Hello everyone o/
First post here. I've discovered the game a few weeks ago and I'm kind of enthusiastic with it.
So, I've got some ideas for new characters I'd like to share with you. As every homebrew designer, I design character I would like to play with. So even if I tried to stay in decent balance, I may have overpowered them. But as long as they pass the Lini-test (i just wonder if I prefer the homebrew or Lini), I think it's fine
So here's the first :
The Fencer :
The Fencer is meant to be a good fighter with no real other utility (in his primary role at least).
He is the archetype of the melee dexterity fighter, he strikes quickly and deadly, making little holes rather than splitting in two.
So, his melee is on his dexterity and not on his strength. That is the main concept of the character. Even without weapon, he can fight a monster with a decent dexterity check.
He is supposed to be really better with swords and finesse weapons.
Although it is not strictly a restriction in deck composition, this specialisation force him to prefer lesser weapons. This restriction allows him to have a very good combat power with those particular weapons.
Basically, he doesn't fancy armor that much because he prefers to move quickly rather than being burdened by the weight of an armor.
He'd rather count on his skill and maybe a bit of luck in order to evade the deadly enemy swings while he deliver the final blow.
It's a character that got a good charisma and attracts allies and can use the best of them.
Wisdom, Strength and Constitution are his weaknesses.
While his basic profile is rather straight, some utility comes with his advanced profiles.
"Just a little pinch"
Skills :
Strength
d6 ▢+1 ▢+2
Dexterity
d10 ▢+1 ▢+2 ▢+3 ▢+4
Melee : Dexterity+3
Acrobatics : Dexterity+1
Constitution
d6 ▢+1 ▢+2
Intelligence
d8 ▢+1 ▢+2 ▢+3
Wisdom
d4 ▢+1
Charisma
d8 ▢+1 ▢+2 ▢+3
Diplomacy : Charisma+1
Powers
Hand Size 4 ▢ 5
Proficient with Weapons
Sword Master : If you play a sword during a combat check, you may add 1 to each die. If that weapon has the finesse trait, you may recharge it to add 1d4 (▢+1) to the combat check.
Avoid Blows : If you would take combat damage, you may discard a blessing to throw one d6 (▢ d8). On anything but a 1, the damage are reduced to 0.
Fatal Wound : ▢ If you fail at a combat check against a monster that don't have the undead trait, you may bury a weapon to banish that monster after the encounter.
Deck
Favored Card Type : Weapon
Weapon
5 ▢ 6 ▢ 7 ▢ 8
Spell
-
Armor
- ▢ 1 ▢ 2
Item
2
Ally
4 ▢ 5 ▢ 6 ▢ 7
Blessing
4 ▢ 5 ▢ 6
Role #1
Powers
Hand Size 4 ▢ 5
Proficient with Weapons ▢ Light Armors
Sword Master : If you play a sword during a combat check, you may add 1 to each die. If that weapon has the finesse trait, you may recharge it to add 1d4 (▢+1) (▢+2) (▢+3) (▢+4) to the combat check.
Avoid Blows : If you would take combat damage, you may discard a blessing to throw one d6 (▢ d8). On anything but a 1, the damage are reduced to 0.
Fatal Wound : ▢ If you fail at a combat check against a monster that don't have the undead trait, you may bury a weapon to banish that monster after the encounter.
Weakness : ▢ During a dexterity check, if your dexterity die roll 10 (▢1), the check is succesful.
Quick Fighter : ▢ When you discard an ally to explore a region, you may draw a card (▢ and you may move to another region before exploring).
The duelist is the fighting specialization of the fencer allowing him to make its main fighting power even stronger.
The first new power is the "find weakness" one. You can best the most terrifying opponent with the right strike.
The second new power add some utility to the character, using its quickness to move wherever he wants to.
His experience may allow him to use light armors while keeping his ability to evade intact.
Role #2
Powers
Hand Size 4 ▢ 5
Proficient with Weapons ▢ Light Armors
Sword Master : If you play a sword during a combat check, you may add 1 to each die. If that weapon has the finesse trait, you may recharge it to add 1d4 (▢+1) (▢+2) to the combat check.
Avoid Blows : If you would take combat damage, you may discard (▢ recharge) a blessing to throw one d6 (▢ d8) (▢ d10). On anything but a 1, the damage are reduced to 0.
Fatal Wound : ▢ If you fail at a combat check against a monster that don't have the undead trait, you may bury a weapon to banish that monster after the encounter.
Life Saver : ▢ If another character must make a combat check against a monster, you may (▢ discard a card and move to that region and then) make the combat check instead, if you are in the same region.
Area Clearer : ▢ When you discard an ally to explore a region, you may draw a card. (▢ and you may explore twice if the first exploration revealed a bane)
The bodyguard specialisation reveal one particular utility role of the character : the protector role. That's why he can especially train himself with armors to catch the bullet for you !
You can view him as renaissance bodyguards that were there to prevents murders from other fencers.
This role is pretty useful when you have weak support characters such as lem as the protection power may come with ou-of-turn movement.
As for the duelist role, the use of ally to explore is also accentuated. As a good bodyguard, he checks thoroughly if a place is safe before allowing more vulnerable people to go in.
Some Thoughts :
The dice addition is a standard 42. The character has only 3 secondary skills for a +5 total which is pretty low. Take this into account when balancing the powers.
I like the use of multiple type of cards : weapons as he is a fighter, blessing for the oh-my-god how did he avoid this ? He is so lucky, and the emphasis on allies.
I've a hard time designing the main combat ability. I began with something like a recharge on non 2-Handed swords (basically because the 1-handed trait doesn't exists) with a big bonus due to the restriction but I disliked avoiding the choice between recharge with the power and the weapon discard addition, it would have make the power too close of valeros' one. So I opted for a littler bonus ; 1d4 is mandatory as most of the finesse weapons adds 1d6 on discard ; plus something else, the +1 on each die. Therefore, it stays a big bonus to combat check but you still have the choice of discarding your weapon for even greater advantage.
The power names are here mainly for discussion purpose and also a bit for the feeling.
I have no idea if a character in pathfinder-RPG fits this roles. As you noticed, I haven't even given him(her?) a name as I'm more concerned by mechanics than lore but I hope there's something that could suit well enough.
Last thing, would you play this character ? solo ? in a company ? What role would you prefer ? primary beater or secondary/utility's one ?
I'm now waiting for your comments.
Thanks o/