Orc War Drummer

[aaron22]

oh ok. so server rule like druid/monk not some mechanical reason like barb/pali. thanks vale

[aaron22]

had a player interested in rolling one of these. is it live? if so, can the forum "new classes" thread get updated?

[Valefort]

It is not live yet.

[aaron22]

eta?

[Valefort]

Something that doesn't depend on me No eta can be given.

[aaron22]

ok. thanks vale.

[aaron22]

hey how game breaking with this little improvement be. i ust thought of it and thought it could go further in solidifying the class concept and makes it even more versatile without stacking on or being overpowered.

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: Inspire fear
Level 3: Orders to Charge
Level 4: Respected and Feared
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 2nd 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 3rd 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.

Respected and Feared: At the 4th level a War Drummer has gathered respect among his peers and garnered the fear from his enemies. This climb in social stature is represented by a one time and permanent increase in charisma by 2 points.

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.

what do you think?

[Moltrazahn]

Orcs already have negative charisma modifiers. This would be an interesting way to get up to the standard "8" of other races.

Is it game breaking? Hmm... well. We got one other class that gives permenant attributes bonus... do i think its op... no. Not essentially. Given that its a melee focus class. I dont think 2 charisma is op.

The issues only really come if you start thinking of orcs useing charisma-essential classes. Like bards or favored souls...

But then again one could counterargue that orcs already are weaker inclined for those classes. So... no dont think its op. Not really. Given its orc only...

However, id almost then vote that the class be one that only grey orcs could get it. Not to cash hate against half-orcs. But because it is easer to access stuff as a half orc than a full orc.
(Disclaimer. I realise the above does not reflect on all half-orcs or grey orc players. Their personal experience or treatment thereof. It is mearly to reflect over the added bonus which ensures it "gets harder to get". Consider it a personal opinion).

One could argue that +2 charisma is effectively 2 epic feats.

Still. Given the races the class it appeals to... i dont think its op. No.

[aaron22]

the con bonus to BM is really good but funny thing is alot of BM builds stop right before the bonus on a class that could really use a couple extra con. it just doesnt make sense to take the extra levels for other class combinations.

thinking the OWD is mainly fit for barb and FB builds with a bit of synergy toward WoD. none of those classes benefit at all from +2 cha. bard cannot cross class with OWD so that is out. i see this opening up options with warlock, BG, sorc, sorc-gish, and FvS's. and with this it gives it the versatility that seems to be the desire from the designers. cool huh? and it doesnt fall away from the concept behind the PrC either.

[Sputnik]

as well as the benefits from Furious Charger and Powerful Charge.

Furious Charger and Powerful Charge become useless at around level 11. Seeing as the OWD will already be higher level than this upon unlocking it, I suggest an improvement to this ability.

Instead, have it give Dire Charge and Furious Charger.

[aaron22]

furious charger gives +4 instead of +2 on AB at the end of a charge and powerful charge gives bonus damage on a successful attack at the end of a charge. its not AMAZING, but it is not bad for a bonus to all allies. it only drops the groups ac by 1 but gives movement speed bonus with +4 to hit and bonus to damage depending on target size. that doesnt seem to bad to me.

[Sputnik]

Without Dire Charge, a character only gets one attack per round when they charge.
That is why the current feat combo is useless for anyone with multiple attacks.

[Valefort]

Yeah I came to the same conclusion for Charge, below is the state of the PRC. I think it's very strong, possibly too much for a 5 levels PRC and really not seeing this get +2 CHA on top.

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), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. This gives a bonus to hit, damage and saves versus fear. 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.

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 and are granted the feats Furious Charger and Dire Charge for the duration of the effect.

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.

[aaron22]

is orders to charge activated by the OWD and then it gives bonuses out or do each of the allies need to perform a charge maneuver to gain the benefits?

[matelener]

is orders to charge activated by the OWD and then it gives bonuses out or do each of the allies need to perform a charge maneuver to gain the benefits?

No need to charge. Bonuses are granted right after the use of the ability.