New Class - The Sage

jojodogboy · June 22, 2018, 2:28pm

I was reading an OSR blog somewhere that mentioned an adventuring sage class (I think from Dave Arneson). Here is my ACKs version. The expert knowledge mnight be a little over powered, but it does allow a sage to get some specific knowledge skills at a level in which they can actually be, you know, a sage. Please let me know what you think.

Sage (Fighter 1b, Mage 2, Thief 1, HD 0) – d4 HD –INT - armor from narrow to none (+2), -1 fighting style (+1), weapon selection from Broad to Narrow (+2)

(8 powers, trade 2 at 1^st for 1 @ 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th, trade 1 @ 1^st for 1 @ 2^nd and 12^th )

Sages are masters of knowledge, research and learning. Their thirst for knowledge sometimes leads them into danger, so they learn basic skills to survive.

Sages learn basic combat training. At first level, sages hit an unarmored foe (AC 0) with an attack throw of 10+. They advance in attack throws and saving throws by two points every four levels of experience. They cannot wear armor or use shields. They may use swords, daggers, bows, or crossbows. They may fight with a one handed weapon, or with a weapon in each hand.

A sage saves as a mage. They can use any magical item usable by mages, or any magical weapon they are proficient with. They gain proficiencies as a thief.

At 1^st level a sage starts with one class proficiency, a general proficiency, and a Knowledge proficiency of their choice. (1 custom power). A sage’s specialized research and training allows them expert knowledge. As a result, any time they choose a new knowledge proficiency, profession – librarian or scribe, or the engineering proficiency, they automatically begin with two levels of that proficiency (2 custom powers).

Sages have a general level of loremastery (1 custom power). A sage can decipher occult runes, remember ancient history, identify historic artifacts, and similar tasks. At 1st level, the character must make a proficiency throw of 18+ on 1d20 to succeed in these tasks. The proficiency throw required reduces by 1 per level. At first level, a sage may also attempt to read languages on a proficiency throw of 5+ (1 custom power).

At 2^nd level a sage gains a bonus language (1 custom power @ 2nd). They continue learn a bonus language at each even level.

At 6th level a sage gains the ability to cast arcane spells. At 8^th level they gain the ability to research spells, create potions, and scribe scrolls as a mage of their effective level.

At 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th level a sage gains a bonus class proficiency.

When a sage attains 9th level (Learned Professor), he can establish a college, and 2d6 0 level students and 1d6 sage apprentices of 1^st to 3^rd level will come to study. While studying the sage must cover their expenses and they must be paid standard rates for hirelings.

Proficiencies: Alchemy, Alertness, Art, Beast Friendship, Black Lore of Zahar, Collegiate Wizardry, Craft, Diplomacy, Elementalism, Engineering, Healing, Illusion Resistance, Knowledge, Language, Magical Engineering, Precise Shooting, Professions, Mapping, Land Surveying, Mystic Aura, Naturalism, Quiet Magic, Transmogrification, Sensing Power, Soothsaying, Siege Engineering, Skirmishing, Swashbuckling.

Experience	Title	Lvl	Hit Dice	BTH BTHBTH	Spells	Eff. lvl
0	Student	1	1d4	0		0	Loremastery, expert knowledge, read languages, bonus proficiency
1950	Thinker	2	2d4	+0		0	Bonus language
3900	Scholar	3	3d4	+1		0	Bonus class proficiency
7800	Sage	4	4d4	+1		0	Class proficiency, Bonus language
15600	Learned Sage	5	5d4	+2		0	Bonus proficiency, general proficiency
31200	Expert Sage	6	6d4	+2	2	2	Bonus language
65000	Philosopher	7	7d4	+3	2 2	4	Bonus proficiency
130000	Professor	8	8d4	+3	3 2 1	6	Spell research, create scrolls, brew potions Class proficiency, Bonus language
280000	Learned Professor	9	9d4	+4	4 2 2 2	7	General proficiency
330000	Authority	10	9d4+1	+4	4 3 2 2	8	Bonus language
480000	Headmaster	11	9d4+2	+5	4 4 3 2 1	9	Create magic items
630000	Headmaster 12^th lvl	12	9d4+3	+5	4 3 2 2 2	10	Class proficiency, Bonus language
780000	Headmaster 13^th lvl	13	9d4+4	+6	4 3 2 2 2	10	General Proficiency
930000	Guru	14	9d4+5	+6	4 3 2 2 2	11	Learn and cast Ritual spells, create constructs and Undead, Bonus language

archon · July 17, 2018, 2:20am

That's neat!

So for the Expert Knowledge proficiency, for two class powers, you've ruled that the Sage counts as having one additional rank in any general proficiency with which he has at least one rank. That seems reasonable to me.