[ShneekeyTheLost]

Homebrew Classes and Variants

Just like any other campaign setting, there's going to be several new classes, and at least one variant of an already published class. I'll need some help in testing their game balance.

Base Classes

Swordsage - Stealth variant
Some swordsages are taught more about deceit than honor. These forego the advanced training in blade magic in favor of something sneakier.

Lose: Discipline Focus (all aspects), Sense Magic, access to Desert Wind and Stone Dragon disciplines.

Gain: Disable Device and Open Locks as class skills, Trapfinding class ability at level 1, negates the -5 penalty on Hide and Move Silently checks while moving at more than half your maximum speed, but less than full speed and halves the penalty for doing so at full speed at level 4, Camouflage (as per ranger, without terrain limitation) at level 8, and HiPS (as per Ranger, without terrain limitation) at level 12.

Summoner
A summoner is a vaanican casting class who eventually gets up to 9th level spells. He gets mostly Conjuration (Summoning) and Conjuration (Creation) spells, with a smattering of spells with which to buff his allies. He also gets the powerful ability to pact with specific elementals, which grant both the summoner and the elemental additional power and abilities.

Works with elementals. Pacts with specific elementals to summon that particular one repeatedly. As a result, pacted elementals also gains HD when the Summoner levels, increasing in size as the HD increases. Can also cast Summon Nature's Ally X spells (no unicorns, no Genies, and no Fae). Has a number of mostly buffs, and an ability to 'auto-buff' summons. Also has limited blastomancy from the Conjuration college.

Why Summon Nature's Ally rather than Summon Monster? Simple, really. SNA gets access to elemental summons earlier, and gets more powerful ones. They also get the elemental-beings (Salamanders, Arrowhawk, Xorn, Tojanida...) which makes a lot of sense for these guys to be able to summon. Maybe remove everything but the Extraplanar Outsiders of an elemental plane? Would also have to ban Genies in all forms, since they can Plane Shift. Would mean they don't get SNA1, but the rest of them have some kind of elemental or extraplanar being tied to a plane. Or at least prohibit them from using their Plane Shift ability while so summoned.

Warmage
In my opinion, the class is hopelessly flawed by being too narrow in scope, and dramatically ill-suited to actual war. To this end, he gains almost no blasting, but gains a lot of area-effect spells, battlefield control, and buffing. He also picks up a few Auras, as per Marshall.

Arcanist
The 'alpha' version is found here, but still needs a lot of work on it. Basically, it is the 'blaster' archetype, and does a fairly good job at it.

Bard
The 'alpha' version is found here. Basically, also an invocation-based class, focusing on sonic mind-affecting area-effect buffing and debuffing.

Wylder
The 'alpha' version is found here. Basically, it is designed to be a somewhat less game-breaking version of a Druid.

Divine Classes
Since they were involved in saving everyone, they definately need to be here. However, most of them are either Tier 1/2 (Cleric, Favored Soul), or Tier 5 (Paladin, Healer). I'm thinking about modding the Healer to fit at least one of them, giving them a bit of a boost so that they can adequately perform the role of Heal/Buffbot. The 'paladin' will be a prestige class (similar in concept but different in practice to the Prestige Paladin), and for a base class, you always have Crusader.

Basically, they will have their clear roles, just like the rest of the classes. I'm aiming at Tier 3 on average.

Priest: Divine caster based on shadowcasting mechanic, gaining access to devotionals from the domains his deity has access to. Also gains abilities from the domains he chooses to pursue.
Prestige Classes

Feats

Feats with the [Devotional] tag are considered to be Devotional feats, and can be picked up by the Priest with any bonus feats he might obtain. Most of them are 'metadevotional', much like metamagic feats which apply to the devotionals.

Metadevotional feats do not increase casting time. Applying Metamagic feats to a Devotional cast as a spell, however, still does as normal. You may also apply the various Empower/Maximize/etc.. SLA feats to those Devotionals which are SLA's, and the same with those feats which affect (Su) when applied to a Devotional used as a supernatural ability. Having said that, using the metadevotional feat is probably a better way to go, all things considered.

Spoiler

Domain Focus [Devotional]
Choose a Domain you have at least one Devotional in. You function at +1 Caster Level (only for purposes of level-dependent variables in your Devotionals) when using Devotionals from this domain, and also gain a +1 DC to the saving throws of any devotionals in this domain.

You can gain this feat multiple times. Each additional time it is purchased, you may apply it to a new domain

Greater Domain Focus [Devotional]
Prerequisite: Domain Focus

As Domain Focus, but gains an additional +1 to effective caster level for purposes of level-dependent variables and DC of saving throws within the chosen domain.

You may only take this feat for a domain which you have already purchased Domain Focus in.

You may select this feat multiple times. Each additional time it is purchased, you may apply it to a new domain which you already have Domain Focus in.

Empower Devotional [Devotional] [Metadevotional]
Prerequisite: At least one Devotional known, any other Metashadow feat

When you chose this feat, select ONE devotional. That devotional may now be Empowered. This feat is not limited in uses, because the devotional's uses per day are inherently limited.

You may select this feat more than once. Each additional purchase of this feat allows you to apply it to a different Devotional you know.

Enlarge Devotional [Devotional] [Metadevotional]

When you chose this feat, select ONE devotional. The range on this devotional is doubled. This feat is not limited in uses, because the devotional's uses per day are inherently limited.

You may select this feat more than once. Each additional purchase of this feat allows you to apply it to a different Devotional you know.

This feat may only be applied to Devotionals with a range of Close, Medium, or Long

Extend Devotional [Devotional] [Metadevotional]

When you chose this feat, select ONE devotional. That devotional's duration is doubled. This feat is not limited in uses, because the devotional's uses per day are inherently limited.

You may select this feat more than once. Each additional purchase of this feat allows you to apply it to a different Devotional you know.

This metadevotional feat may only be applied to a Devotional with a Duration greater than Instantaneous. While it is possible to apply this to a devotional with a duration of Permanent, there is no further effect from it.

Favored Devotional [Devotional]
Prerequisite: At least one Devotional known

Select a Devotional you know. Your ability to use that particular devotional increases. If you could cast it as a spell, it is now used as a Spell-Like Ability. If you could use it as a Spell-Like Ability, you may now use it as a (Su) ability. If it is already a (Su) ability, then you gain one additional use from it. Increasing from Spell/Sp/Su increases number of uses per day as per normal. This feat 'grows' with the devotional, maintaining a constant one category higher until it would normally hit Su, then it provides the additional use per day.

This may only be selected for a given Devotional once. Purchasing this feat more than once allows you to apply it to different devotionals.

Maximize Devotional [Devotional] [Metadevotional]
Prerequisite: At least one devotional, and any two other Devotional feats

When you chose this feat, select ONE devotional. That devotional may now be Maximized. This feat is not limited in uses, because the devotional's uses per day are inherently limited.

You may select this feat more than once. Each additional purchase of this feat allows you to apply it to a different Devotional you know.

Quicken Devotional [Devotional] [Metadevotional]
Prerequisite: At least three devotional feats, Priest level 11 or higher

When you chose this feat, select ONE devotional. That devotional may now be Quickened. This feat is not limited in uses, because the devotional's uses per day are inherently limited.

You may select this feat more than once. Each additional purchase of this feat allows you to apply it to a different Devotional you know.

Reach Devotional [Devotional] [Metadevotional]

When you purchase this feat, you may chose ONE devotional with a range of Touch. You may now use that Devotional on targets out to 30'. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack to affect the target.

You may select this feat more than once. Each additional purchase of this feat allows you to apply it to a different Devotional with a range of Touch you know.