The Energy Blaster (Streetfighting Sage)

Hete’s another Sphere build I made for my family! This time it’s for my younger son, who asked me “a Streetfighter character”, and here it is. It uses the Sage class from Champions of the Spheres and the Hidden Master tradition I introduced on last Sunday’s post.
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The Energy Blaster (Streetfighting Sage)

Tiefling (Faultspawn) sage 1

LG Medium outsider (native)

Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +1

Defense

AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge, +3 Wis)

hp 8 (1d6+2)

Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +5

Defensive Abilities AC bonus; Resist cold, electricity, and fire 5

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee unarmed strike +3 (1d3)

Ranged shuriken +3 (1d2+1)

Special Attacks chi blast 1d6, chi gong +1d6

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st, concentration +2)

1/day- hideous laughter (DC 13)

Magic

Caster Level 1; MSB +1, MSD 12, Concentration +4
CAM Wis
Illusion Sphere - DC 13; Duration Concentration, 1 min/level; Range Close (25 ft); Talents Invisibility; Drawbacks Disappearance

- Trick (effects, alter)

- Illusion

- Invisibility

Martial
Tradition Hidden Master (Equipment sphere: Finesse Fighting, Monk Weapon Training; Open Hand sphere; Scout sphere); PAM Wis
Equipment sphere - DC 13, Talents Finesse Fighting, Monk Weapon Training
- finesse fighting (use Dex bonus on attacks with finesse weapons)

- monk weapon training (discipline) (proficiency with all monk weapons)
Open Hand sphere - DC 13, Talents none, Drawbacks none

- sweep (attempt a trip combat maneuver with a -2 penalty as a move action)

Scout sphere - DC 13, Talents none, Drawbacks none

- scout (swift action, identify creature's weaknesses)

Statistics

Str 10, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 13

Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 16

Traits Ever Wary, Monk Weapon Skill (shuriken)

Feats Dodge, Improved Unarmed Strike*, Weapon Finesse*,

Skills Acrobatics +7, Escape Artist +7, Stealth +7, Perform (sing) +5

Languages Common, Infernal

SQ esoteric training (ki blaster), ki pool (4 points), meditation (1 die), prehensile tail

Gear elfleaf (5 gp), liquid life (20 gp), monk’s kit (8 gp), 10 shuriken (2 gp)

Special Abilities

AC Bonus (Ex) When unarmored and unencumbered, the sage adds his Wisdom bonus (if any) to his AC and his CMD. In addition, a sage gains a +1 bonus to AC and CMD at 4th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every four sage levels thereafter, up to a maximum of +5 at 20th level.

These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the sage is flat-footed. He loses these bonuses when he is immobilized or helpless, when he wears any armor, when he carries a shield, or when he carries a medium or heavy load.

Chi Gong (Su) At 1st level, the sage learns the chi gong technique, which allows him to wield his ki as a precise instrument, thrusting it into an opponent and disrupting their physiology or reinforcing a wounded ally. A sage’s chi gong is measured in d6’s: the sage begins with 1d6 chi gong, which increases by 1d6 at 3rd level and every 2 levels thereafter. The sage gains a melee touch attack that is treated as a light weapon and can be used whenever the sage could make an attack (such as during an attack action or attack of opportunity) dealing piercing damage to the opponent equal to his chi gong dice; the sage may also apply this bonus damage to his unarmed strikes or natural attacks. In addition, the sage can use this ability to heal a creature instead of damaging them by sealing their wounds together with ki as a move action, but this patchwork healing cannot restore a creature’s hit points above half their normal maximum.

Equipment: Finesse Fighting You may use your Dexterity modifier in place of your Strength modifier when calculating your melee attack rolls with light weapons and weapons with the finesse weapon special feature. You may take this talent a total of two times. If taken a second time, whenever you make an attack using your Dexterity bonus on attack rolls and your Strength bonus on melee damage rolls, you may also add 1/2 your base attack bonus (minimum 1) as a bonus on that damage roll. Associated Feat: Weapon Finesse.

