[Mechanics] Class and Game Mechanics

[kelly]

The sapper post! Mage coming soon

New Skills

Skills   Munitions (wis): This skill determines a character's ability to use munitions safely and effectively. It is rolled instead of ranged attacks in the case of a thrown munitions. Since Munitions are reletively new to the Malazan Army, no set procedures (DCs) have been determined. For building demolition using munitions, both this and Sapping are rolled. Sapping (int): This skill determines a characters ability to effectively engineer and prepare battlefields. There is a base DC of 10 per 4 pace square (16 square paces) to use this skill. For set amounts of points above 10 rolled, improvements can be made to the battlefield. A standard sapping roll takes one hour to complete. Only one sapping roll can be in effect on any place at any one time. A prepped battlefield ceases to be useful after one minute of combat. Preped battlefields must have a direction declared when the preping begins. If not rushed or threatened, a sapper can take 10 on sapping checks (must have at least one sapper level). See below. Sapping points are used to improve the battlefield, and are determined by a sapping check. For a 4 pace square, base DC is 10. For an 8 pace square, base DC is 25. Modifications do not need to be in squares as long as the area stays the same. Battlefields which are prepared quickly are not nearly as effective. With 10 minutes of prep time, take -10 on your sapping check. With one minute of prep time, -20. With one round of prep time, -30. Modifications: Preparation Cost Provide +1 AC to allies (max +5) 5 points/+1 Provide +1 attack to allies (max +5) 5 points/+1 Create terrain which slows movement speed to half 8 points Create pickets which cannot be charged across 12 points Provide partial concealment to allies 10 points Provide total concealment to allies 15 points Create an approach which allows enemies to move in ranks of 3 20 points Create an approach which allows enemies to move in ranks of 2 30 points Create an approach which allows enemies to move in ranks of 1 40 points Anything else Try it For example, a sapper with a total sapping bonus of +12 wants to modify a 4 pace square for an upcoming battle in the next hour. He rolls his sapping, and gets (11) + 12 = 23. Subtract the DC of 10 for 13 points to spend on improvements. He decides to construct a trench which gives his allies partial concealment, facing towards the enemy encampment. Reader of the Deck (cha): This skill determines a character's ability to read the deck of dragons and detect changes in the pantheon. It is an experiment. We'll see how it goes! Roll Result 0-5 Misreading, false information imparted 6-10 No reading, the reader has insufficient mastery to see through the murk 11-15 General information about pantheon 16-20 Specific information about pantheon 21-25 General information about upcoming events as they pertain to reader 26-30 Specific information about upcoming events as the pertain to reader.

The Sapper

Sapper   Skill points: 6 Skills: balance, climb, craft, disable device, hide, intimidate, jump, knowledge (architecture), listen, move silently, profession, search, spot, swim, use rope, sapping (int), munitions (wis) Spells: none HD: d8 Armor and weapons: all martial weapons, light armor Good Saves: Reflex BAB: Fighter Level Special 1 Exotic Weapon Prof (Malazan Crossbow), Skill forcus (Munitions or Sapping) 2 Combat style (crossbow), Bonus Feat: Rapid Reload, Evasion 3 Bonus feat: Run (cause if you haven’t learned to run by now, you’re dead) 4 Uncanny Dodge (twitchy) 5   6 Bonus feat: Toughness 7   8 Improved Evasion 9 Bonus feat: Diehard 10   11 Combat Style Mastery (crossbow) 12   13   14   15 Fast Construction 16   17   18 Munition Expert 19   20 The sapper combines battlefield preparation, proficiency with the Malazan Crossbow, and deadly munitions to make a mess of the enemy. Combat Style: as ranger from pathfinder. Fast Construction - A sapper of 15th level takes only half the usual penalty for sapping. For example, to construct fortifications in one minute, the penalty would be -10 instead of -20. Munition Expert - A sapper of 18th level can use munitions so effectively that their allies are spared some of their effects. Allies only take half damage from munitions used by this sapper.

