Orc War Drummer

[Sun Wukong]

How about the higher of the two skill being used with the fear ability? I mean, that way this PRC would offer more synergy with the Dervish. Orcish culture for the large part is nomadic, and although an orcish Dervish might not exactly evoke notions of grace in the eye of the observer, who could argue against an orc approaching with the quick, reckless, abandon of a Dervish?

And if someone does not want to use Dervish, they could instead increase their intimidate skill.

Also, any comments on that free 'unarmed strike' feat? Since you can fight 'unarmed' while holding a drum? (Plus the extra work for allow Orc War Drummer to use them without UMD.)

[aaron22]

unless it OWD is gonna give CE for free there is no synergy with dervish. CE's 13 int will cost 1/4 of starting stat points.. uh synergy? dodge and mobilty taking another 6 in stat points not going to compliment what an orc does well at all. if it were a Tie PrC, then we would be onto something.

[chad878262]

or you could take INT to 12 and then go +1 at level 4 or 8... I once did that on a wood elf.

[Tekill]

I don't want to come across as an ungrateful jerk here but while we are spending time and energy on mechanics shouldnt we confirm if anyone will actually play this class?

Are there any of you orc fans out there seriously excited to play this new class?
Let's hear you opinions.
Im not trying to make assumptions here but I figure "IF" it's not going to be used then why go through the trouble.

[aaron22]

I don't want to come across as an ungrateful jerk here but while we are spending time and energy on mechanics shouldnt we confirm if anyone will actually play this class?

Are there any of you orc fans out there seriously excited to play this new class?
Let's hear you opinions.
Im not trying to make assumptions here but I figure "IF" it's not going to be used then why go through the trouble.

i will, I will draw up several builds and talk with the base and try to make something from it. I do not need to naked solo the balor to have fun, but i would like to be able to survive close to my CL areas. i am unsure if anyone else will though. just playing an orc has a lot of negatives to it, so i do not think that the ends is being met by the means for the GP with this or any other class for that matter. it could be, but it has been decided that it shall not.

[Sun Wukong]

or you could take INT to 12 and then go +1 at level 4 or 8... I once did that on a wood elf.

Having 14 intelligence on a Half-Orc or Grey Orc is no different than raising one stat to 16 on a human. As for a dervish build, it is even easier if you just decide that the maximum dexterity score you go for is 14, reaching 18 with a potion Cat's Grace or that +4 dexterity item. (Not to mention that you can do a while with just +2 dexterity item too.) This allows you to get most out of a regular Chain Shirt and Mithral Chain Mail.

As a half-orc you could start out with following ability scores:

Code: Select all

STR: 18
DEX: 14
CON: 15
INT: 14
WIS:  8
CHA:  6

As a grey orc:

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STR: 18
DEX: 14
CON: 14
INT: 14
WIS: 10
CHA:  6

In both case you could actually lower your Intelligence and/or Constitution to raise some other stat higher, perhaps even start out with just 16 Strength.


As for me playing one, well, it depends on if it is open for half-orcs. But then again, I do get new build ideas every now and then...

[chad878262]

It will be open to half-orcs.

[aaron22]

well i dont love the synergy there with dervish and OWD barring the perform skill. the build i would see from orc would be F/FB/D/WM and there is a tad bit of synergy with spring attack moving WW up a feat. and you only need 6 opener levels of fighter to get the ball rolling on FB. but when i am replacing one of those to put in OWD, i would have to say i would want to take out the dervish for the mechanicals. and with that i lose the synergy between WM and dervish of shared reqs and spring attack lead in.

the team, i think, didnt want to give it alot of synergy so that it would be more versatile, but that also works in reverse and makes it less desirable. just an opinion. i see how iron will work for the high will saves and provides synergy with WoD which is great. kudos for that.

[aaron22]

wanna make it even more versatile? give it a 2/5 spellcasting progression. opens alot of opportunities.

i dont know. tossing out ideas that could get it some interest.

