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 Diablo's Amazon: a 4th Edition conversion
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Diffan
Great Reader

USA
4425 Posts

Posted - 09 May 2020 :  20:28:59  Show Profile Send Diffan a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
So I'm currently in the midst of writing a Diablo campaign (set in the Diablo 1 time-frame) for D&D. I'm using 4E because, well, for a number of reasons. The 3.0 Diablerie version (Diablo made officially for D&D, using 3.0) is bad and I don't want to DM 3E at this point. Also, 4E is practically MADE for Diablo-style gaming. Mana potions restore Encounter powers. Minion rules are great for those low-level mobs that swarm you. Elite monsters are great for those mid-level bosses that are usually Gold-outlined in the game. And Solos are great for BBEGs at different level like The Butcher, the Skeleton King, and Diablo himself.

That said, there's 14 different classes in Diablo that I need to have represented. 9 of them are done officially in 4E (assassin, barbarian, druid, monk, paladin, rogue, sorcerer, wizard, and warrior/aka fighter). 5 others need consideration: Amazon, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Necromancer, and Witch Doctor. First, the Demon Hunter is easily made via Ranger with dual-crossbow feat (taken from the Rogue). I already have a homebrew Necromancer class ready to go too. The Crusader, I'm currently working on as a variant of the Cavalier (Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms) and that leaves the Amazon (i'll post here) and the Witch Doctor (no clue, never played it). So here's my attempt at a Amazon revision for 4E.

Class Acts: Slayer

Amazons of the Skovos Isles
“Lightning never strikes the same place twice. Javelins, however, do.”
— Warmatron Cassia

The Amazon is a powerful woman warrior of the Askari, who belongs to the nomadic bands who roam the plains near the South Sea. The wandering of these groups often brings them into conflict with other peoples, so the Amazon is accustomed to fighting to defend her own. This lifestyle has made her fiercely independent and able to weather severe hardship and travel. While her skill with the Bow rivals that of Demon Hunters, Rogues, and Warriors, the Amazon is also adept in the use of Spears and Javelins, as well as in hand-to-hand combat.

The Amazons, as they’re called collectively, inhabit the isles in the Southern Seas called the Skovos Isles. These people are traditionally formed of two major casts, the Amazon warriors and the Oracles. In Askari culture, only women serve as warriors, as their lithe bodies and superior dexterity are better suited than men for the dense jungles of their homeland. These warriors are known for their deftness, superior hand-to-eye coordination, and the ferocity of their attacks. In the jungles of their homeland, Amazons are adept at the tactics of misdirection, and can even draw on the jungle to support themselves. The jungle itself can be a hinderance though, and early in training, Amazon warriors are taught how to overcome these conditions. Indeed, all Askarri are taught how to hunt and fight during the night of the jungles.
In additional to their martial capabilities, of which they pride themselves on with their skill of spear and bow, they have also become adept at crafting quite a few primal powers as well. Some of these Amazons take up the ability to heal others, a worthy path due to the toxicity of many native plant species of their homeland. They may also be blessed by their deities should they prove their value. Still, the amazons that are known throughout Sanctuary are those who fight as Mercenaries. These Amazons, often used to guard the vast Askari merchant fleet, would often stay on the mainland of Sanctuary, interested in proving their prowess against the creatures and people that lurk there.

