>>>Mesmerist Updates
Official Changes
The following are the official changes to the mesmerist’s abilities and spells.
Consummate Liar: Add this new class feature at 1st level. The mesmerist adds 1/2 his mesmerist level (minimum 1) on all Bluff skill checks.
Hypnotic Stare: The initial penalty from hypnotic stare is –2 instead of –1, and increases to –3 at 8th level. (It no longer increases at 12th level.) The stare no longer affects two creatures at 9th level. This class feature should also state that the stare ends if the mesmerist dies or is rendered unconscious.
Mesmerist Tricks: Triggering a mesmerist trick is a free action the mesmerist can use when it isn't his turn. Instead of lasting for 1 minute per mesmerist level, a trick remains set up until the mesmerist regains his spells. If the mesmerist sets up a new trick when he is already at his maximum number of concurrent tricks, he must choose one existing trick to dismiss without effect.
False Flanker: This trick can also trigger when the subject begins its turn adjacent to an enemy.
Mesmeric Mirror: The images last for 1 minute per mesmerist level or until destroyed.
Misdirection: In the third sentence, delete “, using the mesmerist’s combat maneuver bonus (including any bonuses specific to feinting)”.
Spectral Smoke: The cloud lasts for 1 minute per mesmerist level.
Painful Stare: Add this new class feature at 1st level. Once per round when it’s hit by an attack that deals damage, the target of a mesmerist’s stare takes additional damage equal to 1/2 the mesmerist’s class level (minimum 1). The mesmerist can use this ability as a free action, and can use it even if it isn't his turn. If the mesmerist uses this to increase his own damage, increase the damage by 1d6 for every 3 mesmerist levels. This damage is precision damage and is not multiplied on a critical hit.
Bold Stare: Alter the following bold stare improvements.
Disorientation: The penalty applies on attack rolls, but not damage rolls.
Timid Strike: The hypnotic stare penalty also applies on damage rolls.
Will Breaker: Remove this ability.
Mental Potency: This ability also increases the number of creatures affected by an enchantment spell or illusion spell that affects a number of creatures greater than one. This doesn’t increase the number of targets for a spell that targets one creature, but does increase the number if the spell targets one creature per level. The HD limit, number of HD affected, or number of creatures affected increases by 1 at 5th level (as the playtest document says), any by another 1 for every 4 levels the mesmerist possesses after 5th, to a maximum of +4 at 17th level.
Expedient Tricks: Remove this class feature. It's now redundant.

Spells
Change bestow curse to a 3rd-level spell and major curse to a 4th-level spell. Change phantasmal killer and telepathic bond to 4th-level spells. Add battlemind link to the 4th-level spell list.

>>Other updates
It's more likely to be a caster/martial hybrid, but typically does its fighting either more like a rogue or by having its enemies attack on its behalf. Currently looking at adding a form of precision damage against its stare target.


Selsenay wrote:
Maybe an option to allow allies to trigger that extra precision damage or something would fit along those lines if you went that direction. Or maybe an archetype that didn't have that extra damage and got something else instead.
>Yes, the direction I'm thinking would let allies do precision damage. There would be feat or class feature options if you want to do more with it yourself.

Since about 80% of people commenting on the class really dislike it, I think you can expect significant changes.

We're working on some methods to increase the existing debuff abilities of the mesmerist. The tricks will probably remain more like buffs because once we do that putting even more debuffs in would be overkill and unbalance the class. :)