rather more powerful than this concept needs, and I may homebrew a lower level spell - probably with a range of short - to use in its place.

This is just a very rough idea of the concept I have in mind and I would greatly appreciate comments and suggestions in particular on how to balance the class and for other ideas to incorporate into the class.
One last comment: While a rogue/sorcerer is what I had in mind and is mostly what the PrC is based off of, I like the versatility of the requirements since it allows a surprisingly wide variety of classes and archetypes - a monk/cleric, ranger/witch, or rogue/bard could all provide very different spins on the same mechanics.

Silver Crusade

Careful not to step on the shadowdancer's toes.

I might drop the evasion requirement, and definitely increase the acrobatics rank requirement to 5 or more. Probably add Knowlede (planes) or Knowledge (arcana) or maybe even Spellcraft as requirements. Dimensional Agility is a prereq. So is Weapon Finesse.

I would give a teleportation pool, similar to the shadowdancer's, and specifically allow it to be used with the dimensional ____ feats. I would also give the dimensional _____ feats as bonus feats, except agility which is a prereq for the class. Give full progression sneak attack but only 3/4 progression casting. The class is 3/4 BAB, has a d8 HD, 4+int skills, and good ref saves.

Another take is to require [some other feat] instead of dimensional agility, along with a 2d6 sneak attack, and drop any reliance on dimension door, so that the class can be accessed before level 8 (and much sooner than if you also wanted a sneak attack).

I like the dimensional _____ line of feats, but don't like how steep the prereqs are, especially as the class most benefiting doesn't even start into the chain until level 13 (monk). A cleric can get there at level 7 and benefit fairly well, but it's not really the sort of image I have for a teleporting fighter. I'm very interested in the concept you have here.

Sovereign Court

Ack, meant to put BAB and saves. Which I was agreeing with you on. 3/4 BAB (hence the HD), good Ref.

The shadowdancer was something that I was looking at while making this (albeit not very closely) since I do want to avoid making it too similar. The shadowdancer seems to focus more on battlefield mobility and stealth, however while I'm thinking combat with combat-related mobility (probably with a greater focus on mobility reflected more in stats than in spacial arrangement) for this.

Silver Crusade

Something to think about: most PrCs are designed to be accessible between the levels of 6 and 8 (the assassin is a specific exception). You don't want characters getting into the class too early, but you don't want to restrict it so that the character feels more like a [base class x]/[base class y]/[prestige class z] rather than a [prestige class AWESOME]. Basically the character should be able to say at a reasonably early level (10 or so), "I'm a Blinkblade!" and not, "I'm a rogue/sorcerer who really likes teleporting!"

My Blinkblade:
Alignment: any.
Hit Die: d8.

Requirements:
Feats: weapon finesse, arcane strike.
Skills: acrobatics 6 ranks, knowledge (planes) 6 ranks.
Spells: ability to cast at least one spell from the conjuration (teleportation) school (Returning Weapon being the earliest choice).
Special: sneak attack +1d6.

Class Skills: Acrobatics, Escape Artist, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (planes), Spellcraft, Use Magic Device.
Skill Ranks at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
BAB: 3/4 progression.
Saves: good Reflex, bad Fortitude and Will

Class Features:
Dimension Door: SLA 1/day, +1/day per level (max 9). Can use Dimension Door SLA at will at level 10.
Bonus Feats: Dimensional Agility at level 1, Dimensional Assault at level 3, Dimensional Dervish at level 5, Dimensional Maneuvers at level 7, Dimensional Savant at level 9.
Sneak Attack: +1d6 at level 2 and every 2 levels beyond 2 (+5d6 at level 10).
Spells per Day: +1 level of existing spellcasting class at levels 2,3,4,6,7,8,10.

Dimensional Chase: At level 2 a blinkblade may use her Dimension Door SLA to follow a creature that has teleported. She must use her SLA at the location the creature teleported from within 1 minute of its travel. The blinkblade is teleported to the location the creature teleported to. The use of the SLA is wasted if not used in a valid location.

Reflexive Teleport: At level 4 a blinkblade may use her Dimension Door SLA as an immediate action 1/day.

