It's Morphin' Time! (3.P Base Class/Archetypes) (WIP)

[BlackestOfMages]

and along the line user brought up, the PR-folk seem to love trying to make parodies into the darkest series. RPM was the "darkest" power rangers series (it tired to be, but it was let down by reusing footage from...) and the sentai it was taken from is an even bigger parody than carranger.

so, TMK, would you say this is nearly playable yet?

[Turalisj]

We should obviously have a game of Super Sentai vs Magical Girls.

[The-Mage-King]

Originally Posted by BlackestOfMages

so, TMK, would you say this is nearly playable yet?

Almost. I need to get about four more [Self] abilities, and maybe eight more [Suit] abilities done. And I'm out of ideas...

...

Time to watch Kamen Rider!
(Or have someone who has pitch ideas at me!)


@Tura: That... would actually be pretty interesting. It'd need a good DM or team, though.

[Turalisj]

Beetle Borgs, VR Troopers. Oh god VR Troopers....

[Lix Lorn]

Originally Posted by Turalisj

We should obviously have a game of Super Sentai vs Magical Girls.

Originally Posted by The-Mage-King

@Tura: That... would actually be pretty interesting. It'd need a good DM or team, though.

Why Vs?
I mean, sure, when they meet up they HAVE to have a fight, cause that's how it works, but then they realise they're on the same side.
AND THEN THEY MAKE OUT

[Turalisj]

And then you have Power Rangers dating Magical Girls?

[Morph Bark]

Originally Posted by Turalisj

We should obviously have a game of Super Sentai vs Magical Girls.

As in both sides be players or PC Sentai vs NPC Dark Magical Girls? The former would be harder, I'd think, though if pulled off right it would be easier to DM, I imagine, since you don't have to drive the plot as much.

EDIT: This gives me a great idea though. In the sense of me wanting to make a real Sentai/Magical Girl PrC.

[Prime32]

Originally Posted by Morph Bark

EDIT: This gives me a great idea though. In the sense of me wanting to make a real Sentai/Magical Girl PrC.

For stuff like Sailor Moon and Pretty Cure?

Originally Posted by Lix Lorn

Why Vs?
I mean, sure, when they meet up they HAVE to have a fight, cause that's how it works, but then they realise they're on the same side.

*glasses on* That's only really "how it works" in US superhero comics. In this kind of media they're more likely to be recurring enemies who have a vendetta against the heroes or are outright evil, then get turned around later.

[Vauron]

Originally Posted by The-Mage-King

You wouldn't want Cha to Dex checks/skills, and the ability to make the three useful Str skills Dex?


Hm... Suggestions on how to improve them, then? Fold Impressive into Flashy, probably, the two you mentioned that should be folded together...

Also, what would you suggest for more [Self] abilities?

I'm going to admit that my thoughts on the acrobatics abilities was just '2 to 6 to some skills, eh'. I'm unsure if anything needs to be done with those two. Its entirely possible that I'm underselling them. Generally, I consider abilities that give new choices more desirable, so passive abilites have a higher hurdle to pass in my mind to seem good.

On another note, why are the Heroic Speech abilities [Suit] abilities? They feel like they should be [Self] abilities. Note: My take on the difference between [Self] and [Suit] is that [Suit] abilities are functions of the suit and external to the Sentai. Meanwhile, [Self] abilities are more like reflections of the soul of the hero, which shines through even without the suit.

Possible [Self] abilities? Some vague ideas:

Spoiler

-Some way to remove unwanted conditions from allies, like using a Bright Slap to remove fear effects or making a heartfelt plea to give another chance to save against a Dominate or Charm spell

-This probably should be a [Suit] ability, but waterbreathing might work

-More range for Heroic Guardian? Maybe from a stance Sentai can get through their abilities that increases the range for Heroic Guardian and provides something to improve tankyness?

-Wild Empathy? Although maybe that should go with Beast Totem

-I kept trying to think of something related to how Billy made all sorts of weird stuff, but nothing really jelled in my mind

-being supremely good at seeing through lies

Er... I dropped the Cha to Attack+Damage thing. Cha to attack/damage/AC for Cha mod+1 rounds/encounter seemed a bit too good for dipping, IMO.

