9,699
edits
Changes
A [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)|Viewtiful Warrior]] who takes levels in Art Flow User gets to apply odd-numbered Art Flow User levels towards the dodge bonus of [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#Viewtiful Dodge|Viewtiful Dodge]], the size of his or her VFX pool (specifically following the Viewtiful Warrior’s progression), his or her VFX recharge rate (also specifically following the Viewtiful Warrior’s progression), and formulaic level-dependent variables of VFX powers (such as the speed bonus of [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#VFX Mach Speed|VFX Mach Speed]]), but not to any other Viewtiful Warrior class features (like [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#Unarmed Mastery|unarmed strikes]], [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#Stunning Fist|Stunning]] [[SRD:Stunning Fist|Fist]], or [[Ukemi (3.5e Feat)|Ukemi]]). Art Flow User levels also don’t contribute to the development of new VFX powers or new or advanced features of existing VFX powers (such as [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#VFX Slow|VFX Slow]] slowdown, [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#VFX Mach Speed|Mach Speed]] clones, or [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#VFX Replay|Replay]] critical hits). (There are some who consider [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#VFX|VFX]] a way to tap into the Art Flow, even though VFX empirically has more in common with psionic powers and Viewtiful Warriors who don’t awaken to the Art Flow are hurt just as badly by it as anyone else.) {{underbar|That’s pretty weaksauce!|The Viewtiful Warrior only gets to be an entryway class for the Art Flow User at all because [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#VFX|VFX]] is explicitly based on common movie-making cinematic tricks, such as [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#VFX Slow|slow motion]], [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#VFX Mach Speed|fast-forward]], [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#VFX Replay|repeat cuts]], and [[Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#VFX Zoom|zooming in]]. Movies do qualify as a form of art, so VFX has enough of a connection to the Art Flow that excluding it didn’t seem logical. That said, the connection is tenuous enough (and [[Talk:Viewtiful Warrior (3.5e Class)#Ratings|the Viewtiful Warrior is so borderline-overpowered on its own]]) that it was necessary to make the power boost of a Viewtiful Warrior becoming an Art Flow User as horizontal as possible, within the realm of sensibility. Hence, the Art Flow can bestow some extra VFX, make it recharge a little faster, and make the abilities a little stronger (and of course, being able to fly is enough of an agility boost that I could justify advancing the progression of Viewtiful Dodge as well), but doing anything more would just be too much. VFX isn’t the point of the Art Flow or those who tap into it, it’s more of a fringe territory, and I wanted the mechanics to reflect this.}}
'''''{{Anchor|Paint Shot}}'' {{Sp}}:''' As a standard action, an Art Flow User can launch an orb of raw essence from the Art Flow (an energy that greatly resembles paint) which deals 1d6 damage per [[SRD:Caster Level|caster level]] as a ranged touch attack (its caster level is equal to the Art Flow User's class level, and its range increment is 60 feet). In addition to the damage, a ''paint shot'' seeps into the skin of its victim, which is... not good for them in the slightest; it is [[SRD:Poison|poisonous]], dealing 1 [[SRD:Strength|Strength]], 1 [[SRD:Dexterity|Dexterity]], and 1 [[SRD:Constitution|Constitution]] [[SRD:Ability Score Loss#Ability Damage|damage]] unless the victim succeeds on a [[Fortitude]] save (save [[DC]] is [[SRD:Charisma|Charisma]]-based). Since the essence of the Art Flow is poisonous, a creature that fails its Fortitude save is poisoned and must make another Fortitude save 1 minute later or take the same ability damage again. A creature killed by ''paint shot'' (including if its [[Strength]], [[Dexterity]], or [[Constitution]] is reduced to 0) becomes a terrifyingly "realistic" statue, as if affected by ''[[SRD:Flesh to Stone|flesh to stone]]'' . (except A creature that they do dies in this way does not actually [[SRD:Petrified|turn to stone]] – they are it is simply chemically and supernaturally mummified. As such, and indeed, while [[SRD:Stone to Flesh|''stone to flesh'']] is unable to restore a creature who has succumbed to such a fate; however, any form of revival, including [[SRD:Raise Dead|''raise dead'']], works normally, clearing the Art Flow from the subject's system. A body killed by Art Flow poisoning does not decay, but revival magic is still subject to its usual time limits. If a creature killed by Art Flow poisoning is temporarily revived by a spell such as ''revenance''<ref name="SpC">[[Publication:Spell Compendium|Spell Compendium]]</ref>, it dies normally when the spell expires; it does not become a statue again.). The Art Flow is a supernatural poison, so resistance or immunity to mundane poisons is useless against it. Unlike an [[#Invocations|artistic essence]], if an Art Flow User strikes a creature with multiple ''paint shots'' in a round, that creature has to make a separate Fortitude save for each one (and a separate secondary save for each primary save it fails). [[SRD:Spell Resistance|Spell resistance]] applies to each shot separately. Creatures with the <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Special:SearchByProperty/Subtype/Water|Water]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> or <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Special:SearchByProperty/Subtype/Cold|Cold]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> subtype take half damage from a ''paint shot'', gain a +4 bonus to their Fortitude saves against it, and gain a +6 bonus to their spell resistance against it if they have spell resistance. Creatures that have both the [Water] and [Cold] subtypes or are composed entirely of water or ice, such as [[SRD:Water Elemental|water elementals]], take only ⅓ of the damage from a ''paint shot'', gain a +8 bonus to their spell resistance against it (if they have spell resistance), and cannot be poisoned by it at all, even if such a creature is not already immune to poison, nor will it be pseudo-petrified if killed by the ''paint shot''. Creatures that have both the [Water] and [Cold] subtypes ''and'' are composed entirely of water or ice take only ¼ of the damage from a ''paint shot'', gain a +10 bonus to their spell resistance against it (if they have spell resistance), and cannot be poisoned by it at all, even if such a creature is not already immune to poison, nor will it be pseudo-petrified if killed by the ''paint shot''. Art Flow Users also cannot be poisoned or pseudo-petrified by a ''paint shot'', and take half damage from it. An Art Flow User can use ''Paint Shot'' if he or she is soaked or immersed in water, encased in ice, or enveloped in steam up to at least his or her waist, but its damage is cut in half (which stacks with any scenarios described above which cut the damage) and its save DC is reduced by 4; it doesn’t regain full strength until the Art Flow User is completely dry. ''Paint Shot'' counts as ''eldritch blast'' for the purpose of prerequisites.
Unlike some spell-like abilities, a ''paint shot'' has a spell level. A ''paint shot''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s spell level is equal to the Art Flow User's class level (minimum 1st, maximum 9th), the spell level of the artistic shape applied to the shot (if any), or the spell level of the artistic essence applied to the shot (if any), whichever is highest.
*''Delivery:'' Contact
''Initial Effect:'' The victim must make a Fortitude save or suffer a −2 penalty to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution. If this reduces one of these ability scores to 0, the victim immediately dies, its body becoming a taxidermied statueas though affected by [[SRD:Flesh to Stone|''flesh to stone'']] (though it is not actually [[SRD:Petrified|petrified]]).
''Heightened Effect:'' The penalties to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution increase by 2 (−4, −6, −8, and so on). If this reduces one of those ability scores to 0, the victim immediately dies.