Nor Galad (4e Campaign Setting)/Classes

The widely known classes of Sentia along with class-based lore perspectives from the UCK.

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On hold. Needs computer programming.

Classes as Playstyles

A "class" is made up of two distinct playstyle elements: mechanical playstyles, and thematic playstyles. The mechanical playstyle is how the class actually functions in the game-- are they melee or ranged? Do they prepare spells? Do they master many skills, or only a few? These elements create the platform for how the character functions in-game. The thematic playstyle answers: How is the character accomplishing their mechanical playstyle?

Unfortunately, this is limiting to story telling elements. In order to let the player choose HOW they play and WHAT they play as without creating unnecessarily complicated rules or new classes, we can simply analyze the current classes and finding basic playstyle patterns, using those patterns to design balanced "classes" free from any forced thematic playstyle.
Below is a list of traditional classes and their role within my expanded universe.

Thematic playstyles are covered quite extensively at TVTROPES (though they do include the associated mechanical playstyles) and therefore will not be covered here.

Base Classes

Barbarian

Unstoppable wilderness warriors.

Paladin

Deadly warriors who enhance their martial prowess with mystical energies.

Avengers (Paladin) in Kalina

Avengers are often trained in mysterious monasteries and secret facilities. Whether they utilize the power of a god—or their own mental fortitude— all Avengers are known for their deadly determination, skill, and prowess. Avengers hailing from ancient sects and cabals may have tattoos covering their bodies, as well as markings cut into their body. Avengers have many different agendas; some will hunt down their enemies, some attempt to protect manking—even from themselves, such as in Kalina, where Avengers of the Order of Light fight back against the corrupt government—or help enforce it. The Ancient Teachings of the Avenger are forbidden by may pacisitc cutures,; however, Avengers are still well respected.

Cleric

Warriors with access to an wide-pool of powerful energies.

Fighter

Fighters, warriors, and soldiers of many disciplines.

Fighters In Sentia

Fighter is probably the most widely accepted. They are considered honorable, just and valiant, and even mercenaries and bounty hunters are respected as masters of there trade. Whether they are knights,soldiers,mercenaries,bounty hunters, you name it, a fighter is a person to respect. Some powerful fighters are even adopted into the military, at very high ranks, with special status-such as, GHH(Goverment Head Hunter) or GC, Goverment: Captain. These are fighters who have slowly risen up the ranks, in leaps and bounds, to be recognized as a threat to the government. However, despite the great respect warriors of all types have of all types, a warrior that's a jerk, is still a jerk- and in Nor Galad, one doesn't survive long being a jerk unless they have the power to back it up....

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Shaman

Summons ancestral spirits to fight.

Shamans in Kalina

Shamans are fairly rare in Kalina; even more so than usual, as they are usually disguised as summoning wizards, and more often, do not go into urban environment, and are usually not seen. Shamans are renowned in the natural world, by animals, druids, and other creatures of the wild, for their abilities to contact the spirits of the earth so intimately. </p>

Bard

Versatile combatants who use intertwine their mastery of music with beguiling charm and specialized magic.

Bards in Kalina

Within the boundaries of the UC "Supremacist Government" (as it dubbed by many bards Street Bards) there are two distinct type of bards. The Street Bard, and the Royal Bard. Royal Bards are known for their inspiring tunes, and tales of ages long past. They are known for being"the light in the otherwise boring town hall meeting", and sometimes to "the sometimes anoying bard, who sings off-key a little to much". They are charismatic, enthusiastic musicians, who enjoy the company of other people. The street bards, although just as jovial and respectful as the next Royal Bard, are treated with disdain and suspicion on the streets. The reason why? Because they are considered unclean, wandering beggars, who beg for money with their "mediocre" playing. Of course, these are all images put into the minds of the people by the Empire. A royal bard, would sit down with a street bard any day, and the two would sing songs to their heart's content, if the laws allowed it.

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Rogue

Rogue In Sentia

Rogue is a playable class in the land of Nor Galad. A thief is a thief, and will always be a thief. Rogues in Nor Galad act very similarly to other rogues in other campaigns. They are more commonly found in street gangs, assassin guilds, or in the black market: in guilds, with partners: the only way to survive in the under city of Nor Galad. Rogues are always opportunistic as ever-Some thieves guilds are bought out by the government, and used as extra income, resource and intelligence gathering, or even as Scapegoats, that amazingly disappear, only to be hired back for a different project a few months later. Because their are many types of thieves, rogues, and cutthroats in the world, there is always a thief that uses his or her power for good...

