Author Topic: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]  (Read 5081 times)

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bogsnes

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The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« on: February 01, 2009, 02:59:39 PM »
The Kira

HD: d4

Lvl BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1   + 0  + 0 + 0 + 2  Death Note, Curse of Fighting, Shinigami
2   + 1  + 0 + 0 + 3  Curse of Power, Curse of Agility
3   + 1  + 1 + 1 + 3  Curse of Health
4   + 2  + 1 + 1 + 4  Curse of Life, Curse of Defence
5   + 2  + 1 + 1 + 4  Curse of Logic
6   + 3  + 2 + 2 + 5  Curse of Personality
7   + 3  + 2 + 2 + 5  Curse of Stupidity, Fast Writing
8   + 4  + 2 + 2 + 6  Curse of Fear
9   + 4  + 3 + 3 + 6  Curse of Suggestion
10  + 5  + 3 + 3 + 7  Curse of Disease
11  + 5  + 3 + 3 + 7  Curse of Control
12  + 6  + 4 + 4 + 8  Curse of Physics
13  + 6  + 4 + 4 + 8  Curse of Thoughts, Mass Writing
14  + 7  + 4 + 4 + 9  Curse of Geas, Curse of Blindness/Deafness
15  + 7  + 5 + 5 + 9  Curse pf Insanity
16  + 8  + 5 + 5 +10  Curse of Dancing
17  + 8  + 5 + 5 +10  Curse of Imprisonment
18  + 9  + 6 + 6 +11  Curse of Death
19  + 9  + 6 + 6 +11  Extreme Writing
20  +10  + 6 + 6 +12  Improved Curse of Death, Shinigami Self

Class Skills: (4+Int Mod SP per level) Appraise, Autohypnosis, Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Disable Device, Disguise, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge (all skills taken induvidually), Move Silently, Open Lock, Profession, Search, Sense Motive, Slight of Hand, Speak Language, Spellcraft, Spot, UMD

Death Note:
At first level, the Kira gets a magical book called death note.
This book will never run out of pages, and the Kira does automatically regain the possesion of it, should they lose it.
The Kira may write other peoples name in it, creating various negative effects, but to do so, they must know their subjects name and face (Disguising and Transmorphing does not help).
The Kira may also trade half of his remaining lifespan to gain the special eyes of a shinigami which allows him to know a person's name just by looking at them. This ability passes through any name cowering effect.
It takes a standard action to write someone's name into the the book, and then it starts effecting after 40 seconds (~7 rounds).
Eventually, the Kira may write their name as a full-round action, and in that case he may choose when it effects them (from a minimum of instantaneous, to a maximum of 23 days) (later referred to as a time-alternating writing).
They may write any number of names into the book, but each effect cannot be used more than once per 24 hours on a specific person.
Unless otherwise noted, the subject gets no chance to avoid the effects.
When it uses the ability from a spell, it allows a saving throw if the spell does. It then effects just like the spell, unless otherwise noted. It does never allow spell resistance, however.
The saving throw from the effects are 10+half class level+Int modifier.
Unless otherwise noted (or you are emulating a spell), the effects last for 1 hour per class level.

Curse of Fighting:
The subject takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls, damage rolls and AC.
The penalty increases by -2 at 3rd level, and every 4th level afterwards.

Curse of Power:
The subject takes a -4 penalty to Strength.
This increases by -2 at 5th level, and every 5th level afterwards.

Curse of agility:
The subject takes a -4 penalty to Dexterity.
This increases by -2 at 5th level, and every 5th level afterwards.

Curse of Health:
The subject takes a -4 penalty to Constitiution.
As usual, if it goes down to 0 Constitiution, it dies as normal.
This increases by -2 at 5th level, and every 5th level afterwards.

Curse of Life:
The subject gains one negative level.
As usual, if it gains as many negative levels as HD, it dies.
They gains one extra negative level at 8th level, and every 4th level afterwards.

Curse of Defence:
The subject gains a -2 penalty to saving throws.
This increases by -1 at 10th and 20th level.

Curse of Logic:
The subject takes a -4 penalty to Wisdom.
This increases by -2 at 8th level, and every 4th level afterwards.

Curse of Personality:
The subject takes a -4 penalty to Charisma.
This increases by -2 at 8th level, and every 4th level afterwards.

Curse of Stupidity:
The subject takes a -4 penalty to Intelligence.
This increases by -2 at 8th level, and every 4th level afterwards.

