As always, thoughts and comments are welcome.
Psionic Beastmaster
“There is much knowledge to be learned from understanding our bestial brethren”
- Tavin the Tamer, half-elf psionic beastmaster
Psionic beastmasters are psionic practitioners who have an affinity for animals of all sorts. They revere the creatures of Athas and seek a deeper understanding of them through the use of the Way.
Psionic beastmasters tend to be of half-elf or human stock, though the may of any race. Most are psions, but its not unusual for a wilder or psychic warrior to take up the role of a psionic beastmaster. Multi-classed ranger/psions or druid/psions are also drawn to becoming psionic beastmasters.
NPC psionic beastmasters are usually outsiders that prefer the company of beasts over that of humanoid companionship. Others can be found in the city-states plying their skills to tame wild or exotic beasts for those who can afford their services.
Hit Die: d4.
RequirementsTo qualify to become a psionic beastmaster, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Skills: Handle Animal 4 ranks, Knowledge (psionics) 8 ranks.
Feat: Skill Focus (Handle Animal)
Psionics: Manifester level 5th and able to manifest mindlink.
Class Skills
The psionic beastmaster’s class skills are Autohypnosis (Wis), Concentration (Con), Craft (any) (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Knowledge (psionics) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Psicraft (Int), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), and Survival (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
[HTML]Table: The Psionic Beastmaster
Level BAB F R W Special
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Animal companion,wild empathy
2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 —
3rd +1 +1 +1 +3 Wild link
4th +2 +1 +1 +4 —
5th +2 +1 +1 +4 Beast companion(-3),primal mind
6th +3 +2 +2 +5 —
7th +3 +2 +2 +5 Bestial affinity
8th +4 +2 +2 +6 —
9th +4 +3 +3 +6 Beast companion(-6)
10th +5 +3 +3 +7 Call of the wild
Level Powers Known
1st -
2nd +1 level of existing manifesting class
3rd +1 level of existing manifesting class
4th +1 level of existing manifesting class
5th +1 level of existing manifesting class
6th +1 level of existing manifesting class
7th +1 level of existing manifesting class
8th +1 level of existing manifesting class
9th +1 level of existing manifesting class
10th - [/HTML]
Class Features
All the following are class features of the psionic beastmaster prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Psionic beastmasters gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Powers Known: At every level from 2nd through 9th, a psionic beastmaster gains additional power points per day and access to new powers as if he had also gained a level in whatever manifesting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (bonus feats, metapsionic or item creation feats, psicrystal special abilities, and so on). This essentially means that he adds the level of psionic beastmaster to the level of whatever manifesting class the character has, then determines power points per day, powers known, and manifester level accordingly.
If a character had more than one manifesting class before he became a psionic beastmaster, he must decide to which class he adds the new level of beastmaster for the purpose of determining power points per day, powers known, and manifester level.
Animal Companion (Ex): A psionic beastmaster gains the service of a loyal companion. See druid class feature. Treat the psionic beastmaster as a druid whose level is equal to the psionic beastmaster’s class level +3. The psionic beastmaster can select one of the animals available to a 1st level druid and then apply the modifications for a 4th level druid’s animal companion, or she can select a typical version of one of the animals available to a 4th level druid.
If the psionic beastmaster already has an animal companion from another class, his psionic beastmaster class level stacks with class levels from all other classes that grant an animal companion.
This ability functions like the druid ability of the same name except that shared spell ability works only with psionic powers.
Wild Empathy (Ex): A psionic beastmaster can improve the attitude of an animal. This ability functions just like a Diplomacy check made to improve the attitude of a person. The psionic beastmaster rolls 1d20 and adds his psioic beastmaster level and his Charisma modifier to determine the wild empathy check result.
The typical domestic animal has a starting attitude of indifferent, while wild animals are usually unfriendly.
To use wild empathy, the psionic beastmaster and the animal must be able to study each other, which means that they must be within 30 feet of one another under normal conditions. Generally, influencing an animal in this way takes 1 minute but, as with influencing people, it might take more or less time.
A psionic beastmaster can also use this ability to influence a magical beast with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2, but he takes a –4 penalty on the check.
