Shower thought for fourth class(It has nothing to do with psionics)

[Dolphi]

You could still keep the Animal aspect of the class if you do something like a biologist.

The class could use a mixture of, say, pheromones to entice nearby creatures into attacking the target, confuse a group of enemies or heck, just deal high lust damage.

 

[KidRodent]

If you really want to think about a fourth class (that isn't Psionics), you need to think about what the three original classes bring.

So the Mercenary is the Fighter, the Tech Specialist is the Magic User and the Smuggler is the Thief. These aren't concrete comparisons, they do cover enough bases to build a foundation for a fourth class. We'd want something of a hybrid class, one that takes elements of two classes and brings something new to the table, for example in Fantasy, the Paladin is essentially a hybrid class of the Fighter and Magic User, the Ranger is the Fighter and Thief and so on.

So what would that be in TiTS?
Mercenary + Tech = A combat character with a high level of technical know-how, possibly a frontline type character who uses their tech skills to grant them temporary buffs like Boosting Shields for a couple of rounds. Probably wouldn't have the damage output a specced Mercenary does, but definitely has more survivability. Possibly the Combat Engineer archetype or something to that effect.
Tech + Smuggler = A difficult proposition, combining some criminal tendencies with Tech skills. Not the tankiest character, but probably able to last a while if they need to. Or considering the TiTS universe, a role far more suited to Corporate Espionage Agent, slip in, get the info and get out.
Mercenary + Smuggler = A character that would have that much HP or shield strength. If they're forced to fight, they'd have to deal a high amount of damage. The character could be a sniper of some kind or far more likely, a dedicated Duellist.

Of course, this is just all theory and supposition at 4 in the morning, so make of it what you will.

If that’s the way we’re looking at it, look at Mass Effect. Solid combat and classing. Adept : Mage :: Engineer : Thief :: Soldier : Fighter, no?

With that logic behind us,

Adept : Mage : Tech
Engineer : Thief : Smuggler
Soldier : Fighter : Mercenary.

With that piece also behind us,

Vanguard : Tech + Mercenary
Infiltrator : Smuggler + Mercenary
Sentinel : Tech + Smuggler

Tech + Mercenary, I imagine, would be melee based, using a physical weapon for close combat while relying on Tech abilities for long range.

Smuggler + Tech, on the other hand, would focus on debilitating the enemy before dealing a single, ravaging blow, wether through Lust or Physical damage. Seeing as how this is the TiTS counterpart to ME’s Infiltrator, I’m thinking Kinetic Ranged focus, since Tech Specialist already uses energy. Maybe the Merc + Tech combo would focus on energy melee, too. I see Emmy’s Vampire Sword being essential to such a build.

The Sentinel part is where this thread’s Zoologist class would come into play. The class would have no attack bonuses, not even the iconic Double Attacks all the current classes have now. It would, however, have incredible boosting and sabatoging power, and would most likely rely on its companion for damage, wether Siegwulfe, Varmint, or Tam-Bot. I imagine it would play a lot like the Witch Doctors of Diablo. In the same vein, the Sentinel’s parasites would also attack autonomously, perhaps by an acidic/pheremonal spray from Mimbranes, or the Cunttail/Cockvine lashing out at potential sneak attackers.

 

[Xeivous]

The problem with those views on the classes is that you are ignoring that all the current classes can be built for melee and ranged. A melee tech is pretty much as you describe a tech+merc.

 

[KidRodent]

The problem with those views on the classes is that you are ignoring that all the current classes can be built for melee and ranged. A melee tech is pretty much as you describe a tech+merc.

Tech’s abilities mainly focus on amping up shields or the PC’s sidekick bot. The Merc-Tech would mainly focus on using Tech directly, maybe through something like FF13’s Manadrive, or using warpgate technology to gain sneak attacks. It’d also give bonuses to energy melee weapons, much like Techs get Energy Ranged bonuses. Less Fighter, more 5e Bladesing or Magic Swordsman.

 

[ScarletteKnight]

I don't think we can apply Mass Effect in this situation. The Adept is closer to the Psionic and not the Tech. That aside the classes are perfectly capable of being Ranged or Melee powerhouses, not to mention they are supposed to be jobs. We would need a new role entirely, one that you can get paid for as well.

 

[Evil]

As ScarletteKnight said, the class we choose for Steele is meant to be training for a job, something to indirectly help them in running SteeleTech one day. The classes aren't meant to lock Steele into a specific path, for example, convention says that my Merc!Steele should be a melee monster. I argue that Rapid Fire combined with Second Shot makes my Steele an absolute beast in combat. Steele is always going to be a powerhouse, at close or long range, the classes in-game allow for some flavour and a couple of truly unique options.

With regards to a fourth class, the problem here is that the Fighter/Mage/Thief system in use is that you've already broken down the characters into their base elements. It can't go anymore basic than that, so there's really the only option of a Jack-of-all-stats hybrid. The problem with that is to balance out that character, you'd need to have them do well in a few different things, but never really excel like the Merc, Tech or Smuggler can. The Jack might do well in combat, but never as well as the Merc and so on.

What could probably work is if Steele could take almost prestige classes, this could be Steele reaching a certain level and getting an offer for some specialist training based on their classes. For example, the Mercenary:
- The Combat Engineer, combines the Combat ability of the Merc with the technology skills of the Tech Specialist. This could allow them to buff themselves or their shields for a couple of turns, or perhaps deploy some turrets for combat.
- The Agent, combining the Merc with the Smuggler, the Agent would probably be the one deployed to hotspots or to engage in some corporate espionage. Really, I'm just thinking James Bond

 

[ScarletteKnight]

- The Combat Engineer, combines the Combat ability of the Merc with the technology skills of the Tech Specialist. This could allow them to buff themselves or their shields for a couple of turns, or perhaps deploy some turrets for combat.

The Tech Spec can already do that, though.

Speaking of which, I wanted to see if I could use Charge Weapon to electrify my fists, but when I went into combat without a weapon I was reminded that you attack with a rock instead, so I was beating this poor Zil with a shock rock.

 

[Preacher]

I'm surprised people are still commenting on this. I kinda forgot about my desire for a Steele that wields alien beasts instead of conventional weapons.

 

[TFMaster]

Speaking of which, I wanted to see if I could use Charge Weapon to electrify my fists, but when I went into combat without a weapon I was reminded that you attack with a rock instead, so I was beating this poor Zil with a shock rock.

That's fucking Hilarious!

Yeah with the "Charge Weapon" skill you can get some pretty odd results based on what melee weapon you currently have.

 

[ScarletteKnight]

That's fucking Hilarious!

Yeah with the "Charge Weapon" skill you can get some pretty odd results based on what melee weapon you currently have.

I wish we could do hand-to-hand, or have a Mechanical Fist like Saendra. And use Charge Weapon!

 

[Dolphi]

I wish we could do hand-to-hand, or have a Mechanical Fist like Saendra. And use Charge Weapon!

Maybe Gauntlets?

You could pull a RE7 and have exo arms or gauntlets as a weapon.

 

[Evil]

Dude, spoilers.

 

[ScarletteKnight]

Maybe Gauntlets?

Oh yeah, a pair of gauntlets would be perfect, especially if they dealt electric damage. The Mechanical Fist was mentioned because it's already in the game, just not PC accessible. And I want my Techie to have a few synthetic parts, though the eyes are the only thing I'd get so far(not in the game yet, but in the code).