Think I should put it back on there, then? Or maybe as a feat, like Weapon Finesse should be...

As for the 100 percent uptime, hm... Might need to reduce the time, then.

Somehow I think at least one of us is misunderstanding the other. First, do you intend for Henshin to be the Sentai's primary combat mode? Second, my '100%' uptime was both poorly worded and perhaps inaccurate. Said statement was based on the assumption that most fights would only last 5 rounds, and that a Sentai would begin play with at least 16 charisma. Even with Gut Instinct, ambushing a Sentai in civilian form should still be possible so long as some thought is taken when planing the encounter.

On an unrelated note, would Sentai Weapon provide ammo if you choose a projectile weapon?



Fake Edit: Whelp, that took much longer than I expected.

[BlackestOfMages]

Hmmmmm, other potential abilities (I call upon my extreme knowledge of Sentai based upon which sentai I've watched recently). anyone who can name which sentai/sntaiesque show the abilities come from gets a cookie

suit abilities

• Currency/cost based power up - an option to use ailities with a small boos in exchange for paying somewthing when using them. for themeatic purposes, the something should be made of the enemy
  
• Teleportation/conspicuously round the corner from the monster attack - effectivly the ability to teleport back to base and to monster attacks.
  
• multiple suit forms. taking this ability nets you a second suit with a reduced number of abilities. Improved version would let you use a different archetype when in this suit. avaliable to standard archtype only
  
• combo suit power (possibly an archetype) - when choosing element for strike of justice/anything else with multiple options, the player instead chooses two and has 1/2-3/4 the effect of both choices. Improved version would have 3 and could mix and match etc.
  
• fists of ultimate power! - unarmed damage as a monk.
  
• Megamaning - capable of duplicating enemy abilities to a limited form after hitting them/damaging them enough etc. improved version would possibly let them hang on to megamanned power until they took enough damage.
  
• suit based super strength - boosted lifting capacity when in suit.
  
• strength/speed ranks - adapted from naruto d20, might work well to show ranger skillz.

self-powers

• Determinator - resistance to paralyze/stun.
  
• Unbrekeable will - boosts to mind control resistance
  
• True Sentai - can morph even without trinket. Heishin time is reduced
  
• Inner Power - Can use Strike of Justice out of Heishin, though at reduced level
  
• Monster senses - can feel nearby monsters/things linked with the big bad
  
• Team Tinkerer - can use some tinkerer creation abilities. see wow rpg for more details
  
• Blaze of Glory - one last round after death at supercharged power.

hope some of those ideas work

I'd also make Hero Pose a self ability rather than suit, as many sentai can do it even out of their suits.

also, lol Magical Girl Warrior PrC, and the super sentai versus magical girl idea XD

EDIT: also, think it's ready enough for me to take it for a spin in a gae about crazyness?

[Lix Lorn]

Originally Posted by Turalisj

And then you have Power Rangers dating Magical Girls?

Yes.
Hell yes.
HELL BUCKING YES.

Originally Posted by Prime32

*glasses on* That's only really "how it works" in US superhero comics. In this kind of media they're more likely to be recurring enemies who have a vendetta against the heroes or are outright evil, then get turned around later.

Same end result!

[Turalisj]

Easy there Lix, you're starting to drool on the keyboard

[Lix Lorn]

Originally Posted by Turalisj

Easy there Lix, you're starting to drool on the keyboard

Clearly you should provide a sentai for me to drool over instead.

[The-Mage-King]

Originally Posted by Vauron

I'm going to admit that my thoughts on the acrobatics abilities was just '2 to 6 to some skills, eh'. I'm unsure if anything needs to be done with those two. Its entirely possible that I'm underselling them. Generally, I consider abilities that give new choices more desirable, so passive abilites have a higher hurdle to pass in my mind to seem good.

Hm. Figured some would see that.

On another note, why are the Heroic Speech abilities [Suit] abilities? They feel like they should be [Self] abilities. Note: My take on the difference between [Self] and [Suit] is that [Suit] abilities are functions of the suit and external to the Sentai. Meanwhile, [Self] abilities are more like reflections of the soul of the hero, which shines through even without the suit.

