Rune Blade Custom class


Homebrew and House Rules


Looking for some feedback on a custom class I made for a player in a new campaign. They wanted to use "runes" to cast spells so I though up this weird little mechanic to see if they liked it. Unfortunately, I will also have a first time player in the party and this is the first time I am building a custom class. I don't want to make the class so weak that it shuns the person playing it, but don't want it so broken that it makes the new player feel useless. That is why i am looking for some feedback! Anything helps! Thank you all for your time!

Class Name: Rune Blade
Hit Die: d8

Class Skills:
Appraise(INT), Craft(INT), Fly(DEX), Knowledge(Arcana)(INT), Knowloedge(history)(INT),
Linguistics(INT), Perception(WIS), Profession(WIS), Sense Motive(WIS), Spellcraft(INT),
Survival(WIS), Use Magic Device(CHA).

Weapon and Armor Proficiency:
Simple and Martial weapons,
light and medium armor. Light
armor provides no arcane spell
failure chance.

Runic Formal Craft: A Rune Blade is a spin on a Word Caster.(rune = word)
A Rune Blade must prepare his runes in advance by taking a long rest
and spending at least 1 hour using his arcane energies to inscribe
a temorary rune on objects. To regain runes per level per day,
the Rune Blade must take a long rest.

A Rune Blade can place a limited number of runes per level per day
from his rune list. Runes fade after 24 hours, not after use.
The rune can be placed anywhere on any object but the Rune Blade must
be able to touch the object. If the Rune Blade attempts to place a
rune on a magical object, the object can make a DC 13 Will save to
avoid having the rune placed on it. If the object suceeds, the level
of spell the rune was supposed to be is used and will not be available
again until the Rune Blades next long rest. The rune moves with the
object it is placed on. When the rune is activated, the magic in the
rune is cast away from the rune. For example, if a rune is placed
on the floor, it will execute it's magic towards the ceiling; if
placed on a wall, it will execute it's magic into the room that the
wall is facing. Placing a rune is a standard action. To learn
or cast a rune, a Rune Blade must have wisdom score equal to at least
10 + the runes level. A saving throw DC for a Rune Blade is
10 + the runes level + the Rune Blades Wisdom modifier. If a rune
is placed on an object that is thrown, roll a d6 to find which
way the rune is facing when it lands. Directions are based on
a north facing map. If the object is flat, not round, the rune
probably landed either up or down. For this, flip a coin.
1 = up, 2 = west, 3 = south, 4 = north, 5 = east, 6 = down.
Rune Blades may take any effect word from the sorcceror/bard
word list but cannot take any healing effect words. Runes may not
be placed on top of eachother.

Rune Tokens:
A Rune Blade has a certain number of tokens with which to activate
his runes. As a standard action, a Rune Blade can use a rune token
to activate any rune he has placed.This provokes an attack of opportunity.
A Rune Blade may use additional tokens to increase the caster level
of a rune by 1 caster level per additional token spent. A Rune Blade
cannot use this to surpass the limit on effects with limitations to
them. A rune Blade may also use rune level + 1 number of tokens to
decrease the rune level by 1. Example, a Rune Blade wishes to cast
a 6th level rune. He may use 7 tokens to cast it as a 5th level rune.

A Rune Blade gains a number of rune tokens per long rest.
A Rune Blade may gain extra tokens depending on his Wisdom modifier.
(Minimum 0). The number of tokens a Rune Blade may have cannot exceed
his max for his level plus extra from his wisdom modifier.

Table:
Base
Attack Fort Ref Will
Level Bonus Save Save Save Special
-----------------------------------------------------
1 | +0 | +0 | +1 | +1 | Eshew materials
| | | | | Runic Formal Craft
| | | | | Rune Tokens
-----------------------------------------------------
2 | +1 | +0 | +1 | +2 | Rune Weapons +1
| | | | | Rune Armor +1
-----------------------------------------------------
3 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +2 | Rune Binding +1
-----------------------------------------------------
4 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
-----------------------------------------------------
5 | +2 | +1 | +2 | +4 | Rune carving
-----------------------------------------------------
6 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +4 |
-----------------------------------------------------
7 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +5 | Rune Weapons +2
| | | | | Rune Armor +2
----------------------------------------------------
8 | +3 | +2 | +3 | +6 |
-----------------------------------------------------
9 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +6 | Rune Binding +2
-----------------------------------------------------
10 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +7 |
-----------------------------------------------------
11 | +4 | +3 | +4 | +8 | Bonus Feat
-----------------------------------------------------
12 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +8 |
-----------------------------------------------------
13 | +4 | +4 | +5 | +9 | Rune Weapons +3
| | | | | Rune Armor +3
-----------------------------------------------------
14 | +5 | +4 | +5 | +10|
-----------------------------------------------------
15 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +10| Rune Binding +3
-----------------------------------------------------
16 | +5 | +5 | +6 | +11|
-----------------------------------------------------
17 | +6/+1 | +5 | +6 | +12| Rune Sight
-----------------------------------------------------
18 | +6/+1 | +6 | +6 | +12|
-----------------------------------------------------
19 | +6/+1 | +6 | +7 | +13| Rune Binding +4
-----------------------------------------------------
20 | +7/+2 | +6 | +7 | +14| Rune Weapons +4
| | | | | Rune Armor +4
-----------------------------------------------------