Curse of Fear:
The subject is shaken for a number of rounds equal to your class level+your intelligence modifier.

Curse of Suggestion:
As the spell Suggestion.

Curse of Diseases:
As the spell Contagion.

Curse of Control:
As the spell Dominate Monster, but the duration is 1 min/level, and you cannot force them to fail saving throws.
At level 15 it lasts 10 min/level, and at level 19 it lasts 1 hour/level.

Curse of Physics:
The subject takes a penalty to Strength, Dexterity and Constitiution equal to half the penalty from Curse of Power.

Curse of Thoughts:
The subject takes a penalty to Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma equal to half the penalty from Curse of Logic.

Curse of Geas:
As the spell Geas.

Curse of Blindness/Deafness:
Permanent Blindness or Deafness with no save. Can only be used once, even if it is dispelled or removed.

Curse of Insanity:
As the spell Insanity.

Curse of Dancing:
As the spell Otto's Irresistable Dance.

Curse of Imprisonment:
As the spell Imrisonment.

Curse of Death:
The subject must make a saving throw or die. If they have 5 less HD than you have Kira levels or less, they get no saving throw. This may only be used once per person, even if they make their save.

Improved Curse of Death:
Curse of Death does no longer give any saving throw to anyone that has 2 less HD than you have Kira levels or less.
In addition, you get an extra chance to kill anyone you have failed to kill with Curse of Death (this don't apply to future tries).

Shinigami:
You get a Death god that follows you. He does not help you, cannot be hurt, and cannot be seen or heard by anyone that not has touched your death note. You can talk to him, however (and it makes avesome fluff).

Fast Writing:
You may write someone normally into your book as a move-action, and time-alternating writing as a standard action.
Additionally you may write 2 time-alternating or 3 normal writings as a Full-round action.

Mass Writing:
You may write 3 time-alternating or 4 normal writings as a Full-round action.

Extreme writing:
You may write 4 time-alternating or 6 normal writings as a Full-round action.
Additionally, you may write 2 time-alternating writings as a Standard action, and 2 Normal as a Move-action.
Also, you make write one normal writing as a swift action, and one time-alternating writing as a move-action.

Shinigami Self:
You become an Outsider. Additionally, you gain the special eyes if you don't already have them, and when you kill someone with an effect from the Death Note, you may add their remaining lifespan to yours.

Any comments are welcomed.
Also, I want to know if this is balanced or to good, or to bad.
Also, I need to know what to do in that case. If it is to bad, I am thinking to add a few spells.
If anything is unclear, let me know.

bogsnes

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2009, 10:40:35 AM »
anyone?

woodenbandman

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2009, 11:36:45 AM »
It's either too good, being able to kill anything, or not good at all, seeing as how you can either decide to know their name or not, with no way to protect against it, besides making your save. And it's really hard to make your save with all the things you can stack on them.

There should be a way to defend against the shinigami eyes. After all, if they've taken the thought, they should be allowed to defend their name.

bogsnes

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2009, 11:42:48 AM »
It's either too good, being able to kill anything, or not good at all, seeing as how you can either decide to know their name or not, with no way to protect against it, besides making your save. And it's really hard to make your save with all the things you can stack on them.

There should be a way to defend against the shinigami eyes. After all, if they've taken the thought, they should be allowed to defend their name.

they don't get the ability to kill anyone with many HD before level 18...
they does just give penalties, unlike the anime series (which is awesome BTW)...
I am thinking that you have to see their face to use the shinigami eyes, but that would mean that they are becoming useless crap in many encounters (depends on the DM)...
Maybe I'll do it harder to know their name, and give them some spells so they can do something when they meet something that they can't know the name of???

woodenbandman

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2009, 11:45:21 AM »
That is a point, but they do make top-notch debuffers, maybe a bit too good for an infinite use thing. They can give negative levels, then give Con/Wisdom penalties, then give more penalties... Might be a bit much for an infinite use thing. Try comparing them to a Binder, and see how the two fare.

bogsnes

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2009, 12:26:14 PM »
they can't debuff to much per round, though...
but I get your point, maybe limit it to X/day, like 2x(class level + Int mod), do that they must see their real face, and give them a few spells?

Prime32

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2009, 12:28:24 PM »
Wait, you get some good effects, but you have to wait seven rounds before they take affect?

Quote
Eventually, the Kira may write their name as a full-round action, and in that case he may choose when it effects them (from a minimum of instantaneous, to a maximum of 23 days)
When is "eventually"?