Wild Link (Su): At 3rd level, a psionic beastmaster can communicate telepathically with animals that have a friendly attitude per their wild empathy ability. This ability functions exactly like the mindlink power except that it only affects animals. The psionic beastmaster can use this ability a number times a day equal to his class level as if manifested by a manifester of his class level.
Beast Companion (Ex): At 5th level, a psionic beastmaster acquires a second animal companion. This ability functions like the druid’s animal companion ability, except that the psionic beastmaster’s effective druid level is his class level –3. A psionic beastmaster may select from the alternative lists of animal companions just as a druid can, though again his effective druid level is his class level -3. Like a druid, a psionic beastmaster cannot select an alternative animal if the choice would reduce his effective druid level below 1st. At 9th level, a psionic beastmaster gains a third animal companion but the characters effective druid level is his class level –6.
Primal Mind (Ex): At 5th level, a psionic beastmaster does not have to pay 2 additional power points when he augments the powers psionic charm or psionic dominate to affect animals. This reduced point cost does not increase the save DC of the power as he had spent the additional power points.
Bestial Affinity (Ex): At 7th level and higher, a psionic beastmaster not only has an affinity for animals but for all primitive beasts. The psionic beastmaster’s wild link and primal mind abilities can also be use on magical beasts with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2. Furthermore, the character no longer suffers a –4 penalty to influence magical beasts on wild empathy checks.
Call of the Wild (Su): A 10th level a psionic beastmaster can send out a mental call, as a full round action, to summon animals once per day. This ability is similar to a summon nature’s ally IX spell, except that the psionic beastmaster can only summon creatures of the animal type. Summoned creatures remain for 10 rounds and follow the psionic beastmaster’s commands.
Suggestion wise: considering that the beastmaster could have to handle beasts physically at times, I'd see him with more hit points; maybe d6 or d8. Less specialty in psionics (gains a power every 2 levels).
Vigor would be the answer to that my friend ;)
One question- why two animal companions? I would almost think it was better if you allowed them to have their full level toward one campanion vs having two. My reasoning for this is at 14th level (9 psion and 5 beastmaster), your animal campions would be really underpowered and more of a liability than help IMO.
I like the PrC- it is something that was pretty cool in 2e.
One question- why two animal companions? I would almost think it was better if you allowed them to have their full level toward one campanion vs having two. My reasoning for this is at 14th level (9 psion and 5 beastmaster), your animal campions would be really underpowered and more of a liability than help IMO.
Actually, they would have three at 9th level of the PrC. One thing to remember is that per the druid ability, the character can dismiss the companion for a "better one" at the players discretion.
However, the point of the companion is not for it be the sickest melee combatant possible.
Its far more accessible than Sysane or Nytcrawlr's beastmasters, but far more limited as well. Its mostly a NPC PrC.
Its not a bestmaster PrC at all, its a "dumb beasts of burden handler". I made it so it can even be taken by someone who isn't a manifester.
The Mind's Touch feat is based off similar feats found in Complete Arcane.
Cornac
“Under all that armored flesh and bone, there is a mind...”
- Ome, mekillot handler
Animal merchants, caravan masters, gladiatorial managers and cities’ templarates are always in need of animal handlers able to control the most unrully of beasts of burden―such as inixes, mekillots, and korinths―which sometimes turn on their trained handlers.
Anyone that has acquired the Mind’s Touch feat can become a cornac, be they commoners, experts or any other class. Cornacs are considered the lowest of psionic practitioners by the academies and schools of the Way, but still receive more respect and better wages than other civil workers. Few other races besides humans and dwarves use massive animals to accomplish tasks and as such do not train cornacs.
Cornacs have made of their skills with animals a profession, which they practice on a daily basis, on all hours of the day, often accompanying caravans or armies for long trips.
Hit Die: d6.
Requirements:
To qualify to become a cornac, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Base attack Bonus: +2.
Skills: Handle Animal 5 ranks, Sense Motive 2 ranks.
Feat: Mind’s Touch.
Class Skills:
The cornac’s class skills (and key ability for each skill) are Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (nature), Profession (cornac), Ride (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Use Rope.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Hit Die: d4.
Btw, there aren't any PrCs left in 3.5 that give d4s. I've seen that somehwere, a new design policy dating from the start of the Complete series I think. But ask around because I could be wrong.
Btw, there aren't any PrCs left in 3.5 that give d4s. I've seen that somehwere, a new design policy dating from the start of the Complete series I think. But ask around because I could be wrong.
