Questions on building class / prestige classes


Advice


It's been a recent project of mine to try and build either a class archetype or prestige class based off of the powers and stylings of the Silver Surfer. Now, I know it's wholly irresponsible to give a player the Power Cosmic, but it's the theme of cosmic awareness and heraldry that I'm looking for.

In my game's mythos, the sun god Radius is the god of justice, balance, and (clearly) fire. The plan was to make either a prestige class or an archetype that would worship him and gain powers that would help them maintain balance, peace, and the sanctity of life. The work I've done so far has lead me towards a monk-type outline. Perhaps someone who must take certain vows (i.e. Peace or Chastity) to gain an additional Ki pool. I was also drawing inspiration from the Qinggong build, but using strictly spells that would be inline with the Surfer himself as well as the Sun and Justice theme. Such spells as Scorching Ray, Burning Hands, Sanctuary, Strength of the Bull and so on. I also wanted to give certain Wisdom bonuses that would match up with Cosmic Awareness. Maybe things like Diplomacy, Sense Motive, perhaps even Attack and Damage or AC. It occurred to me that use the Investigator's Inspiration ability for this feature. While the character would use Ki to "cast" his spells, they could use "Inspiration" to add to certain Skills, AC, Attack, and Damage.

Another simple feature I had was to give the character the ability to cast Detect Life in a 30' radius, and allow the radius to increase either by leveling or pulling from the Ki pool.

Finally , there would be the matter of the Board. I wanted to, at a certain level, grant the character what would essentially be a Broom of Flying. Although, I have no idea when or how just yet.

So, my question to you guys is simply for guidance. I have a lot of ideas, but I need help in deciding whether or not such a thing should be an Archetype or a Prestige Class, given the amount of power in the theory. I would also like some help in laying out the described abilities in a way to avoid dead levels and make it fair and fun.


Why a PRC? are you looking for a whole troop of Surfers?

Why not just create it as a unique monster?


To maybe help with the process, I wanted to post the outline of what I have so far:

COSMIC HERALD

BAB: Medium
- Same as Monk

Dit Dice: d8

Saves: WIll/Fortitude

Skills: 4+INT
- Craft
- Diplomacy
- Fly
- Intimidate
- Knowledge (Nature)
- Knowledge (Planes)
- Perception
- Profession
- Sense Motive
- Survival

Ki Pool Additions
- Spend to add d6 to AC/Attack/Damage (Cost 2?)
- Spend to "cast" (Level TBD)
--- Burning Hands
--- Scorching Ray
--- Augery
--- Detect Thoughts
--- Divine Favor
--- Firebelly
--- Bull's Strength
--- Burning Disarm
--- Sanctuary
--- Boiling Blood
--- Calm Emotions
--- Life Pact

A Herald can cast Detect Life at will, as the spell
- Starts at 30'
- Increases at intervals of 10' by:
--- Level increase
--- Spending Ki?

"Platinum Skin"
- DR?

"Surf the Cosmos"
- Flying surf board


Drahliana Moonrunner wrote:

Why a PRC? are you looking for a whole troop of Surfers?

Why not just create it as a unique monster?

Equal parts for attempt to build a proper class and the mythos of the game world. In my first campaign, the characters played to level cap and the end battle was against the gods. They won, and in essence became the gods of the next game, that way it offers a lot of personal investment in the canon. As an example, in the campaign that followed, a player that didn't play Radius, played a paladin of Radius and the whole party got a kick out of it. It's something I know my players would be drawn to.

I had also thought of making it a monster, and I would gladly take advice on that as well.


It could also work as some sort of Aeon, but I would prefer to make it playable. We're all comics nerds, and the option to basically be the Surfer would be awesome.


Should there be feature additions or just spell options? Or maybe Inspiration talents?


I don't know what shape or form it would be, but you should follow the same advice that all class builders need. Come up with a really unique feature or ability. Don't just pull abilities from existing classes unless you're making an archtype.

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