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"The life and adventure of an explorer is filled with danger, yet also allows one to discover secrets few would otherwise find. They are those trained at collage and universities as seekers of knowledge and learning, yet with a wonderlust that turns them from merely reading about the outside world. Through luck and guile, explorers seek out ancient ruins and forgotten forests, mysterious dungeons and far off lands."
The Explorer is an idea I took from a few sources, starting with an Archaeologist Bard as my base, changing a few details and adding others. Such as use of the bard spell list yet the learning and casting of magic after that of a wizard using a spellbook and intelligence.
The class is much of a generalist list a bard, yet with none of the musical focus of the class. More scholarly yet adaptive like a rogue, all in all offering a potentially useful class... especially if one wants a class of a different flavor then a bard and rogue yet combines many aspects of the two.
I admit though to being at a lose of what the capstone ability could be, though it is something I really feel the class needs. I am also up for other ideas and suggestions, something to have the class stand on its own and catch one's attention. I would play it as is myself, since it covers what I am looking for, but I would like to have it seen as worthwhile by others... also perhaps a name change.
The class can be found here: The Explorer
This looks alright, though it doesn't really possess that many unique class features. It almost seems like it could work better as an investigator archetype, but if you wish to keep it as a full base class, I'll give some basic notes:
1. I think explorer's luck could do with gaining more rounds per day; maybe not as many as bardic performance, but being stuck at 4 + Cha for all your career seems kinda weak.
2. Coupled with this, I don't think this class' chassis is so strong that they need to be reduced to gaining a rogue talent only every 4th level. I think they could get a talent at 2nd and every two levels thereafter; ideally you should give them a unique list of talents, possibly including a list of pre-selected rogue talents like the investigator gets. Otherwise you could give them talents at 3rd level and every three levels thereafter, and throw in some favored terrains, which seems very suitable to this kind of class.
3. Casting off the bard's spell list seems a bit off; it's not a very explorer-y kind of spell list, I feel, though certain spells are suitable. I think you should create a unique spell list blending some bard, druid and possibly alchemist spells. I know unique spell lists have their own dodgy problems, but I really think this would add some flavor to the class.
4. I don't really have any thoughts on a capstone as things stand right now. I'll get back to you if anything pops up.
I hope this was at all helpful. Good luck with the class.
Cheers,
- Gears
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Explorer's Luck is taken directly from the Archaeologist archetype, as too the progression of rogue talents. I would be fine with allowing for more uses of the first and greater progression of the later.
On coming up with a different list of talents, perhaps taking some from the rogue and others from the investigator along with others, could work out.... I think I could do that. I can already decide which ones wont make it in, the talents related to sneak attack and those related to inspiration or alchemy. That clears some room for deciding on others.
As to the classes own spell list taken from the other spellcasting classes, though I find taking from the alchemist list an interesting suggestion.
I hadn't considered the Favored Terrains class features, as such would be quite fitting all things considered. I would need to figure out whether to place them and how often (as well as what to take out) but all in all it should work.
For now I will stick with it being a full base class, especially since as of right now there is little to connect it to the Investigator.
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Edit: ... unless you have Inspiration or Studied Strike, you can't use 95% of Investigator talents. Actually scratch that, as written you can only use two talents without the above if you don't count the class being able to get Rogue talents.
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Pretty big update, though I may make changes based on others thoughts. I have the class fully detailed apart from a spell list counting making up its own Explorer Talent list.
There are a few abilities I am not certain on, offering an alternative, called Confidence... hopefully it works out. It can perhaps even be expanded. I admit though, I may have given the class too much and will have to cut back.