Astral Deva - 20-level racial class progression

[Halivar]

Hey guys, I wanted to write up a 20-level progression for the astral deva (I would like to use it), and I wanted input on its balance issues. I used the hound archon from the Planar Handbook as a reference. My work-up seems a tad-bit front loaded. Anyone have any comments or suggestions?

I'm attaching it as a PDF because I simply can't firgure out how to do formatting in vBulliten.

EDIT: There might be an official racial progression already worked up, but I'd rather avoid non-OGC (even looking at it), just in case I wanted to publish this on my website somewhere.

 

[vulcan_idic]

EDIT: There might be an official racial progression already worked up, but I'd rather avoid non-OGC (even looking at it), just in case I wanted to publish this on my website somewhere.

There's an official version in Savage Species... not sure if you were thinking 3.0 or 3.5... but if you don't want to see it... don't look there.

 

[Turanil]

Okay, I have got a look, but for the moment really cannot comment on it, since I don't know what you wish to do exactly.

I mean, is this for developping NPCs devas only, and easily figure out ranks and powers? In this case it can work as is, no problem.

Or is it also for PCs (like a sort of paragon)? In this case I would rather see a normal class progression, meaning: 1 dice per level, so 20d8 at 20th level; regular bab, not the one proposed; skill points at each level, not once every two levels, even if you must give them only 4 per level, etc. Also, as a class, I wouldn't give so many stat-increases.

 

[Halivar]

Well, the reason for spreading out hit-die increases is so that at level 20, the character is effectively the same as the +20 ECL astral deva presented in the Monster Manual. This creature only has 12 hit dice but has stat increases out the wazoo. The base attack bonus and base saves are all tied to hit dice in racial class progressions. Good examples of what I consider very nice racial class progressions can be found in the Planar Handbook, Dragon #313 (lycanthropes) and Dragon #320 (dragon races for PC's, yeah!). In each of these cases, the designers chose to spread out hit dice so that at the end of the progression the player has kept up with the creature. Also note that I tried to keep it so that Str increases in the astral deva make up for lost BAB.

PS: My intent was to make this suitable for both PC's and NPC's, for what it's worth.

 

[DarkMaster]

Interesting but way too front loaded at the begining, Everybody should be a 1st level Astral Deva. 8 skills point, flying speed, slam attack, free spells, +1 BAB, 3 good saves a bonus feat, +2str, +2 cha and d8 hp.

IMC everybody would take at least one level of it, that means it's broken.

 

[Halivar]

I thought once you started taking levels in a racial class progression, you had to finish the progression out to its conclusion. Am I wrong about that?

EDIT: The feats aren't bonus feats. Those are the feats monsters get at every third hit die, like normal classes get at every third level.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

You are completely right Halivar, if you want to be a rules lawyer. Its all up to the DM, s/he has final say about what goes in their campaign. If the DM wants to allow a racial class and core class multiclass, they can. I feel, though, that from my perspective as a DM that these kinds of multiclass characters can only multiclass with their favored core class. This kind of multiclassing I allow in my campaigns. Once the character finishes up his racial class, only then do I allow them to multiclass in other core and prestige classes.

 

[Kashell]

*looks at Astral Deva and is afraid*

*runs to Halivar and hugs his leg*





In all seriousness though, it looks pretty straight. If you want to prevent DM's (who aren't so rules lawyer) from misusing it, I'd spread the level 1 stuff out a little more.

Resistance to acid 5 and cold 5 as well as the +4 to poison could easily be moved to level 2, as well as darkvision if needed. It would still be top-heavy, just less so.

 

[Fieari]

If you have a level 1 that "anyone would take one level of" if they could get away with it, your level 1 is probably imbalanced in comparison to the other players. I'd spread it out.