I've never heard about that
Plus, I've seen plenty of 3.5 PrCs that still have d4s. There are 4 in the XPH alone.[i]For the mekillot, korinth, and inix handler I've created the following PrC.
Its far more accessible than Sysane or Nytcrawlr's beastmasters, but far more limited as well. Its mostly a NPC PrC.
Its not a bestmaster PrC at all, its a "dumb beasts of burden handler". I made it so it can even be taken by someone who isn't a manifester.
Not to dis Sysane's or Nyt's work, but that's what I was talking about. Cool, Pen.
Not to dis Sysane's or Nyt's work, but that's what I was talking about. Cool, Pen.
None taken. I agree that Pen's is cool for low level NPC's who deal with beasts of burden in the city-states.
None taken. I agree that Pen's is cool for low level NPC's who deal with beasts of burden in the city-states.
Exactly! My PrC is no hero stuff.
Btw its based off of a short story in one of the published adventures, where we meet such an individual.
Well, here's the psionic beastmaster PrC I've been working on.
As always, thoughts and comments are welcome.
Nice! Although I do agree with Peacebringer, a d6 HD would be more fitting. Vigor is good, but that only goes so far. Have a
anyway 
For the mekillot, korinth, and inix handler I've created the following PrC.
Its far more accessible than Sysane or Nytcrawlr's beastmasters, but far more limited as well. Its mostly a NPC PrC.
Its not a bestmaster PrC at all, its a "dumb beasts of burden handler". I made it so it can even be taken by someone who isn't a manifester.
The Mind's Touch feat is based off similar feats found in Complete Arcane.
Cornac
“Under all that armored flesh and bone, there is a mind...”
- Ome, mekillot handler
"So its a mind with all the cognitive power of an avacodo, its still a mind." ;)
Love the mini-PrC, Penn, and the Mind's Touch feat is nice. Any chances of seeing an expansion of that type of feat in regard to psionic powers? (Especially since I've barred the spell-like feats in Complete Arcane from my DS game. Too high-magic. Psi-like feats would be a nice replacement.)
Nice! Although I do agree with Peacebringer, a d6 HD would be more fitting. Vigor is good, but that only goes so far. Have a
To justify giving it a d6 (which I don't agree with. The purpose of the PrC is to befriend animals, not fight them), I'd have to either take away some of the manifester levels, or increase the PrC requirements.
To justify giving it a d6 (which I don't agree with. The purpose of the PrC is to befriend animals, not fight them), I'd have to either take away some of the manifester levels, or increase the PrC requirements.
Who said anything about fighting animals? In any case, I'd chop the manifester level increase at 4th and 7th levels to make up for it. Just my do as you please. Its your baby, after all (and I still like it).
The comments that people have offered in regards to increasing the hit die seems to stem from that the PrC "works" with beasts/animals. I don't see that as a vaild reason for a d6 HD. The PrC is a manifester class first and fore most.
In any case, I'd chop the manifester level increase at 4th and 7th levels to make up for it. Just my
Thanks for the input ;)
Love the mini-PrC, Penn, and the Mind's Touch feat is nice. Any chances of seeing an expansion of that type of feat in regard to psionic powers?
Another PrC of mine - which I believe is already posted - called the Empath Healer uses a feat called Healer's Heart, which gives use of empathy at will.
The comments that people have offered in regards to increasing the hit die seems to stem from that the PrC "works" with beasts/animals. I don't see that as a vaild reason for a d6 HD. The PrC is a manifester class first and fore most.
Yeah, I get that. It was just that with d4s, I could easily imagine an agent coming to the Head of a merchant house saying:
"Oh yeah, forgot t'tell ya, boss, we gonna need a new beesmaster 'cos ower lass one got squished in the mek'lot pen again."
But with Penn's Cornac Prc, everything's all right.
Yeah, I get that. It was just that with d4s, I could easily imagine an agent coming to the Head of a merchant house saying:
"Oh yeah, forgot t'tell ya, boss, we gonna need a new beesmaster 'cos ower lass one got squished in the mek'lot pen again."
Yeah, a maxed out psionic beastmaster with 16d4 that could Vigor for 70 extra hit points would get squished pretty easily huh
None taken. I agree that Pen's is cool for low level NPC's who deal with beasts of burden in the city-states.
