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Big thanks to everyone one the previous thread for their feedback/contributions!
Photographyst
Just as the gunslinger is a keeper of the secrets regarding black powder and guns, so is the photographyst in the art of capturing images through light and shadow. Always on the look out for the "perfect picture", the photographyst travels far and wide reproducing images of scenic beauty and portraits rich in cultural significance. Using a complex device called a camera obscura or "dark chamber" they can produce supernatural affects that can disorient foes, capture spirits, and preserve memories and moments.
Camera Obscura: At 1st level, the photographyst builds for herself an alchemaical contraption composed of a portable box arrayed with lenses, latches, nobs, buttons, cranks, and other odd mechanisms. The inside of the camera obscura houses carefully positioned mirrors and glass plates treated with special substances infused by the photographyst's aura. An photographyst can take a number of pictures each day equal to her class level + Int modifier.
Each camera obscura is unique and can only be used by the photographyst who built it. An alchemist lab is needed to clean and reload the device each day. Drawing, loading the components of, and "shooting" the camera obscura is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity. A photographyst can possess only one camera obscura at a time. A camera obscura has a hardness of 10+1 for every 3 levels of the photographyst and half as many hit points as the photographyst. A photographyst can repair her camera obscura after 8 hrs of rest and 1 hour of fixing.
Taking a picture produces a flash of light in a 20ft cone. Only one picture can be taken per round. A photographyst develops her pictures at night or in some darkened enclosure. This process typically takes 10 minutes of preparation and an hour of waiting. Each picture requires one piece of paper or parchment to be made permanent.
The DC of all saves regarding the following discoveries are 10 + 1/2 class level +Int modifier. At 1st level, the photographyst chooses one of the following discoveries for his camera obscura. As she gains levels, she may choose a new discovery.
Photographyst Discoveries
Searing Flash: By taking a picture the camera obscura creates a 20ft cone that deals 1d4 fire damage for every two class levels the photographyst possesses. A successful reflex save halves the damage.
Disorienting Flash: By taking a picture the camera obscura creates a 20ft cone of disruptive light. At 1st level all targets caught in the cone are dazzled. At 4th level targets become staggered. At 8th level targets become blinded. At 12th level targets become dazed. At 16th level targets become stunned. At 20th level targets become paralyzed. This effect lasts for 1 round. A successful Fort save negates.
Capture Spirit: By focusing on and taking a picture of a single living target within 20ft the camera obscura steals a portion of the target’s soul, resulting in 1d4 Wisdom drain. A successful Will save negates.
Preserve Memories and Moments: By taking a picture of a single willing target that is within 20ft of the camera obscura, the target is granted a +1 luck bonus to AC, saves, and CMD for a number of rounds equal to the photographyst’s Int modifier. If the target holds still for the picture (remaining flat-footed and not making a move action) until the beginning of their next turn, then the duration is doubled. This luck bonus increases by +1 at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th level of the photographyst.
Sneak Shot: By taking a picture of an unsuspecting target who was unaware they were getting their picture taken until they noticed the flash, the target becomes self conscious and embarrassed about how they may have looked. They become shaken for a number of rounds equal to the photographyst’s Int modifier. This is a mind-affecting effect. Each round the target can make a Will save to negate the effect.
Magnesium Burst: By taking a picture the camera obscura releases a cloud of billowing smoke. At 1st level it can create the effects of the obscuring mist spell. At 6th level it can create the effects of the fog cloud spell. And at 12th level it can duplicate the effects of the cloud kill spell. Treat the photographyst’s class level as her caster level.
Projector: At 1st level, at the cost of taking 1 picture the camera obscura can duplicate the effects of the silent image spell. At 4th level, at the cost of 2 pictures, the minor image spell can be duplicated. At 8th level, at the cost of 3 pictures the major image can be duplicated. At 12th level, at the cost of 4 pictures the hallucinatory terrain spell can be duplicated. At 16th level, at the cost of 5 pictures the persistent image spell can be duplicated. And at 20th level, at the cost of 6 pictures, the permanent image spell can be duplicated. The photographyst uses her class level as her caster level for these effects. The GM may allow other illusion spells to be used as part of this discovery.
Adjustable Lens: The camera obscura can be modified as a swift action to function like a spyglass, a magnifying glass, or a telescope.
Dispelling Flash: By taking a picture the photographyst can attempt to dispel any effect that can be bypassed by the True Seeing spell. This functions like Greater Dispel Magic. The photographyst must be 12th level and possess the True Picture Discovery to select this discovery.
True Image: By taking a picture of a 20ft area, the camera obscura pierces magical lies and finds the truth. When the picture is later developed it reveals everything as it truly was at the time the photograph was taken as per the True Seeing spell. This discovery cannot be taken until 6th level.
