New Class - Black Powder Avenger

[Philos]

(PRESTIGE CLASS)
It has been said that before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. For those that claim the title of Black Powder Avenger, however, a single smoking crater will suffice.

While heroes from medieval realms purge evil with flame and sword, modern adventurers carry a deadlier weapon in their arsenal- black powder. Pragmatic warriors might consider a pistol or musket a desperate choice for a favored weapon, for not only is it more difficult to load than a crossbow, but the presence of fire (or incendiary spells) is extremely dangerous to any soldier burdened with explosives. In the renaissance realms, a pistol or musket is often best discharged before a melee begins. Only a madman alone would enter the fray carrying multiple pistols and take dire risks with homemade bombs.

Base Attack Bonus: +1 /Level.
Hit Die: d10.
Primary Saving Throws: Fortitude.
Proficiencies: All simple and martial weapons, all armor, and shields.
Skill Points: 2 + Int Modifier.

Class Skills: Antagonize, Concentration, Discipline, Heal, Lore, Parry, Search, Set Trap
Unavailable Skills: Animal Empathy, Use Magic Device.

REQUIREMENTS:
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feat: Exotic Weapon Proficiency
Crafting: 5 levels in Alchemy

ABILITIES:

Level
1: Signature Weapon I - Pick either the musket or pistol as signature weapon. Lose 1 point of Wis. Gain +1 attack and damage bonus when firing that type of weapon.
4: Signature Weapon II - Attack and damage bonus improves to + 2.
7: Quick Reload - Load gunpowder and bullets automatically.
    Signature Critical - Add +1 to signature weapon critical threat range (i.e. 20/x3 becomes 19-20/x3).
    Signature Weapon III - Attack and damage bonus improves to + 3.
9: Evasion - A successful Reflex save for half damage results in no damage.
10: Detonation (3x/day) - "Overtamp" signature weapon to gain +4 attack bonus and maximize ranged damage. Weapon must be repaired after.
    Signature Weapon IV - Attack and damage bonus improves to + 4.

Black Powder Avengers receive a bonus feat at levels 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.

BLACK CRAFTS:

The Black Powder Avenger is a resourceful character and able to create many of the tools of his trade for himself. Upon resting, the Black Powder Avenger may ready a number of supplies, ammunition and explosives to aid him. He is able to prepare these implements as a Wizard would prepare his spells. As the Avenger advances in level and his experience with crafting ammunition and bombs grows, he is able to make more sophisticated and greater quantities of supplies. Like the Voodan ability create Gris-Gris, these supplies will expire and be removed from your inventory after resting or after a certain amount of time has passed. (Equal to your characters minimum rest period from time of creation.)

BPA Level     Level 1 Crafts     Level 2 Crafts     Level 3 crafts     Level 4 Crafts

•             1                        0                         0                         0
•             2                        0                         0                         0
•             3                        1                         0                         0
•             4                        2                         0                         0
•             4                        3                         1                         0
•             4                        4                         2                         0
•             4                        4                         3                         1
•             4                        4                         4                         2
•             4                        4                         4                         3
•             4                        4                         4                         4

Level 1:

Spoiler: show

Create Bullets
Create Powder
Create Evasive Equipment
Create Cleaning Kit
Create Bandage
Create Minor Trap
Create Flash Powder

Level 2:

Spoiler: show

Create Advance Trap
Create Powder Keg
Create Firework
Create Fuse
Create Masterwork Ammo - Buck n' Ball

Level 3:

Spoiler: show

Create Cartridge Case
Create Masterwork Ammo - Shock
Create Masterwork Ammo - Fire
Create Masterwork Ammo - Magical
Create Acid Bomb
Create Petard

Level 4:

Spoiler: show

Create Fire Bomb
Create Concussive Blast
Create Fulminated Silver

Class Feats:

Signature Weapon

Spoiler: show

Type of Feat: Class
Prerequisite: Black Powder Avenger level 1.
Specifics: At 1st level, the Black Powder Avenger chooses either the pistol or the musket as the instrument of his vengeance. The character sacrifices one point of Wisdom; from the moment the sacrifice is made, the character gains a bonus to attack and damage of +1 when firing his signature weapon. This bonus increases by +1 at levels 4, 7, and 10 (maximum +4). Most Black Powder Avengers give their signature weapon a name and treat it as if their lives depended on it.
Use: Automatic.

Signature Critical

Spoiler: show

Type of Feat: Class.
Prerequisite: Signature Weapon, Black Powder Avenger level 7.
Specifics: The Black Powder Avenger gains an additional +1 to the threat range of his signature weapon.
Use: Automatic.

Quick Reload

Spoiler: show

Type of Feat: Class
Prerequisite: Black Powder Avenger level 7.
Specifics: The Black Powder Avenger no longer needs to load bullets and gunpowder manually. As long as there is at least one bullet in the bullets slot and gunpowder in the character's inventory, they will be loaded automatically when he fires his weapon.
Use: Automatic.

Detonation

Spoiler: show

Type of Feat: Class
Prerequisite: Signature Weapon, Black Powder Avenger level 10.
Specifics: Three times per day, as a standard action, the Black Powder Avenger can "overtamp" the powder in his signature weapon to inflict a hellish amount of damage. The character gains a +4 bonus to attack rolls and does maximum damage to his opponent. The weapon must then be repaired on an anvil before being fired again.
Use: Selected. Select the target with this feat to automatically fire the weapon equipped in your main hand.