[AlfarinIcebreaker]

Couple issues I have with this class.
It is not a very archetypal orc class. It seems like a very specialized class or niche, to me. Especially when comparing it to the other races prc's.
Synergy would be limited compared to the other orc prc suggestions people previously suggested. With this prc I can't help but keep thinking....an orc bard.
If the purpose of an orc prc is to encourage orc rp I find this an odd choice. Don't you think it would be odd if suddenly there were a bunch of drumming orcs wandering around the sword coast?
A party of battlerages teaming up would be cool. A party of war drummers?
Who is the war drummer going to play to?
With the low orc pop on this server, this support class is not ideal....if I was a war drummer I would not be wandering around alone which would be it's fate on this server. I would be looking for a large warband to join.

This. We need "bread and butter" PRC for Orcs before this, in a way like Elves get Arcane Archer and Dwarves get Dwarven Defender or Battlerager.

[aaron22]

This. We need "bread and butter" PRC for Orcs before this, in a way like Elves get Arcane Archer and Dwarves get Dwarven Defender or Battlerager.

"cart before the horse" in so many ways. this is a novelty class not the archetype. something that takes what is ORC and accentuates it. the OWD class is unique and it is clever and a good second addition. its not the flag bearer that is wanted. at least by me and a couple others here.

[aaron22]

going over this and developing some stuff. i think it makes sense to have a high reflex save for this class.

edit1: also curious if perform reqs and inspire dc are going to intim.

edit2:

Battle rythm: A war drummer inspires his fellow Orcs into a frenzy (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities.

i see an addition to hit and damage but nothing to help saves vs fear. 2 and 4 are pretty minimal, but would be nice. and would that stack with other bonuses?

[Valefort]

Orc War Drummer

While Orcs have no bardic tradition nothing whips them into a frenzy more easily than War Drummers. Using everything from elaborate drums to hollow trees the War Drummers can often be found in large orcish war parties.

Requirements:
Race: Orc
Alignment: Any non-lawful, non-good.
Skills: Perfom 5 ranks
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Iron will, Skill Focus : Perform or Skill Focus : Intimidate

Class Features:
Hit Die: d8
Base Attack Bonus: High
High Saves: Will
Weapon Proficiencies: None
Armor Proficiencies: None
Skill Points: 4 + Int Modifier.
Class Skills: Perform, Listen, Intimidate, Taunt, Survival, Tumble


Class Abilities:
Level 1: Battle rythm +1
Level 2:
Level 3: Inspire fear
Level 4: Orders to Charge
Level 5: Orc War March, Battle rythm +2

Battle rythm: A war drummer inspires his fellow Orcs into a frenzy (including himself), improving their combat abilities. This gives a bonus to hit and damage. It starts at +1, and becomes +2 at 5th level. It does not stack with bard inspire courage or dread pirate inspire courage.

Inspire fear: Instead of encouraging his brethren an Orc War Drummer of 3rd level can choose to play ominous, demoralizing rythms. Enemies of the War Drummer must pass a save vs fear or suffer a -2 penalty to hit, damage and saves. DC is 15 + War drummer levels + (perform ranks+intimidate ranks)/3. Capped at 32.So that they can go any mix of perform/intimidate as they see fit, which lessen the need for able learner as intimidate is a class skill for most classes that could go for War Drummer.

Orders to Charge: At 4th level a War Drummer is able to signal the charge in a particularly enthralling way. The nearby allies gain +30% movement speed, +1 dodge AC, as well as the benefits from Furious Charger and Powerful Charge. If the War Drummer has Barbarian or Frenzied Berserker levels his allies also gain strength bonuses equal to half the bonuses of the War Drummer rage or frenzy.

The bonuses last for 10 rounds, cooldown : 4 minutes.

Orc War March: At 5th level an Orcish War Drummer, through skill and habit, is able to inspire fear in his enemies while playing a Battle Rythm.

For now it looks like that.

[aaron22]

so what stops us from taking Bard25/OWD5 or B20/DC5/OWD5 again? i can play other inspirations so the rhythm and courage are not paired.

that still seems like the best builds for this PrC.

[Valefort]

Well you just can't cross class OWD with Bard.