http://www.sederqvist.com/ao
As some will see, I've started fleshing out the descriptive text on some prestige classes. I've also added three new prestige classes: Arena Champion, Grove Master, Pit Fighter.
Battle Dancer: Is there a limit on the number of times per day/encounter one can use the Battle Dance ability?
Cerulean: With their Empower ability, why not include sonic spells? In other words, cover all energy types?
Earth Defender: The Favored Terrain ability isn't listed in the level progression.
Elementalist: I'd reccomend dropping one of their "+1 caster level"s, say at 1st or 3rd.
Master Scout: Should the Hard March ability be based on scout levels rather than ranger?
Pit Fighter: I think you mean *un*scrupulous.
Restorationist: The Extended Spell List ability is not listed in the level progression.
Templat Knight: Should have the Intimidate skill.
Anyway: Great stuff!
And something to consider: It would be nice to have a list of Standard D&D Prestige Classes that are fitting for Athas. Not for each and every PrC that exists (Millions?), but the stuff from DMG and books like "Masters of the Wild". It would make things that much easier for the DM to have a list that he could use as a base of discussion with his players. It is good to show them something "official" before they start to argue that the Cavalier is completely fitting for Athas. Would not be too many PrCs anyway, since most of them involve spellcasting or service to gods. I don't see why Devout Defender or Shifter would not be usable on Athas, but it would save time if not each and every DM had to go through his books and consider which PrC is usable.
This is something that I also found annoying with Wizards's D&D stuff: there is no complete list of Prestige Classes, not even for cross-reference. So players and DMs have to shuffle through a nice pile of books before they find what they want.
The author of this document seems to like elves very much. Much more PrCs for elves than for other races. ;)
There is one problem I have with race-specific Prestige Classes: there are none for humans. The big advantage of humans is said to be their ability to learn quickly and their versatility. Yet, if you go through all the D&D books, there are fewer PrCs that can be taken by humans than for any other race. Most races have their special classes, but humans don't.
Might be balanced by the fact, that it is harder for non-human races to multiclass into Prestige classes, since in D&D 3.5 PrCs no longer have the benefit of not costing multiclass XP costs.
Is this supposed to be a complete list of Athasian Prc? Just asking, because I think I saw an alternate Assassin PrC in one of the Adventures.
No, this is in no sense a complete list of Athasian prestige classes. They're the ones I've written drafts for. I generally create new prestige classes when my players are in need of them. As for the psionic variant assassin, this document does not include the 5 prestige classes from City-State of Draj either.
The author of this document seems to like elves very much. Much more PrCs for elves than for other races.
Guilty as charged.
No.
Cerulean: With their Empower ability, why not include sonic spells? In other words, cover all energy types?
The original cerulean kit had a reference to elemental spells. Fire = fire. Earth = acid. Air = Electricity. Water = Cold. ??? = Sonic.
Elementalist: I'd reccomend dropping one of their "+1 caster level"s, say at 1st or 3rd.
I'm missing "because...". I know it is a powerful class, but would you say it is unbalancing? If proven so, I'd rather lower their base attack progression than their spellcasting prowess.
Earth Defender: The Favored Terrain ability isn't listed in the level progression.
Actually, the ability should be removed. The earth defender is a class that could see some more changes. It doesn't really need Smite Infidel, and the newly added Grove Master has the same ability.
Master Scout: Should the Hard March ability be based on scout levels rather than ranger?
Yes. Good catch.
Pit Fighter: I think you mean *un*scrupulous.
Indeed.
Restorationist: The Extended Spell List ability is not listed in the level progression.
Is that usually listed as an ability in the level progression table?
Templat Knight: Should have the Intimidate skill.
Definitely.
Might be balanced by the fact, that it is harder for non-human races to multiclass into Prestige classes, since in D&D 3.5 PrCs no longer have the benefit of not costing multiclass XP costs.
Erm... are you sure about that? Wouldn't that mean that anyone who has three or more levels in a class other than their race's favored class would suffer multiclass penalties simply from taking one level in a prestige class?
Elementalist: Sadly, not all elements are equal. Fire for example is an energy type and an element. So there are more spells affected by Elemental Focus if you are a Fire Cleric than an Air Cleric. Or do I get something wrong here?
Could you elaborate? Do you mean there are more spells with the [Fire] descriptor than [Lightning] descriptor? The fact that Fire is the name of an element AND a descriptor does not grant any benefits that I can see. For example, Magma and Sun elementalists gain the same benefits the Fire elementalists do.
And something to consider: It would be nice to have a list of Standard D&D Prestige Classes that are fitting for Athas.
