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So, I've been reading a lot of discworld recently, and I got to thinking. It's often mentionned that vetinary has "dark clerks" that go around and audit people & a bit of murder when necessary. I thought it might make an interesting ninja archetype.
Replaces: Poison use, No trace, light steps
Modifies: Ki Pool, Ninja tricks
Ardent administrator (Ex) (replaces poison use & no trace):
The dark clerk is especially knowledgeable & shrewd. It adds 1/2 of it's level to all linguistics, profession (scribe), sense motive, & to all knowledge checks.
Ardent auditor (sp) (replaces light steps)
At 6th level, the dark clerk gains the ability to cast "zone of truth" as a spell like ability (CL=class level) 3+int times per day.
Intellect Pool (Su)
This ability works in all ways like the ninja "ki pool" ability, save that charisma is replaced with intelligencen for number of ki points, DC of ki abilities & all other abilities related to the ki pool. This pool offers no modification to jumping ability (no acrobatics mod). While they cant increase their speed, the ninja can also spend a single ki point to gain a +4 bonus on a sense motive, profession (clerk) or linguistics skill checks.
Ninja tricks (su or ex):
I'm trying to imagine some good "new" ninja tricks, or old ones that are innapropriate, but I'm coming up blank. Any ideas?
Don't know, but i love where your going with it.
I basically got to thinking, WHO, in a world of wizards that can bend reality, warriors that can cleave mountains, and spies that can walk on lava, collects their taxes? THIS GUY.
I'm thinking of adding perception to it's list of skills in "ardent administrator".
True, inquisitor might fit in certain ways, but I never really saw them as the divine type. They very much represent secular power, so I'd be rather careful about making them follow the divine.
Maybe an ability to supress class abilities somehow? Like forgoing sneak attack damage to supress any supernatural or spell-like abilities for a number of rounds equal to the sacriced dice.
Nice idea christos... could definitly make an interesting advanced talent...
That's an interesting idea.
Leaving a dot here for that reason.
Ok, so after some reflection, I can see 2 interesting ways this type of character could go (with it's talents):
The inquisitive: specializes in social encounters using int; can use diplo, bluff, intimid, & sense motive from int; learns tricks that allow him to "read" other's minds & discover their secrets.
The magical repo-man: specializes in dealing with magic; gains powers to limit the abilities of magic, to debuff adversaries, & to keep itself protected from magical sight (IE, stealth that resists true seeing).
I've got to think a bit more, but this idea is really fleshing out.
That's an interesting idea.
Leaving a dot here for that reason.
+1
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Ok, so I've got a basic write-up. Looking for more tricks ideas.Escpecially for an "elite auditor" ninja tricks.
You frequently refer to the "dark cleric" in the document. Additionally, if this is a ninja archetype, you should say so and point out what ninja class features you are replacing.
Dotting for interest. Some way to emulate a dead magic zone might be interesting.
Yay, i helped!
This should make its way into wayfinder -- it's that good.
Now that I've reviewed it a bit more I have the following suggestions:
Ardent Administrator should probably apply to perception and definitely should apply to appraise.
Ardent Auditor should probably start at either int mod times or 3 times and scale once every 4 levels there after. Though honestly once per day scaling every 4 levels thereafter would be fine. Zone of Truth is a big spell to have so many uses of immediately.
A trick to have intelligence added to perception would not go amiss.
Elite administrator could allow you to have a 1/2 your level bonus on using scrolls or just allow you to use scrolls as a specific caster (either wizard or cleric -- player's choice).
But still I really like this one.
A scrying or x-ray advance ninja trick would be great for investigations.
Great ideas abraham; I'll work on it (and the reccomendations of others) soon.
I will put a trick that switches perception & sense motive to have int added.
Scrying & x-ray tricks would definitly be fitting, especially for "elite auditor". Have it scale to "true seeing" eventually.
So, here's a revised version of the "Dark Clerk":
While certain things (like scrying) seemed a bit much, I did add ninja tricks to add "see invisibility", "clairaudience/clairvoyance" & true seeing (limited). I'm also looking for ideas to expand on the "arcane auditor" trick, I think more could be added.
However, I am afraid the "Ardent Auditor" might be a bit too much.
Yeah I would take ardent auditor down to 1 per day to start with then increase it 1 per 4 levels.
To balance the tricks:
Arcane Auditor requires level 4
Attentive Auditor requires Arcane Auditor
Uncanny Auditor Requires Attentive Auditor takes Clairvoyance away from attentive cost should stay at 2 ki points
Elite Auditor will be an advanced trick and allows x-ray as per the oracle of stone ability for 2 ki points
All-seeing requires all the above 4 and should still be a spell like ability
Also the tricks that add Int mod to a skill should probably replace the other stat mod.
I dont know of it should be replace or add (like the inquisitor's monster lore). I tend to favor add, so as to reward those who decide not to go for the ultra-SAD distribution.
Meh, for a trick I guess I could see that.
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Who else read the name of this class as "Dark Cleric" at first?
I created it, and I've had that reading. It should be "clerk". Sigh.
Yeah, it took severeal posts for me to realize it wasn't "dark cleric".
Now that I realized otherwise, totally makes sense as a ninja.
The original idea came with a conjunction of me reading the latest diskworld novel (where there are a lot of dark clerks), and the idea of an int-ninja, and it seems to fit well. It's also the best example of a "lawful" infiltrator I can think of.
I'm necro-ing this for more feedback. Feel like reworking it tonight.