Zanpakuto Spirits

[rater202]

In the Current Story Arc, Ouetsu Nimaiya Had an Entire mansion Filled with girls that turned out to be Free roaming Zanpakuto Spirits. Between that and the Zanpakuto rebellion Filler Arc, it might be prudent to have a Class that represents them. I have some Ideas, but before posting it I would like to see if the team likes it first.

I am thinking D8, 3/4 base attack, and a bonus feat at First level, forth level, and every four levels afterword. they would get Shikai at level Four, but it would automatically be constant release. they would have a total of twenty Shikai abilities, two more than a Shinigami, and six Bankai abilities, one more than a Shinigami.

They would not have access to Kido or Shunpo, but their would be ten level Prestige Classes that would grant them access, as a shinigami.

At first Level, they would Choose their types, even though they don't have access to their abilities quite yet, and Choose a mode of attack, either with their weapon self, an unarmed strike, or an energy projectile. When one Gains their Shikai, their Primary attack mode would be altered slightly, based on the Dominant Type chosen. for example, A Fire type Zanpakuto, with a Projectile attack mode would have their projectile deal fire damage. basically a minor bonus to the attack. Damage would be Equivalent to that of a Warrior Shinigami's Zanpakuto Progression.

I am also thinking that they should have a Slightly longer bankai duration, maybe 2.5 rounds per character level? I am willing to throw that out if it would be over powering though.

Prestige Classes would include the Aforementioned Kido and Shunpo granting Classes, as well as a ten leveled one based on the Toju, and a general Upgrade Class like Captain or Espada. Maybe a Hybrid one since their is a half Hollow everything now.

Obviously the Focus of the Class would be on Zanpakuto abilities.

What dose the team think?

[blackestofmages]

my biggest concern rules wise is that is this class seems to play like a slightly modified version of the expert shinigami if they take the kido inept ACF, to such an extent the two would be close to interchangeable (one has shunpo and maxed out hit dice, the other has slightly more abilities and 2 more feats). if they take the kido/shunpo PrC then, well, they've become an expert shinigami with the constant release feat

also, why do they not get feats at level 2 and 3? seems a bit odd to not get one at those levels but then one every other level

my other concern is that this seems to be stepping on the toes of the summoning type - as calling forth your sword to do the fighting for you was the point of that type. making them a class seems to be done to the point of nullifying the main fous of that type, since, well - they're already up and running about. It'd also make the spirit summoner PrC just as pointless from the backdrop point of view (if not mechanically), especially since the spirit summoner gives an autonomous sword spirit that walks around with you, which'd mean you could get something like this class as a pet.

and on a related note, how would this work with the summoning type?

there's also the background issue that a zanpakuto cannot reach its full power - or even have an identity - without linking to a shinigami (and even though Oetsu refers to the asauchi as the strongest, it's in terms of potential power not current power. It took 6000 of them to wear out two shinigami who did not have their swords) meaning that for the class to have reached full power they're going to have needed to partner up with a shinigami and then have abandoned said shinigami and/or have the shinigami die. this is of course much less of an issue, but it still remains odd

Not saying don't make the class, though I am going to say it needs something more than a focus on zanpakuto abilities. the shinigami classes already have that, so it would be adding something we already have.

interested to see what you come up with

[rater202]

For Clarification, the Shunpo and Kido PRC's would be Separate, and the Kido one Might be Limited to Kido type Zanpakuto, I haven't Decided yet.

they would get a Feat at level three, I was referring Specifically to their Bonus feat progression, although I seem to have made a Typo. The Expert Shinigami Gets a Bonus feat at levels one and two, and then at every even level. A Free roaming Zanpakuto Would Have Slightly more than half that

As for the Summoning type? well when Tekken entered Bankai He Himself became the Puppet that Komamura usually Summons, so maybe the Summon type would affect the Spirit directly?

they would have Class features that directly affected their Zanpakuto Abilities, like for example lowering the Activation cost for one Specific Ability, or letting you take Certain individual abilities more often than normal. Or maybe taking One specialized ability for your dominant type?

