New Class Idea: The Engineer

[Eric42]

So I had this idea and thought I would go ahead and propose it here. I want to see if I can get feedback and even refine the idea. This idea is for a new class called the engineer.

So basically the idea is for a new class that can pretty much create stuff. At levels 1, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20, engineers get an engineering point which is then immediately divested into somewhere around 3 to 5 engineering fields. Each point represents an improvement or an increase of expertise that grows as they get more experience.

First, I can only personally think of two and maybe a third engineering field that can still fit in with a medieval fantasy style world.

First is mechanical engineering. In this field, the PC's can build Machines of various types including automations or machinations or something along those lines. This means that, yes, the players can create little machines that can do various things including fighting for the engineer themself or carry miscellaneous things that players need it to carry. The further into the expertise this field gets the bigger stronger the machines can get in order to do more damage at or carry even larger weight.

Second, is explosives engineering. In this field the engineer can do miscellaneous and various things using explosives. This ought to include firearms, various thrown explosives light grenades, and volatile liquids and such. Firearms probably becomes the most important area perhaps of this expertise and probably would become the main way an engineer fights for themselves.

Truthfully, beyond that, I really don't have much and would love to get more feedback. Another idea that I've had but I really don't know how to implement is electrical engineering. I can see things like the creation of taser like weapons and things like that in this field but I don't have much more beyond that though.

Engineers would have no proficiency with any already existing weapon, melee or ranged. Instead, they would have to depend on their ability to create things in order to fight for themselves, whether it is machinations like robots that can fight for them, using firearms in the secret of gunpowder or using weapons that would do some other kind of damage.

I would spend a lot more time trying to type this up but my main problem is that I only have a phone. So that makes it super duper hard for me to actually sit down and do it.

If there is anybody out there that would be willing to help me with this, I would be greatly appreciative. Otherwise I'm just looking for feedback on the idea as a whole. What would anyone change or refine? And is there any other engineering fields that would work perfectly in a fantasy world?

[daryen]

You can divide up the "mechanical engineering" part. First, they can make small things. Then they can make bigger things. Then they can make things they can ride in. Then they can make house-sized things. Or something like that.

Also, there are lots of different styles of constructs. Divide them up as needed. Clockwork. Steam powered. Magic powered. Lots of different directions to go in.

Finally, you need to determine how far into steampunk you wanna go. Just adding explosives is an absolute game-changer. Gunpowder even more so. You need to figure out how far along that line you want to go.

Oh! I would recommend that they be given at least of short weapons they can use. They provide a last line of options when utterly cornered. Obviously, a hammer. Probably a dagger. Maybe an axe. Sure, they can fight like a magic-user, but they need to know how to use *some* kind of weapon.

[Dimirag]

You can forgo the points and areas and simply make creation into different types:
Trinkets
Minor Creations
Mayor Creations
Wonders
And give some guidelines for them, each type is acquired at some level and start improving for there on.
Creating things may use similar rules to those of magic items, if you want points in a manner or specialization you can give them to be used here.

[SmootRK]

Moved to General, since there is not a tangible offering here yet. If this materializes into something, we can move back to Workshop, but until then it is just a discussion topic.

[Eric42]

First, thanks for replying. I hate that I am replying so late as I have been working so much here lately.

So, there are some great ideas here. I am thinking it would be better to drop the strict catagorization I had and go with dimirag's idea. A smart engineer wouldn't be so limited. I just need help creating the base ideas for can be created by the engineer. I have ideas, like machines that just help carry stuff, some that can fight, and others that do both. I don't see firearms to be a bad thing and don't even see it as a gamebreaker. Though, I probably am too influanced by Final Fantasy Tactics. Lol

I don't really intend to make anything steampunkish. I just thought about having some lowtech being added to a fantasy setting.

[Seven]

Advanced? I don't remember an Engineer in FFT.
Squire, Chemist, Calculator, Dancer, Geomancer, Mediator, Mime, Oracle, Summoner, Time Wizard. Lots of cool idea there.

I got lost in FFTA. Too many options, not enough story. Never got far in that while I completed the bonus dungeon in FFT.

Blue mages are a fun idea, but not very practical.

Phoenix feathers are also a fun idea.

[Dimirag]

Advanced? I don't remember an Engineer in FFT.

I think he's referring to guns and gunpowder

I really enjoyed FFTA, had a Paladin/Illusionist as the main pc.

[Eric42]

There was a character named Mustadio that was called a Machinist which pretty much was an engineer. He is what I picture when for this class. He used firearms to stay far away from the action.

[Clever_Munkey]

The Tech class from Engines and Empires might be helpful here.

In the modern world, engineers are highly specialized. Historically, the kind of thing you’re talking about (Inventing gadgets, and developing new technology) would be done by craftsmen, who were also highly specialized (though to what extend depends on when and where).

I think there are a few approaches you can take (if you want to remain true to the BFRPG feel)

1. You have a generic engineer. They’re like da Vinci in that they studied something like natural philosophy (basically how the world and everything in it works, which includes art and mathematics) and is good at “all engineering.” This would be kind of like how the fighter is equally good at “all fighting” with any weapon.

2. (Sort of an extension of the first option) You divide the engineering disciplines into their own separate classes. This would be kind of like specialist magic users, or any other subclass really.

Whichever way you decide, I think you first figure out what the class does, and how it actually plays at the table, then worry about coming up with categories and names for things.

[Eric42]

Well, I have some (hopefully) great ideas in mind thanks to all the great advice that I have got here. Instead of being just an engineer, I think I am going to make a "Machinist". This is based, loosely, on the job from the job class from the Final Fantasy series, mainly using Edgar from FF VI.

Today, I got myself something that will at least allow me to get stuff typed up: A bluetooth keyboard that I am even using now to type this up. Now, I hope that I am get typed up all the ideas that I've had and have been making notes on paper about.

What I will release first will be a really rough first draft as I am still having some blanks on some of the stuff. Hopefully, some here will help me fill in those blanks? Look for it by the weekend, I hope.