The "Badass" Universal Substitution Level

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The Badass

Requirements:
At least one class level.
A player can only retroactively apply this universal substitution class level to their character if the GM, and every other player with a character in-game, unanimously agree that the character has proven themselves to be a true badass. (Substitution levels can be taken away by the GM if the character begins to act in a manner that they feel is no longer worthy of a badass and/or the class level(s) is(/are) proving disruptive to the game.)

Special: This substitution level can be applied multiple times, so long as the requirements are met each time.

Badass:
Hit Die: d12
Skill Points: (10 + Int modifier)
Class Skills: All skills are class skills for a Badass.

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

X

|

+1

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+2

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+2

|

+2

|Business as Usual, A Crowning Moment of Awesome[/table]
(The chart shows that the class has all good save progressions as opposed to a +2 per Badass level, which would be insane. :smalltongue:)

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Badass gains proficiency with all weapon and armor types, including improvised items.

Class Features

Business as Usual: When a Badass substitution level is applied to a class level, it is still treated as a level in the original class for the purpose of advancing all class features.

A Crowning Moment of Awesome: A Badass gains a bonus Badass feat as well as access to a CMA pool with a maximum limit equal to the number of Badass levels he has. This pool starts at zero, with points earned every time the Badass gets a natural 1 on a d20 roll. A CMA point can be expended, as a free action, to treat all of the rolls made by the Badass as if they are their highest natural result. This effect ends at the beginning of his next turn. (A player may substitute their bonus Badass feat for any other feat they qualify for, with GM approval.)

Badass Feats

Badass Boast:
Requirement: Total Badass
When you expend a CMA point, you may choose to treat all rolls made by an enemy within close range (25+5/Badass level) feet as if they were all naturally 1 until the beginning of your next turn, rather than gaining the benefits of A Crowning Moment of Awesome yourself.
"I don't care who I have to fight. If he tears off my arms, I'll kick him to death. If he rips off my legs, I'll bite him to death. If he cuts off my head, I'll stare him to death. And if he gouges out my eyes, then I'll curse him from beyond the grave!"

Badass Crewmember:
Whenever an allied Badass earns a CMA point, you also earn one.
(Each character may only earn one CMA point per roll.)
"ASTINOS!!!"

Badass Determination:
Requirement: Badass Recovery
Whenever you use Badass Recovery to expend a CMA point earned from a saving throw, you gain temporary hit points equal to 12 x your Badass levels.
"Come with me if you want to live."

Badass Normal:
Badass Commoner levels grant a second bonus Badass feat, and an additional +1 to the maximum size of your CMA pool, on top of the typical benefits of the substitution level.
"As you wish."

Badass Recovery:
If you would earn a CMA point when your pool is already full, it is immediately expended instead of being discarded. This use negates the natural 1 and treats it as a natural 20.
"Who the hell do you think I am!?"

Badass Speech:
Requirement: Back to Back Badasses
When you expend a CMA point, you may choose to grant the benefits of A Crowning moment of Awesome to an ally within close range (25+5/Badass level) feet, rather than yourself, until the beginning of your next turn.
"Don't forget. Believe in yourself. Not in you who believes in me. Not in me who believes in you. You should believe... you should believe in yourself!"

Back to Back Badasses:
When you expend a CMA point, an adjacent ally also gains the benefits of A Crowning Moment of Awesome until the beginning of their next turn.
"We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."

Desperate Times Call for Badass Measures:
Requirement: Badass Recovery
If you would earn a CMA point when your pool is empty, you earn two points instead.
"Fly, you fools!"

Eternal Badass:
If hit point loss, or an effect, would kill you or reduce you to dying, you may choose to expend a CMA point and be put at 0 hit points instead.
"Is that all you've got?"

Implacable Badass:
Requirement: Badass Determination
So long as you have temporary hit points granted by Badass Determination, you are treated as being under the effects of a Freedom of Movement spell whenever it is beneficial to do so. This is an extraordinary ability.
"I'll be back."

Total Badass:
When you expend a CMA point, treat all rolls made by an adjacent enemy as if they were all 1 until the beginning of your next turn.
"Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with till you understand who's in ruttin' command here!"

Epic Badass

Rather than granting an additional epic attack bonus per epic level, epic badass levels continue to increase your base attack bonus and thus potentially increase your base number of iterative attacks. All other epic rules apply normally.

It seems a little underpowered.

Give them weapon proficiency: whatever the hell they feel like killing their enemies with.

That's actually not a half bad idea.