Dimensional Harpoon: At level 6 a blinkblade may use her Dimension Door SLA to force a creature that has telepoted away back to her location. She must use her SLA at the location the creature teleported from within 1 minute of its travel. The creature is teleported to the blinkblade's location, appearing in an adjacent space. The use of the SLA is wasted if not used in a valid location.

Anchoring Strike: At level 8, anytime the blinkblade hits a creature with a melee attack it is barred from dimensional travel (as the Dimensional Anchor spell).

Unbounded: At level 10 a blinkblade cannot be prevented from dimensionally traveling by any means (including dimensional anchor). A blinkblade automatically passes all concentration checks to cast spells of the conjuration (teleportation) school.


Riuken wrote:

Something to think about: most PrCs are designed to be accessible between the levels of 6 and 8 (the assassin is a specific exception). You don't want characters getting into the class too early, but you don't want to restrict it so that the character feels more like a [base class x]/[base class y]/[prestige class z] rather than a [prestige class AWESOME]. Basically the character should be able to say at a reasonably early level (10 or so), "I'm a Blinkblade!" and not, "I'm a rogue/sorcerer who really likes teleporting!"

** spoiler omitted **...

I like your prestige class (quite a bit), though I'd move some of it around (bonus feats to even levels, sneak attack to odd levels[conforms to normal sneak progression], add the "dimension door at will" entry to the Unbound entry), add mention that the sneak attack stacks, probably remove a couple requirements (sneak attack for example). Require some sort of spellcraft roll to identify the spell for "Chase" and Harpoon," (he could have just vanished from an illusion or invis) as well as reduce the time for the harpoon (to within 1 round). I imagine the dude isn't just going to chill where he teleported to.

Why are weapon finesse and arcane strike required?

Silver Crusade

Moving sneak attack and feats around is cool, I think I got stuck on giving dimensional agility at level 1.

Being capable of wasting the d.door SLA on chase and harpoon if it was an illusion and not a teleport is intentional. If the blinkblade sees the guy do it, he can make a spellcraft check to identify a spell as it is cast. I like that there is some time to use chase/harpoon, and that you can follow them to a remote forest or something and have to search around for them since you took your time following. If the guy knew you could follow and was prepared, he might even use the round immediately after the teleport to teleport again. A 1 round time limit wouldn't be a problem if the abilities were a bit better (use at range, not use your d.door SLA).

Figuring out requirements was a bit of an issue. I wanted some investment into being both light melee and a caster, and didn't want it being an auto-check for bards. The sneak attack came from that, as did the desire for feat requirements. weapon finesse and arcane strike seemed to fit the light melee + caster thing pretty well. Also considered spell focus (conjuration), combat casting, mobility, and some others, but decided on those two. I didn't like the knowledge (planes) requirement as much as spellcraft, but it doesn't seem very restrictive to require acrobatics and spellcraft. Most of the decisions regarding prereqs were based on the effort required to qualify for the class and general "feel" of the character as he qualified (before taking the PrC).

Any additional criticism is appreciated, and I hope this is along the lines the OP was looking for. Now to see if I can convince any of my players to try it out...


I'll comment more when I get home from taking my daughter from the park, but I think a major deterrant from selecting the class would be the requirements. A monk, for example, could (in theory) take it and perform well with the abundant steps feature (as mentioned as a prerequisite for the dimensional feats under normal circumstances. Just a really quick example.

Again, I LOVE the concept and the design.

Sovereign Court

Looks pretty good, except that I'd really like to cut the sneak attack requirement. The other requirements keep it suitably restricted but cutting the sneak attack requirement allows non-rogue builds to use it as well. As I said, I like the variety that more class combinations would allow.

Also, since its being added as a spell-like ability class feature, I think that dimension door should be replaced with a "functions as dimension door except..." ability and more shorter range. 400+40/level feet is probably at least twice as far than 95% of what's needed when it is used, and my idea was intended for a more tactical-based teleportation than strategic. 30+5/class level sounds good to me, with dimensional chase allowing an exception to the limit.

