Prestige Classes from the Guidebooks

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

zombiegleemax

Oct 09, 2003 22:01:00
I just want to help compile a list of Prestige Classes from the Guidebooks and the DMG that seem to be suited for use on Athas. Most likely, this list will not be very long.
There are bound to be revisions of the Guidebooks, but just as with the new Psionics Handbook it makes no sense to wait. Deal with it when it comes out.
I start with Sword & Fist, since I have it right at hand...
- Cavalier: No horses on Athas. Drop it.
+ Devoted Defender: Fitting I'd say. Every noble needs one.
- Drunken Master: No Monks, no Drunken Master.
- Duelist: A Swashbuckler in a pre-mediaeval environment makes no sense.
- Fist of Hextor: No Hextor on Athas
? Ghostwalker: I have no opinion on this one. What is this, anyway?
- Gladiator: Not needed, we have a very good base class for this
- Halfling Outrider: No horses.
- Knight Protextor of the Great Kingdom: Just does not sound right. Cool PrC, but the background is completely off.
+ Lasher: Don't know, but whips get used quite often on Athas.
? Master of Chains: Unshure
- Master Samurai: We're not in japan.
- Ninja of the Crescent Moon: See Master Samurai
? Order of the Bow Initiate: Unshure
- Ravager: Wrong background
- Red Avenger: No Monks on Athas
+ Tribal Protector: Makes no sense for the civilzed races, but would be perhaps OK for Gith and the like.
? Warmaster: Unshure
+ Weapon Master: Perfection of one weapon should not be such a rare occurence on Athas.
#2

zombiegleemax

Oct 09, 2003 22:22:17
Defenders of the Faith: I can find no PrC that seems useful in this book.

Song and Silence:
- Dread Pirate: No seas.
? Dungeon Delver: Might be OK?
- Fang of Lolth: No Lolth on Athas
- Oulaw of the Crimson Road: No Crimson Road
- Royal Explorer: No Royal Explorers Society
? Spymaster: Unshure
- Temple Raider of Olidammara: No gods on Athas
+ Thief Acrobat: Why not?
- Vigilante: Might be OK if the spells get changed to psionic powers
- Virtuoso: No, because of the spells

Tome and Blood:
- Acolyte of the Skin: Summoning Demons seems to be something that happens seldom on Athas
- Alienist: Simply does not seem fitting for me
? Arcane Trickster: Could easily be changed to a Psionic Trickster. Would be quite cool.
- Bladesinger: Battle Dancers seem much more fitting for Athas
+ Blood Magus: Why not? Sounds like defiler magic to me.
? Candle Caster: Who needs this?
- Dragon Disciple: No.
- Elemental Savant: The elements are the domain of the priests on Athas, and we have a Elementalist.
? Fatespinner: Too strange
- Mage of the Arcane Order: The only order I know of is the veiled alliance. And they have their own PrCs.
+ Mindbender: Why not?
? Pale Master: Yeah, why not, but who would take this?
- Spellsword: Unfitting
- True Necromancer: Not needed. We have the Necromant
- Wayfarer Guide: No such organization on Athas
#3

zombiegleemax

Oct 10, 2003 6:15:49
Seems trotz do it on the quick and hard way. IMHO lot of the PrCs can be used with minor alterations. Or just putting the same abilities into a bit other flavour context. This now goes from only my memory, I hope I will have more time to read through the books again. Let's see:

Cavalier: can be used with any heavy cavalry, like inix or kank riders. Should change Knowledge nobility to knowledge local, but anyway it fits in without problem.

Devoted Defender: fits in 100%

Drunken Master: not in style on Athas, but can be used in unique cases. Suggested for NPCs only.

Duelist: can be used, if we see this class simply as a "finesse fighter". Elves can be good candidates for that.

Fist of Hextor: special heavy assault and anti-riot unit under templar control. Instead of Hextor they worship their sorcerer-king. Can be called Fists of Hamanu, or similar thing.