A question on the "Business as usual" ability. What do you get from the original class? Does this count as a class level for that class?

Sorry this might be a stupid question, and I read the entire thing, but I still don't understand.

It means that if you are playing a level 1 Rogue, and your group lets you swap out for a level in Badass, you still have all the class features from the Rogue class. So, if you take another level of Rogue at level 2, you get the level 2 Rogue features. It's just a long-winded way of saying that swapping in levels of Badass keeps you doing what you already were, only you're more 'badass' while you do it. :smalltongue:

Give them an ability that works like Fax's Paladin Mantles.

Badassitude
The Badass is an exemplar of kicking ass and taking names. A Badass must choose at least one (and no more than his amount of Badass levels) spell slot of his highest level, one us of an X/day ability, a "special" charge in a wand or similar limited resource. After using such that ability, the Badass is fatigued after 1 round. If the Badass wastes the designated ability on stupid crap, he loses the benefits of this Mantle and cannot use that ability until he atones.

At 1 level of Badass, the chosen ability can be activated even when the Badass would normally be prevented from using it (in an Anti-Magic field, dazed, etc). This may not bypass being unconscious or dead.
At 2 levels of Badass, all foes witnessing the use of the ability (whether by mundane or magical senses) become dazed, even if they are normally immune.
At 3 levels of Badass, the chosen ability takes one shorter magnitude of action to perform (Immediate<-Swift<-Standard<-Full Round<-1 round<-1 minute) to a minimum of Immediate.
At 4 levels of Badass, the chosen ability can be used twice for the price of the one charge, but the Badass is unconscious after using it.
At 5 levels of Badass, the chosen ability may be used even if the Badass is unconscious or dead. The Badass receives one turn in which to act, and then dies. Only a True Resurrection, Miracle or Wish can bring back a Badass that uses this ability.

A Badass may atone by single-handedly slaying a foe of equal CR while heavily disadvantaged, such as in an AMF.

So can the badass use his ability to cast true res on himself every time he dies?

I'll pass, Flicker. The point is not to give new abilities to a character, but to make them more badass at what they do.

How many times are you going to edit the main post?

Also, this class is not good enough for Kamina! He was clearly an Epic Badass (you need rules for that.)

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Originally Posted by Milskidasith

So can the badass use his ability to cast true res on himself every time he dies?

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Yes, but then he dies. Again.

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Originally Posted by Hadrian_Emrys

I'll pass, Flicker. The point is not to give new abilities to a character, but to make them more badass at what they do.

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They're not really new abilities. They make old abilities cooler, though. But that's alright.

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Originally Posted by Milskidasith

It seems a little underpowered.

Give them weapon proficiency: whatever the hell they feel like killing their enemies with.

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Gotcha covered.

Added a few badass feats. :smallamused:

Extreme Badass -
When rolling a natural 1, one can use the CMA point earned to make the roll be considered a Natural 20.

Bring It On
Expend a CMA point to give yourself an aura of fear. Any opponent with fewer HD than you who gets within 30' of you must make a Will save DC 10+Character Level + Badass Levels + Charisma Mod or become Panicked. The duration of the aura is equal to the number of Badass sub-levels plus the character's Charisma mod. This is an (Ex) ability.

"You want some of THIS? Then COME AND GET IT!!!"

Eloquent Description
You spend a CMA point and a move action to describe, in loving detail, just what you are about to do to your target. If the target has fewer HD than you, he becomes Frightened, no save. If he has fewer HD than you have Badass levels, he becomes Panicked, no save. If he has more HD than you, he gets a Will save (10 + Character Levle + Badass levels + Charisma Mod) or become Shaken. The GM may also give additional bonuses or penalties to this ability depending on how well the description was delivered by the player.

"I've heard that you can actually survive being eviscerated long enough to be hung by your entrails. Let's see if it's true..."

World of Cardboard
This can only be activated against an opponent who has more HD than you, and has just shrugged off everything the party has been able to throw at them, and has reduced you to at least half your hit points. You realize you have finally found a worthy opponent, and no longer feel the need to pull your punches anymore. You spend a CMA point, and all rolls you make this round are automatically maximized. All attack rolls are treated as natural 20's and confirmed critical hits (if your opponent is able to be affected by critical hits). If your opponent is defeated while this ability is active, you regain the expended point.

"You know what my problem is? I feel like I live in a world made of cardboard, always taking constant care to not brake something, break someone, never allowing myself to loose self control or else someone could die... but you can take it, can'tcha, big man..."