...Because I'm a fool?

Possible [Self] abilities? Some vague ideas:

Replies in spoiler.

Spoiler

-Some way to remove unwanted conditions from allies, like using a Bright Slap to remove fear effects or making a heartfelt plea to give another chance to save against a Dominate or Charm spell

Iron Heart PAWNCH/Forced Surge. Yes. It will be added in a bit.

-This probably should be a [Suit] ability, but waterbreathing might work

Oh yeah. It'd need something more to make it worthwhile, though. Like a swim speed.

-More range for Heroic Guardian? Maybe from a stance Sentai can get through their abilities that increases the range for Heroic Guardian and provides something to improve tankyness?

Well... Might work...

-Wild Empathy? Although maybe that should go with Beast Totem

Seems better for the Beast Totem archetype, yeah.

-I kept trying to think of something related to how Billy made all sorts of weird stuff, but nothing really jelled in my mind

Yeah that's probably just craft skills and/or Artificer levels.

-being supremely good at seeing through lies

Hm... Maybe. :/

Somehow I think at least one of us is misunderstanding the other. First, do you intend for Henshin to be the Sentai's primary combat mode? Second, my '100%' uptime was both poorly worded and perhaps inaccurate. Said statement was based on the assumption that most fights would only last 5 rounds, and that a Sentai would begin play with at least 16 charisma. Even with Gut Instinct, ambushing a Sentai in civilian form should still be possible so long as some thought is taken when planing the encounter.

Yeah, pretty sure there was at least one miscommunication there...

Henshin should be their primary fighting technique, but not constantly in use.

Maybe it should go back to limited use/day... 1/4 levels, probably. With an Extra Henshin feat acting like Extra Rage...

On an unrelated note, would Sentai Weapon provide ammo if you choose a projectile weapon?

...Yes. Adding shortly.

Fake Edit: Whelp, that took much longer than I expected.

Same for replies.

Originally Posted by BlackestOfMages

Hmmmmm, other potential abilities (I call upon my extreme knowledge of Sentai based upon which sentai I've watched recently). anyone who can name which sentai/sntaiesque show the abilities come from gets a cookie

Lets see what these are like...

suit abilities

• Currency/cost based power up - an option to use ailities with a small boos in exchange for paying somewthing when using them. for themeatic purposes, the something should be made of the enemy
  
• Teleportation/conspicuously round the corner from the monster attack - effectivly the ability to teleport back to base and to monster attacks.
  
• multiple suit forms. taking this ability nets you a second suit with a reduced number of abilities. Improved version would let you use a different archetype when in this suit. avaliable to standard archtype only
  
• combo suit power (possibly an archetype) - when choosing element for strike of justice/anything else with multiple options, the player instead chooses two and has 1/2-3/4 the effect of both choices. Improved version would have 3 and could mix and match etc.
  
• fists of ultimate power! - unarmed damage as a monk.
  
• Megamaning - capable of duplicating enemy abilities to a limited form after hitting them/damaging them enough etc. improved version would possibly let them hang on to megamanned power until they took enough damage.
  
• suit based super strength - boosted lifting capacity when in suit.
  
• strength/speed ranks - adapted from naruto d20, might work well to show ranger skillz.

1- Nah. Not quite right.

2- They have a mentor for that.

3- Hm... Nah. it'd get complicated, fast.

4- Ooh, now THAT is neat. I'll tinker with it.

5- Nah. He's already got SUS. Not much more needed.

6- Again, nah. Too much potential for brokenness.

7- Yeah, that's neeeded.

8- You seem to like those.

self-powers

• Determinator - resistance to paralyze/stun.
  
• Unbrekeable will - boosts to mind control resistance
  
• True Sentai - can morph even without trinket. Heishin time is reduced
  
• Inner Power - Can use Strike of Justice out of Heishin, though at reduced level
  
• Monster senses - can feel nearby monsters/things linked with the big bad
  
• Team Tinkerer - can use some tinkerer creation abilities. see wow rpg for more details
  
• Blaze of Glory - one last round after death at supercharged power.

1- Yes.