Diffan
Great Reader

USA
4425 Posts

Posted - 09 May 2020 :  20:41:55  Show Profile Send Diffan a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Creating an Amazon
When creating an amazon, it might be useful to keep the following tips in mind.
Ability Scores: Amazon are still human, despite the rumors of their impressive skills and abilities, and thus have a free +2 bonus to any ability score of their choice. This bonus is normally associated with Dexterity, as it makes their Ranged Basic Attacks that much more deadly and it’s a secondary ability score to obtain feats that focus on Spears. Further, as a part of the Slayer class, their added bonus to weapon-attack rolls from Dexterity makes them even more potent. Going with the Standard Array, place your 16 in Strength and then your 14 into Dexterity, which will increase to 16.
Slayers do not gain class-based attack powers and instead rely on melee basic attacks. With their bonus to Dexterity on weapon damage rolls, instead of making Strength your highest ability score, you can make the Melee Training feat at 1st level to swap out your attack ability from Strength to, say, Dexterity. If you do, your melee attacks take a small hit, but your ranged attacks become even deadlier and there’s a quite a few Slayer stances that don’t rely specifically on melee weapon attacks but any basic attack.
Equipment: Slayers have access to all the armor Fighters do, but since you’re focusing on Dexterity more and using your nimble reflexes to avoid attacks instead of bracing for them, hide armor offers the best of both use of your Dexterity bonus while offering the best Armor Bonus there is. Amazons excel at their use of Bows, Spears, and Javelins. Finding the best weapon for any of these categories is a top Amazon priority, most notably great spears, gouges, and greatbows. Javelins also offer a great weapon with some versatility because it can be used in melee or ranged attacks.

Class Features and Powers
The following class features supplement those available to slayers.

Level 1: Primal Warrior
Amazons possess the ability to draw upon the primal energies that permeate all of Sanctuary. This learning comes from their inherent training in the jungles of their homeland. This power lets them use this primal energy to alight their weapons and arrows with raw elemental damage.

Benefit: You can choose the Primal Warrior power in place the Power Strike feature. When your class would grant you another use of power strike, you would instead gain another use of primal warrior instead.

Primal Warrior; Fighter Feature
Drawing upon the primal essence of Sanctuary, you fuse your weapons with elemental power.
===============================================================
Encounter * Primal, Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Weapon
Immediate Reaction; Personal
Trigger: You hit an enemy with a melee or ranged basic attack using a weapon.
Requirement: You must be an Amazon
===============================================================
Effect: The target take 1(W) Extra damage. Roll a d4 to determine the attack's damage type. You gain resist 5 against the type of damage your attack deals until the end of your turn.
1. Acid
2. Cold
3. Fire
4. LIghtning
Level 17: 2(W) extra damage
Level 27: 3(W) extra damage

Edited by - Diffan on 09 May 2020 21:57:22
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Diffan
Great Reader

USA
4425 Posts

Posted - 09 May 2020 :  21:48:21  Show Profile Send Diffan a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Level 1: Fighter Stance
The fighter stances a slayer masters demonstrates their superior combat training and their excellence in arms. The following power expands the options available to fighter who gain fighter stances at 1st level.

Jabbing Strike
You have perfected the art of the spear, so much in fact that you have gained an almost unnatural equilibrium in striking with them. Your initial blow leaves an opening for a quick, follow up strike against someone else.

Jabbing Strike; Fighter Utility
Amazons learn to utilize spear weapons to an unparalleled degree, striking with blazing speed.
==================================================================
At-Will * Martial, Stance
Minor Action; Personal
Prerequisite: You must be an Amazon.
Requirement: You must be wielding a spear.
==================================================================
Effect: You assume the jabbing strikes stance. Until the stance ends, when you hit an enemy with a melee basic attack using a spear this turn, you can make one additional melee basic attack with the same weapon against a different target with a -2 penalty to the attack roll.

Level 2: Utility Power
Amazons learn to blend both their martial prowess with that of their primal nature, tapping into both sources of power to combat the variety of foes that humanity faces on Sanctuary.

Inner Sight
The lush canopy of trees covering your homeland allows little sunlight to reach the ground. To better adapt to the environment, you have developed a technique whereby you can attune yourself to the life forces in the surrounding area and transfer these energies into a source of luminescence.

