Best way to add Paladin class abilities to all classes?

[Xanadin]

Hi all.

I recently picked up HL to help out with tracking my wizard for a high powered campaign I'm playing in. One of the custom rules for this campaign is all of the PCs have the paladin class abilities, minus the HD, saves, and BAB.

I'm trying to figure out what the easiest/best way to add all of the paladin's class abilities to all of the other core classes. From the research I've done, it looks like I would need to duplicate the classes in my own custom user file and then add the Paladin's class specials to the bootstraps. Seems fairly straight forward, even if cumbersome.

So is there an easier way to accomplish what I'm trying to do?

Thanks,
Xanadin

 

[Aaron]

I would recommend creating archetypes for each of the classes, instead of duplicating the classes themselves. Once you have one done, all you have to do is copy that archetype and switch a couple things.

 

[Xanadin]

Thanks Aaron, that is indeed faster than duplicating things. For the most part, everything seems to be working great, but there are a few warnings popping up.

Paladin Mercy prerequisites not found
I made the new archetype count as a Paladin and made it apply to all class levels, however, that doesn't seem to be sufficient to satisfy the level requirements for Paladin Mercies. The pre-reqs of Mercy Custom Abilities look like:

var classcheck as string
var levels as number

classcheck = "Paladin"

call LevPreReqs

validif (levels >= X)

where X is the level pre-req

Other than copying them all and updating their pre-reqs to account for classes levels that count as Paladin, is there an easier way, perhaps via an eval script on the new archetype, to make it satisfy the pre-reqs?


Paladin Mercies and Divine Bond picks only show up when placed in Primary and Secondary Custom Abilities

I was hoping to place them down in the quart/quintenary positions, but the choose option either isn't listed or there are no picks available. Not sure if the Custom Abilities are setup such that they can only be in those slots, or what is happening. Also, when placed in the Secondary Custom Ability slot, without even choosing a Divine Bond pick, I'm getting the warning of too many Divine Bonds chosen. I assume this is due to the way the number of picks are evaluated purely by slot without taking type into consideration? Perhaps it is possible to add a script to make it evaluate it by type as well?


Adding additional spell lists and casting to an existing casting class via an archetype

This last one is low on my priority list, since I'm not sure I'm going to use the paladin spells on my wizard, just wanted to know if it is possible to add the paladin spells plus paladin spells per day to an existing casting class via an archetype.


Thanks,
Josh

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Other than copying them all and updating their pre-reqs to account for classes levels that count as Paladin, is there an easier way, perhaps via an eval script on the new archetype, to make it satisfy the pre-reqs?

In this case the Pre-Req procedure is looking for the tag "Classes.Paladin" to be on the hero. Then its counting them. I would have a script on the archetype that adds these tags REALLY late so that HL does not actually think you have levels in paladin. But the Pre-Reqs would still see these values.

So run this at Final/99999999

var iX as number

~ Mimic the same number of paladin levels as we have
~ in levels.
while (iX < herofield[tTotLevel].value)
   iX += 1
   perform hero.assign[Classes.Paladin]
loop

 

[Xanadin]

Thanks ShadowChemosh, that worked great (after adding the iX increment in the loop)

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Thanks ShadowChemosh, that worked great (after adding the iX increment in the loop)

Oh yea Opps... I updated the post. That happens when I just write a script on the forums and don't test it.

 

[Aaron]

Paladin Mercies and Divine Bond picks only show up when placed in Primary and Secondary Custom Abilities

I was hoping to place them down in the quart/quintenary positions, but the choose option either isn't listed or there are no picks available. Not sure if the Custom Abilities are setup such that they can only be in those slots, or what is happening. Also, when placed in the Secondary Custom Ability slot, without even choosing a Divine Bond pick, I'm getting the warning of too many Divine Bonds chosen. I assume this is due to the way the number of picks are evaluated purely by slot without taking type into consideration? Perhaps it is possible to add a script to make it evaluate it by type as well?

There are archetypes which put custom specials in a different slot than normal. Check out the Myrmidarch Magus archetype. The timing is very specific though, so pay special attention to that.

Adding additional spell lists and casting to an existing casting class via an archetype

This last one is low on my priority list, since I'm not sure I'm going to use the paladin spells on my wizard, just wanted to know if it is possible to add the paladin spells plus paladin spells per day to an existing casting class via an archetype.

You just need to apply the sClass.cHelpPal tag to the linked class. This will have to happen in a different eval script than the one I mention above, since it needs to happen earlier.

 

[Xanadin]

Thanks Aaron. I'll play around with the custom specials to try and get that working the way I want.

With regards to applying the sClass.cHelpPal tag to the linked class, that isn't quite what I'm looking for. The custom rules for our game isn't just about allowing access to Paladin spells, but we gain the Paladin spells per day on top of whatever the base casting class is. Specialized schools, patrons, domains, etc, seem to add additional prepared casting slots per day. Perhaps I'm just adding it at the wrong timing point (First/100)?

 

[Aaron]

Ah, that's significantly more complex. If the class doesn't already have something in it's secondary spells, you might be able to use those. The Theurge class from New Paths Compendium does something similar, so you might check that out.