Munitions

Moranth   -Sharpers -Undamaging to the thrower, with a decent toss. Explosion radius of 6 paces. -4d6 slashing damage. -Crackers -Used to take down structures. Not very useful against living opponents. -One pace explosion size, does d6 damage if just thrown at something -6 Crackers can take down a thin fortified wall. If properly buried and angled, they ignore hardness and do 200 damage each. This requires both a munitions and sapping check. -Burners -Smaller sized explosive, but causes massive collateral damage through burning. Often used to booby trap approaches. -One pace radius explosion (four squares). Deals 2d6 fire damage, and lights stuff on fire. Persists for 3 rounds. -Melters -The rarest munition. -Deals acid damage. 6d6 as a splash weapon. -Cussers -RUN -50 paces are generally considered 'safe', but fragments can still go flying. -30 pace radius for the blast -10d10 damage -ignores hardness -Cannot be thrown far easily due to its relatively large weight. As a later level class feature, sappers can develop a lobber. -Smokers -Reduces movement speed by half, prevents charging, limits sight to ten paces.

Malazan   -Slider -Emulates the effects of a grease spell. The grease is flammable, but needs external ignition. -Banger -Creates a horrendouly loud sound, deafening and disorienting everything within 3 paces for 1d4 rounds -Fortitute save VS 13+sappers WIS mod to avoid being stunned for one round -Masher -Weaker sharper -Explosion radius of 3 paces -2d6 slashing damage -Popper -Creates a powerful but localized blast -4d6 damage to one pace square

[kelly]

Mage - Thanks a ton, Birched

Mage   Alignment: Any Hit Die: d6 Class Skills: Concentration, Craft, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (Planes), Profession, Spellcraft Skill Points Per Level: 4 BAB: Cleric Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Simple Weapons, Light Armour Good Save: Will # Spells Known: As sorcerer of level+1 (so 2nd level spells at level 3, like wizards) Stat for more spells per day (spell points): Con Spell Points: See http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/spellPoints.htm (as sorcerer of level+1) For metamagic, use option #1: “The first option is to apply an additional spell point cost to any spell cast with a metamagic feat. This option allows a character maximum flexibility in his choice of spellcasting. Effectively, the character must pay for the spell as if it were a higher-level spell, based on the adjustment from the metamagic feat. If the metamagic effect(s) would increase the spell’s effective level above what he is capable of casting, he can’t cast the spell in that way.” Use Variant: Vitalizing (including both variants at the end) Swapping: Upon reaching 3rd level, and at every odd-numbered sorcerer level after that (5th, 7th, and so on), a sorcerer can choose to learn a single new spell in place of one she already knows. (variant rule, also used in Pathfinder) Level Special 1 Eschew Materials, Major Warren, Spell Focus (major warren), bonus metamagic (major warren), bonus metamagic -1, armored casting 2   3   4 bonus metamagic (major warren) 5 Second Warren 6 Open Warren I (self only) 7 8 Greater Spell Focus (major warren), bonus metamagic (major warren) 9 Warren Survival 10 Third Warren, bonus metamagic -2 11   12 bonus metamagic (major warren) 13 Open Warren II (portal) 14   15 Fourth Warren 16 bonus metamagic (major warren) 17   18   19   20 Fifth Warren, bonus metamagic (major warren) Warrens: Telas -- Evocation (fire); bonus feat: energy substitution (fire) (complete arcane, p79) Aral Gamelon -- Conjuration; primarily related to demon summoning and control Denul -- Healing; D’riss -- Transmutation; focused on wood & stone Meanas -- Illusion and shadow Mockra -- Enchantment Rashan -- Illusion of a different sort Thyr -- abjuration and protection Hood’s Path -- necromancy Divination is allowed by all warrens, though the results may vary depending on the flavour of the sorcerer’s connection. Bonuses from the major warren do not apply to divination spells. Major Warren: choose 1 school/warren: gain 1 additional spell known from this warren/school per spell level; spellcraft +2 for this school Bonus Metamagic (major warren): applies to this school only and costs 1 level less (2 levels less starting at level 10); spellcraft +2 for this school Armored Casting: can cast spells from this class in light armor with no penalty Open Warren I: caster can move himself into his warren of specialisation; once inside, he can move through the warren and exit at another location; this may not be safe, but may be faster or at least an alternate route to a location Warren Survival: caster is immune to normal planar effects in his warren of specialisation (e.g. background level of heat and fire in Telas) Open Warren II: caster can open a portal into the warren, allowing others to come with him If you think a spell fits your warren, just ask. I'll probably say yes. If you don't think a spell fits... wait until you can gain access to a second warren, or don't take it.