Inner Sight; Fighter Utility 2
Tapping into their primal essence, the Amazons gains sight that allows her and her companions to see her enemies in shadows and darkness.
==================================================================
Daily * Primal
Minor Action; Close burst 1
Prerequisite: You must be an Amazon.
Target: Each creature in the burst
==================================================================
Effect: Until the end of your next turn, you can see invisible creatures.
Sustain Minor: The effect persists.


Level 6: Utility Power
Many people claim that amazons are gifted from the gods as they attack and move with unmatched speed. In reality, Amazons simply train night and day to achieve their near super-human skills.

Avoiding Stride
In the deep jungles of the Skovos Isles, you must be alert for danger at all times. This heightened awareness gives you cat-like reflexes, allowing you to move and glide through difficult terrain and avoid attacks.

Avoiding Stride; Fighter Utility 6
This ability hones the natural defensive ability of an Amazon. If a threat confronts her, she can predict incoming attacks and elude them before they reach her.
==================================================================
Encounter * Primal
Immediate Interrupt; Personal
Trigger: You are hit by an attack that targets AC
Prerequisite: You must be an Amazon.
==================================================================
Effect: You can shift half your speed, and you gain a +4 bonus to AC until the end of your next turn. This movement ignores difficult terrain.

Level 7: Slayer Weapon Specialization
The following feature expands the options available to fighters who gain Weapon Specialization at 7th level.

Exploding Shot: Your primal warrior ability erupts with vengeance against nearby enemies, immolating them with elemental fury.
Benefit: When you use primal warrior with a bow or spear, all enemies adjacent to the target of primal warrior suffer the elemental damage you rolled. This damage is equal to your Dexterity modifier.


Edited by - Diffan on 11 May 2020 02:07:15
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Diffan
Great Reader

USA
4425 Posts

Posted - 11 May 2020 :  01:53:26  Show Profile Send Diffan a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Level 10: Utility Power
The combination of primal and martial prowess reaches its pinnacle at the end of the heroic tier.

Decoy; Fighter Utility 10
Summoning the power within you from the primal aspects of the world, you can conjure a duplicate of yourself to fool your enemies.

Decoy
Amazons learn, through misdirection and deception, to fool attacking forces into thinking there is another Amazon nearby.
==================================================================
Daily * Primal, Conjuration, Illusion
Minor Action; Ranged 5
Requirement: Must be an Amazon
==================================================================
Effect: You conjure an illusory duplicate of yourself in an unoccupied square within range. The duplicate lasts until the end of the encounter. You gain a +4 power bonus to all defenses against any attack that doesn't include both you and the duplicate. As part of a move action, you can move the duplicate 5 squares.
The duplicate can be targeted by melee attacks and ranged attacks, although it lacks hit points. The duplicate disappears if a melee or ranged attack deal any damage to it.

Edited by - Diffan on 11 May 2020 02:20:24
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Diffan
Great Reader

USA
4425 Posts

Posted - 11 May 2020 :  02:10:16  Show Profile Send Diffan a Private Message  Reply with Quote
PARAGON PATH: VALKYRIE
By the time you reach 11th level, your training in both the Amazonian ways has merged exceedingly well with your martial prowess. You have proven your devotion to Athulua through your brave deeds and exceptional skill in battle. The Goddess shows her favor by granting a spiritual emissary to aid you. These emissaries of Athulua are called Valkyrie, and they are the spirits of the greatest heroes from the Amazon people. This power to summon a Valkyrie is the greatest honor that an Amazon warrior can receive. It is believed this gift is a sign that your place beside the Goddess is assured when you pass from this world-perhaps even as a Valkyrie. This summons is more than just an ally in battle, it’s a spirit that teach you the techniques and abilities of the Valkyrie, in doing so granting you some of its own spiritual power.
Prerequisite: Only a slayer who is an Amazon can take this paragon path.

Level 11: Improved Primal Warrior
Valkyrie paragon path feature
You can make an additional elemental attack during any battle.
Benefit: You gain one more use of primal warrior per encounter, but you can still only use it once per turn.