Photographyk Flattery: The photograhyst learns, that by exploiting the vanity of others, she can more easily gain their favor. For every picture the photographyst takes of a willing target in a day period, the photographyst gains a +1 bonus to diplomacy checks made toward that same target for the next 24 hrs.
Polaris Development: The photographyst learns to rebuild her camera obscura so that it develops photographs within one minute of being taken. Pictures created in this way consume 1 vial of ink and 1 piece of paper or parchment.
Increased Range: The range of a photographyst’s flash cones increases by 10 ft. This discovery cannot be chosen until 12th level.
Loregraph: By taking a picture of a single creature within 20ft, the photographyst can attempt to learn some useful information on the target. When the picture is taken the photographyst makes a knowledge check appropriate to the target and adds half their class level to the result, even if the photographyst does not have that skill. When the picture is developed, the result of the check will be found inscribed on the back of the picture. This is a divination effect. The target may make a will save to negate the effect.
Camera Obscura Timer: The photographyst installs a mechanical timer onto his camera obscura. By setting the timer, the camera obscura can be set to take a picture after a specific amount of time has passed, up to a number of rounds equal to the photographyst's Int modifier. Setting the camera obscura to take a picture is a full round action that provokes attacks of opportunity, during which the photographyst must declare how many rounds he is setting the timer for, the 20 ft. cone he is aiming the camera obscura at, and any discoveries he is using that will modify the picture taken. He must then set the camera obscura down, either on the ground or on a tripod, low wall, table or otherwise. Doing so means that the camera obscura is considered unattended until the picture is taken and the photographyst picks it back up, but allows the photographyst to be in the picture himself if he so chooses.
This class feature replaces bomb and all bomb-related discoveries.
Alchemaic Pikture: Instead of brewing magical potions, a photographyst can create vibrant photographs that function in the same way. The cost and duration of creating an alchemaic pikture is identical to brewing a potion. Anyone can draw and behold an alchemaic pikture (provoking ATOPs as normal) to gain its benefits. An alchemiac pikture is physically identical to a scroll.
This alters and replaces the Brew Potion bonus feat gained at 1st level.
Light and Shadow Mastery: By studying the complex relationship of light and shadow to better capture the best images, the photographyst learns to resist the two forces when they endanger her. At 2nd level she gains a +2 resistance bonus vs light and darkness effects and gains darkvison 60ft. At 5th level this increases to +4 and her darkvison improves by 30ft. At 8th level this increases to +6 and her darkvision improves by another 30ft. At 10th level she becomes immune to the negative effects of such spells and effects, she can see perfectly in magical darkness, she cannot be blinded unless by violent physical means, and her darkvison extends as far as her camera obscura allows her to see.
This class feature replaces poison use, poison resistance, and poison immunity.
Grae Doryean Grand Discovery: At 20th level, by selecting this discovery the photographyst learns the camera obscura's secret to immortality. She takes and develops a single picture of herself. As long as this picture exists the photographyst does not age and cannot die. If reduced to zero hit points she disappears and reappears 1d10 days later next to the picture just as the lich rejuvenation ability. If the picture is destroyed, however, the photgraphyst ages to her maximum age, dies instantly, and cannot be raised or resurrected. If brought back to life by wish or any other means, she cannot select this grand discovery again.
This replaces the Eternal Youth Grand Discovery.
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Sweet! Thank you very much for revising this one, it's an absolute gem.
Hah! This is downright cool. Capture Spirit should deal Charisma damage, though.
Daron Woodson
Abandoned Arts
Hah! This is downright cool. Capture Spirit should deal Charisma damage, though.
Daron Woodson
Abandoned Arts
Thank you, Daron. I based the Capture Spirit discovery on the old Native American superstition that getting one's picture taken steals their soul. I figured Wisdom was the best choice for flavor's sake. However, a separate discovery that deals Charisma damage could work, too.
Yeah I could see this treatment applied to an artifact but I guess it depends on the campaign though LazarX. Okay sure, having a party of these guys would screw with anyone's day, but as an option for a steampunk or slightly steampunk campaign setting this rocks! A rare photographyst or two (heck even a guild) would slide seamlessly into a few parts of Golarion without a hitch in my view.
Nice revision Arcanemuses!
But it can easily be modeled into a steampunk setting
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I think the flavor works great if you're going for a more Western-type setting. It really captures the idea of the 1850's Old West. I can totally imagine this guy wearing the green visor and the suspenders and stepping out of a stagecoach.
My only issue is then imagining that same guy drink a magical mutagen, muscle up, and then draw a sword on someone.
But it can easily be modeled into a steampunk settingCameras shooting LAZOR beams takes it out of steampunk no matter what else you do with it. It goes from steampunk to cartoon.
A lazor beam is a line/ray effect. It's alchemaically-produced light, a supernatural effect, and a cone.