Shneekey: Thanks for inspiring a few more feats. :smallbiggrin:

The "size of the pool" is clearly redundant, as there is only one Badass level.

Which means all Badasses can only hold 1 point of CMA.

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Originally Posted by Yakk

The "size of the pool" is clearly redundant, as there is only one Badass level.

Which means all Badasses can only hold 1 point of CMA.

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Special: This substitution level can be applied multiple times, so long as the requirements are met each time.

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Not if they earn the level more than once.

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Originally Posted by Emong

Not if they earn the level more than once.

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Yeah, well how does that work? I substitute my first level.. twice?

No, You would substitute your first and second levels. In other words characters with Badass levels would look like this:

Fighter 1/Badass Fighter 2

Emong has it right. The example character would have Badass Fighter 2 / Fighter 1 and the character would gain the 4th level bonus feat if he became a Badass Fighter 2 / Fighter 2.

Also, added a couple more feats. I may need to clean them up a bit though.

Flicker: I'm sorry, I misread what your were saying. Your proposal has inspired me. As I ponder the subject, I must confess that I fear for any group that allows a PC 20 Badass levels. I mean, imagine if a Welch-like player got ahold of this system. :smalleek:

Must make it survive... *Bump!*

This is a pretty freaking sweet idea. A great way to encourage my players to stop being such wussies and make rash, badass decisions once in a while! Thanks!:smallbiggrin:

Lets assume for a moments someone is really badass. I think this classes abdass feat should also allow you to take any other fea you have the prereq for in case your so badass you take all the badass feats already.

The Skill Points should be 10+int mod per level. As-is, the Changeling Rogue outshines the Badass for skill points, which is a shame.

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Originally Posted by Foryn Gilnith

The Skill Points should be 10+int mod per level. As-is, the Changeling Rogue outshines the Badass for skill points, which is a shame.

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Shenanigans! 10+Int mod it must become!!:smallbiggrin:

Agreed. 10+Int skill points should be the case here. Also, if I take two badass levels, are my saves at +3... Or +4? As in, is the badass save progression at double your badass level, or good in all saves?

Please, enough tv tropes.

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Originally Posted by readsaboutd&d

Please, enough tv tropes.

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But.... TV Tropes is amazing?

And this idea is just pure epic in all sense of the word. I should try to convince my DM to help convert it into Rifts/AD&D and use it... I think my Rogue Coalition SAMAS pilot could pull off some nifty shenanigans with this :smallamused:

So I'm totally using this in my current game. The party is a group of 5 (Human Factotum, Catfolk Sorcerer, Desert Halfling Rogue, Human Cleric, Goliath Psychic Warrior) and the PsyWar and Sorcerer have both earned one level of Badass. The PsyWar is using his CMA at every opportunity and it's saved his butt on numerous occasions, but I think the Sorcerer has only used it once so far. /shrug

At any rate, the players love it.

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Originally Posted by jokey665

So I'm totally using this in my current game. The party is a group of 5 (Human Factotum, Catfolk Sorcerer, Desert Halfling Rogue, Human Cleric, Goliath Psychic Warrior) and the PsyWar and Sorcerer have both earned one level of Badass. The PsyWar is using his CMA at every opportunity and it's saved his butt on numerous occasions, but I think the Sorcerer has only used it once so far. /shrug

At any rate, the players love it.

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If they aren't using it then obviously they aren't that badass after all. Threaten to take it away from them and watch them ramp up the insane antics.

I will definitely use this in the future.

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Originally Posted by Kobold-Bard

If they aren't using it then obviously they aren't that badass after all. Threaten to take it away from them and watch them ramp up the insane antics.

I will definitely use this in the future.

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He's probably just saving it for the right moment.

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Originally Posted by Kobold-Bard

If they aren't using it then obviously they aren't that badass after all. Threaten to take it away from them and watch them ramp up the insane antics.

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I actually like this idea, and think it should be incorporated into the badass substitution level, or at least given mention in the OP, as it helps foster the sense of badassery we're looking for here.

I would just have to say it's an all-around bad idea. The other gamers would probably feel left out and that they weren't "as good" as the "badass" character. Also this class is just a luck class. Fortune's Friend is basically the same thing.:smallsigh:

Everyone does have to agree to let the player have it, so if they later complain it's just... dumb, really.

The unanimous vote definitely balances things.