There have been several threads on this. Do a search and one will probably come up, maybe on the old boards (if they're still accessible). SuperPriest compiled a list once.
www.sederqvist.com/ao
Originally posted by Jon, Oracle of Athas
Could you elaborate? Do you mean there are more spells with the [Fire] descriptor than [Lightning] descriptor?
Ah, now I get it. No, there are more [Fire] spells than there are [Air] spells. Does not concern the Elementalist. My fault.
Originally posted by Jon, Oracle of Athas
Erm... are you sure about that? Wouldn't that mean that anyone who has three or more levels in a class other than their race's favored class would suffer multiclass penalties simply from taking one level in a prestige class?
I am not absolutely shure, but I can't find word in the new DMG that taking prestige classes does not incur XP penalties. At least it is not written where it used to be in the old DMG.
Anyway, this is just fine with me. More power to Humans! Is it obvious that I like humans more than elves? :D
Since this limits the ability of nonhuman races to freely choose from all the PrCs that are open to humans, I guess it would roughly make it even between them and other races...
Otherwise, what does a Cleric loose? The Turn Undead progression and one good save. At lvl5 (obtainable at characer lvl10) you get etherealness which is usually a lvl7 spell. Too much perhaps, or at least too early? The benefits outweigh the losses in my opinion, and the requirements are too easy too fulfill. Or removing one spellcasting level increase, perhaps at lvl5, where you get the very good special ability.
Originally posted by trotzflocke
I am not absolutely shure, but I can't find word in the new DMG that taking prestige classes does not incur XP penalties. At least it is not written where it used to be in the old DMG.
It has been noted elsewhere that this is the case, although it has been argued that it is probably unintentional. Might just be a mistake.
Originally posted by trotzflocke
And something to consider: It would be nice to have a list of Standard D&D Prestige Classes that are fitting for Athas. Not for each and every PrC that exists (Millions?), but the stuff from DMG and books like "Masters of the Wild". It would make things that much easier for the DM to have a list that he could use as a base of discussion with his players. It is good to show them something "official" before they start to argue that the Cavalier is completely fitting for Athas. Would not be too many PrCs anyway, since most of them involve spellcasting or service to gods. I don't see why Devout Defender or Shifter would not be usable on Athas, but it would save time if not each and every DM had to go through his books and consider which PrC is usable.
This is something that I also found annoying with Wizards's D&D stuff: there is no complete list of Prestige Classes, not even for cross-reference. So players and DMs have to shuffle through a nice pile of books before they find what they want.
I intend to do such things, ie. read through the PrCs in the class accessory books like Sword & Fist, and make suggestions about their usability on Athas.
No.
In that case, I'd make it a standard or full round action to initiate.
Cerulean: With their Empower ability, why not include sonic spells? In other words, cover all energy types?
The original cerulean kit had a reference to elemental spells. Fire = fire. Earth = acid. Air = Electricity. Water = Cold. ??? = Sonic.
I would think a storm-wizard would be more concerned with energy than elements. I assume the ability represents things that rain down from a Tyr-storm?
Elementalist: I'd reccomend dropping one of their "+1 caster level"s, say at 1st or 3rd. I'm missing "because...". I know it is a powerful class, but would you say it is unbalancing? If proven so, I'd rather lower their base attack progression than their spellcasting prowess.
Pure spellcasters are hard to base balanced prestige classes on. If you want to make the focus spellcasting (which I see is the point), I'd reduce its BAB to 1/2 or its HD to d6 -- have it represent turning away from martial aspects to focus on spell power.
Restorationist: The Extended Spell List ability is not listed in the level progression.
Is that usually listed as an ability in the level progression table?
I don't know, but it seems like it should be.
Originally posted by Nagypapi
I intend to do such things, ie. read through the PrCs in the class accessory books like Sword & Fist, and make suggestions about their usability on Athas.
Do that, start a thread, and I will ad my 5 cents. :D
Oh what the heck, I will start one myself. Can't sleep right now anyway...
Could a human Earth Defender take humans as their warded species and then get the listed bonuses every time he is under attack himself?
The Pit Fighter has penetrating strike (iron) and the Reaver has piercing strike (metal). These are supposed to be different, with one being more specific than the other, right?
Was just wondering...
Could a human Earth Defender take humans as their warded species and then get the listed bonuses every time he is under attack himself?
No, I'll specify that.
The Pit Fighter has penetrating strike (iron) and the Reaver has piercing strike (metal). These are supposed to be different, with one being more specific than the other, right?
It's still being debated in the Equipment Bureau.
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