Cosmic Dancer (A Visit to the Buff-et: Symbiat)

Yesterday we discussed the Guide by  Little Red Goblin Games as a potential “fifth wheel” class for the “buff-er” or support role. A great support character can fill in for missing character roles or make the going much easier on a larger party. We’ll be looking at some of the more unusual offerings for this role over the next few days. And today we look at the telekinetic grace and cosmic awareness of the symbiat from Drop Dead Studios.

Buff-et Basics: The Symbiat

First off, the symbiat is a sphere-using caster, which will impact a lot of aspects depending on how their spheres are built out (more about this in below in Song of Magic). The symbiat‘s themes are more telekinetic mysticism than the cheerleading of some other buff classes. With that in mind we will be comparing them to the Core Rulebook bard‘s abilities to benchmark:

• Song of Steel: Our symbiats mid BAB matches the bard, blow for blow. The weapon selection is tight with simple and select weapons in a manner very similar to bard. They gain NO armor proficiency but gain a “Battlefield Sense” that adds their Intelligence modifier to their AC with an additional level based bonus. Selecting the Protection sphere can  help you increase your AC quite nicely.
• Song of Magic: As a sphere-using caster, the symbiat has a lot of potential advantages over the bard. Firstly, they can use most powers in “concentration mode” and not expend spell points. This means that they can have much longer “workdays” than bards (at least for magic, see Song of Support for other limitations). The second aspect of the magic of the class is customization. If a player wants lightning blasts in addition to the basic powers of the class. Some goes for healing, teleporting and a hundreds of other effects.
• Song of Lore: 4+Int isn’t the best report card, but with all Knowledges there are worse classes to be in the skill role (the class also doubles down on Intelligence for a lot of features and is likely lower in ranks for that reason. This aspect is generally weaker than bard and isn’t going to compare favorably though some psionics buffs DO help skill checks.
• Song of Support: The symbiat‘s primary buffs are based around its psionics class feature. Note: This is NOT the awesome psionics of Dreamscarred Presses’ Ultimate Psionics system, rather this is its own very cool pool of mental augmentations that work on a rounds per day schema similar to bard. Possible buffs include:
  • Mind Link: The symbiat may link the minds of himself and any number of willing targets with Intelligence scores of 3 or higher. All affected creatures may communicate with each other through this mental link, provided they share a language. Where there is no shared language, only simple communication (go, come, attack, help) may be sent.
  • Battlefield Relay: The symbiat may open the mind of an opponent, reading their intentions and relaying this information to his allies. If a creature is successfully designated as a target, the symbiat and all allies within 60 ft of the symbiat gain a +2 circumstance bonus to attack rolls and skill checks made against the target, a +2 dodge bonus to AC against attacks coming from the target, and a +2 circumstance bonus saving throws against any effect originating from the target.At 7th level, the bonus granted by battlefield relay increases to +3. This increases to +4 at level 13, and +5 at level 19. 
  • Telekinetic Manipulation: The symbiat may use their telekinesis to manipulate
    the battlefield. So long as this effect is active, the symbiat may, as an immediate action, add either a bonus or a penalty equal to 1/2 his symbiat level (minimum: 1) to one attack roll made within 60 ft of him. 
  • Share Expertise: At 3rd level, the symbiat may create a psionic effect that allows him and his allies to share knowledge and capabilities.
  • Telekinetic Edge: At 6th level, the symbiat may push their own body or the body of a single willing ally with their telekinetics, making it effectively stronger and faster than it otherwise could be. The symbiat may affect an additional target at 9th level and every 3 levels thereafter, to a maximum of 5 targets at 18th level.
    Affected targets gains a +2 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC. All affected targets must remain within 60 ft of the symbiat to retain these benefits. 
  • Share Capacity: At 7th level, the symbiat may create an effect similar to the share expertise psionic effect, except instead of sharing ranks in a skill with his allies, the symbiat shares one feat he possesses.
  • Psionic Fortress: At 11th level, the symbiat may use his psionic abilities to create a field of protection around himself. The symbiat and all allies within 30 ft gain a +4 Deflection bonus to AC and a +4 morale bonus to Will saving throws.

Compared to the bard, the symbiat is similar combat augmenter with a limited rounds per day buff class feature. Magic can be used conservatively to stretch it out to a full workday scope but plan on strategic use of your telekinetic psionics group abilities. If you want a similar feel to bard but want to play a “jedi” this might be a great support role character for you.

Not the right fit for you? Come back tomorrow for “buff-et” eats.  Paramour is our support role claass or you can pre-order the Book of Beyond WIP subcription or see our other products at: d20pfsrd.com, drivethruRPG, paizo and RPGNow.