Ghostwalker: it can be used, but some of the power background should be fleshed out (gray or black connections, etc.)

Gladiator: it can be in use, re-name it to arena fighter, and can go as well, as a different type of gladiator. But see the other thread about the ramblings on it.

Halfling outrider: elite light cavalry on erdlus. Not just halfling-specific, any humanoid race can have it who ride erdlus. The abilities are quite fitting for that.

Knight PoGK: this is absolute out of style on Athas, not worth to modificate it.

Lasher: no problem to use it on Athas without any change.

Master of Chains: as chain is done from metal, and this is rare on Athas, needs modification. Change chains to ropes. Nice to have it at some tree-climber Tarzan-like halflings in the Forest Ridge.

Master Samurai: the abilities are good for a master fighter type, but the backround needs heavy (maybe to heavy) re-work. I would say no.

Ninja of the Crescent Moon: can be a special assassin, maybe from the Shadow elves. Of course remove the ninja-background, and put some other special training instead of that, but anyway it's usable. Can be also a special assasin of the SK.

Order of the bow Initiate: simply a master archer. A bit less spiritualism and it can go.

Ravager: it is a "sadist fighter" type. No religious connection, it's special abilites simply come from its sadist attitude. (I already used it such way in an other word, and it worked out superb!)

Red Avenger: in the abscence of monks it can go

Tribal Protector: fits in 100% for any savage tribe.

Warmaster: hard to get the castles, unless he is a noble or templar. But can fit in as a tactician in the SKs army.

Weapon Master: no problem to have it, simply a specialised fighter.
#4

jon_oracle_of_athas

Oct 10, 2003 8:16:13
Halfling outrider: elite light cavalry on erdlus. Not just halfling-specific, any humanoid race can have it who ride erdlus. The abilities are quite fitting for that.

Erdlu cavalry?! They're lacking in warfare credibility you know. You might get laughed at.
#5

zombiegleemax

Oct 10, 2003 8:46:19
Of course you would need to play around with requirements a bit. The Cavalier needs Weapon Focus (any sword), which could probably be substituted by something more athasian.

Drunken Master does not really sound fitting to me.

Duelists have Weapon Proficiency (rapier) as a requirement. Does not sound like DS. Maybe WP (Elven Longblade) would be better, especially since the more martial elves would have that. Fighting sans armour sounds like a good idea in the climate...

Dunno if Fist of Hextor is needed. On the other hand, the mechanics can be used without conversion. Perhaps one of the city states is noted for its fearsome elite units? Draj?

The Ghostwalker is strange. On the other hand, after killing the bad guy he could walk into one of the coolest sunsets known to man...

Master of Chains: the problem is that a rope is not a weapon. Especially not as good a weapon as the spiked chain is. Too much hassle for a very specific PrC.

Master Samurai: why adapt this? How does ki fit with psionics? Would not the Weapon Master be enough?

Ninja of the Cresent Moon: again, why adapt it? Especially if there is already an Assassin PrC.

Order of the Bow Initiate. Should not pose much of a problem.

Ravager is another PrC that is specifically designed around a special faith. Removing that leaves quite a flavourless husk.

Red Avenger: No need.

Tribal Protector: There are enough tribes that need a protector on Athas.

Warmaster: Does not seem too fitting. Although it is easy to convert.

Weapon master: quite easy too fit. Again this ki stuff which should be made some sort of low level unconscious psionics maybe.
#6

zombiegleemax

Oct 10, 2003 11:17:42
Originally posted by Jon, Oracle of Athas
Erdlu cavalry?! They're lacking in warfare credibility you know. You might get laughed at.

Don't know, I don't have any erdlus at home... But e.g. Dune Trader lists erdlu cavalries as caravan escort.

