I designed this archetype for an NPC in a game I am running (a group of NPCs actually) but wanted to get some input on balance/flavor for making it available to players at some later time or for some later game.
Inconspicuous Watcher (Druid archetype)
Add Disguise, Knowledge (Local), and Stealth to the list of class skills, and remove Handle Animal and Ride.
Nature Bond (EX) – An Inconspicuous Watcher may not select an Animal Companion. Instead, she must choose from the following domains, rather than those usually available to druids: Darkness, Knowledge, Luck, Travel, or Trickery. They can also choose from the subdomains Night, Thought, Fate, Exploration, or Thievery.
Spontaneous Casting – Instead of calling upon the allies of nature, an Inconspicuous Watcher can channel stored spell energy into domain spells that she has not prepared ahead of time. She can “lose” a prepared spell in order to cast any domain spell of the same level or lower. This ability replaces the ability to spontaneously cast Summon Nature’s Ally spells.
Wild Shape (SU) – At 1st level, an Inconspicuous Watcher gains the ability to take the form of unassuming animals that are more suited for observation than combat. They can only change into Tiny animals (use Beast Shape II for size, but Beast Shape I for abilities). She can use Wild Shape twice per day at level one, and gains an additional use at 4th level and every two levels thereafter, for a total of 10 times at 18th level. At 20th level, a druid can use Wild Shape at will.
At 4th level, a druid can now assume the form of Small animals (as per Beast Shape I).
At 6th level, a druid can Wild Shape into Medium animals (use Beast Shape I for size, but can now use Beast Shape II for abilities).
At 8th level, a druid can now assume the form of Diminutive animals (as per Beast Shape III).
The Inconspicuous Watcher cannot use Wild Shape to become larger than Medium, or assume the forms of elementals or plants like other druids. This ability alters Wild Shape.
Favored Terrain (EX) – At 3rd level, an Inconspicuous Watcher gains the ranger’s Favored Terrain ability. She treats her druid level as her ranger level for this ability. If she has levels in both classes, both class’s levels stack for determining the effects of this ability. This ability replaces Trackless Step and Resist Nature’s Lure.
Additional Domain – At 9th level, an Inconspicuous Watcher can select another domain or subdomain from those available through her Nature Bond. This ability replaces Venom Immunity.
I had originally only included the Wild Shape part to the NPC, but then later thought that if Wild Shape was the only part changed, it could be mixed with some other Archetypes so I flushed it out a bit. That and it was still a very "nature" centered druid, even though most of the NPCs observed civilization through the eyes of rats, ally cats, and ravens. So I looked at some of the other archetypes and figured that the Favored Terrain option made sense, especially for those that preferred the urban locations.
Looking for some advice and possible modifications to make it more "PC friendly"
I will look at this later.
That's pretty dang awesome. You are getting a power down because you are not receiving the stronger Wild Shape versions, but I guess an additional Domain in exchange for meh Venom Immunity is worth it.
Still curious about Favored Terrain though, isn't it a bit redundant? You are already going to beast shape into a fly, what does it matter to have a small bonus to initiative and stealth? Also, why are you getting Knowledge (local) as a bonus skill? That's for 'em city-dwellers.
Also does this Favored Terrain get you other Favored Terrains like the Ranger? If so, I think that might be a bit too much for just losing Trackless Step and Resist Nature's Lure, which are crapbaskets.
That's pretty dang awesome. You are getting a power down because you are not receiving the stronger Wild Shape versions, but I guess an additional Domain in exchange for meh Venom Immunity is worth it.
Still curious about Favored Terrain though, isn't it a bit redundant? You are already going to beast shape into a fly, what does it matter to have a small bonus to initiative and stealth? Also, why are you getting Knowledge (local) as a bonus skill? That's for 'em city-dwellers.
Also does this Favored Terrain get you other Favored Terrains like the Ranger? If so, I think that might be a bit too much for just losing Trackless Step and Resist Nature's Lure, which are crapbaskets.
The Favored Terrains is mostly for flavor and was added "after the fact" to represent the druids that "like" different locations more than others (including cities). I used the same wording as the World Walker archetype (and subbed out the same abilities), and as I understand it, they get additional Favored Terrains as their druid level is treated as ranger level (and ranger's get additional terrains as they level). The bonuses are also to Knowledge (Geography), Perception (the big one), and Survival too.
The thought behind Knowledge (Local) was that they are, in essence, "people watchers" and I figured Local was the most "people related" Knowledge skill.
I would be curious if others think the Favored Terrain should only be limited to one as well, or if I should scrap Knowledge (Local) or not. Could/should they swap out other abilities down the line?
I like the idea of this archetype, I can see many a wizards and druids from fiction being associated with this archetype. The whole turn into an animal to spy on people, really cool idea. Works well with the domain selection and spontaneous casting.
I like it all, but I'm with Secret Wizard there about the Favored Terrain thing. You say it stacks with other classes that have it, as it should. But do you get more than one Favored Terrain? If so, at what levels? I wouldn't allow as much as a Ranger, but more than one for sure. Two, maybe three at the most.
EDIT: I didn't refresh the page before responding, but my points still stand. Also, Knowledge (local) works for the archetype.