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OpenPalm

Jun 25, 2012, 01:45 pm

Inspired by the organic point buy ability thread, I started thinking on a way which created a natural way of assigning ability points. I remembered playing a game called Twilight 2013 which gave bonuses based upon life experiences. What I wrote up is clearer as I've learned my lessons playing a Russian nuclear scientist.

"These seven stages of life describe your experience and how it changed you. For every stage, you can choose a +2 bonus to one stat or two +2 bonuses and one -2 bonuses. Your main stat (based on your class) can go up to 18, the rest can go up to 16 and no stat can go below 6 before class adjustment."

Stats by life experience:

What was your relationship like with your parents? What did you learn from that experience?

Stat change:

What was your relationship like with other children? What did you learn from that experience?

Stat change:

What was your relationship like with older adults in the community (teachers, community leaders, teacher/apprentice, shopowners, bosses, etc). What did you learn from that experience?

Stat change:

What changed in your life after puberty? What did you learn from that experience?

Stat change:

What happened when you became independent/an adult/entered training in a profession (including for PC classes)? What did you learn from that experience?

Stat change:

What was your most important life experience after the experience above before you started adventuring? What did you learn from that experience?

Stat Change:

Why did you choose to become an adventurer?

Stat change:

After this, players total up their stats and choose an adjective to describe each one of their stats. After this, they make the character background.

Wandering Swordsman (Unarmored Samurai Archetype)

OpenPalm

Jun 21, 2012, 07:05 pm

A player of mine wants to play a Ronin samurai and I wanted to create an unarmored samurai archetype and see if he likes it. I tried to make this by combining certain samurai and monk features together. I'm not sure how balanced it is, but I don't mind if it's a tier up from a regular samurai.

FYI, I also plan to give the move 1/2 speed as swift action ability for one point to anything with a ki pool or grit pool (this include Maxximilius's fighter archetypes) as well as the Skirmisher Ranger. The only thing I'm questioning myself on right now is including the additional abilities that you can spend ki on. I look forward to everyone's feedback

Wandering Swordsman:

Flow with the battle

A wandering swordsman rarely stays in one place and thus doesn’t have the ability to buy or maintain armor. A wandering swordsman loses all proficiencies with armor and shields.

This means that a wandering swordsman can attack faster than a normal samurai and has to be able to see blows coming to dodge them, since a hit could be deadly. A wandering swordsman adds 2+ Wis to his AC at 1st level and an additional +1 at levels 6, 12 & 18 when not wearing any armor.

Furthermore, the monk can take a -2 penalty to each of his attacks to double the amount of his attacks at each BAB level when not wearing any armor. This works exactly like flurry of blows and counts as flurry of blows for any prerequisites. A wandering swordsman can also take Perfect Strike as a bonus feat even if he doesn't meet the prerequisites and counts as a monk in determining how many times a day he can use it. This cannot be used for ranged or thrown weapons.

This ability replaces the samurai’s armor proficiencies.

React Quickly
At 2nd level, a wandering swordman gains evasion. At 9th level, he gains improved evasion. This replaces the mount and mounted archer features.

Ki Pool
At 4th level, the wandering swordman gains a ki pool equal to ½ his character level + his wisdom modifier. He also gains the “Extra Ki” feat as a free feat.

The wandering swordsman can spend 1 ki point as a swift action to make an additional attack at his highest BAB or to move half his speed. At 6th level and every two levels after, he can choose an additional ability from the list below with a ki point cost (as per the qinggong monk). Activating these abilities, unless otherwise specified, is a free action. If the ability refers to a feat, a wandering swordsman can use it until the beginning of his next turn. A wandering swordsman must meet the level prerequisite to use these powers. This replaces Banner and Greater Banner.

6th level
Deflect Arrows (1 ki point, except you can use your weapon)
Ki Stand (0 ki points, 1 ki point special ability, immediate action)
Sidestep (1 ki point, immediate action)

8th level
Gliding Steps (1 ki point, immediate action)
Whirlwind Attack (2 ki points)

10th Level
Lunge (1 ki point)
Step up and Strike along with prerequisites (2 ki points)
Wind Stance (2 ki points)

12th level
Ki Throw (2 ki points)
Punishing Kick (2 ki points, can use weapon instead of kick)

14th Level
Disarming Strike (2 ki points)
Improved Ki Throw (2 points)

16th Level
Bleeding Critical (3 ki points)
Lightning Stance (3 ki points)

18th Level
Any feat with critical focus as a pre-requisite (3 points)

Help with my first ever PF build

OpenPalm

Mar 30, 2012, 03:09 pm

Hey guys,

I wanted to get some feedback regarding a PF character that I made. I've played 4E before but this is my first ever PF build and I rather like the concept. I wanted to make a lazy and laid-back slacker a lot like The Dude from The Big Lebowski who's really into spreading peace (and making sure that rugs stay in their proper place :) )

Since he doesn't have much physical power in my conceptualization, I wanted to make his power the power of his spirit. I decided to make him a synthesist summoner because I can't really make the build fit thematically as anything else. I imagine his spirit as a member of the Chinese 8 immortals who fights using Kung-Fu skills who surrounds him with energy and gives him Kung Fu powers.

So for the build, we're starting at level 2 and I was thinking of going with Monk (Martial Artist 1)/Summoner (Synthesist) 1 and taking summoner the rest of the way. Monk works both thematically and helps out by giving me the combat reflexes feat and WIS to AC (hopefully). The eidolon will be of the bipedal type and I'll favor unarmed attacks. I plan to go with a Half-elf with the 1/4 evolution points/level favored class bonus. He is going to be middle-aged, like the dude and his stats will be as follows (after age adjustment and flexible stat placement):

Str 6 Dex 6 Con 12 Int 15 Wis 18 Cha 18. Alternatively, I could take Con down to 10 and Int up to 16 if that's a better choice.

I have some questions about the build that I would like some advice on.

1. Since I have the level of monk, does my wisdom get added to my AC when I am fused with my eidolon?

2. For evolutions, I plan to go with skilled in diplomacy, large size, a number of primary attacks up to the top number (or secondary after lvl 9), flight and armor boosts. Should I also go for trip? Any other good choices that fit thematically with this build (besides stat boosts, which are always good and which I plan to take).

3. Can I take power attack due to my stats in the fused state but only use it in the fused state? Also, what would be the best feats to take early? There don't seem to be any must-have feats that early.

4. Any equipment advice for starting with 1000 gp. I have no idea when it comes to what is good equipment.

5. What do I have available to me to help me take away the attack penalty for non-lethal damage? I would prefer to deal non-lethal damage, but that -4 penalty essentially makes me unable to hit at all.

Anything else would help. I've read the summoner handbook on GiantITP and I honestly feel like I'm still lacking in some knowledge here. I would be happy to get any tips at all to make this character stron

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