Daily RPG Blog Roll

TL;DR for the Exemplar

The Exemplar is a strange beast. They're a martial that echoes power from stories and mythology, so their powers are reminiscent of Greek Heroes or Knights of the Round Table (even the flavor text says you may have drawn a weapon from a stone). Their gimmick is that they have a 'divine spark' that they can move between Ikons (representations of their divine power). Ikons can be part of their body (the face, the skin, a scar), a weapon, or a worn item - an Exemplar gets one of each type. In general: Body Ikons grant self-defensive abilities, Weapon Ikons grant offensive bonuses, and Worn Ikons grant auras that support allies.

While an Ikon holds the divine spark, it grants both passive benefit and access to a 'Transcendence' action. A Transcendence action is a powerful effect based on the Ikon, and after resolving the action the divine spark is forced to jump to a different Ikon. So the Exemplar is effectively playing a juggling act where they're constantly weighing the benefits of which passive Ikon effect they want vs the Transcendence action they're setting up for.

Some example Ikons: Gaze as Sharp as Steel (Body) - Passive: +1 Perception and +2 AC vs ranged attacks. Transcendence: Gain Reactive Strike feat for the round Scar of the Survivor (Body) - Passive: +1 on Fortitude saves. Transcendence: Heal 1d8 Hit Points (scaling with level) Yes, this allows effectively infinite out-of-combat self healing Barrows Edge (Sword-like Weapon) Passive: 1 Persistent damage on a Strike. Transcendence: Gain HP equal to half the damage it just dealt Fated Shot (Projectile Weapon) Passive: +1 damage per Strike. Transcendence: Can strike a 5-foot burst with a hail of projectiles. Victor's Wreath (Worn) Passive: You and all allies within 15 feet get +1 to attack rolls. Transcendence: Allies may immediately make saving throws (with a +2 bonus) to end ongoing conditions

As an Exemplar levels, they acquire additional abilities for their Ikons. (free actions with their Body Ikons at level 3, critical effects and alternate damage types for Weapon Ikons at level 7, and additional range and ally buffs for Worn Ikons at level 15). They also have the ability to 'reassign' Ikon status to new objects of a similar kind - so if they find a magical bow, they can make that their Ikon of Fated Shot for example.

Exemplar feats include some options for increasing offensive power (new weapon traits, bonus damage, alt damage types), physical utility, durability, and divine focus spells. There's a very fun one at level 4 called Only the Worthy, where you can command your worn or weapon Ikon to remain motionless - potentially pinning down a prone enemy or blocking a door - the feat also allows you to call the Ikon back to your hand.