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PhantomBread
2007-04-05, 03:33 PM
"We ran into this group of Kobolds bout three levels down. Buncha crossbow wielding buggers who started throwing stuff at us. Not much of a threat, or so we thought. The blasts took out half the party, and even as we where retreating they where filling us full of bolts. Bloody bastards." - Trakas Tumblebelly, Gnomish Scout after a mission into a Kobold mine.

Kobolds have a long history with alchemy, and their small size makes it often makes it useful to utilize the crossbow instead of larger bows which rely on the users strength for damage. This has given rise to a group of crossbow specialists who mix their races ability to produce alchemical weaponry and unique crossbows to maximize potential and protect their deep homes.

Becoming a Kobold Bombardier
The majorifty of Kobold Bombardier's are former fighters who have taken a more ranged route for their style of combat. Scouts, rogues, and rangers also sometimes take up the mantle of the Bombardier, as do a select few clerics. Other classes are effectively unheard of.

Requirements
To qualify to become a Kobold Bombardier, you must fulfill all the following criteria.
Race: Kobold
Base Attack Bonus: +6
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus (any Crossbow) or Rapid Reload (any Crossbow), Grenadier (PHII)

Kobold Bombardier
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special

1st|
+1|
+0|
+2|
+0|Improved Grenadier, Crossbow Specalist

2nd|
+2|
+0|
+3|
+0|Ditherbomb Expertise, Improved Darkvision

3rd|
+3|
+1|
+3|
+1|Leading Blast, Crossbow Sharpshooter

4th|
+4|
+1|
+4|
+1|Clusterbomb, Improved Darkvision

5th|
+5|
+1|
+4|
+1|Maximize Blast, Showering Shot[/table]

Class Skills:

The Kobold Bombardier's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Int), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (Geography) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Miner) (Wis), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Tumble (Dex)

Skill Points per Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Class Features:

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A kobold bombardier is proficient with the light crossbow, heavy crossbow, hand crossbow, great crossbow (RoS), heavy repeating crossbow, light repeating crossbow, light double crossbow, heavy double crossbow, and hand double crossbow. They are proficient with light armor, but not shields.

Improved Grenadier (Ex): A kobold bombardier learns quickly how to get the most out of grenadelike weapons, such as ditherbombs or alchemist's fire. Your range increment with any thrown splash weapon increases to 40 ft.

Crossbow Specialist (Ex): A kobold bombardier is the consumate crossbow specialist, learning how to handle just about any type with skill. Whenever you have a feat that applies to a specific type of crossbow, such as Weapon Focus or Rapid Reload, you may treat that feat as applying to all types of crossbow.

Improved Darkvision (Ex): At 2nd level, a kobold bombardier's darkvision range increases by 30 feet. At 4th level this increases by another 30 feet.

Ditherbomb Expertise (Ex): At 2nd level, a kobold bombardier learns how to maximize the potential of ditherbombs when used to assist in mining operations. He can use the aid another option to assist a miner with a ditherbomb, granting double the normal benefits for using a ditherbomb to assist in mining. He does not grant the normal +2 bonus to aid another, and any additional ditherbombs used by the miner grant no bonus, as normal.

In addition, a kobold bombardier adds his class levels to damage and attack rolls with Ditherbombs.

Leading Blast (Ex): At 3rd level, a kobold bombardier has learned how to utilize an thrown splash weapon to soften up his target and off set them for his real attacks. He may make an attack roll with a thrown splash weapon as a swift action. If this attack successfully deals damage to an opponent, that opponent is treated as being flat-footed until the next round.

Crossbow Sharpshooter (Ex): At 3rd level, a kobold bombardier has learned how to handle a crossbow with unmatched precision. He may add his full dexterity bonus to damage rolls with a crossbow weapon. Any target immune to critical hits is immune to this ability as well.

Clusterbomb (Ex): At 4th level, a kobold bombardier has learned how to utilize multiple grenadelike weapons at once for maximized effect. As a full round action, he may make a special ranged touch attack aganst an opponent. He may choose up to three thrown splash weapons for this attack, then make a single roll. If this roll hits, all three splash weapons are treated as hitting the target. However, if he misses, treat each splash weapon as seperate for the purposes of determaining where they land.

Maximize Blast (Ex): At 5th level, a kobold bombardier has the secret to maximizing the power of a ditherbomb aganst an opponent, at the chance of the device accidentally backfiring. To use this ability, he must activate a ditherbomb as a full round action. Then, as another full round action he may attack with the ditherbomb as normal. If this attack hits, all damage rolls are treated as having rolled their highest roll. (So a strong ditherbomb is treated as doing 4 x 6, or 24 damage.) However, if when activated, the random roll to determain how long before a ditherbomb explodes is rolled as a 1, the bomb instead goes off in the bombardiers hand, dealing maximium damage in it's normal blast radius.