Equipment: Monk Weapon Training (discipline) You gain proficiency with all weapons with the monk special feature. If you have this talent and either the brawler’s flurry or flurry of blows class feature, you may make one additional attack with a weapon in this group as a free action whenever you make an attack action with a weapon from this group or an unarmed strike, but both attacks take a -2 penalty. You must decide whether or not to use this ability before making the first attack roll for your attack action. Attacks made using this ability apply your full Strength bonus to the damage roll, regardless of whether the weapon is wielded with two hands or with an off-hand.

Esoteric Training (Su) At 1st level, and again at 8th and 16th level, a sage gains one of the following esoteric training packages:

Esoteric Training: Ki Blaster The sage has trained to project his energy outside of himself, firing devastating blasts of energy from his palms, eyes, or another part of his body. Ki blasts are rays that can be fired as ranged touch attacks with a range of close (25 ft. + 5 ft. per 2 class levels), dealing an amount of bludgeoning and piercing damage equal to the sage’s chi gong dice. The sage may spend a ki point as a swift action to increase this damage to 1d6 per class level for 1 round, plus 1 additional round at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter. The sage may use a ki blast whenever he could normally make a ranged attack, such as when using the attack action or making an attack in a full attack sequence.

This counts as the destructive blast ability from the Destruction sphere and may be modified by talents with the (blast type) descriptor. In addition, sages with this ability may take (blast type) talents without having the Destruction base sphere. For every 4 class levels the sage possesses, he gains one (blast type) talent as a bonus talent.

Illusion Sphere You may craft images and impressions of things that aren’t there. Illusion sphere abilities have a range of Close and do not allow spell resistance unless placed on a creature with resistance (Such as with the Illusionary Disguise talent). Unwilling targets are allowed a Will save to resist an illusion or trick being placed upon them. An illusion may shed as much normal light as a torch and may cast a shadow.

Disappearance You cannot create illusions or tricks, except to make things disappear, fade or be suppressed. You must select Blur, Invisibility, Muffle or Silence talent as your bonus talent granted by this drawback.

Illusion: Trick As a standard action, you may create small, simple illusions called tricks, which persist for 1 minute per level or until dismissed.

Illusion: Trick: Effects You may create unconvincing illusions. This is the same as creating an illusion (see below) and can include all senses you can affect through Illusion talents, except it is obviously fake (i.e., it is translucent, unrealistic, etc.), requiring no one to make a save to disbelieve. However, the effects can still be used to create distractions, display images, draw a map, or be used for entertainment. This counts as possessing the required tools to make any appropriate Perform check (such as creating a melody with the Audible Illusion talent).

Illusion: Trick: Alter You may make minor changes to objects or creatures up to your Illusion maximum size, such as changing their color, making them appear clean or dirty, making writing appear, or other minor alterations. This counts as having a disguise kit when making Disguise checks (which take the usual time instead of a standard action), but such a disguise still counts as being magical for the purposes of detecting magic or for spells and effects that allow a target to see through magical effects and illusions.

Illusion: Illusion (sensory: sight) As a standard action, you may spend a spell point to create a silent visual illusion within range for as long as you concentrate, to a maximum of 1 minute per caster level. You cannot move further away from the illusion than your illusion range while maintaining it through concentration, and the illusion is limited in size according to Table: Illusion Maximum Size. The image may be anything you may clearly imagine, and behaves according to your desires.

Table: Illusion Maximum Size
Caster Level    Illusion Maximum Size    Maximum Size in cubes
1st    Medium    5 ft cube
3rd    Large    10 ft cube
5th    Huge    15 ft cube
8th    Gargantuan    20 ft cube
11th    Colossal    30 ft cube
15th    Colossal+    40 ft cube
20th    Colossal++    50 ft cube
25th    Colossal+++    60 ft cube

Simply perceiving an illusion isn’t enough to detect it as fake, but any target who interacts with the illusion or carefully studies the area is allowed a Will save to disbelieve the image, recognizing it for what it is. Anyone who finds obvious evidence of trickery (ex: throws a rock through an illusionary wall) automatically disbelieves the illusion.
You may only create visual illusions although certain talents may be taken to add more senses. The more complex an illusion is, the more talents it requires to be convincing, with the chart below serving as a guideline and the GM serving as the final arbiter for what talents are required to create a specific illusion.