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Warlock

Warlock is a playable class in the land of Nor Galad. In Nor Galad, warlocks, much like avengers, are a mysterious group. But unlike avengers, who are generally sociably accepted, most warlocks are openly shunned due a highly charged politcal climate-- and of course, their vestiages; the mysterious sources of their power.

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Pacts

• Dark/Gloom Pact
• Elemental pact
• Fey Pact
  • Fey Pact of the White Well (Lady's Gift, Class Act)
• Infernal Pact
• Sorceror-King Pact
• Star Pact (Far Realm, Cthuhu)
  • Astral
• Vestige Pact

Infernal Alternatives

• Fire Lord Pact (Xan, Efreet, Elemental, Ozai/Comet)
• Elemental (Ozai/Avatar/Elemental)
• Draconic

or any of the above based on genetic (bloodline limit, etc).

Wizard

Wizard is a playable class in the land of Nor Galad. In Nor Galad, unlike the warlocks, are commonly accepted and accepted by the world. Much like fighter, Wizards are respected- of course for different things. Their power, wisdom, and strength is most of what lets such a huge combination of kingdoms and small empires combine into one all powerful ruling empire in the Continent of Nor Galad. Of course their are always the crazy ones...

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Standard Focuses:

• Illusion (illusionists)
• Charm (illusionists)
• Spell-Slingers (war-wizards: evocation specialists)
• Summoners
• Matter manipulators
• Observers (diviners)

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Paragon Paths

Phalanx Warrior

The Phalanx Warriors fighting style is based upon ancient tactics used in near forgotten civilizations, and was highly effective in large-scale battles. The fighting techniques have now been adopted and re purposed for both lesser and major scale battles, and is still taught in many battle institutes. The Phalanx Warrior utilizes great strength and agility to control the battlefield and protect their allies, with the reach of their long spear and heavy defensive capabilities of their shield.
Designed primarily for:

• Fighter
• Paladin

Non-Shield Versions, Applicable to:

• Ranger
• Monk

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Archtypes

These archetypes represent mechanical playstyles available within d20 rpg system.

Warrior Variants

Front-line combatants.

Beserker

Beserkers channel deadly rages to crush their enemies using (thematically) their own, sublime focus, chaotic fury, and even the guidance of their ancestors. Beserkers default playstyle is melee.

Associated Abilities and Traits

• Enhanced Damage Mode (Rage)
• Mid-Ranged AoE (Shouts)
• Mid-Ranged Stuns (Shout-Fear)
• Reduced or No Armour
• Mobility
  • No Shields
• Cleave (melee)
• Versatility

Secondary: Hunter

"Totem Warrior" (Beserker)

Totem Warrior sacrifices rage power for consistent strength based upon spirits that strengthen their martial and utility abilities. They often utilize more shouts and fears. 'Secondary: Hunter

Knight

Defensive warriors who protect their allies. Knight's default playstyle is melee.

Associated Abilities and Traits

• Shields
• Taunt
• High Defense

Secondary: Tank

Dark Knight

Shadowy warriors who embrace the darkness to enhance their fighting capabilities.

Associated Traits and Abilities

• Offense

Secondary: Hunter

Eldiritch Knight

Classical Arcane-Fighters who blast enemies as much as they cut them.

Associated Abilties and Traits

• Limited Spell Choice
  • Combat only spells
  • Unique spells
• Weapon Attunement
• Teleportation

Secondary: Artillery, Controller, Tank, Hunter

Warpriest(Cleric)

Battle-hardened warriors who focus on martial prowess first, and mystical energy second.

Secondary: Utility, Tank

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Utility Variants

Utility playstyles brings unique tools to the fight.

Artificer(Wizard)

Tinkerers, creators, potionmasters.

Warlord (Fighter)

A strong combatant in their own right, the warlord thrives from near or afar whilst maneuvring allies and foes around the battlefield.

Controller

Hunter

Avenger (Paladin)

Avengers utilize mystical energy to hunt down their foes, one by one. Once an Avenger has chosen a target, nothing--not even death-- gets in their way.

