The Gizmomancer

[LoA]

So i've been hard at work on my Alternate History fantasy setting where the earth became coterminous with a planescape of magical realms in the mid 1800's, and is basically shadowrun set in the early 20th century. So there's been a few things I'm working on. Races, how does this play out on the grand theater. How does WW1 play out (actually i'd like to set it in ww1), and so on and so forth.

I asked Sparkletwist about her thoughts on Magitech, and what she sent me made a lot sense. The magic system in dnd is prescedent on the fact that magic is rare, and not just anyone can learn it. PC's are special so they can enter magic if they like, but wizards are rather rare. But if you assume there's an arcane institute that anyone can enter and learn things about magic. Well when everyone knows how to cast basic spells, there's two things that can happen. Number one, most people find some way to utilize the magic they learned. New tapestry techniques, improved blacksmithing, and finding unique ways to improve their world with magic. Or they all just kill each other with fireballs (this won't get me sued will it?). Lets just assume the optimistic route is taken. Will eventually Magic starts becoming a technology rather than a mysterious force that only an elite few can wield. However this world is a world where science interacts with magic, and brings about whole new levels of ideas and
And that's where the Gizmomancer comes in.

So wizards still exist in this world (not sure about sorcerers yet) and I've decided to just leave the magic system alone. No artificers, or anything like that. However....

One of my favorite classes ever was the Coglayer from Dragonmech. Basically there a tinkerer class that basically worked off of things called steam powers. They worked like this. You have a set number of steam powers that are basically mechanical components.

Steam pressurizers, Gas spewers, Electrical generators, fog machines, Freeze machines, etc, etc. When you have these components they can be combined into different new machines all together. Electrical Generator+Steam Pressurizer=Storm Cloud Gun. Or Bike Frame+Fuel Engine+Ornithopter Wings= Flying Bicycle of Awesome!

Basically Dragonmech was a setting where it was over the top Steampunk, and you could get away with a lot of stuff in that setting. People have made tanks with steam powers, and all kinds of stuff, and that's what I want to bring to my game, that sort of problematic players dream class that all DM's look under the bed before going to sleep.

So basically I want use the same premise for the Gizmomancer, only with Magitech instead of straight steampunk. I mean there are mechanical aspects to this new magitech, but it's primarily fueled by arcane forces that act on the mechanical parts. That sort of thing. So There magicians who build magical machine parts and they combine them into whatever the situation demands.

The original class had weaknesses that made sense. It cost money and resources to build new steam powers and maintain them, and this could get costly if not done right.

I ask the more Crunchy inclined three simple questions. What are the best class templates out there, how do you know if something is imbalanced, and how do you feel about this idea overall?

[sparkletwist]

Since I've already been quoted I will chime in... :grin:

What are the best class templates out there

I'm not sure what you mean by class templates.

how do you know if something is imbalanced

Well, if it is "that sort of problematic players dream class that all DM's look under the bed before going to sleep" then it's probably not balanced... :grin:
Seriously, though, balance in d20 games is kind of tricky business. The short answer is that a character of level N should be able to fit in with a party of other characters of level N and be able to contribute in a level-appropriate way without overshadowing anyone, but that's of course somewhat problematic because capabilities at "level N" tend to vary anyway. This is, after all, a system where Fighter and Wizard are both classes in the core book-- so I'd look at classes that came along later and are more powerful than the Fighter and less powerful than the Wizard, like some the variant spellcasters or the Tome of Battle classes.

how do you feel about this idea overall?

It sounds interesting, although I'm not sure how it'd work mechanically, yet. Adjudicating all of the various pieces that can fit together to create magical technology seems like a little bit of a headache for the DM.

[LoA]

Since I've already been quoted I will chime in... :grin:

What are the best class templates out there

I'm not sure what you mean by class templates.

how do you know if something is imbalanced

Well, if it is "that sort of problematic players dream class that all DM's look under the bed before going to sleep" then it's probably not balanced... :grin:
Seriously, though, balance in d20 games is kind of tricky business. The short answer is that a character of level N should be able to fit in with a party of other characters of level N and be able to contribute in a level-appropriate way without overshadowing anyone, but that's of course somewhat problematic because capabilities at "level N" tend to vary anyway. This is, after all, a system where Fighter and Wizard are both classes in the core book-- so I'd look at classes that came along later and are more powerful than the Fighter and less powerful than the Wizard, like some the variant spellcasters or the Tome of Battle classes.

how do you feel about this idea overall?

It sounds interesting, although I'm not sure how it'd work mechanically, yet. Adjudicating all of the various pieces that can fit together to create magical technology seems like a little bit of a headache for the DM.

Ok so first off, what i meant by a "class template" is what's the best way to post a class on this forum. But if you happen to know a better way to organize class information besides the standard d20 table system, than I'd be happy to listen.

Alright so I finally found some of my old Dmech books and this was the Coglayer overall.

HD: D4
BAB: Low Progression

Save Progression: Will Save: Good
Reflex Save: Poor, Fort. Save: Poor

Special Abilities:

Machine Empathy: Basically this gives you a bonus feat called Craft Steam Gear, and then you add your class level as a bonus to all checks involving machines. So if you are repairing something and you are level 4, you gain a bonus of 4 for that check. Etc, etc.

Exotic Weapon Proficiency: This was a world wtih lots of weird weapons. Chainsaws, Steam cannons, etc were treated as exotic weapons. You gained an EWP feat first level and then one every four levels after that.

Mech Weapon Proficiency: This was a world with giant robots and stuff, you gained proficiency with using cannons and stuff that are mounted on mechs. Kind of irrelevant for this setting.

Steam Powers: This where the bread and butter comes in.
First Level: 2+int Mod steam powers. Then every level on you gain one steam power. There is a cut off eventually, but I'm only dealing with the first 6 levels. So by level six you have 7 +Int Mod steam powers.

The book says that this is not a representation of what you know as a coglayer, rather it's a representation of what you can maintain and carry.
You must maintain your steam powers each day, or else face chances of  equipment failure

Integrated Parts: At third level, and every four levels on, a Coglayer may combine two steam powers into one steam power for storage purposes, thus you get two steam powers for one steam power slot.

Alright that's the basic layout of the class so far. There's one feature that comes at 12th level called "That Piece is Important" but it's only relevant to dragonmech, and again, I'm only dealing with the first six levels.

E6 is very fun for homebrewing. No real headaches.

WIP (I'll be back with more later)

[sparkletwist]

Personally I like this site for making those tables. PIFBB mode will create something that works here.