And I'd throw blinkstrike back in. ^^ Costing a dimension door use, rather than per day, of course.

Silver Crusade

If it is desired to make the class more accessible, dropping the feat requirements wouldn't be bad. I did a sneak attack requirement as I thought it forced a multiclass when paired with the spell requirement, but wouldn't be hard to get (1 level dip in rogue or any class with an alternate that grants sneak attack at level 1). Also looked at a BAB requirement and decided it was useless (BAB 3 is most reasonable and can be met with a 1/2 BAB class). The only thing the class granted that I was continually second guessing was the sneak attack and spells per day progression. I put them where they were (not very slow) based on them being behind due to multiclassing. I thought about making the sneak attack requirement +2d6 to encourage a wizard 3/rogue 3 or sorcerer 4/rogue 3, but I decided I liked the option to rogue 1/caster x enough to leave it +1d6.

Not sure how to make it accessible to a monk without making it too accessible to everyone. Just now found that the sandman archetype for the bard can qualify as is without multiclassing as it gets sneak attack at level 5 and can cast returning weapon at level 4. Evasion might work instead of sneak attack, and I don't think a synthesist qualifies.

The reason for each feat (once I decided there should be 2 required) was flavor really. Weapon finesse was to encourage dex melee types over str melee types, and arcane strike seemed like the best fit feat for an arcane augmented melee. The two put together basically say, "make a dex based melee that casts arcane spells."

I think replacing "sneak attack +1d6" with "evasion class feature" would be the best fix. I'd also drop the weapon finesse requirement, but keep arcane strike.

@Lawrence: I like blinkstrike, except that the feat Dimensional Savant covers using the class to gain sneak attack (by allowing you to flank with yourself). If it was added I would keep it as a separate use/day and make the condition applied be flatfooted. My only reason for not including it (it's cool and is basically the inspiration for the whole class) is that it seems weak for a PrC ability and is mostly eclipsed by the feats granted (which already exist and require no homebrewing).

I like that the SLA can be used in a more general sense. It doesn't seem to be an issue because of the use/day restriction. If you use your SLA every round of every major fight, you'll run out fast, and you'll probably second guess any temptation to use it outside of combat, but it is an option.


You know making use of the dimensional agility line of feats as prerequisites or bonus feats would probably be a good idea.

Silver Crusade

Abraham spalding wrote:
You know making use of the dimensional agility line of feats as prerequisites or bonus feats would probably be a good idea.

They are all added as bonus feats throughout the PrCs levels.

EDIT: Just realized you may not have seen the homebrew PrC I posted which has them as bonus feats, and may have been addressing the OPs original post. Not to sound self righteous or anything, but I think our discussions are based on the PrC I proposed at this point.


yeah that works a bit better -- I did miss it the first time through. Parts of it are bugging me but I'm not fully sure why yet, I'll get back to you when I figure it out.

Silver Crusade

Updated with some changes based on discussion, as well as some (optional) flavor text.

Blinkblade:
Some who seek to be mobile combatants are not content with simple speed and agility. For some, true combat mobility can only be achieved through the use of teleportation magic. Blinkblades weave together a precise blade and planar magic to strike anywhere instantaneously and disappear just as quickly. A blinkblade's ability with teleportation magic also allows her to effectively combat less competent teleportation users. A blinkblade becomes capable of following a foe that has teleported, reverse his teleportation, or prevent him from teleporting altogether. For this reason many blinkblades become mage hunters and demon hunters.

Role: Blinkblades adventure for many reasons, frequently to hunt down rogue mages and demons for a bounty. An adventuring party will find a blinkblade's ability to strike quickly and unexpectedly a valuable asset. The blinkblade's mastery of teleportation magic aids the party outside of combat as well, allowing the party to bypass obstacles and escape danger.

Alignment: any.
Hit Die: d8.

Requirements:
Feats: Arcane Strike.
Skills: Acrobatics 6 ranks, Knowledge (planes) 6 ranks.
Spells: ability to cast at least one spell from the conjuration (teleportation) school (Returning Weapon being the earliest choice).
Special: Evasion class feature.