Table: Example Illusions
Example of Illusion    Required Talents
An illusionary wall    Base sphere only
A glen full of trees    Complex Illusion
A warrior blocking the target's way    Illusionary Sound, Illusionary Touch (to engage in combat w/ target)
A table laden with food    Illusionary Odor, Illusionary Touch (to be consumed by target)
A room filled with fire    Illusionary Sound, Illusionary Touch
An army of orcs chasing the target    Illusionary Sound, Complex Illusion, Illusionary Touch (to engage in combat w/ target)

If creating an illusionary creature, your illusion has an attack bonus equal to your caster level + your casting ability modifier, and a touch armor class equal to 10 + its size modifier + ½ your caster level + your casting ability modifier. An illusionary creature may provide a flanking bonus against targets who fail to disbelieve it. Any creature who strikes an illusion in combat automatically disbelieves it.

Illusion: Invisibility (glamer) You may make things disappear. As a trick, you may add ½ your caster level to Sleight of Hand checks made to palm a small object or hide a light weapon.
You may also place an illusion on a creature or object that makes it harder to see. Rather than make a Will save to disbelieve, creatures must make Perception checks to detect the hidden creature or object. Objects have a flat Perception DC equal to 10 + their size bonus + your caster level, while creatures gain a bonus to their Stealth checks equal to your caster level. In addition, since they are invisible, creatures may make Stealth checks even while being observed and do not require cover to retain or initiate Stealth. Even when detected by another creature, an invisible creature gains a +2 bonus to attack rolls against sighted targets and ignores their Dexterity bonus to AC. Attacks against the invisible creature have a 50% chance they will simply miss, even if the attack has targeted the correct square. Making a creature or object invisible also hides its magical aura from such effects as detect magic or the base Divination sphere divine ability.

Ki Pool (Su) At 1st level, a sage gains a pool of ki points, supernatural energy he can use to accomplish amazing feats. The number of points in a sage’s ki pool is equal to his sage level + his Wisdom modifier. By spending 1 point from his ki pool, a sage can increase his speed by 20 ft. for 1 round. Alternatively, he can spend 1 point from his ki pool to give himself a +4 dodge bonus to AC for 1 round. Each of these powers is activated as a swift action.

Many esoteries and esoteric training packages require the sage to spend ki points to modify an effect; unless specifically stated otherwise, the sage cannot spend more ki points on an esotery or esoteric training ability than 1 + 1 per 5 class levels he possesses.

The ki pool is replenished each morning after 8 hours of rest or meditation; these hours do not need to be consecutive.

Meditation (Ex) The sage can spend 1 hour in quiet contemplation to gather and reinforce his mental and spiritual energies in preparation for the task ahead. When the sage meditates in this manner, he gains a pool of bonus dice equal to ½ his class level (rounded down, minimum 1) that can be spent whenever he makes an ability check, skill check, or saving throw to add 1d6 to the roll. The sage can also use this ability whenever an opponent uses an ability which targets the sage’s CMD to add 1d6 to his CMD against the attempt. The sage cannot gain more bonus dice at one time than half his class level using this ability.

Open Hand Sphere Masters of unarmed combat, Open Hand practitioners are known for their varied styles and unorthodox combat technique. Open Hand practitioners are unarmed fighters who deal additional damage with their unarmed strikes as described in the unarmed strike practitioner table. Associated Feat: Improved Unarmed Strike.
In addition, all practitioners of the Open Hand sphere gain the following ability:

