|
So, I've been tinkering with some concepts for a Vigilante and there is one thing that really sticks with me for the class: The Capstone ability, Vengeance Strike.
I do want to say that thematically, it's awesome. Swoop in from the shadows and obliterate your foe? Kick in the Startling/Frightening/Stunning Appearance? Super.
Except it comes way, way too late. Most games never reach level 20, much less engage in significant play at said level. Worse, it does not vibe well with the abilities that lead up to it in the class: Social misdirection/manipulation, disguises, and scaring folks when you pop out of the shadows. Other capstone abilities are natural extensions of the class as it progressed (i.e. The Slayer's Master Slayer), took some of the limits off other abilities, or just access to some of the nastier talent/discovery/etc. choices. Instead, we make the leap from dual identity and being frightening to an opening round finisher move.
Now, if this was about scaring your foes to death or something along those lines, I'd get it. But it isn't. Worse, if the Vigilante is spell casting focused, it does very little for them unless using a weapon-like spell (Ray or Touch).
My recommendation? Create a pool of "general" Vigilante Talents any specialization can take. Relegate the Appearance chain, Loyal Aid, and some of the higher end disguise stuff (Many Guises, Everyman). These don't fit every concept. In its place, make Vengeance Strike a scaling ability throughout the class that has less of a "jump out of hiding" feel and more of a "Super Hero Finisher Move" feel. Have a choice of two effects that are flexible to accommodate both weapon oriented and spell oriented characters, or instead make Vengeance Strike as an ability specialization dependent (i.e. Vengeance Strike I/II/II etc. with a full listing under specialization in addition to the base ability). Vengeance Strike's level 20 mechanic still fits very well for the Stalker, for example and could actually be a good model for the power level the Stalker's Vengeance Strike should be scaling towards. But for a Warlock (mage) or Avenger (front line fighter), it feels clunky and not quite right.
Yes, I know this adds word count. It adds more fiddly bits to the class. But I think, thematically, it gives them something exciting that no other class has beyond just the secret identity piece. Plus, it encourages the super hero takes on this by having your character pull ye ole "special move" in combat.
|
|
As an addendum: Studying the target should still be a function of this, but asking for 1 to 5 standard actions from hiding is a lot. It also asks the party to be either without a party member for 5 rounds in combat or wait on that member for 5 rounds to strike (and risk discovery each round, at that).