The Augmented was always a promising concept but, as one of my first full classes, not one I feel I executed initially very well. It had a handful of balance issues that needed solving, and stepped on a few toes.
But, more importantly, it had great thematic potential, and a well-defined space that allowed it to exist as a distinct class!
Converting it to v0.2 required a few crucial changes, most of which I'll elaborate briefly on in the changelog.
CHANGELOG:
- Streamlined level progression, keeping front-end from being too heavy
- Rolled Overdrive and Shield Matrix into subclasses, to keep the class from having too many tools
- Rebalanced several key augments
- Added integrated weapon augments into the core battlefist design
CONCERNS:
- The class still occupies a distinctly science-fiction thematic niche. I don't think this is strictly forbidden in D&D, but it's definitely on the far side of acceptable.
WHAT I LEARNED:
- I accidentally released this one before I planned to! I need to be more careful with which version of files I upload, when.
Available on the DM's Guild (pay what you want) at this link!So here's what I've been working on all this time!
It's been very hard to get perfect, but I finally got it into a state that I'm happy with. New classes are always tough (half-casters most of all), and building a technology-based class in a mostly non-technological game is additionally tricky!
But enough of my woes, I'm sure you want to hear what the Augmented has to offer!
FEATURES:
- 3 subclasses, ranging from protecting your allies with conjured barriers to hacking into the minds of your foes!
- 34 augments, allowing you to customize your augmented and create something truly unique.
- A progressive system for upgrading your body as you level, allowing you to build new augments into your newly-upgraded parts.
- Battlestrikes that deal additional damage, and allow you to control the flow of battle.
- Personal shielding, to give you that much additional survivability!
CONCERNS:
- Augments are varied, and hard to balance. So far, they seem acceptable.
- This class dabbles in a lot of kits that may belong to other classes, but with enough caveats that hopefully that shouldn't matter too much.
WHAT I LEARNED:
- Yep, this is DEFINITELY the hardest thing I've worked on so far. Balancing half-casters is no joke!