2- Had been considering already.

3- Hm... Might add as a level 10 class feature, not an ability. Would require a move action to activate, and last for a few rounds...

4- Gut Instinct, remember!

5- Nope. I'm not touching the WoW RPG.

6- Now that might work. Probably better as a suit ability.

hope some of those ideas work

Quite a few do. I'll work out how to implement them.

I'd also make Hero Pose a self ability rather than suit, as many sentai can do it even out of their suits.

Already going to do that.

also, lol Magical Girl Warrior PrC, and the super sentai versus magical girl idea XD

Heh. I'm actually considering running that instead of the normal sentai playtest...

EDIT: also, think it's ready enough for me to take it for a spin in a gae about crazyness?

Yeah, probably.


@Morph: Feel free to make that, at least from the Sentai side. Just... Wait for me to put up the first PrC before posting it.

[Lix Lorn]

Originally Posted by The-Mage-King

Heh. I'm actually considering running that instead of the normal sentai playtest...

(SQUEEEEE)

[UserShadow7989]

Hmm, ideas, ideas...

• This might be better for a capstone ability or the end of a series of abilities depending on how it is executed (heroic endurance being a good prerequisite), but whenever I play Final Fantasy 5 and reach the scene where Galuf continues fighting the big bad despite being reduced to 0 HP and pummeled with a slew of high-level spells struck me as something straight out of a sentai or power rangers show. The ability to keep fighting even after you should have died under certain conditions (at least one ally remaining, number of rounds equal to charisma modifier, until the enemy is defeated, take your pick for what seems balanced) seems like a good one. If literally being unable to die is too much (even with restrictions), maybe changing how far into the negatives the ranger has to fall to die could work?
• Something akin to spring attack that requires a jump or tumble check, to put those acrobatics abilities to better use? Power Rangers always had scenes with the rangers leaping through the air to get in close and deliver a powerful attack right from the start. Maybe a better skill check will grant effects like stunning the target, or an extra hit?
• An ability that grants them an AC bonus when outnumbered by weaker opponents, possibly determined by the total hit dice of enemies with less hit dice individually than the sentai to a max of his Charisma modifier? There's already a few abilities to represent them tearing through mooks to get at the monster of the week, but I find it odd there's a lack of out and out flat bonuses (though I admit there's less glamor to passive effects than activation-based ones).
• More abilities that work in conjunction with allies (or when there's a lack of allies within a certain area, for the loner archtype)? Something like the sentai and an ally who gets their turn right after his (by one or the other delaying or readying an action most likely) can sacrifice their standard action for the turn to simultaneously deliver an attack on a target with massive bonuses to hit if successful and damage if both attacks hit?
• Building on that, maybe two or more allies attacking a target in a row grants the sentai and said allies a bonus against that monster, or allows the sentai to use a more powerful version of his special attacks (Foe Clearing Strike, Finisher)?
• When the opponent severely harms a sentai's ally (drops to 0 HP or less?), he gains a temporary (cha mod rounds?) but powerful effect like Damage Reduction, status immunity, spell resistance, a ridiculous amount of damage, etc. with which to assault the enemy? Similar abilities to make a sentai revolving around defending allies and drawing enemy fire would be neat.
• As terrible as the Power Rangers Movie was, the end bit with the rangers reviving their spiritual adviser/father figure character gives me an idea- perhaps high-level sentai can give up daily suit uses to perform sorts of 'miracles', like a powerful healing spell, reviving the recently dead, etc.?

[The-Mage-King]

Originally Posted by UserShadow7989

Hmm, ideas, ideas...[*]This might be better for a capstone ability or the end of a series of abilities depending on how it is executed (heroic endurance being a good prerequisite), but whenever I play Final Fantasy 5 and reach the scene where Galuf continues fighting the big bad despite being reduced to 0 HP and pummeled with a slew of high-level spells struck me as something straight out of a sentai or power rangers show. The ability to keep fighting even after you should have died under certain conditions (at least one ally remaining, number of rounds equal to charisma modifier, until the enemy is defeated, take your pick for what seems balanced) seems like a good one. If literally being unable to die is too much (even with restrictions), maybe changing how far into the negatives the ranger has to fall to die could work?