Usually I represent the "get rid off anything which are not fitting" movement regarding Athas. PrCs is the exception for me. A lot of them can be used, building different flavour on the existing mechanics (like Ravager, Fist of Hextor), or with some flavour and mechanic stremlining and openness (the elven duelist), or even without modification (wepon master). Some of them really not usable (Knight Protector). But IMHO PrCs about possibilities, not restrictions. They are anyway optional things, easy to add and remove as the DM sees fit without any haslle. At the core classes we should go with utmost balance and restrictions. But at the PrCs the openness is the main thing.
#7

zombiegleemax

Oct 10, 2003 11:19:43
Originally posted by Black Sheep
Of course you would need to play around with requirements a bit.

Yeah, that's needed at the most cases. It is as well a conversion like the conversion of the core classes. Everything should be re-thinked.
#8

jon_oracle_of_athas

Oct 10, 2003 19:20:15
Don't know, I don't have any erdlus at home...

Crodlus on the other hand are excellent for cavalry.
#9

zombiegleemax

Oct 10, 2003 22:25:17
Originally posted by Nagypapi
Usually I represent the "get rid off anything which are not fitting" movement regarding Athas. PrCs is the exception for me.

Well, for me the main thing about PrC is the background. Some of them might game-mechanically fit in very well, but be very strange for Athas. The Duelist is an example for this. The focus on a) duels and b) light weaponry makes him fit much better to a more modern background. Athas feels something like bronze-age. And I don't think that the Duelist is fitting for elves. Why should it be? Because they are wild and love freedom? As I have complained in another thread, humans are the race that has access to the fewest prestige classes. Another one for elves is not somthing I would like, anyway.
That said, more prestige classes mean more ways for the characters to further set them apart from other PCs and NPCs. More prestige classes are good. You wanted to compile a document of the PrCs? Perhaps you should do it just the way we discussed here: First list the PrCs that can be used without tinkering. Devoted Defender is a perfect example. Then list those that must (sadly) be dropped. Lastly, list the ones that can be used by the DMs if they change some details, and give some advice how this could be accomplished.

To show that I am not a no-sayer, something completely different: My 5 cents about the PrCs from Masters of the Wild:
? Animal Lord: Very strange, and with its own list of spells. Hard to adapt. Can not easily be changed to psionics, since they have so very few powers dealing with animals. You have to be a druid or ranger to take this PrC, so perhaps the spells are OK. Some of the animals would have to be dropped or changed. Are there equines, bears or wolves on Athas? Much hazzle for one PrC.
+ Bane of Infidels: Thechnically, this PrC should not be a problem. Don't know which background it would fit to.
- Blighter: Completely off. We have defilers for this stuff.
+ Bloodhound: Good. Should be no problem, even without the organization of Bloodhounds.
+ Deepwood Sniper: Also no problem here. The name is not cool for Athas, but the rest is.
+ Exotic Weapon Master: Good. No problems.
- Eye of Gruumsh: That's one of those I would not like to see on Athas. Too specific.
+ Foe Hunter: Good.
+ Forsaker: That's one of the strangest prestige classes in existence. Should be OK... I think.
+ Frenzied Berserker: Perfectly OK.
? Geomancer: Hmmm... Unshure. Does not sound fitting for me. Should not pose a problem, though.
+ Hexer: Should be OK.
+ Queen of the Wild: Perfectly OK.
- Oozemaster: Oh no, come on, not this one.
+ Shifter: OK.
+ Tamer of Beasts: Should also be OK.
? Tempest: I don't know if this PrC is necessary with the new Ranger...
? Verdant Lord: Not very fitting, because of the lack of forests on Athas.
+ Watch Detective: Could easily be adapted.
? Windrider: Could be used if the spells were changed to psionic powers.
#10

zombiegleemax

Oct 12, 2003 10:28:32
Well, for me the main thing about PrC is the background

Same here, but I take the stace that almost any PrC, as long as the mechanics are appropriate (i.e. no swiming masters), can be adapted with the proper background. The brute core class is a prime example. A simple reworking of the background and Blam-O, instant Athasian class.