The issue with power, and the Identity problem is something I am working on.
although those Chicks in the Manor house Seemed to have personalities and I doubt that they are All manifestations of Nimaiya's own Zanpakuto

Maybe someone from the 12th got ahold of Nimaiya's original Works and started making Zanpakuto of their own? Sword Spirits bound to an Artificial soul stored in the Spirits own Inner world? That would make them Distinct from the Spirits called by a Spirit Summoner, While being Fluffy enough to ignore for the purpose of NPC Backstories( Like How the Hollow Classes are Supposed to be Rare Paragons even though every NPC hollow that is more than a mook will be using them)

[rater202]

Aright I have A rough Draft of the Zanpakuto Spirit Class. It is still a work in progress but I Think it is playable. I Also have a Feat that is Exclusive to Zanpakuto Spirits at the end of the Document.
I am not Going to Place it in a Post because it is Huge. I have a Doc link instead.docs.google.com/document/d/1JVJkbbVhD7D3wK7AF_1qoezd90sju73ogjooAZGDHWY/edit

When I start making the Prestige classes, they will be in the Same Document, so I will link to it in the Prestige class Thread when the first on is done.

I am a bit worried about Having over done it power wise, so if it seems overpowered, please point out where, I would appreciate it.

and I Need some Ideas for the Modified Base attack Class feature, as I only have versions for a handful of the Zanpakuto types.

Beyond that, tell me what you think.

[blackestofmages]

On attack type, the projectile one seems to be much more effective than the others, what with it coming in with free energy damage whereas all the other types need to pick up the ability to deal energy damage using feats and such - especially since this is the very potent force damage in most cases. plus, at range it shouldn't deal the same amount of damage as a weapon without range - as it's much more versatile due to said range

another problem for the projectile type is based of the current zanpakuto system - these weapons would get no benefit from the elemental change types for several of the elements, or the projectile form zanpakuto ability, yet these abilities are tied directly into the prerequisites for several of the weapons.

I'd recommend just giving the projectile form the projectile weapon ability from the projectile type (regardless of access) and give each weapon the access to energy damage.

also, what's the critical threat range/damage of the ranged weapon.

The wording on enchanted blade could do with some looking at - I understand what it's trying to say, but the terminoligy implies the character is still an inanimate weapon.

Improved Base Attack: Ok, here is where the problem kicks in - the bonus equal to your level is downright obscene. +level fire damage to each attack is pretty potent, but it's the assassination's addition of effectively double BaB that's the most troublesome, as it means the character will never miss no matter what they give up. Honestly, I think for this type of ability setting each one to have a bonus equal to character level might cause problems since so many types have different focuses. and the current projectile sucks compared to the others (especially since, if your going to have projectile as your main type your going to be attacking using the projectiles own ranged form ability which grants greater range already and is used for the prerequisites so would be needed to make the type work).

as for suggestions of other types, healing could allow you to heal instead of harm. blood could heal the character whenever they make a successful attack. Darkness could inflict blindness/deafness. Kido could grant some spell like abilities and/or sep damage/regeneration. Mind, mayhaps confusion or something simmilar. Oppression should force some sort of debuf.

favoured ability causes a few problems, as it can be used to out and out dodge the activation cost limit - meaning the character can hit for double the damage of their character level. It's not as much f a problem for the -1s of the rest of the class, but the direct half is a step too far. Mayhaps state they need to be able to use the ability at full cost to use it? also, maybe have them gain multiple favoured abilities by leveling?

Improved enchanted blade comes in rather late - I'd recommend having the enchantment scale right from the offset, rather than needing to hit level 15 to get it.

Penultimate favoured ability: See problem mentioned before.

perfect favoured ability: No. that is all. the permanency is the problem here, though some abilities being made free could also cause headaches - being able to skip activation could be a game breaker for a few abilities (prismatic blade/spirit blade springs to mind).