Special Spell list by for Denul (Arcane magic, but mostly from cleric list. Spell levels remain the same.)

 

Virtue
Light
Purify food and drink
All cure spells
Deathwatch
Delay Poison
Remove Paralysis
Lesser restoration
Remove Blindness
Remove Curse
Remove Disease
Neutralize Poison
Heal
Regnerate
Heal, mass
Anything else that fits the aspect. Ask/use common sense.

Races and Soletaken tomorrow. And somebody mentioned D'ivers. That one might be tricky.

[kelly]

D'ivers are just too hard to balance and still be cool at low levels for PCs, after some effort. Maybe later in the game.

Races

 

Races Dal Honese (Quon Tali) The classic Malazan, who can't keep his nose out of anything. Gain Appraise and Gather Information as class skills Barghast The living offshoot of the T'lan Imass. Gain +1 to intimidate checks. Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Barghest Hook Blade) Daru Not currently a part of the empire, but a bustling trade center. Gain +1 to sense motive checks. Genabarii and Gadrobi The natives of Genabackis. Gain +1 to diplomacy checks with the residents of Genabackis. Napan The Emperor's first allies for the forging of the Empire. Island dwelling and well muscled, gain +1 on swim checks. Rhivi The tribespeople currently allied with Caladan Brood. Can easily sense and commune with tribal spirits nearby. Wickan The horse warriors of Quon Tali. Gain handle animal and Ride as class skills.

Soletaken

 

Soletaken Soletaken are much like humans, but have the ability to assume an animal form. More powerful soletaken suffer from a madness, and inflict poisonous wounds, but such beasts are few and far between. Soletaken are very long lived, and rarely produce offspring. Soletaken do not gain bonus feats or skills as normal humans. +2 Cha, -2 Wis The soletaken can transform at will into the animal as per the shapechange spell. Limits: 1/day at level 1, and 1 more time per day for every 3 levels attained after that (4,7,...). Duration: 1 hour per HD (usu. the same as character level). A soletaken caster may cast spells while transformed into his or her chosen shape, as the transformed state is a natural form for the caster. This is not true of any other forms adopted through other means/abilities. A soletaken may speak with animals of the same type while transformed.

[kelly]

Anyone who takes a martial class gets free Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Malazan Crossbow).

New equipment, besides munitions:

Malazan Crossbow:
As heavy crossbow, except 2d6, 19-20x3 damage and does not provoke an attack of opportunity when fireing (Loading still provokes attacks of opportunity). This is an exotic weapon.

Barghest Hookblade:
1d10 damage 19-20x2.

[Chrystrom]

 

 

The Aral Gamelon Warren and its use by a Mage

The “demons” of the Aral Gamelon warren are not all demons, i.e. evil, in the classic D&D sense. Mages that tap into this warren have access to both evil, neutral, and good aligned creatures. Aral Gamelon Mages make use of the conjuration (summoning) spells to access their warren and to bring the creatures found there to do their bidding.