Here's my take (I've used only a few of these, my players are not big on taking levels in other classes or PrCs so I haven't worked much with them):

Defenders of the Faith:

Church Inquisitor: Change name to simply Inquisitor.
Requirements: change alignment reqs to any, must be member of the templarate in the city state. By altering the alignment to any, you could potentially have a nice corrupt Inquisitor who seeks out other corrupt tempars. It takes one to know one.
Abilities: Change immune to possession and force shapechange to something more apt for use against other templars.

Consecrated Harrier: Change name to Bounty Hunter or simply Harrier. Works for the SKs in tracking down slaves, mages, and those who pose a threat to the SK.
Requirements: Must accept a mission for a SK and succeed before gaining levels in the PrC.
Abilities: Change blessing of scripture to dragon's blessing (or something else if the PCs are unaware of the nature of the SKs).
Code of Conduct: Monarch's gloat. At any one time after a hunt begins but before the harrier delivers a killing blow to the target, he must make it known to the target that he is hunted and what for. This is done by the SK itself, through the voice of the harrier. This takes two rounds and so is best done before combat. Harriers who fail to allow the SK to gloat through them lose their abilities until they receive proper atonement.

Contemplative: At a total loss here. If I ever some up with a way to work it in, I'll post, but the brainpan has run dry on this one.

Divine Oracle: Simply calling it oracle should work (just ask Jon). No reason to change anything else.

Holy Liberator: Change to Liberator. A great way to adopt this is to make it a slave liberator, modelled after so many rumors of The Free. However, the mechanics are not worth salvaging (too many paladin-like abilities).
Reqs: Must have been a slave.
Abilities: Rename divine grace to broken shackles, change smite evil to rage against oppression, works only slavers, slave owners, slave traders, etc.
Turn undead: needs replaced. Perhaps something to mask from scrying or detection from templars.
Code of Conduct: Must liberate slaves if there is a real opprotunity. Must maintain a chaotic alignment.
Spell List: Needs a few replacements for innapproprate spells.
Companion: Something more Athasian.

Hospitaler: Wandering Healer? Dunno, at a loss here as well.

Hunter of the Dead: No changes needed.

Knight of the Chalice: Change to Demonbane. While rare, demons exist on Athas, pulled from the nether regions. These beings have faced one and lived and no actively hunt down the few demons and devils that live on Athas. They use any means at their disposal, tapping life energy, the elemental planes, the grey, and their own inner strength.
Reqs: Must have slain a lower planer outsider of at least 5 HD. Remove equipment reqs. Remove alignment reqs.
Abilities: Courage of heaven renamed to Resist Fear, Heavenly devotion changed to Resist Charm, Holy Aura changes to elemental aura.

That's it for now. Still waking up so my brain hurts too much. More to come.
#11

zombiegleemax

Oct 13, 2003 10:12:24
Originally posted by Mach2.5
The brute core class is a prime example. A simple reworking of the background and Blam-O, instant Athasian class.

I am really not shure if I like this concept of changing the name of something. Even if the name is bad, it is also a label that stands for some game-mechanical effect. So changing barbarian (very bad name, even for the base D&D) to brute leads players to the conclusion that something in the game mechanics might be new or different. This would be completely OK with me, though, had not some other classes been radically changed and the name been kept. Say, the Bard. I would suggest keeping the given name, even if it is bad, if the mechanics do not change. If they do, also change the name.
Church Inquisitor: Change name to simply Inquisitor.
Requirements: change alignment reqs to any, must be member of the templarate in the city state. By altering the alignment to any, you could potentially have a nice corrupt Inquisitor who seeks out other corrupt tempars. It takes one to know one.
Abilities: Change immune to possession and force shapechange to something more apt for use against other templars.