[rater202]

- the bonus equal to your level is downright obscene

That's a Typo, It is supposed to be 1/5 of your level

favoured ability causes a few problems, as it can be used to out and out dodge the activation cost limit - meaning the character can hit for double the damage of their character level. It's not as much f a problem for the -1s of the rest of the class, but the direct half is a step too far. Mayhaps state they need to be able to use the ability at full cost to use it? also, maybe have them gain multiple favoured abilities by leveling?

No. that is all. the permanency is the problem here, though some abilities being made free could also cause headaches - being able to skip activation could be a game breaker for a few abilities (prismatic blade/spirit blade springs to mind).

Maybe I could tone it Down a bit? Something like drop the permanency and make it so that instead of 1/2-1/4-0 its 3/4-1/2-1/4? and the needing enough SEP to use the normal cost might be a good Idea. Maybe I should add a Clause stating that you have to take the Basic ability of a Tree as Your favored ability, since upgrade abilities keep their full additional cost.

Thanks for the Input.

[blackestofmages]

That's a Typo, It is supposed to be 1/4 of your level

gotcha

Maybe I could tone it Down a bit? Something like drop the permanency and make it so that instead of 1/2-1/4-0 its 3/4-1/2-1/4? and the needing enough SEP to use the normal cost might be a good Idea. Maybe I should add a Clause stating that you have to take the Basic ability of a Tree as Your favored ability, since upgrade abilities keep their full additional cost.

I'd say drop the permanency, and add in the clause they need to be able to afford it normally and everything will be fine the cost reductions are OK since they're limited to a single ability, and limiting it to the base ability is a bit harsh (especially since very few trees have a base ability with an activation cost worth reducing ).

I probably wasn't clear, but the reduced cost wasn't the problem so much as the option to use any ability at level 10 - get rid of that and we're golden

[rater202]

Adjustments have been made. When I said limiting it to The base of a Tree I meant that you could not take an ability that was a Direct Improvement to a separate ability, not one that just had one ability as a prerequisite. so you could take Flaming blade, but not improved flaming blade.

And it Can't be any ability, it has to be one, of the Dominant Type, that the Spirit Already Had.

I reduced the discount anyway.

Also, level 15 is a dead level now, so if you have any suggestions I am all ears.

[blackestofmages]

May 19, 2013 19:37:28 GMT -5 rater202 said:

And it Can't be any ability, it has to be one, of the Dominant Type, that the Spirit Already Had.

it's obtained at level 10. by that point you have 10 abilities without things like feats etc, the most prerequisite heavy one so far requires 8, and is limited from level 10 people taking it by activation cost. so any ability

Also, level 15 is a dead level now, so if you have any suggestions I am all ears.

nope. an additional favoured ability, mayhaps?

[rater202]

alright, The Zanpakuto Spirit class has Completed it's modifications. I think it s balanced now, but I will let the more experienced game designer be the Judge. If you could take a look.

Also, I looked through the projectile types on the wiki, and none of them have an SEP cost, is that an over sight, or have they not been priced yet?

[blackestofmages]

May 20, 2013 8:07:18 GMT -5 rater202 said:

Also, I looked through the projectile types on the wiki, and none of them have an SEP cost, is that an over sight, or have they not been priced yet?

Projectile, ice, mind, oppression, wind, lightning, poison and plant are all still not updated (though there is a prototype ice in the shinigami section)

[rater202]

kay ;D the first prestige should be done by midnight my time. about 13 hours from this post.

I lied, it'll be done by in a day or two.

[rater202]

First PRC is done. ;D

[falleneco]

See, I'd never even consider Zanpakutos a playable type. I would have slaped together a scaleable template (like the one for NPC Hollows) and called it a day.
When they are free they count as antagonists; when it's an 'inner world' scene they are antagonistic (ie the opposition).