Proposed class abilities for Aral Gamelon warren user Additions to Class skill list These skills are added to the Mage class skill list for the Aral Gamelon warren user: Intimidation; Sense Motive Unrestricted Conjuration For the purposes only of casting conjuration spells, you can ignore any restrictions that forbid you from casting spells of certain alignments. In addition, regular use of conjuration spells with the evil descriptor does not threaten to change your alignment. For example a good aligned mage can cast summon monster I to summon a fiendish raven. Rapid Summoning (Ex) Any time an Aral Gamelon using mage casts a summon monster spell, its casting time is 1 standard action rather than 1 full round. (Creatures so summoned can only take a standard action in the round they are summoned.) Mages using this ability gain the normal benefits from enhancing a summon monster spell with the Quicken Spell feat. This ability is balanced by the constant chance of failure that is part of using Aral Gamelon**Game Balance** Enhanced Summoning (Ex) At 1st level only, a mage using Aral Gamelon gains the Augment Summoning feat for free. An Aral Gamelon user permanently gives up the bonus metamagic feat granted at 1st level. Aral Gamelon Legion (ex) Once an Aral Gamelon mage attains 8th level (or the 8th level since they have acquired the use of the warren) he can give up the bonus metamagic feat granted at 8th level (or the next one granted after reaching the 8th level of using the warren) and receive the Aral Gamelon Legion ability. With this ability, whenever you use a summon monster spell to summon one or more creatures, you summon one extra creature of the same kind. Only one Intimidate roll is needed to assert your will over all of the summoned creatures produced by the spell and this ability, though each creature gets a separate Will have if the Intimidate check fails. Dismissing Summons An Aral Gamelson mage can dismiss one of the summons under his control with a standard action

The Aral Gamelon warren is inherently dangerous. It takes a bold mage to reach into this warren and rip out its denizens and then force your will upon them. The nature of this warren gives rise to the chance of failure in its use in two main ways.

1. Naturally risky: The use of the Aral Gamelon warren brings with it a natural amount of risk. When a mage taps the warren looking for a specific kind of creature there is the chance that his summons is rejected and/or answered by a different creature than what he intended.

Mechanics When summoning a creature an Aral Gamelon using mage rolls a Concentration check (d20) to determine the success of the summons. Difficulty Class: The DC of the Concentration check is DC 15 + spell level. Failure: If the mage fails his Concentration check then he must roll a d20 and refer to the following chart to determine the results of his failure. roll Result 1 - 5 The spell points are used up with no summoned creature arriving. 6 - 10 A random, or DM’s choice, weaker creature, up to two spell levels below, is summoned instead. 11 - 18 A random, or DM’s choice, creature of the appropriate spell level is summoned instead. 19 - 20 A random, or DM’s choice, stronger creature, up to two spell levels higher, is summoned instead. When summoning multiple creatures of the same type only one Concentration check is need per spell cast.

2. Imposing your will: It is not enough simply to open your warren and rip a creature out of Aral Gamelon, next you have to impose your will upon that creature.

Mechanics The mage must attempt a modified Intimidate check (see below) as a swift action, in order to assert his will over the summoned creature(s), limit one check per round. Modified Intimidate check: The mage rolls a d20 applying his Intimidate bonus against the DC of the summoned creature. Special: You gain a +4 bonus on your Intimidate check for every size category that you are larger than your target. Conversely, you take a –4 penalty on your Intimidate check for every size category that you are smaller than your target. Difficulty Class: The DC of the Intimidate check is DC 15 + target's Hit Dice + target’s Wisdom bonus(if any) + target’s modifiers on saves against fear. A successful Intimidate check places the creature(s) under the mage’s control for the duration of the spell. An unsuccessful check results in the creature(s) getting a will save vs. the summoning spell. If the creature succeeds the Will check it can either return to the warren or break free from the mage’s control and act freely for the duration of the spell. (DM’s choice) If the creature fails it’s will check it will remain motionless, confused and disoriented. The mage can attempt another modified Intimidate check the following round as a standard action (if the mage does not attempt another Intimidate check then the summoned creature is free of the mage's control for the duration of the spell). The cycle continues until the mage succeeds in asserting his will, the creature breaks free, is dismissed, or the spell duration ends. When summoning multiple creatures of the same type only one Intimidate check is need per spell cast. Special: Mindless creatures, all vermin for example, can be summoned but they can not be controlled through the Modified Intimidtae Check. These types of creatures when summoned are simply set loose until the duration of the spell.