Problem with the Inquisitor is that he has spells. Spells like Clerics have. Would not be fitting for Templars, because you would have to bother with two different ways to cast and memorize spells.
That's the problem with many of the PrCs from DotF. They gain spells in their own strange way. Many of them would be very fitting for Templars if this were not the case.
Contemplative: At a total loss here. If I ever some up with a way to work it in, I'll post, but the brainpan has run dry on this one.

Mechanically, this PrC would pose absolutely no problem. Would even be nice for clerics. But what would it be?
Divine Oracle: Simply calling it oracle should work (just ask Jon). No reason to change anything else.

I have never thought of athasian clerics as oracles and prophets. But if a palyer wanted to play one - why not?
Holy Liberator: Change to Liberator. A great way to adopt this is to make it a slave liberator, modelled after so many rumors of The Free. However, the mechanics are not worth salvaging (too many paladin-like abilities).
Reqs: Must have been a slave.
Abilities: Rename divine grace to broken shackles, change smite evil to rage against oppression, works only slavers, slave owners, slave traders, etc.
Turn undead: needs replaced. Perhaps something to mask from scrying or detection from templars.
Code of Conduct: Must liberate slaves if there is a real opprotunity. Must maintain a chaotic alignment.
Spell List: Needs a few replacements for innapproprate spells.
Companion: Something more Athasian.

Wow, nice idea.
#12

zombiegleemax

Oct 13, 2003 11:11:22
Originally posted by trotzflocke


I have never thought of athasian clerics as oracles and prophets. But if a palyer wanted to play one - why not?

Air clerics were described as prophet-like types in Eart, Air, Fire and Water. For them it can be appropriate.
#13

jon_oracle_of_athas

Oct 13, 2003 12:20:46
Divine Oracle: Simply calling it oracle should work (just ask Jon). No reason to change anything else.

Are you implying I'm not divine? Just you wait until I tell my buddy Dregoth you're saying we can't be divine. :D
#14

zombiegleemax

Oct 14, 2003 4:35:07
/me inserting the following ability to the Athasian version of Divine Oracle: Casts Lightning Bolt as spell like ability three times/day. Dmg is d8/Oracle level, anyway the spell follows the rules wrote in the PHB at this spell.

towards Jon...
#15

jon_oracle_of_athas

Oct 14, 2003 7:14:53
There can be only one Oracle on Athas.

The Oracle has spoken.
#16

zombiegleemax

Oct 14, 2003 10:14:37
Originally posted by Mach2.5
Holy Liberator: Change to Liberator. A great way to adopt this is to make it a slave liberator, modelled after so many rumors of The Free. However, the mechanics are not worth salvaging (too many paladin-like abilities).
...
Spell List: Needs a few replacements for innapproprate spells.

But what should one do with the spell lists of PrCs like this one? In fact, all of the spells are inappropriate. Why should a liberator of slaves be serving the elements, a sorcerer king or the spirits of the land? This is where divine magic comes from on Athas. Simply serving "Chaos" - as a holy liberator does - will not work. But I really like the idea of this liberator of slaves. Perhaps changing the spells to psionic powers would solve all this.
#17

zombiegleemax

Oct 14, 2003 12:30:29
OMG!!

Jon is a Oracular Lightning Bolt Specialist 1st Generation Dray! I should have known . . . durn lizzaards. :sad:

As for spell lists, I haven't had a player take any spell casting PrCs, nor have I used any (yet, I do have some plans later on though for an inquisitor and harrier hunting team to send at the PCs). Retooling a spell list is no biggie though.

Why should a liberator of slaves be serving the elements, a sorcerer king or the spirits of the land

Yeah, this was rather fuzzy thinking. Sounds far more lame now that its pointed out. I guess in the end, a few of the PrCs would end up being reworked so much that its nothing like the original, which I try not to do (I'd rather simply make a whole new one than alter an exisiting one that much).

Anywhooo, here's more:

Knight of the Middle Circle:
At a complete loss here.