As for Silent Saturn's comment. He makes a great point that this class of adventurer drinking mutagens seems out of place. But it does give me an idea...
Anyway, regardless of what fantasy genre it fits in, I believe it has a rightful place next to any gunslinging class or archetype because the concept of the camera is about as old as the concept of the gun and gunpowder. Additionally, if you can magically enhance guns and bullets, then why not a wooden box with a lens and mirrors on the inside?
CHA is ones force of personality. Native Americans believe ones personality is ones spirit.
Other than that it isn't bad for an Archetype...
Please Note: I am a little biased as this is similar to something I am working on. Though mine is more of a chain of Discoveries. With an archetype made to take advantage of said Discoveries.
CHA is ones force of personality. Native Americans believe ones personality is ones spirit.
Other than that it isn't bad for an Archetype...
Please Note: I am a little biased as this is similar to something I am working on. Though mine is more of a chain of Discoveries. With an archetype made to take advantage of said Discoveries.
I look forward to seeing it! Maybe Paizo can take the best of our ideas and put it in print!
Actually I was planning on printing mine...
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I'm not sure if Paizo can legally "cherry-pick" ideas that people suggest on the message boards, since then there's the whole issue of who came up with it and did Paizo steal it. Even though it's on Paizo's boards, using Paizo's IP and the OGL, and most folks who homebrew would be honored beyond belief if Paizo used their idea, it's a legal gray area.
I do know that if you go on Magic: the Gathering's boards and suggest ideas for cards you've designed, the designers and developers can't legally use that idea. I honestly don't know if it's the same deal here, but it might be.
That's why I'm so hesitant to post suggestions on the "how to fix Monks" thread
It depends on the Terms of Use you agree to when signing up on the site.
This is the reason that when I ask people for their opinions, I let them know that this may go into helping my published product.
Credited of course, but all the same.
Is there actually a place where we can read the legal stuff of posting on the forums?
As long as I am credited I don't care who uses my ideas. I do this for fun and for free!
This is the reason that when I ask people for their opinions, I let them know that this may go into helping my published product.
Credited of course, but all the same.
Is there actually a place where we can read the legal stuff of posting on the forums?
Here:
Who owns my comments?While Paizo Publishing does not pre-screen message content, Paizo Publishing does reserve the right to edit or remove submitted messages or material at any time. Paizo Publishing is not responsible for the content of messages submitted by users of the site. Users posting messages to the site automatically grant Paizo Publishing the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, sublicense, copy and distribute such messages throughout the world in any media.
There you go.
Makes me wonder about posting the rest of my stuff up here...
Anyone got a link to the OGL/OGC that would apply to a just starting out company? and a place to setup said company?
I am totally cool with this. Credit would be nice and it is all I ask.
I am totally cool with this. Credit would be nice and it is all I ask.
Same here. Though I haven't seen anything saying they have to give credit...
Hmmm... thank you for putting that up actually. We've been wondering just what we should show on the forums as material we've made but I'd rather keep certain things away now.
Though honestly, Paizo's been pretty great about crediting people and they have a good moral code so I don't think they would just go and right ahead steal something. They might get inspired by a few things in my opinion, but I don't they'd go so far as to outright copypasta your material.
Hmmm... thank you for putting that up actually. We've been wondering just what we should show on the forums as material we've made but I'd rather keep certain things away now.
Though honestly, Paizo's been pretty great about crediting people and they have a good moral code so I don't think they would just go and right ahead steal something. They might get inspired by a few things in my opinion, but I don't they'd go so far as to outright copypasta your material.
I agree. But when it comes to certain things I would rather post them in a Google Docs file with an OGL/OGC disclaimer and link to them.
I agree. But when it comes to certain things I would rather post them in a Google Docs file with an OGL/OGC disclaimer and link to them.Hmmm... thank you for putting that up actually. We've been wondering just what we should show on the forums as material we've made but I'd rather keep certain things away now.
Though honestly, Paizo's been pretty great about crediting people and they have a good moral code so I don't think they would just go and right ahead steal something. They might get inspired by a few things in my opinion, but I don't they'd go so far as to outright copypasta your material.
I believe we'll be switching to that as well.
Now to find said disclaimer.
Now does the camera do damage as per bombs in that 20ft cone or does it need a discovery for that?
It does not. However, you make a good point.It should maybe come with a free discovery at first level to get started better.
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Now does the camera do damage as per bombs in that 20ft cone or does it need a discovery for that?It does not. However, you make a good point.It should maybe come with a free discovery at first level to get started better.
I would say that you should go with the searing flash idea but also add like a fort save or dazzled ability due to the light of the flash. This helps balance the lower damage and gives you room to pump the ability up with more discoveries later like a blinding or dazing flash.