Class Skills: Acrobatics, Escape Artist, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (planes), Spellcraft, Use Magic Device.
Skill Ranks at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
BAB: 3/4 progression (same as Shadowdancer).
Saves: good Reflex, bad Fortitude and Will (same as Shadowdancer).

Class Features:
Blinkspace: A blinkblade may use dimension door as a spell like ability 1/day and an additional 1/day per level after 1st (max 9/day).
Bonus Feats: Dimensional Agility at 2nd level, Dimensional Assault at 4th level, Dimensional Dervish at 6th level, Dimensional Maneuvers and Dimensional Savant at 8th level.
Sneak Attack: +1d6 at 1st level and every 2 levels beyond 1st (+5d6 at 9th level). This stacks with any sneak attack bonus the blinkblade may have from another source (such as another class).
Spells per Day: +1 level of existing spellcasting class at 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th levels.

Dimensional Chase: At 2nd level a blinkblade may use her blinkspace ability to follow a creature that has teleported. She must use her blinkspace ability at the location the creature teleported from within 1 round of its travel. The blinkblade is teleported to the location the creature teleported to. If the blinkblade is adjacent to other willing creatures, she may take any number of them with her. The use of the blinkspace ability is wasted if not used in a valid location.

Reflexive Teleport: At 4th level a blinkblade may use her blinkspace ability as an immediate action 1/day.

Dimensional Harpoon: At 6th level a blinkblade may use her blinkspace ability to force a creature that has telepoted away back to her location. She must use her blinkspace ability at the location the creature teleported from within 1 round of its travel. The creature is teleported to the blinkblade's location, appearing in an adjacent space. The use of the blinkspace ability is wasted if not used in a valid location.

Anchoring Strike: At 8th level, anytime the blinkblade hits a creature with a melee attack it is barred from dimensional travel (as the Dimensional Anchor spell).

Unbounded: At 10th level, a blinkblade can use blinkspace at will. The blinkblade can no longer be prevented from dimensionally traveling by any means (including dimensional anchor), and automatically passes all concentration checks to cast spells of the conjuration (teleportation) school.

Silver Crusade

After some talk with one of my gaming friends, updated once again. Might need to reduce the spells per day to rebalance the changes, though there is already an effective loss of at least 5 casting levels over the course of 20 levels (2 to get evasion, 3 from the PrC).

Blinkblade:
Some who seek to be mobile combatants are not content with simple speed and agility. For some, true combat mobility can only be achieved through the use of teleportation magic. Blinkblades weave together a precise blade and planar magic to strike anywhere instantaneously and disappear just as quickly. A blinkblade's ability with teleportation magic also allows her to effectively combat less competent teleportation users. A blinkblade becomes capable of following a foe that has teleported, reverse his teleportation, or prevent him from teleporting altogether. For this reason many blinkblades become mage hunters and demon hunters.

Role: Blinkblades adventure for many reasons, frequently to hunt down rogue mages and demons for a bounty. An adventuring party will find a blinkblade's ability to strike quickly and unexpectedly a valuable asset. The blinkblade's mastery of teleportation magic aids the party outside of combat as well, allowing the party to bypass obstacles and escape danger.

Alignment: any.
Hit Die: d8.

Requirements:
Feats: Arcane Strike.
Skills: Acrobatics 6 ranks, Knowledge (planes) 6 ranks.
Spells: ability to cast at least one spell from the conjuration (teleportation) school (Returning Weapon being the earliest choice).
Special: Evasion class feature.

Class Skills: Acrobatics, Escape Artist, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (planes), Spellcraft, Use Magic Device.
Skill Ranks at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
BAB: 3/4 progression (same as Shadowdancer).
Saves: good Reflex, bad Fortitude and Will (same as Shadowdancer).