Agreed, plus Sysane's is *much* better than mine anyways.
Mine is probably way too simple, and it's been awhile since I touched it, so I will probably just use Sysane's.
Agreed, plus Sysane's is *much* better than mine anyways.
Mine is probably way too simple, and it's been awhile since I touched it, so I will probably just use Sysane's.
Thank you kindly.Another PrC of mine - which I believe is already posted - called the Empath Healer uses a feat called Healer's Heart, which gives use of empathy at will.
OK, I give up :surrender I've looked through the archives three times now, but I can't find it. I remember seeing the thread before too
You don't happen to have a link handy, do you Penn?“I feel your pain. Let me take it…”
- Ruuna, pterran empath healer
Few are the people who have the gift of empathy, known as the healer’s heart. They feel too much of the pain and suffering around them, which often leads them on the path of the healer.
Anyone that has acquired the Healer’s Heart feat can become an empath healer, be they commoners, experts or any other class. Empath healers are considered minor psionic practitioners by the psionic academies, but their talent is recognised and respected where ever they travel. All races can become empath healers, although the innate emapthy is most often found among aarakocras, humans and pterrans. The empathy makes them loathe to hurt others, thus this prestige class is never encountered in warriors.
The healing path that the empath healer follows is often a family tradition passed on down the generations. NPC empath healers may be found working in temples or accompanying armies in times of conflict, although a few freely take upon themselves the pain of their compatriates and ask nothing in return.
Hit Die: d6.
Requirements:
To qualify to become an empath healer, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Alignment: Any nonevil.
Base Will Save: +4.
Skills: Concentration 4 ranks, Heal 8 ranks.
Feat: Healer’s Heart.
Class Skills:
The empath healer’s class skills (and key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Profession (healer) (Wis), and Spot (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Yeah, a maxed out psionic beastmaster with 16d4 that could Vigor for 70 extra hit points would get squished pretty easily huh
I guess not, but not everyone could afford to pay a Beastmaster who's maxed out at 16th level. The common folk need trainers too and low level characters could easily get squished by a mekillot's rear end.
Again, I am not saying that your Beastmaster is not a good PrC (it is), just that it probably wouldn't be as numourous as the Cornac in a city population. It's more specialized and more PC oriented than Penn's PrC.
I'm sorry if I've not been clear enough, Sysane. Yours is a fine PrC.
PB
First I was offereing my own PrC in answer to concerns about yours, proving the two PrCs didn't do the same job, and then I answered Khaine's request to see this lost PrC I once posted.
I guess not, but not everyone could afford to pay a Beastmaster who's maxed out at 16th level. The common folk need trainers too and low level characters could easily get squished by a mekillot's rear end.
Again, I am not saying that your Beastmaster is not a good PrC (it is), just that it probably wouldn't be as numourous as the Cornac in a city population. It's more specialized and more PC oriented than Penn's PrC.
I'm sorry if I've not been clear enough, Sysane. Yours is a fine PrC.
PB
Eh, no big deal. I agree that Penn's PrC would be more common place in the cities and what not than mine. I could even see a NPC starting as a Cornac and later becoming a Psionic Beastmaster.
Er, I'm way late for saying this but I'm sorry for having partially highjacked your thread Sysane.
First I was offereing my own PrC in answer to concerns about yours, proving the two PrCs didn't do the same job, and then I answered Khaine's request to see this lost PrC I once posted.
Don't worry. I'll take my revenge in another thread :evillaugh
Just kidding (or am I?
)and then I answered Khaine's request to see this lost PrC I once posted.
And thank you very much for doing so :D I really like this one too, especially the Empathic Healing and Healer's Strength abilities. Again, its a nice little PrC that picks up some of the "off-screen" roles that most people don't think about. Kudos! Have one on me
And thank you very much for doing so :D I really like this one too, especially the Empathic Healing and Healer's Strength abilities. Again, its a nice little PrC that picks up some of the "off-screen" roles that most people don't think about. Kudos! Have one on me
Heh :D
I think I'll rename the thread. :P
Thanks for putting a link to your Racial Paragons in your sig. Maybe now you won't have people asking you were to find them anymore. Maybe ;)
Eh, no sweat. I should have put it there sooner.