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I've drafted some Mechanic buffs and would like some feedback.
The first thing is a generic skill buff for all mechanics by enhancing the speed of Bypass progression.
The rest is kind of a rewrite of the Exocortex to make it more combat capable as that seems to be the point of this branch of the Mechanic. The biggest change is to Combat Tracking at level 1 to just make Exocortex Mechanics full BAB and at level 11 onwards I've replaced the slooow denerfing of vanilla Combat Tracking that's not needed anymore to give an Onslaught ability. Also removed the weird fiddly part of not being able to use the exocortex's additional skill abilities during combat.
What do you guys think? These are straight buffs and they allow the Exocortex Mechanic to be, situationally, one of the best hackers in the game at Level 15 but I don't think it outshines Hacker Operatives, Hacker Envoy's with their Expertise die, or Hacker Technomages with their spells.
It also makes them one of the better longarm specialists in the game but I don't think it steps on the toes of dedicated Soldier builds either.
General Mechanic
BYPASS (EX) 1ST LEVEL
You are skilled at getting inside computer systems and electronic devices. At 1st level, you gain a +1 insight bonus to Computers and Engineering skill checks. At 2nd level, every 4 levels thereafter, this bonus increases by 1. To a maximum of +6 at the 18th level.
**One level faster than Operative's edge but restricted just to the two iconic skills of the Mechanic. Fair tradeoff I think and the Hacker Operative is ahead of the curve at lower levels anyway due to their free skill focus feats. The vanilla Bypass is SO SLOW!
EXOCORTEX
Your exocortex grants you all of the following abilities as you advance in level.
Combat Tracking (Ex) 1st Level
Your exocortex provides you with enhanced combat ability, granting you proficiency with heavy armor and longarms. At 3rd level, you gain weapon specialization in longarms just as if your class granted proficiency. The exocortex feeds you telemetry, vulnerabilities, and combat tactics, allowing you to make attacks as if your base attack bonus from your mechanic levels were equal to your mechanic level. **This effectively means you're a full BAB character.
Memory Module (Ex) 1st Level
You can use your exocortex’s memory module to enhance your own knowledge. Once per day, as a reaction, you can reroll a failed skill check to recall knowledge. In addition, your exocortex grants you the Skill Focus feat as a bonus feat. Every time you gain a mechanic level, you can rebuild your exocortex’s memory module, replacing the exocortex’s bonus Skill Focus feat with Skill Focus in a different skill.
**Removed the weird hard to keep track of fiddly bit of not being able to do this while in combat. In the odd situations where something like this would even matter let the Mechanic shine I say.
Wireless Hack (Ex) 5th Level
Your exocortex can access another computer system within 20 feet, allowing it to attempt a Computers check against that computer each round, using your skill bonus. This counts as a standard action for the purpose of the Computers skill. You must remain within 20 feet of the computer system for the entire time your exocortex is interacting with the computer. If the task requires multiple actions (or even rounds) to accomplish, you can spend your actions to work in concert with your exocortex, counting both your action and the exocortex’s effective standard action toward the total time required. If you don’t have the remote hack class feature, you must be adjacent to the computer to attempt your checks.
**No change here.
Exocortex Mods (Ex) 7th Level
Your exocortex allows you to apply any one of the following drone mods to yourself as if you were a drone with that mod installed: armor slot, cargo rack, climbing claws, enhanced senses, hydrojets, jump jets, resistance, smuggler’s compartment, speed, or weapon proficiency (gaining proficiency in advanced melee or heavy weapons). At 11th level, you can apply an additional mod, and your options expand to include echolocators, excavator, flight system, greater resistance, invisibility field, and reactive camouflage. At 14th and 17th levels, you can apply an additional mod. Each time you gain a level, you can switch any of your mods for different mods, but you must always choose at least one mod from the 7th-level list.
**No change here
Exocortex Onslaught (Ex) 11th Level
Your exocortex's ability to act in concert with you in combat increases. When you make a full attack using basic melee weapons, grenades, small arms, or long arms, you can make up to three attacks instead of two attacks. You take a –6 penalty to these attacks instead of a –4 penalty.
**Same as Solider's onslaught, but restricted to the Exocortex's list of proficient weaponry.
Multitasking (Ex) 15th Level
The range of your exocortex’s wireless hack increases to 40 feet. Your exocortex also enables you to to hack a nearby computer during a full attack, but the hack attempt counts as one of the attacks (so you can attack three times, or attack twice and hack, or hack twice and attack once, or hack three times within the same full attack). The ability to hack multiple times can also be used outside of combat as a full action.
**This will make the exocortex mechanic a very very fast hacker but I think it's justified as this is late game and the person has a level 15 computer in their heads!
Do you feel Exocortex mechanics are weaker than drone mechanics, or are in general underpowered compared to other classes?
I'm not sure the Exocortex mechanic should the best hacker AND the best longarme specialist (or very close to both). Probably should be a choice. You can be the best hacker OR you can be the best longarm specialist, not both. A longarm soldier isn't even close to be as good a hacker as an Operative is.