And I think all good saves is quite sufficient; a +2 to all of them every level would be ridiculous (as in, they'd have stupidly high saves, which is not particularly cool and actually limits their ability to be badass because they ignore so many effects). But you could maybe say that if you are substituting a level of Badass beyond 1st for the 1st level of any class, you may take a +2 in that class's good save(s). Wouldn't want to take that away from them.

Great class, I'll definitely show this to the group I'm currently gaming with, they'll love it!

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Originally Posted by DragoonWraith

The unanimous vote definitely balances things.

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It doesn't actually, because the vote is to determine if the player deserves it, not to determine if it's fair. What's more, few friends will deny it to eachother, even if it makes them feel left behind. Think how the group would react if one person voted no and the others all voted yes.

Make it anonymous votes?

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Originally Posted by Myou

It doesn't actually, because the vote is to determine if the player deserves it, not to determine if it's fair. What's more, few friends will deny it to eachother, even if it makes them feel left behind. Think how the group would react if one person voted no and the others all voted yes.

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*shrug* I guess you're right (though anonymous votes are the easy and obvious solution), but I dunno, my friends would be extremely sparing with something like this. There'd be no hard feelings for people who thought "yeah, that was cool, but was it that cool?"

Same with mine. I wouldn't use this with an immature gaming group, or a group that wouldn't use it properly.

Now, where this would really shine - solo games.

You've given me an idea for a base class.
My players will thank you for this. Bwahahahahaa!

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Originally Posted by Solaris

You've given me an idea for a base class.
My players will thank you for this. Bwahahahahaa!

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How would you turn this into a base class? "Badass-ery" always seemed like an incredibly general thing that was available to everybody, not just a specific class. :smallconfused:

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Originally Posted by Primal Fury

How would you turn this into a base class? "Badass-ery" always seemed like an incredibly general thing that was available to everybody, not just a specific class. :smallconfused:

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Charisma-based. For everything. The cooler you are, the better you are at doin' stuff. Maybe a prestige class or a feat tree. I'unno yet.

OK, that works. Basically a Charisma-based Factotum.

In fact, that'd be a pretty quick version, if you wanted something simple - literally just change everything that the Factotum adds to Int, to Cha, instead. Maybe even give 6+Cha mod skills per level...

Wow. A class that references Jayne and Kamina? It truly is Badass.

Holy cow! :smalleek: I didn't know anyone was still looking at this. Having read the most recent comments, I've added a few details to clarify the intent of the execution of the class and its features. In addition, I've tweaked a few of the feats that were just a touch too powerful and/or poorly written.

Stormthorn: Thanks for the great bonus feat suggestion.

Foryn Gilnith: Done and done. 10 + Int it is.

As for the rest of you, I'm glad you're enjoying this silly project. I'll be sure to update the feat list as I come up with more mechanics that fit in with the theme of the class.

Thank you for linking this to me....it is officially saved to my computer for future use. :smallbiggrin:

Also, Toho has like...10 levels in this. At least.

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Originally Posted by Tatsel_Ganav

Same with mine. I wouldn't use this with an immature gaming group, or a group that wouldn't use it properly.

Now, where this would really shine - solo games.

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Nor would I. The original point of this material was to give a decent group a means by which they may humorously reward enjoyable characters for Welch-like behavior. Power gamers, munchkins, and generally petty players are not a concern of mine, nor to they merit my concern as I update this for those who are having a good time with it.

That said, I totally agree that use of this material would make for great solo play characters. :smallbiggrin:

Maybe there should be Badass feats that relate to specific class features and abilities, 'cause that would be awsome.
What? I'm no good at this stuff, someone else could do it though. :smallwink:

I had considered that, but then I got to thinking that Badasses should be a loosely unified group that supports Badass characters as equally as possible. With class features all being of relative potency, and often subject to errata and homebrew, I figure it should be made in such a way that it is unaffected by all but the most drastic of changes. As it stands, the ones who benefit most are those who make many attacks (be they full attack actions or attacks of opportunity), those who boldly face save requiring threats, and the cleverly skillful. Those are the mechanical traits I'm looking to encourage in an era dominated by Batmen, CoDs and gods.

I really appreciate the suggestion though. :smallbiggrin:

I'm not sure if this is thread necromancy, it may be, but I found this while searching google to see if anyone had made a Badass PrC yet for 3.5... So sorry if I'm being a naughty necromancer (muwahaha)....

But all I have to say to this is.. Yes... Yes yes and more yes.... I joined this site just to tell you, flippin awesome. I will most definately be using this somewhere...

Just.... Just yes... There is no smiley to convey the epically awesomeness of this badassery.