Hm.. Easy enough to balance. Loyal Beyond Death and that Crusader stance are good things to balance on...

They alread can die at less than -10, too. -[Con score+10], with the right ability.

[*]Something akin to spring attack that requires a jump or tumble check, to put those acrobatics abilities to better use? Power Rangers always had scenes with the rangers leaping through the air to get in close and deliver a powerful attack right from the start. Maybe a better skill check will grant effects like stunning the target, or an extra hit?

Yes. Oh yes.

[*]An ability that grants them an AC bonus when outnumbered by weaker opponents, possibly determined by the total hit dice of enemies with less hit dice individually than the sentai to a max of his Charisma modifier? There's already a few abilities to represent them tearing through mooks to get at the monster of the week, but I find it odd there's a lack of out and out flat bonuses (though I admit there's less glamor to passive effects than activation-based ones).

Already planned to do so. Maybe something like Cleave+...

[*]More abilities that work in conjunction with allies (or when there's a lack of allies within a certain area, for the loner archtype)? Something like the sentai and an ally who gets their turn right after his (by one or the other delaying or readying an action most likely) can sacrifice their standard action for the turn to simultaneously deliver an attack on a target with massive bonuses to hit if successful and damage if both attacks hit?

Hm... That might be cool.

[*]Building on that, maybe two or more allies attacking a target in a row grants the sentai and said allies a bonus against that monster, or allows the sentai to use a more powerful version of his special attacks (Foe Clearing Strike, Finisher)?

Oh yes. I'm considering another, allowing the sentai to deal SoJ+unarmed at range, 10 foot increment, most likely.

[*]When the opponent severely harms a sentai's ally (drops to 0 HP or less?), he gains a temporary (cha mod rounds?) but powerful effect like Damage Reduction, status immunity, spell resistance, a ridiculous amount of damage, etc. with which to assault the enemy? Similar abilities to make a sentai revolving around defending allies and drawing enemy fire would be neat.

Hm... Might work... A bit high in level reqs, but lower for Guardians...

[*]As terrible as the Power Rangers Movie was, the end bit with the rangers reviving their spiritual adviser/father figure character gives me an idea- perhaps high-level sentai can give up daily suit uses to perform sorts of 'miracles', like a powerful healing spell, reviving the recently dead, etc.?

...I am going to pretend you didn't say that. Feel ashamed of yourself.

[UserShadow7989]

Originally Posted by The-Mage-King

...I am going to pretend you didn't say that. Feel ashamed of yourself.

Hey, SOMEONE had to bring up that abomination EVENTUALLY.

...optional rule: mentioning the movie takes away your ability to transform for the week, like how mentioning life day earns everyone a darkside point.

[The-Mage-King]

Might be worth adding...


Anyway. Going to leave this link here. If you have a rough idea for something, suggest it there. I'll toss up drafts of abilities when they get done.

[Admiral Squish]

I bought the power rangers movie a few years ago. I thought it would be laughably bad. After watching about half an hour of it, I turned off the computer, called my parents and apologized for all the years of making them suffer through that.

[UserShadow7989]

The only thing even remotely laughable about that film was the out of nowhere jab at the Brady Bunch. Watch that bit on youtube, congratulations, you saved yourself an hour and a half of pain and misery by seeing the only thing relating to it worth the time and energy it takes the view.

Also, if whatever game is going to be done using this class does not have Bulk and Skull expies as recurring NPCs, I will be disappoint .

[Morph Bark]

Originally Posted by The-Mage-King

@Morph: Feel free to make that, at least from the Sentai side. Just... Wait for me to put up the first PrC before posting it.

Fiiiiiiiiiiiiine.

The Super Sentai vs Magical Girls idea would lend itself very well to a one-shot, btw. DM just needs to prep a short adventure with both of them perhaps being after the same thing. If it would be just Super Sentai vs Magical Girls in general, like with a goal of "defeat the Magical Girls", I'd sooner see that to be the focus of a longer campaign.

[userpay]

Sentai vs Magical Girls? This thread just took a turn from awesome to 'Just who do you think we are?' awesome.