Master of Shrouds:
Not sure if this should stay as divine, or become arcane. Either way, flavor wise there's nothing to change.

Sacred Exorcist:
Change name to something more fitting. A nice undead slayer. No mechanical changes.

Sacred Fist:
Get rid of the quasi monk-like feel to the flavor. Weaponless elemenetalists? I rather like the idea of a small organization, perhaps in Balic (a martial organization amongst all those free thinkers). Keep it small with limited membership .

Templar:
Elite Templar, High Templar, Guardian Templar? Mechanics fit fine. A nice way to make a templar more martial at the cost of some of the more political powers.

Warpriest
While not known for raising armies, this could be a nice one for elementalists who take the fight against their opposed element on a more grand scale. Overpowered IMO though. Perhaps limiting the powers to only work while fighting against opposed elemental forces, in order to limit players from abuse of the spell like powers. Ditch heroe's feast.

Now, For Masters of the Wild (only posting differences from trotzflocke since he nails most on the head):

I like the Eye of Gruumsh. Change it to any other humanoid and it works out (Scarred Gith for example). Change the scarring to not neccesarily be the removal of an eye, but any type of ritual scarring meant to 'thoughen you up' .

Forsaker: Overpowerd in the extreme. Better as a mage hunting NPC.

Geomancer: Dunno, the name doesn't fit the PrC itself. Rename to anything else. Since it deal with terrain, its gotta stick with arcane magic. Also, drift lists would need major reworking. Too much effort for me.

Ahh well, bored. More later.
#18

zombiegleemax

Oct 18, 2003 11:17:28
Originally posted by trotzflocke
But what should one do with the spell lists of PrCs like this one? In fact, all of the spells are inappropriate. Why should a liberator of slaves be serving the elements, a sorcerer king or the spirits of the land? This is where divine magic comes from on Athas. Simply serving "Chaos" - as a holy liberator does - will not work. But I really like the idea of this liberator of slaves. Perhaps changing the spells to psionic powers would solve all this.

Air should be the only appropriate patron element to this, based on the EAFaW: air priests opposes any constrainment, including slave holding.
#19

zombiegleemax

Oct 19, 2003 13:20:44
Book of Vile Darkness

Cancer mage
Perfect for the few cities that have either overpopulation (Raam) or a sizeable undercity (like Tyr). I still want to come up with an adventure based on a potent cancer mage spreading the plague through the already wracked city of Raam.

Demonologist
Where do all those demons on Athas come from? Even the demonologist has no answer. He only knows that they come when he calls.

Diobolist
Same as above. The diobolist strives to become a demonic being. As if they aren't enough transforming spellcasters out there. Change all unholy descriptors to vile.

Disciple of/Thrall of (insert name)
Not sure if these should be converted in. I like the idea of keeping Athas closed from the 'normal planes'. Dark Sun has its on version of the elemental planes, why can't it have its own demon realm too? In which case, these wouldn't be very appropriate. Either way, I'm not using them so I'll leave it for someone else.

Lifedrinker
Nix the vamp reqs, any Athasian undead can take this if they can drain levels, stats, or what not. Fits nicely with Athasian arcane magic since they draw that same life magic.

Mortal Hunter
Roving the wastes of the Dead Lands, the mortal hunter purges the living from the plains of obsidian at the bequest of dark beings who shall not be named until Secrets of the Dead Lands comes out (hint, hint; nudge, nudge).

Soul Eater
Tapping the Grey, Soul Eaters learn to draw from a person that bit that would have traveled to that plane upon death.

Ur-priest, change to Ur-templar
Templars who have lost their monarch have learned to steal their spellpower from the few surviving SKs. They steal such energy each day. They are secretive about their abilities and teach their powers to only a select few, making them rare. Most seek to revive their former lord in some way.

Vermin Lord
Perfect for that evil sewer dwelling tari under Tyr. Ben?