Is there any reason not to take the eyes? What's the point of even having it as an option?
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The tier system in a nutshell:
[spoiler]Tier 6: A cartographer.
Tier 5: An expert cartographer or a decent marksman.
Tier 4: An expert marksman.
Tier 3: An expert marksman, cartographer and chef who can tie strong knots and is trained in hostage negotiation or a marksman so good he can shoot down every bullet fired by a minigun while armed with a rusted single-shot pistol that veers to the left.
Tier 2: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything, or the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.
Tier 1: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything and the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.[/spoiler]

bogsnes

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2009, 01:15:13 PM »
ehh... I don't know, just want to have it there, so it is more like the anime serie...

Sunic_Flames

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2009, 01:51:12 PM »
Just the fact it takes 7 rounds to actually take effect means the combat is long over. Death Note does not translate into D&D.
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bogsnes

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2009, 01:58:30 PM »
Just the fact it takes 7 rounds to actually take effect means the combat is long over. Death Note does not translate into D&D.
It takes a standard action to write someone's name into the the book, and then it starts effecting after 40 seconds (~7 rounds).
Eventually, the Kira may write their name as a full-round action, and in that case he may choose when it effects them (from a minimum of instantaneous, to a maximum of 23 days) (later referred to as a time-alternating writing).

What?

bihlbo

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2009, 03:02:56 PM »
This is pooly written. Besides that, this class doesn't seem to have a real purpose. A focus, yes, but not a purpose. Why would I go through what we can assume is the same amount of training a level 1 fighter or wizard receives in order to do one thing, and that one thing I can do doesn't protect me or help me kill an enemy in any way - unless I know the enemy's name and can prepare to fight him for almost a minute? Absolutely pointless.

they don't get the ability to kill anyone with many HD before level 18...
they does just give penalties, unlike the anime series (which is awesome BTW)...

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bkdubs123

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2009, 03:03:31 PM »
Eventually, the Kira may write their name as a full-round action, and in that case he may choose when it effects them (from a minimum of instantaneous, to a maximum of 23 days) (later referred to as a time-alternating writing).

What?

What do you mean Bogsnes, we don't understand. As a standard action a Kira can make a worthless threat (ie: gesture rudely toward someone to create an effect that doesn't go off for seven rounds)? What the hell does eventually mean? Or is that not supposed to be there? Can a 1st level Kira effect someone instantaneously with his ability by using a full round action? If not, when does the Kira gain the ability to do that?

Further, if a 1st level Kira can only effect people after waiting seven rounds then you need to change that. It's horribly, terribly, abysmal.

Finally, all of the ability score penalties need to include the "this penalty cannot reduce an ability score below 1" clause. The bit about killing someone with a penalty to Con score is a no, no. Especially with the killing curse you get at a much later level (hint: it would be easier to reduce someone's Con to 0 than effect them with that curse).

bogsnes

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2009, 04:12:36 PM »
Eventually, the Kira may write their name as a full-round action, and in that case he may choose when it effects them (from a minimum of instantaneous, to a maximum of 23 days) (later referred to as a time-alternating writing).

What?

What do you mean Bogsnes, we don't understand. As a standard action a Kira can make a worthless threat (ie: gesture rudely toward someone to create an effect that doesn't go off for seven rounds)? What the hell does eventually mean? Or is that not supposed to be there? Can a 1st level Kira effect someone instantaneously with his ability by using a full round action? If not, when does the Kira gain the ability to do that?

Further, if a 1st level Kira can only effect people after waiting seven rounds then you need to change that. It's horribly, terribly, abysmal.

Finally, all of the ability score penalties need to include the "this penalty cannot reduce an ability score below 1" clause. The bit about killing someone with a penalty to Con score is a no, no. Especially with the killing curse you get at a much later level (hint: it would be easier to reduce someone's Con to 0 than effect them with that curse).

They may A wait for seven rounds as a standard, practical if you want to kill someone far away or something...
or B as a Full-round do it from instantaneous to 23 days, or anything between (kill someone after a week if you want to)...
The Full-round option is probably the best combat-wize...
And all from level 1...

Straw_Man

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2009, 05:36:29 PM »

  The Kira is an NPC class, or for very specialised campaigns with intrigue and whatnot. You want Deathnote? Make it a 5 level prestige class that depends on getting a Death Note and having literacy. 4hp and 6 sp.

  First level, you get to use Death Note and meet your Shinigami. This is D&D, you need the victims Truename, so you get Truenaming as a skill and a +2 bonus per level of D.Note: Revealing the Name.