Tokens Runes per day
Level per day 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
----------------------------------------------------------------
1 | 3 | 5
----------------------------------------------------------------
2 | 4 | 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
3 | 5 | 7
----------------------------------------------------------------
4 | 9 | 8 5
----------------------------------------------------------------
5 | 10 | 8 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
6 | 14 | 8 7 5
----------------------------------------------------------------
7 | 16 | 8 8 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
8 | 20 | 8 8 7 5
----------------------------------------------------------------
9 | 22 | 8 8 8 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
10 | 26 | 8 8 8 7 5
----------------------------------------------------------------
11 | 28 | 8 8 8 8 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
12 | 32 | 8 8 8 8 7 5
----------------------------------------------------------------
13 | 34 | 8 8 8 8 8 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
14 | 38 | 8 8 8 8 8 7 5
----------------------------------------------------------------
15 | 40 | 8 8 8 8 8 8 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
16 | 44 | 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 5
----------------------------------------------------------------
17 | 46 | 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
18 | 50 | 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 5
----------------------------------------------------------------
19 | 52 | 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
20 | 56 | 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7
----------------------------------------------------------------

Rune Weapons/Armor (Sp):
As a swift action that costs 1 rune token, a Rune Blade
may give his weapon or armor an enhancement bonus. For melee
weapons, the enhancement acts like a touch spell. It adds
+1 to attack and damage until the weapon strikes a target.
The attack roll is resolved against touch AC.
For ranged weapons, it acts like a ranged touch attack,
providing a +1 to attack and damage. The attack roll is
resolved against touch AC.

For armor, the Rune Blade can choose to gain either +1 to
AC, or +1 to damage resistance for one round.

At levels 7, 14, 20 a Rune Blade may choose to use more
tokens to provide the same enhancement described above
but stack the effects. At level 7, he may spend 2 tokens,
at level 14 he may spend 3 Tokens, and at level 20 he may
spend 4 tokens.

Rune Binding (Sp):
The Rune Blade may spend 1 token to use his arcane power
to inscribe a temporary rune onto a target as a standard
action. This action does not provoke an attack of oportunity.
By inscribing a rune onto a target, that target will absorb
the Rune Blades damage received for the next minute up to
the Rune Blades caster level, rounded down, within 20ft. This
binding is visible to creatures, living or dead, as an
arcane rope between the Rune Blade and his target. If the
target leaves the 20ft range, the effect ends. The binding
link can be re-established if either the Rune Blade or his
target moves with 20 ft of the other again within the duration
of this ability.

At level 9, 15 and 19, the Rune Blade may choose to use
more tokens to provide improved benefits from the binding.
At level 9, the Rune Blade may use 2 tokens to cause the
target to absord 1.5 times the Rune Blades caster level
for 1.5 minutes; at level 15, 3 tokens for 2 times the
caster level for 2 minutes; at level 19, 4 tokens for
2.5 times the caster level for 2.5 minutes.

Additional tokens may be used to increase caster level as
described under Rune Tokens.

Rune Carving (Ex):
At fifth level, a Rune Blade may carve or otherwise permanently
inscribe a rune into a peice of equipment. This proccess takes one day
to complete. A piece of equipment that is carved by the Rune
Blade can be activated as a standard action but does not cause an
attack of opportunity as activating a rune otherwise would. This
Rune does not disapear. Activating a rune like this costs 2
of the rune slots of that runes level. Runes that are inscribed
do not count towards the use of that runes level until they are
used. Example: A Rune Blade scribes a 1st level rune on a wall.
This reduces his remaining number of 1st level runes by 1.
He then uses a token to cast the spell inscribed in the rune.
For a carved rune, the rune takes no slots until it
is cast. If it was a 1st level rune, it would have cost
2 1st-level rune slots. There is no range limit on this activation.
A Rune Blade must have at least 2 slots available of the level of
the rune to cast a carved rune.

Rune Sight(Ex):
The Rune Blades eyes have been scarred by staring into the source of
strong arcane power of runes for so long. A rune hase been embeded in
the Rune Blades eyes. A Rune Blade gains a +7 to perception when
attempting to locate magical traps. Form a level 1 rune of target
word line. The Rune Blade may use this rune as a standard action
indefinitely. Activating the rune costs 1 token and does not provoke
an attack of opportunity.

Spells Known:

Level 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
---------------------------------------------------------
1 | 4 2
---------------------------------------------------------
2 | 5 2
---------------------------------------------------------
3 | 5 3
---------------------------------------------------------
4 | 6 3 1
---------------------------------------------------------
5 | 6 4 2
---------------------------------------------------------
6 | 7 4 2 1
---------------------------------------------------------
7 | 7 5 3 2
---------------------------------------------------------
8 | 8 5 3 2 1
---------------------------------------------------------
9 | 8 5 4 3 2
---------------------------------------------------------
10 | 9 5 4 3 2 1
---------------------------------------------------------
11 | 9 5 5 4 3 2
---------------------------------------------------------
12 | 9 5 5 4 3 2 1
---------------------------------------------------------
13 | 9 5 5 4 4 3 2
---------------------------------------------------------
14 | 9 5 5 4 4 3 2 1
---------------------------------------------------------
15 | 9 5 5 4 4 4 3 2
---------------------------------------------------------
16 | 9 5 5 4 4 4 3 2 1
---------------------------------------------------------
17 | 9 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 2
---------------------------------------------------------
18 | 9 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 2 1
---------------------------------------------------------
19 | 9 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 2
---------------------------------------------------------
20 | 9 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 3
---------------------------------------------------------


I've flagged this as being in the wrong forum. This forum is for homebrew rules for the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game. This homebrew class is for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

Rune magic sounds interesting, but perhaps the magic system (i.e., rune magic) might need a set of rules first. This way you might simply adapt the system of rune magic to appropriate existing classes and archetypes. This would be similar to the Words of Power optional magic system that appears in Ultimate Magic.


Whoops! Sorry! I did not realize!

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