Warrior of Darkness
A bit overpowered, but still. I was planning on using this as an elite group of warriors from Draskinor or something. Simply a defiler/warrior/alchemist. Ditch the 'dark ritualistic aspects'.

And now for Savage Species:

Emancipated Spawn
Fits in just fine. Undead that recall their former lives can be either tragic or deadly. Or both.

Illithid Savant
Maybe I'm just twisted, but I think this would be appropriate for any cannibalistic being. Fits with the notion of consuming one's enemies to gain their power. Even Drajian's could benefit from this, gaining power from the sacrifices of their enemies. Needs renamed to something else though and I'm out of ideas. Anyone else?

Master of Flies
What happens to insect swarms near the Pristine Tower. They fuse into an intelligent being. Or maybe its an intelligent being that becomes a swarm. Whichever, it still fits well enough.

Scaled Horror
Lame name. Cool PrC. Change water to silt.

Siren
Hmmm . . . no innate song using mosnters seem approriate. Maybe give this to Belgoi *evil grin*

Slaad Brooder
Slaad just doen't seem to fit Athas to me. And this PrC doesn't seem to fit anything but slaad. Ahh well.

Survivor
Hmmm . . . although the idea of a formal school of training is lame (especially for Athas), I see no reason why gith or silt horrors couldn't take this. Gives those cheiftans and other elites that little edge without making them overpowering.

Sybil
I like anything dealing with prophecy so I like this PrC and while the sphinx style riddle monger seems a bit innapropriate, I think if handled correctly wouldn't break the flavor too much. Nix the reqs for innate divination.

Waverider
Images flashing through my head of surfer druid dudes from the Last Sea supplement are frying my brainpan right now. Although I'm sure the PrC could be adapted to silt instead of water, I just think its bogus dude; not nearly narly enough, dude.

Yuan-ti Cultist
I love yaun-ti, but the PrC needs changed from divine to arcane or psionic in nature. Otherwise, it fits.

Bored again. Tune in again at a later date, same time, same thread.
#20

zombiegleemax

Oct 20, 2003 13:05:24
Originally posted by Mach2.5

Forsaker: Overpowerd in the extreme. Better as a mage hunting NPC.

Exactly how is this prestige class overpowered in the "extreme". I thought this was a very well done prestige class. It looks powerful yes, but you have to remember his main drawback, he can't use ANY magic items or cast ANY spells. You have to actually destroy magic items to use most of its powers each day. And you gotta take 3 barely useful feats to get into the class. At least none of my players have ever taken the saving throw bonus feats to my knowledge?
#21

zombiegleemax

Oct 20, 2003 23:18:48
Exactly how is this prestige class overpowered in the "extreme".

Forgot that not everyone is as stingy of a DM as I am. The limitation of no magic items, especially in my games, is perhaps not nearly as much of a hinderance as it would be using the core rules wealth per level standard. In my typical fantasy settings (mostly GH), players are lucky to have half of the standard amount of wealth in magic items. In Dark Sun, its less than one fourth. Most of the forsaker's abilities at least partially make up for that lack of magic items, the equivalent of what my standard party would possess of equal level. You are right about the crappy reqs though, so you got me there. Still, I did tinker three or so different builds with the PrC itself, and a 10th lvl forsaker is still not a pretty sight (also, his abilities are not spell-like so cannot be dispelled, stolen, negated, etc.). Also, the ability bonuses if used right are one heck of a boost (thankfully, the skill points per level were not made higher).