Level 11: Impaling Shot
Valkyrie paragon path feature
Knowledge from the Valkyrie improves the accuracy of your attacks to such a degree that they impale their victims and hinder their movements.
Benefit: When you spend your action point to make an extra attack, any creatures hit are also immobilized until the end of your next turn.

Level 11: Valkyrie’s Rejuvenation
Valkyrie paragon path feature
Beginning down the path of the Valkyrie means gaining the ability to syphon off the energy of the foes you slay, renewing yourself to keep on fighting.
Benefit: Whenever you reduce a non-minion enemy to 0 hit points, you gain temporary hit points equal to 1 + your Constitution modifier.

Level 12: Gift from the Heavens
Valkyrie paragon path feature

Summoning aid from the Goddess Athulua, she hears your plea and sends down an emissary to aid in your fight.
Benefit: You gain the summon Valkyrie power.

Summon Valkyrie When you look to the heavens, pleading with Athulua in your time of need, a heavenly light shine upon the ground and suddenly a beautiful warrior woman appears before you, ready to defend Athulua’s champion.

Summon Valkyrie; Valkyrie Utility 12
A powerful woman adorned in ancient armor carrying a spear and shield drifts to the ground with feathery wings, ready to guard you.
==================================================================
Daily * Summoning
Minor Action; Close burst 3
Prerequisites: You must be an Amazon
==================================================================
Effect: You summon a large Valkyrie in an unoccupied square within the burst. The Valkyrie has a speed of 6 and a +4 bonus to AC. You can give the Valkyrie the following special command.
Immediate Interrupt: When you or an ally within 5 squares are targeted by a ranged or melee attack, the Valkyrie becomes the attack's target instead.

Level 16: Winged Blessing
Valkyrie paragon path feature

Athulua has marked you as one of her champions, granting you the second benefit of the Valkyries, a set of feathered wings to help in your fight against the darkness.
Benefit: You gain the Valkyrie wing power.
Valkyrie Wings This power is a blessing bestowed upon you from the Goddess Athulua, given only to those worth of her favor and a warrior of great deeds.

Valkyrie Wings; Valkyrie Utility 16
Feathered wings appear upon your back, a blessing from Athulua.
==================================================================
At-Will * Primal
Move Action; Personal
Prerequisite: You must be an Amazon
==================================================================
Effect: You fly up to your speed.
Special: You can use this power only once per round.


Level 20: Elemental Fury
Valkyrie paragon path feature

You unleash even greater ferocity when you deliver your signature attack.
Benefit: When you use primal warrior with a bow or spear, the target and all enemies adjacent to the target of primal warrior are pushed 1 square and knocked prone.

Edited by - Diffan on 11 May 2020 02:19:53
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Derulbaskul
Senior Scribe

Singapore
408 Posts

Posted - 11 May 2020 :  16:26:49  Show Profile Send Derulbaskul a Private Message  Reply with Quote
That looks pretty good.

I've had a player run a slayer for a few sessions and it's quite an effective class - especially with a warlord (or bard) granting MBAs. Anyway, I really like what you did to make a spear-wielding class competitive.

Cheers
D

NB: Please remember: A cannon is a big gun. Canon is what we discuss here.
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Diffan
Great Reader

USA
4425 Posts

Posted - 11 May 2020 :  18:56:45  Show Profile Send Diffan a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Derulbaskul

That looks pretty good.

I've had a player run a slayer for a few sessions and it's quite an effective class - especially with a warlord (or bard) granting MBAs. Anyway, I really like what you did to make a spear-wielding class competitive.



Thanks! Yeah Warlords are amazing with Essentials classes. A party with a Warlord, Knight, Slayer, Ranger, and a Wizard is pretty wicked.

Though Spears are an awesome weapon (really, it gets crapped on in almost all other D&D editions) this Amazon version let's the player use them or bows, which I think is important because versatility is something I don't think D&D allows too much in their games.
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