Open Hand: Sweep You may attempt a trip combat maneuver with a -2 penalty as a move action, although you may not use a manufactured weapon to make this trip attempt. This does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Scout Sphere Training in the Scout sphere teaches you how to hide from danger, identify potential threats and hazards, track opponents through almost any environment, and identify a creature’s key weaknesses. When you gain the Scout sphere, you gain 5 ranks in the Stealth skill, plus 5 ranks per additional talent spent in the Scout sphere (maximum ranks equal to your total Hit Dice). If you already have ranks in the Stealth skill you may immediately retrain them, but you do not get to retrain when only temporarily gaining talents, such as through the armiger’s customized weapons class feature.
All practitioners of the Scout sphere gain the following ability:

Scout: Scout As a swift action, you may identify a creature’s weaknesses (DC 10 + creature’s CR) as described under the Knowledge skill, but may substitute a Perception check for the appropriate Knowledge check at a -5 penalty. This only reveals the target’s weaknesses, or lack thereof, (such as damage reduction types and vulnerabilities), and does not reveal any additional information about the target. Once you have succeeded at a scout attempt or Knowledge check against a target, any talents or effects that require you to scout a target may be used against the target for the next 24 hours; after this period you must successfully use the scout ability against the target again to continue benefiting from related effects.

Style Talent Every sage develops a unique combination of martial and mystical talents that form a unique and recognizable style. At 1st level and every 2 levels thereafter, the sage gains a bonus combat talent or magic talent of his choice. Sages who gain magic talents are treated as High-Casters when determining their caster level, use Wisdom as their casting ability modifier, and treat their ki pool as their spell pool when using magic spheres and talents. This does not grant the sage 2 bonus talents for gaining their first level in a casting class, though the sage may qualify for a casting tradition, applying any appropriate limitations to their ki powers (so a sage with a casting tradition that includes the Verbal Casting drawback would apply that limitation to all of their ki powers, not just those that use magic talents).

Build

The Energy Blaster is built with a 20-point buy and 140 gp starting wealth. Favored Class Bonus is+½ bonus on saving throws to resist death attacks. If using a lower point buy, you can lower Strength and Intelligence. If using a higher point buy (or rolling really well), your most important attributes are Wisdom and Dexterity. Wisdom is your casting statistic and affects the save DCs of all your magic and martial talents and your spell pool, in addition to boosting your Will saves; Dexterity makes you a great unarmed warrior, increases your initiative and bolsters AC, Acrobatics, Stealth and Escape Artist checks. Constitution is important too, since it increases your hit points, and Charisma fuels your Perform ability for the times when you are engaged in street shows or performance combat.

How to Play an Energy Blaster

Proud of your good looks and energy control, you wander the world in search of worthy opponents and take every chance to refine your martial techniques, while also helping people in need whenever you find them.

Future Abilities

Magic Talents Electric Blast*, Energy Weapon*, Fire Blast*, Force Blast*, Frost Blast*, Hurricane Blast*, Increase Speed*, Mental Enhancement*, Muffle, Physical Enhancement*, Silence, Superior Reflexes*

Martial Talents Active Camouflage, Axe Kick, Barrage Sphere*, Blitz Focus*, Ceaseless Ammo*, Deadly Strike, Finesse Training (2nd), Hidden Focus, Hurricane Kick, Judo Throw, Kick-Off, Lurker*, Mobile Focus*, Mystic Fists, Reflexive Stealth, Sniper Sphere, Spinning Heel Kick, Sweeping Kick, Throwing Mastery, Throwing Reflexes*, Unarmored Training, Vanish, Walk Unseen

Feats Mobility, Point-Blank Shot*, Precise Shot*, Rapid Shot*, Shot on the Run, Signature Skill (Stealth), Skill Focus* (Acrobatics, Bluff, Escape Artist, Perception, Perform, Stealth), Startoss Comet, Startoss Shower, Startoss Style, Stunning Fist*, Surprise Shot, Weapon Focus (shuriken), Weapon Focus (unarmed strike)

Esoteric Trainings enhancer, infuser

Esoteries combat form, elemental aura, ki bomb, maneuver master, mental escalation, meteor shower, piercing beam, revivifying ki blast, scatter blast, stunning fist

Signature Technique devastation wave

Maybe learn to use your tail to attack.