So, well not quite 'in the extreme' as I mispoke, I still do think its on the higher end of the spectrum.
#22

jon_oracle_of_athas

Oct 21, 2003 2:53:11
Been a long time since I looked at the Forsaker, but in DS, under the Psionics are Different rule, you can use psionic items to circumvent some of the drawbacks of said class, can't you?
#23

zombiegleemax

Oct 21, 2003 14:08:19
You know, it never does say. Lifting that limitation definately makes the PrC very abusable though.
#24

zombiegleemax

Oct 21, 2003 17:16:05
Psionics are spell-like abilities, not spells. Still, the forsaker may not gain benefit from these. "Forsake Magic" does not mention psionic items explicitly, but I guess they are also covered. They are magic items created with spell-like abilities instead of spells.
This PrC would have to be tinkered with, anyway, since it has damage reduction in the old format.
BTW, we once had a Forsaker in a high-magic campaign. There at least, he was not overpowered. He was more of a nuisance. But I guess, in a low-magic setting he might be too good. Even if he loses his damage reduction, because there are not enough magic items to destroy.
#25

zombiegleemax

Oct 22, 2003 13:22:28
Yeah, I would definately rule that psionics would be unavailable to this PrC as well. That's just BROKEN. But I can see where the Forsaker will need some tweaking. Another problem area I could forsee would be his magical destruction ability. Its listed in gp at the moment so this could be a good spot to balance out the prestige class. If you used it in dark sun and didn't convert that part to ceramics, or maybe only coverted it down to silver pieces, it would be a pretty hefty price for the forsaker to pay to get his powers for a day or two.

I have always thought a cool way for the Forsaker to work would be that he needs to destroy other people's items to get his powers. Taking things like the Improved Sunder feats and such. I can just picture a warrior smashing his enemy's magic longsword, and as the enemy watches in horror, the magic being sucked from the broken blade into the Forsaker, who's eyes begin to glow with an unholy light.

Sweeeeeet.
#26

zombiegleemax

Dec 22, 2003 0:48:00
Hey guys,

any official word on what classes are in and what classes are out?
#27

zerpentor

Dec 22, 2003 4:08:51
Originally posted by Mach2.5


Slaad Brooder
Slaad just doen't seem to fit Athas to me. And this PrC doesn't seem to fit anything but slaad. Ahh well.



As far as i remember from my early years of PC game playing there was a considerable amount of Slaads in the Sewers beneath either Tyr or Draj (it's been over 10 years since i played Shaddered lands, so my memory of it is a wee bit rusty)

Originally posted by Mach2.5


Forgot that not everyone is as stingy of a DM as I am.


In my campaign the heros are lvl 7-9 and none of them have any magical items of any kind and they go nuts with envy and awe when they encounter someone with a metal weapon.
I might spoil them with a +1 prot. ring tho :D
#28

zombiegleemax

Dec 22, 2003 8:08:01
In my campaign the heros are lvl 7-9 and none of them have any magical items of any kind and they go nuts with envy and awe when they encounter someone with a metal weapon.

Ahhhh! A DM after me own heart!
#29

zombiegleemax

Dec 22, 2003 13:29:16
Here's a question about the Oracle's prestige classes.

The elven elementalist Get's a third domain. SHouldn't this be his fourth domain? He has two for cleric, and then the commune domain?

Did I miss something?
#30

flip

Dec 22, 2003 13:56:46
Originally posted by 16th Champion
Hey guys,

any official word on what classes are in and what classes are out?

Possibly forthcoming.

It's not going to be as simple as "in" or "out" ... there are some that should be good with tweaks ... mostly flavor or requirement, but it'll vary.
#31

jon_oracle_of_athas

Dec 22, 2003 14:46:48
The elven elementalist Get's a third domain. SHouldn't this be his fourth domain? He has two for cleric, and then the commune domain?

Are you confusing the Elementalist with the Element Singer?
#32

zombiegleemax

Dec 22, 2003 17:01:13
Yeah, Elemental Singer.

Sorry.
#33

Grummore

Dec 22, 2003 21:14:06
Originally posted by Mach2.5
Ahhhh! A DM after me own heart!

Hehehe, right now, my players are level 5, stuck in the desert, and fighting with rocks and scorpions claws!

I have a "green school board with chalk" on which I have written one word I usually point because of their situation...

" Pathetic " :D