Anyway after I get back from work today I'll try to reread the class closely to see if there is anything else I can think of to suggest. Also of note I'm currently watching Gokaiger. So much fun especially once they start getting to the sentai that made it over to the States when I was a kid, nostalgia ahoy~

[BlackestOfMages]

@ TMK: is your private pad only for ability suggestions, or do archetype suggestions work over there as well?

[The-Mage-King]

Originally Posted by Morph Bark

Fiiiiiiiiiiiiine.

Oh, don't worry. It'll be a minimal wait.

Originally Posted by userpay

Sentai vs Magical Girls? This thread just took a turn from awesome to 'Just who do you think we are?' awesome.

This is what happens when you get too many fans of the genres in one spot.

Anyway after I get back from work today I'll try to reread the class closely to see if there is anything else I can think of to suggest. Also of note I'm currently watching Gokaiger. So much fun especially once they start getting to the sentai that made it over to the States when I was a kid, nostalgia ahoy~

Oh yes. It is wonderful. Especially the final battle.

Originally Posted by BlackestOfMages

@ TMK: is your private pad only for ability suggestions, or do archetype suggestions work over there as well?

Feel free to make suggestions that take a bit to write up there, or even 'brew stuff for this elsewhere.


Also, added a bunch of abilities, some from suggestions. Other suggestions are being looked at and thought about.

Oh, and magical items are being thought about, too. A minor artifact called a "Henshin Record", which contains powers, and a normal magic item that'll give a lesser form of Henshin are currently planned.

Guess what inspired the former.

Go on. Guess.

[Morph Bark]

Originally Posted by userpay

Sentai vs Magical Girls? This thread just took a turn from awesome to 'Just who do you think we are?' awesome.

Well, if TMK ain't gonna make the mech PrC for the Sentai, I will, so then you can make a character who is a Sentai Senshi/Magical Girl/Mecha Senshi/Sentai Girl and be like a team of Nanohas and Fates with mecha.

Essentially, the Dai-Gurren-dan with suits and extra lasers.

[Prime32]

Originally Posted by Morph Bark

Well, if TMK ain't gonna make the mech PrC for the Sentai, I will, so then you can make a character who is a Sentai Senshi/Magical Girl/Mecha Senshi/Sentai Girl and be like a team of Nanohas and Fates with mecha.

Essentially, the Dai-Gurren-dan with suits and extra lasers.

So... Magic Knight Rayearth?

[Turalisj]

Can'twaitforthegamewanttoplaysobad!

[Lix Lorn]

Originally Posted by The-Mage-King

Oh, and magical items are being thought about, too. A minor artifact called a "Henshin Record", which contains powers, and a normal magic item that'll give a lesser form of Henshin are currently planned.

Guess what inspired the former.

Go on. Guess.

TMs according to what they look like now?
(is playing Fire Red)

[userpay]

Oh man when the sentai game finally gets going its gonna be nuts...

So anyway the following might not be actual suggestions for additional content but they are my thoughts on certain bits as I've gone through the class.

Sentai's Weapon/Fists of Justice: I kinda think that the later's effects should be rolled into the former as an option and add the later's special material bonus to the regular weapons as well since once you chose the weapon (presumably without special materials as an option) its stuck that way. I'd still have something like Fists of Justice but instead gives you another set of weapons to use, thus if you chose a weapon initially you could then get the bonus with unarmed strikes, vise versa, or have a melee set and ranged set. Essentially as it is now Fists of Justice is better more or less at later levels than Sentai's Weapons except where dual wielding/ranged is concerned possibly.

Strike of Justice: Due to certain suggestions on the pad and that the move action requirement was removed I might suggest specifying that this is a free action. That or when you implement certain suggestions that Strike of Justice stacks with it.

Finisher: Related to the above but shouldn't this add Strike of Justice's damage as well?

Several Suit/Self Abilities: I note that there's several that give moral bonus's but don't specifically mention stacking with Team Player or Bardic Music. Come to think of it there are a ton of moral bonus's implemented or being suggested... I fear what the bonus's will look like with a full team.

Magician Archtype: In the table there is a 0 in the level 10 entry for Formulae known.