Showering Shot (Ex): So precise is the kobold bombardier's skill that he can actually combine his mastery of the crossbow and splash weapons into a single deadly combination. As a swift action, he may throw a thrown splash weapon at a space above a square. Then, as a standard action, he may make a single attack at his highest attack bonus aganst the thrown splash weapon aganst AC 18. If he hits, the splash weapon goes off. Double the splash range, but half the damage delt by the weapon. You do not have to use a thrown splash weapon that deals damage to utilize this attack. A flask of oil is just as viable as a flask of alchemist's fire.

Notes:
Statistics for the double crossbows can be found here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a

Much like my warminer class, I chose to make this due to my fondness for the little reptilian buggers known as Kobolds. I chose not to work explosives into the warminer due to the fact I perfer smaller classes, and it would have been too much to fit into five levels. This, however, is my attempt to focus both on the explosives and the lovely crossbow-using side of kobolds.

Aramil Liadon
2007-04-05, 07:50 PM
LOVE IT.
No other words required. I have no idea about balance, but the the whole awesomeness of it overwhelms all else. Can I print it? Please? I feel I should have your permission first, but don't make me wait!
Also, you put clusterbomb twice.

Eldritch_Ent
2007-04-05, 08:06 PM
You explained Clusterbomb twice. :smallbiggrin:

Love it!

PhantomBread
2007-04-05, 09:02 PM
Fixed the explaination bit, thanks. And thanks for the praises. *chuckles.* Go ahead and use it, if you like. Just tag my name onto it if you repost it or something.

Main balance thing was the cost, and difficulty of aquring the items needed. Doesn't make them, so he has to buy them or get a friend who does.

Tim4488
2007-04-05, 09:35 PM
This class wins.

I'm not sure what else I can say.

PhantomBread
2007-04-05, 10:18 PM
Crap, I think I accidentally cut out part of it, I'll add that now.

Edit: Readded Leading Blast

JellyPooga
2007-04-05, 10:41 PM
I like this, but I'm a bit wary...

Is there a particular reason why you included the Crossbow bit? I mean, if it's supposed to be a 'Bombadier' class, wouldn't a more Master Thrower type approach be better than adding crossbows? To me, this is more of a 'Kobold Targeteer' class.

Also, the Clusterbomb and Maximise Blast seem a little good. The former because of the massive potential it has and the latter because, well, Wyrm Ditherbombs.

My input, if you'll hear me out, would be to strip out everything to do with crossbows, for a start. Expand it into a longer PrC - I would see it become 6-10 levels long. I like the Improved Darkvision, so leave that in, possibly extending it further or spreading it out if there are more levels. Restrict Clusterbomb to 2 grenades (rather than three), possibly have it staggered (e.g. 2 grenades at lvl. 3, 3 at lvl.6, 4 at lvl 9, or similar). Have Showering Shot not have anything to do with a crossbow, but rather simply make it an option of halving damage but doubling the area. Maximise Blast is almost certainly a capstone ability (higher level than 5)

Put in an ability that makes timing a ditherbomb more accurate (IIRC they go off 1d3 rounds after shaking...have this ability tune that down to 1d2 then 1, possibly even same round as part of the capstone abilities. Either that or allow the Bombadier to adjust the 1d3 roll by up to 1/3 his class level either way - e.g. a 3rd lvl Bombadier would roll 1d3 +/-1, a 6th lvl rolls 1d3 +/-2, etc.). If they're Ditherbomb experts, let them make their own - one of the first abilities they get maybe is the ability to craft Ditherbombs more reliably, whether that be through a racial bonus to the Craft: Alchemy skill when it comes to making DB's or whther it negates the possibilty of screwing up the crafting process (or even being able to take 10 on the craft check at a higher level).

The final thing I'd do with this is possibly (and I'm not even sure of it myself, it's just an idea) give some kind of bonus to climb. My thinking is this; modern bombadier = dropping bombs from an aeroplane, kobold bombadier = dropping bombs from the ceiling. Dunno about that one though...

Anyway, I'm done rambling on, picking holes that don't even exist in your creation. Hope my suggestions are of use. Good Work.

PhantomBread
2007-04-05, 11:27 PM
Well, a Bombardment doesn't only deal with explosive bombardment, by my logic. I MAY work it out to a longer class, based on the ditherbomb concept, but what that may end up being is a Kobold Alchemist sort of class. Thanks for that inspiration bit.

Mitth'raw'nuruo
2007-04-06, 02:48 PM
Good job with the class;
I was wondering about these Dither bombs. What are they, where can I find out info about them

Sampi
2007-04-06, 02:55 PM
Balance, who cares? I don't see too many PC's takin this calss..

This class is great as a flavour thing for the enemies! Thank you for this and the warminer - they will be used!

PhantomBread
2007-04-06, 03:48 PM
Awesmoe, good to know.

And Ditherbombs can be found in Races of the Dragon. I highely recomend picking it up if you wanna use Kobolds, lots of fun feats and whatnot. Also, Spellscales are kickass and underused race.