SoulBlade* (Fighter Variant)

Psionic skirmisher blade

Controllers

Mage(Wizard)

Studious and intelligent wielders of arcane power

Artillery

Witch(Wizard)

Classic practitioners of mythical power. Mysterious; not always cackling, form covens.

Artillery

Sha'Ir(Wizard)

Not quite a sorcerer, not quite a warlock; draws on the power of the elemental chaos.

Artillery

Invoker (Cleric)

Wielders of devastating mystical energies.

Artillery

Class Themes

Listed below are some common class themes that occur in every "class"-- playstyle-- of magical users.

Pyromancer*

Fire wielders. Any individual who focuses on the usage of fire, be it standard evocation or bloodline powers bordering on psionic, those who embrace the power of fire are known as pyromancers.

• Mike Mearls The Magic of Fire adds special rules for fire-magic, such as igniting targets with fire.

Necromancer*

Wielders of the energies of life and death.

Illusionist

Creators of fantastical illusions.

Supernatural Power Origins

Classes such as Paladins, Monks, Cleric, Psions, Wizards, Sorcerors-- to name only a few-- are known for utilizing mystical energy with their attacks. Normally, these systems are determined by the class itself. For instance, Paladins and Clerics typically use divine energy, Wizards use inherent rules of magic, Warlocks have patrons, and Sorcerors just pull magic out of...well, somewhere. However, it is my belief that a class does not define an supernatural origin...rather, a defined playstyle that can utilize any form of energy manipulation system that is required. The specific details concerning the individual energy manipulation systems themselves is covered elsewhere; but this gives a quick overview of the more "basic" levels of

Inside/Outside

tvtropes.org uses these particularly useful terms to define certain types of

• Inherent Gift
• The Theurgist Magician

Class Related Lore

Paladin vs. Warlock

High-level aspects, enchanted pact-weapons, and summoned creatures.

Lore

Sentia related lore.

Tiefling Warlocks+Broterhood

There are many Tiefling warlocks. Some say this is because it falls within Tiefling steryotype, letting them rise up in status in the eyes of the people- or at least in fear- However, the rise in status doesn't matter in the eyes of the people to most Tieflings- it matters in only one place in society: the under city. Within the system of the undercity, no-one cares about race or background: because of this, tieflings can rise and become powerful warlocks, giving them a sense of meaning to their existence. They don't mind being shunned by the outside world, or feared int eh eyes of the people for being a warlock, because many tieflings are treated as such anyway. Because of the rising ambition of the Tiefling race, and innate connections with otherworldly beings, tieflings now dominate the warlock system. Drow are also common shadow warlocks,but few escape the shadow caves alive, on the path to the (warlock city). Most of these "escaped" drow are drow that fled from the ways of the Drow, or from some obscene deathly ritual- in any case, most Drow warlocks you find in the Warlock City aren't the type that would stab you in the back the moment you looked away. Despite this, drow warlocks as still looked down upon in the eyes of the people- upper society. However, some warlocks are sociably acceptable. These are usually those who choose the fey pack, although there are as many insane twisted fey warlocks as there are more neutrally aligned fey warlocks, so even these warlocks are treated with suspicion. Many star pact warlocks are Royal astronomers, and keep there -Arts- hidden. Star Pact warlocks are not widely known, because of there tendency to keep hidden, and the rareness of the pack in warlocks of Nor Galad. Most of the younger less experienced warlock consider the Star Pact to be for "sissies", until they are trumped by a level 30 star pact advisor (NPC....ooo that burns) Many warlocks are also vestige warlocks, paying tribute to multiple different creatures in exchange for power.

Malika the Mad

Most star pact warlocks who reveal there Art are considered wise and respectable, and are usually not faced with adversary.This is because, in every school in Nor Galad, there is the story Of Mailka the Mad,(star warlock). This human warlock re-created half the universe and the sun in less than 1 minute, after the Dark and Infernal path blew it up, from a tip from a mad fey, so then Mailka got hailed as a hero. What they don't tell you is that Mailka, a infernal path tiefling, drow dark pact, and Eladrin Fey pact were trying to summon a creature that would fix the universe, and they messed up and summoned the Moon creature, and it ate the sun and half the planets. The other three disappeared, and Mailka has been gifted with immortality, and is trying to help the underground community of warlocks.

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