williamoak |
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So, I've been reading a lot of discworld recently, and I got to thinking. It's often mentionned that vetinary has "dark clerks" that go around and audit people & a bit of murder when necessary. I thought it might make an interesting ninja archetype.
Replaces: Poison use, No trace, light steps
Modifies: Ki Pool, Ninja tricks
Ardent administrator (Ex) (replaces poison use & no trace):
The dark clerk is especially knowledgeable & shrewd. It adds 1/2 of it's level to all linguistics, profession (scribe), sense motive, & to all knowledge checks.
Ardent auditor (sp) (replaces light steps)
At 6th level, the dark clerk gains the ability to cast "zone of truth" as a spell like ability (CL=class level) 3+int times per day.
Intellect Pool (Su)
This ability works in all ways like the ninja "ki pool" ability, save that charisma is replaced with intelligencen for number of ki points, DC of ki abilities & all other abilities related to the ki pool. This pool offers no modification to jumping ability (no acrobatics mod). While they cant increase their speed, the ninja can also spend a single ki point to gain a +4 bonus on a sense motive, profession (clerk) or linguistics skill checks.
Ninja tricks (su or ex):
I'm trying to imagine some good "new" ninja tricks, or old ones that are innapropriate, but I'm coming up blank. Any ideas?
williamoak |
Ok, so after some reflection, I can see 2 interesting ways this type of character could go (with it's talents):
The inquisitive: specializes in social encounters using int; can use diplo, bluff, intimid, & sense motive from int; learns tricks that allow him to "read" other's minds & discover their secrets.
The magical repo-man: specializes in dealing with magic; gains powers to limit the abilities of magic, to debuff adversaries, & to keep itself protected from magical sight (IE, stealth that resists true seeing).
I've got to think a bit more, but this idea is really fleshing out.
williamoak |
spalding |
Now that I've reviewed it a bit more I have the following suggestions:
Ardent Administrator should probably apply to perception and definitely should apply to appraise.
Ardent Auditor should probably start at either int mod times or 3 times and scale once every 4 levels there after. Though honestly once per day scaling every 4 levels thereafter would be fine. Zone of Truth is a big spell to have so many uses of immediately.
A trick to have intelligence added to perception would not go amiss.
Elite administrator could allow you to have a 1/2 your level bonus on using scrolls or just allow you to use scrolls as a specific caster (either wizard or cleric -- player's choice).
But still I really like this one.
A scrying or x-ray advance ninja trick would be great for investigations.
williamoak |
So, here's a revised version of the "Dark Clerk":
While certain things (like scrying) seemed a bit much, I did add ninja tricks to add "see invisibility", "clairaudience/clairvoyance" & true seeing (limited). I'm also looking for ideas to expand on the "arcane auditor" trick, I think more could be added.
However, I am afraid the "Ardent Auditor" might be a bit too much.
spalding |
To balance the tricks:
Arcane Auditor requires level 4
Attentive Auditor requires Arcane Auditor
Uncanny Auditor Requires Attentive Auditor takes Clairvoyance away from attentive cost should stay at 2 ki points
Elite Auditor will be an advanced trick and allows x-ray as per the oracle of stone ability for 2 ki points
All-seeing requires all the above 4 and should still be a spell like ability