Class Features:
Blinkspace: A blinkblade may use dimension door as a spell like ability 1/day and an additional 1/day per level after 1st (max 9/day). At 3rd level a blinkblade may chose to use blinkspace as the spell teleport. At 5th level a blinkblade may chose to use blinkspace as the spell plane shift. At 7th level a blinkblade may chose to use blinkspace as the spell greater teleport.
Bonus Feats: Dimensional Agility at 2nd level, Dimensional Assault at 4th level, Dimensional Dervish at 6th level, Dimensional Maneuvers and Dimensional Savant at 8th level.
Sneak Attack: +1d6 at 1st level and every 2 levels beyond 1st (+5d6 at 9th level). This stacks with any sneak attack bonus the blinkblade may have from another source (such as another class).
Spells per Day: +1 level of existing spellcasting class at 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th levels.

Dimensional Chase: At 2nd level a blinkblade may use her blinkspace ability to follow a creature that has teleported. She must use her blinkspace ability within 5 feet of the location the creature teleported from within 1 round of its travel. The blinkblade is teleported to the location the creature teleported to. If the blinkblade is adjacent to other willing creatures, she may take any number of them with her. The use of the blinkspace ability is wasted if not used in a valid location.

Reflexive Teleport: At 4th level a blinkblade may use her blinkspace ability as an immediate action 1/day.

Dimensional Harpoon: At 6th level a blinkblade may use her blinkspace ability to force a creature that has telepoted away back to her location. She must use her blinkspace ability within 5 feet of the location the creature teleported from within 1 round of its travel. The creature is teleported to the blinkblade's location, appearing in an adjacent space. The use of the blinkspace ability is wasted if not used in a valid location.

Anchoring Strike: At 8th level, anytime the blinkblade hits a creature with a melee attack it is barred from dimensional travel (as the Dimensional Anchor spell).

Unbounded: At 10th level, a blinkblade can use blinkspace at will. The blinkblade can no longer be prevented from dimensionally traveling by any means (including dimensional anchor), and automatically passes all concentration checks to cast spells of the conjuration (teleportation) school.


loosing five caster levels is devastating. That would basically make the PrC unusable outside of some very very specific builds.

Silver Crusade

Trogdar wrote:
loosing five caster levels is devastating. That would basically make the PrC unusable outside of some very very specific builds.

Since the class is primarily a light melee and not a caster, I don't think it's an issue. You get normal access to the spells you've chosen to specialize with (teleportation ones), and are 5 levels behind on your other casting. This is more of "I want my rogue to teleport." than "I want my wizard to sneak attack." Arcane Archer gets this spell progression, and it has about the same martial-to-casting ratio feel that this PrC does.


You could always go into EK. Depending on the caster class you could get armored casting (via bard), or not worry about armor and do about any class combination you want with fighter or paladin with a casting class that grants Dimension Door as a spell; barbarian might be a bit problematic for this.

Then just pick up the Dimensional Agility feat tree.

Dark Archive

I'm actually in the process of playing a magus who's going for this very concept using the dimensional feat chain. Unfortunately, as others have mentioned, the prerequisites in the chain make the feats really, really hard to get at appropriate levels, so my GM and I have cooked up some RAW-as-far-as-we-can-tell-but-certainly-debateable rules to kickstart slightly earlier access to the feats. I actually think the feat chain by itself goes a long way toward making your concept work.

If I were making a prestige class like this, I'd likely try something with 2nd level spells, medium armour proficiency, and 5 ranks in a particular skill as part of its prerequisites, but keep the basic requirements pretty light, and then have the class slowly grant the feats, the means to use the feats, and ways to slightly modify the feats. For instance, at 1st level of the prestige class add a 2nd level spell that allows teleporting five feet for every two caster levels or whatnot to your class spell list, and give the class an ability that says "you can use this spell with the dimensional feats." Then at each even level give the class the next dimensional feat in the chain, skipping the first one since it actually doesn't do anything without dimension door, specifically. On odd levels, give the class abilities that either synergize with or modify the feats. Voila!

I hate prestige classes that force you into particular classes (unless the concept requires it), and I think the idea of a teleporting martial artist could really use almost any spellcasting and martial combination of classes to achieve the desired result (including pre-canned combinations like the magus). The focus should be on allowing them to do so at a reasonable level, which just isn't possible with the feats alone unless you and your GM are willing to explore reasonably creative interpretations of the rules.

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