 

Summonable Creatures using the Aral Gamelon Warren, the Path of Demons
(Sorted by spell level and with a randomization table to add a twist to the fun)

 

Level 1 Creatures Randomization Roll Creature Modified Level check vs. Intimidate Size Alignment (for reference only) Book and page reference 1 Celestial Dog +2 S Lawful Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Dog: MM p.271 2 Celestial Owl +3 T Lawful Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Owl: MM p.277 3 Celestial Giant Fire Beetle +1 S Neutral Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Fire Beetle: MM p.285 (mindless) 4 Celestial Monkey +2 T Chaotic Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Owl: MM p.276 5 Celestial Badger +2 S Chaotic Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Owl: MM p.268 6 Fiendish Dire Rat +2 S Lawful Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Dire Rat: MM p.64 7 Fiendish Raven +3 T Lawful Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Dire Rat: MM p.278 8 Fiendish Monstrous Centipede, Medium +2 M Neutral Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Centipede: MM p.286 (mindless) 9 Fiendish Monstrous Scorpion, Small +2 S Chaotic Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Centipede: MM p.287 (mindless) 10 Fiendish Hawk +3 T Chaotic Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Hawk: MM p.273 11 Fiendish Monstrous Spider, Small +2 S Chaotic Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Spider: MM p.288 (mindless) 12 Fiendish Snake, Small Viper +2 S Chaotic Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Snake: MM p.280 13 Skiurid +2 T Neutral Evil Monster Manual IV p.126

 

Level 2 Creatures Randomization Roll Creature Modified Level check vs. Intimidate Size Alignment (for reference only) Book and page reference 1 Celestial Giant Bee +4 M Lawful Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Giant Bee: MM p.284 (mindless) 2 Celestial Giant Bombardier Beetle +2 M Lawful Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Bombardier Beetle: MM p.284 (mindless) 3 Celestial Riding Dog +3 M Lawful Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Riding Dog: MM p.272 4 Celestial Eagle +3 S Lawful Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Eagle: MM p.272 5 Fetid Fungus +2 M Neutral MMV p.56 6 Nerra, Varoot +3 M Neutral Fiend Folio p. 130 7 Devil, Lemure +2 M Lawful Evil MMp.57 (mindless) 8 Fiendish Wolf +3 M Lawful Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Wolf: MM p.283 9 Fiendish Monstrous Centipede, Large +3 L Neutral Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Centipede: MM p.286 (mindless) 10 Fiendish Monstrous Scorpion, Medium +2 M Neutral Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Scorpion: MM p.287 (mindless) 11 Kaorti +2 M Neutral Evil Fiend Folio p.108 12 Fiendish Monstrous Spider, Medium +2 M Chaotic Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Snake: MM p.288 (mindless) 13 Fiendish Snake, Medium Viper +3 M Chaotic Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Snake: MM p.280 14 Howler Wasp +3 S Chaotic Evil MMIV p.74

 

Level 3 Creatures Randomization Roll Creature Modified Level check vs. Intimidate Size Alignment (for reference only) Book and page reference 1 Celestial Black Bear +4 M Lawful Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Bear: MM p.269 2 Celestial Bison +5 L Neutral Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Bison: MM p.269 3 Celestial dire badger +4 M Chaotic Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Badger: MM p.62 4 Celestial hippogriff +4 L Chaotic Good Celestial template: MM p.31, Hippogriff: MM p.152 5 Eladrin, Coure +2 T Chaotic Good Book of Exalted Deeds p.168 6 Hell Hound +4 M Lawful Evil MM p.151 7 Fiendish Ape +5 L Lawful Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Ape: MM p.268 8 Imp +4 T Lawful Evil MM p. 56 9 Demon, Dretch +2 S Chaotic Evil MM p.42 10 Demon, Nashrou +4 L Chaotic Evil MM IV p.44 11 Windrazor +3 S Chaotic Evil MM IV p.176 12 Abyssal Maw +2 M Chaotic Evil MM II p.57 13 Quasit +4 T Chaotic Evil MM p.46 14 Fiendish Crocodile +4 M Chaotic Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Crocodile: MM p.271 15 Fiendish Dire Bat +6 L Chaotic Evil Fiendish template: MM p.107, Dire Bat: MM p.62

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