  Second level you can bribe the Shinigami with apples to scry for you: Do you know reapers love apples? Add in a level of Truespeaker hoodou if your feeling kind.

  Third level you get Slippery Mind: Just as I Planned and a True Naming feat.

  Fourth you get the option to take Shinigami eyes, costs 4 Con (how else do you adjudicate half your lifespan?! D&D is crunch not fluff!): Death God's Eyes. You can choose one cleric divination spell as if you were a cleric of your HD-2 and cast it as a extraordinary ability once a day (mechanics: looking for a way to represent the intelligence of the users, needs to be some sort of prescient spell that works.) More Truespeaker casting, if you can call it that.

  Fifth level you become a Shinigami, a.k.a. you get the Outsider type (no other bonuses), or become a Shinigami if you did the eyes bit, add a weakened ghost template, some Cha penalties and a curse you can only be seen/remembered  by D.Note holders. Yeah, sucks to be your party. Add more Truespeaker bennies.

  Death Note for D&D. Would you play it?
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Prime32

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2009, 06:14:44 PM »
I would have just said "Play a truenamer and switch the verbal components for somatic ones". You know, if truenamers were playable...

Basically, it's really hard to get Death Note to work in D&D - it just doesn't fit the manner of play (maybe it could work in Burning Wheel, but I doubt it). When you try you get something like this.
Code Geass is easier.
« Last Edit: February 02, 2009, 06:24:17 PM by Prime32 »
My work
The tier system in a nutshell:
[spoiler]Tier 6: A cartographer.
Tier 5: An expert cartographer or a decent marksman.
Tier 4: An expert marksman.
Tier 3: An expert marksman, cartographer and chef who can tie strong knots and is trained in hostage negotiation or a marksman so good he can shoot down every bullet fired by a minigun while armed with a rusted single-shot pistol that veers to the left.
Tier 2: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything, or the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.
Tier 1: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything and the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.[/spoiler]

Straw_Man

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #15 on: February 02, 2009, 06:35:35 PM »
I would have just said "Play a truenamer and switch the verbal components for somatic ones". You know, if truenamers were playable...

Basically, it's really hard to get Death Note to work in D&D - it just doesn't fit the manner of play (maybe it could work in Burning Wheel, but I doubt it). When you try you get something like this.
Code Geass is easier.

  It's something I tossed off the top of my head. Don't know if I would play it myself, a Death Note should be high, high level item. But if Truenamers had a Death Note'esque attack they'd be more playable  ;)
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Such thoughts lead inevitably to transformation sequences."

Bauglir

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #16 on: February 02, 2009, 08:01:20 PM »
Quote
Shinigami:
You get a Death god that follows you. He does not help you, cannot be hurt, and cannot be seen or heard by anyone that not has touched your death note. You can talk to him, however (and it makes avesome fluff).

So when does he find a Fistful of Rubies?

Seriously, though, plotwriting abilities are bad.

Quote
Code Geass is easier.

And better in many other ways, besides. [/totally unbiased, really]
So you end up stuck in an endless loop, unable to act, forever.

In retrospect, much like Keanu Reeves.

Bozwevial

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2009, 08:44:50 PM »
How is that plot-writing? Is having a large bear follow you around a plot-writing ability? Because the animal companion is rather similar.

...In certain aspects, anyway.

Bauglir

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #18 on: February 02, 2009, 09:28:16 PM »
The bear actually does something.

Mostly, though, it seems like a, "This happened to Light, so it should happen for the class" element. Generally, anything that's purely fluff isn't great for a class, IMHO. I suppose I should've referenced the "favorably remembered by Dwarves" ability.
So you end up stuck in an endless loop, unable to act, forever.

In retrospect, much like Keanu Reeves.

veekie

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Re: The Kira [3.5 Base Class]
« Reply #19 on: February 02, 2009, 11:04:29 PM »
I would have just said "Play a truenamer and switch the verbal components for somatic ones". You know, if truenamers were playable...

Basically, it's really hard to get Death Note to work in D&D - it just doesn't fit the manner of play (maybe it could work in Burning Wheel, but I doubt it). When you try you get something like this.
Code Geass is easier.

  It's something I tossed off the top of my head. Don't know if I would play it myself, a Death Note should be high, high level item. But if Truenamers had a Death Note'esque attack they'd be more playable  ;)
A fixed Truenamer would do a lot better for this class, yes.
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