Improved Explosives

Type of Feat: General
Prerequisite: Black Powder Avenger level 7, Intelligence 17+.
Specifics: The Black Powder Avenger, through diligent study and exhaustive research, has perfected his homemade bombs. Explosions caused by his crafted bombs receive a +2 bonus to their DC.
Use: Automatic.

[Dardonas]

This looks really cool.  Is this going to be a PrC that is open like the ones that were recently opened up, or will this one require an application?

[Philos]

It will require an application.

[Dardonas]

Will monks or paladins be eligible to be Black Powder Avengers with the new PrC rules?  Provided they meet the other requirements.

[Philos]

We're discussing it presently. I'll provide an update with a answer when I have one.

[Dardonas]

Will the items that the BPA can create permanent pieces of equipment, does it disappear when resting, or are they more akin to Gris Gris that sort of time out?  It would be interesting if they could "stock up" with mundane supplies.

[Philos]

They're similar to Gris-Gris. They have useable properties which expire and then get deleted out of your inventory. BPAs have a spellbook for expanding the amount of crafts they can create per day as well. It also helps you organize and plan more effectively.

[PlatointheCave]

Does:

"Signature Critical: At 7th level, the threat range of the BPA's signature weapon is expanded by 1 when shooting his type of signature weapon."

Functionally mean the crit threat range goes from:

20/x3 -Keen-> 19-20/x3 -ImpCrit-> 18-20/x3 -Sig Crit-> 17-20/x3 ?

Also.

Does overtamp only make it so the weapon you fired needs repairs?

Could I, for example:

Overtamp -> Switch -> Overtamp -> Switch -> Overtamp?

For 52 per shot and a 15% chance to do 156 on each shot?

[Philos]

Does:

"Signature Critical: At 7th level, the threat range of the BPA's signature weapon is expanded by 1 when shooting his type of signature weapon."

Functionally mean the crit threat range goes from:

20/x3 -Keen-> 19-20/x3 -ImpCrit-> 18-20/x3 -Sig Crit-> 17-20/x3 ?

Exactly!

Also.

Does overtamp only make it so the weapon you fired needs repairs?

Could I, for example:

Overtamp -> Switch -> Overtamp -> Switch -> Overtamp?

For 52 per shot and a 15% chance to do 156 on each shot?

Those numbers will vary a bit with buffs (if you wanted to keen all three of your pistols for example), but yes, you can swap to a back up should your first pistol (or second) go down.

[PlatointheCave]

NICE.

Very cool class.

[Kinga]

This looks amazing! Great job, dev team!

[Raven Credale]

Does this mean we finally get someone to make magic bullets for other PC's that use guns? Asking for a friend *looks around with shifty eyes*

[Madame Trousers Son]

Does this mean we finally get someone to make magic bullets for other PC's that use guns? Asking for a friend *looks around with shifty eyes*

Yeah, but it's only for a short duration, it seems. Still, better than nothing!

[Nekro83]

I am so sad...

This was just perfect...

[Philos]

Will monks or paladins be eligible to be Black Powder Avengers with the new PrC rules?  Provided they meet the other requirements.

We had some internal conversation about this this today. BPA will not be available to Paladains and Monks initially. We're going to see how this class plays on the live server for a bit first and then revisit this question.

[Swan]

Pretty rad.

[cheese tornado]

haha gun man go brrr

This seems like a very interesting class, I'm especially impressed by the spell slot usage, i've never seen that done before. Well done!

[King Pickle]

Its a nice set of unique skills but the guns really don't need any damage boost as is.

[RumbleBR]

Will this class can shoot with two fireweapons?

[Philos]

Will this class can shoot with two fireweapons?

Not presently, it is something we explored in testing though and may consider at a later time. We'd have to look into rebalancing pistols vs muskets and that is less than ideal while also trying to evaluate a new PRC.

[ObsidianOrb]

Wow, this sounds incredible 

[ShadowOfHavoc]

Is there a reason why quick reload is a 7th level ability? Because in my opinion that is probably the single most important skill needed for this class. By making it be a single feat you are completely negating the 2 other loading feats that most will have already taken by this point. Waiting until minimum of level 12 for this ability seems a bit much.

Also is there any news on when an RP guide for this class will be released?

[HopeIsTheCarrot]

Is there a reason why quick reload is a 7th level ability? Because in my opinion that is probably the single most important skill needed for this class. By making it be a single feat you are completely negating the 2 other loading feats that most will have already taken by this point. Waiting until minimum of level 12 for this ability seems a bit much.

Also is there any news on when an RP guide for this class will be released?

+1. Particularly since 7th lvl of BPA is already so huge in this build progression. I would love to see this granted at 2nd or 3rd BPA lvl. Awesome class concept though! Lots of fun & fresh rp potential.

[MAB77]

Is there a reason why quick reload is a 7th level ability? Because in my opinion that is probably the single most important skill needed for this class. By making it be a single feat you are completely negating the 2 other loading feats that most will have already taken by this point. Waiting until minimum of level 12 for this ability seems a bit much.

Also is there any news on when an RP guide for this class will be released?

Plain and simple because it is a 7th level ability in the source material. Perhaps their could be ways to make the previous feats still relevant after gaining this ability, but we have no plans to change the BPA quick reload ability itself.

RP Guides are written by volunteers as time allows. It needs not be done by a member of the CC, DM or Dev teams. If anyone would like to give it a try, write one and submit it to the CC you will be welcome.

[Philos]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but there are guides written for the CC to judge apps on and as well for players who are aspiring to take the class. They'll be released along side the class with our Hak update.