Please critique my 3.5 Prestige Class! > maxminis.com- D&D minis, 4th edition D&D

Subject: Please critique my 3.5 Prestige Class!

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kyrin
Commander

3168 Posts

07/12/2008 11:04 AM

Hello all!

Well, I just didn't like any of the PrC's available for my elven fighter/wizard, so I made up one of my own.Â It's kind of an Abjurant Champion, but for Transmutation spells.Â Please let me know what you think, and how it might be improved.

Thanks,
JIM
aka kyrin

The Arcane Fencer Prestige Class

Entry Requirements:

Dexterity:Â15

Intelligence or Charisma: 15

Base Attack Bonus:Â+6

Feats:ÂWeapon Finesse, Combat Expertise

Spellcasting:ÂMust be able to cast 2^nd Level arcane Transmutation spells, including Heroics

The Arcane FencerÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ÂHit Die:Âd8

Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Special	Spellcasting
1^st	+0	+0	+2	+0	Precise Strike	+1 level of arcane class
2^nd	+1	+0	+3	+0	Somatic Weaponry	+1 level of arcane class
3^rd	+2	+1	+3	+1	Swift Transmutation	Â
4^th	+3	+1	+4	+1	The Magic Touch	+1 level of arcane class
5^th	+3	+1	+4	+1	Bonus Fighter Feat	+1 level of arcane class
6^th	+4	+2	+5	+2	Extend Transmutation	Â
7^th	+5	+2	+5	+2	Bonus Wizard Feat	+1 level of arcane class
8^th	+6	+2	+6	+2	Arcane Boost	+1 level of arcane class
9^th	+6	+3	+6	+3	Bonus Fighter Feat	Â
10^th	+7	+3	+7	+3	Arcane Whirlwind Attack	+1 level of arcane class

Class skills (2 + INT modifier per level):ÂBalance, Bluff, Concentration, Climb, Craft, Jump, Knowledge (arcana), Listen, Spellcraft, Spot, and Tumble.

Class Features

Arcane Precise Strike:ÂMelee damage bonus = INT modifier (Wizard) or CHR modifier (Sorcerer).ÂThe bonus applies only to damage done with Weapon Finesse weapons, and only in light or no armor.ÂThis stacks with any STR bonus, and increases with a successful critical.ÂIt does not, however, stack with any other damage bonus from INT or CHR (such as a swashbuckler gets).

Somatic Weaponry:ÂGain the benefit of the Somatic Weaponry feat (can cast with hands full of weapons), even if you do not qualify for it.ÂThe feat only applies to Transmutation spells.

Swift Transmutation:ÂCast transmutation spells as a swift action, as long as they are only cast on you, and as long as you are wearing light or no armor.ÂMaximum spell level = 1/3 class level.

The Magic Touch:ÂAny light melee weapon wielded is considered magical for the purpose of overcoming damage resistance only.ÂTotal number of rounds = arcane caster level, does not have to be continuous.

Extend Transmutation:ÂDouble duration of transmutation spells, as long as they are only cast on you, and as long as they have a duration longer than 1 round.

Bonus Fighter Feat:ÂChoose a feat from the list of Fighter Bonus Feats that you qualify for.

Arcane Boost:ÂAs Abjurant Champion

Bonus Wizard Feat: Â Choose a Metamagic Feat, Reserve Feat, or Item Creation Feat that you qualify for.

Arcane Whirlwind Attack:ÂSacrifice an arcane spell and use Whirlwind Attack.ÂLight weapons only.ÂLight or no armor only.ÂEach attack has a luck bonus equal to the level of spell sacrificed.

My Have/Want List <-|-|->My Trades and References 1 <-|-|->My Trades and References 2
Pronounce "Drow" like "crow"! Viva la Revolution! We Shall Overcome!
Vindicated Champion of the Stirge! Vindicated Champion of the Githyanki Knight on Red Dragon!!
Vindicated Champion of the Androsphinx!

notserious
Sneak
Sneak

117 Posts

07/15/2008 7:51 AM
I have been accused of being a nasty DM who underpowers and underrewards his players, so my critique may be a little unfair (and if not, please tell my players to stop being such whiny sucks as I am obviously a paragon of kindness, generosity and fairness ;-P) general flavour: I can appreciate that the spellsword isn't your bag for this character, but wouldn't the spellsinger be along the right lines? Now, I can appreciate that the spellsinger hardly screams "pick me, I am the best PrC ever, but it may be worth looking at that PrC for some framework ideas - ditch the song theme if you don't like it, consider what is underpowered about it and work from there - but that's just me. As far as requirements: the +6 BAB combined with 2nd level arcane, means no one will qualify for this before 8th level (except, maybe duskblades, don't know if they have heroics as a spell). Is this what you were looking for as a power level? and to accomplish that, you'd have a wiz 3 or 4/fighter 5 or 4 - not a lot of bang for your wizardly buck. The PrC itself loses three levels of spellcasting, so that means a 20th level character will have a max spellcaster ability of 13th level or so. Some of this could be offset with the practiced spell caster feat (maybe even as a class feature), but it still means your highest spell level is 7th. If that's enough for you then by all means . . . If you stick with the BAB, two stats, and spellcaster levels, I don't know if you really need the feat requirements as well. If you really want a feat requirement, you might want to require that they have just a single feat or a couple from a list of 5 or so (dodge, combat casting, weapon finesse, combat expertise, disarm - all seem very arcane fencer related) - this would give characters a bit more chance to customize their own version of this PrC. If heroics is a 2nd level spell, then if you think it is essential to this class, why not just make the pre-req "can cast heroics as an arcane spell". Also, this again prescribes a very specific route for the class. Might something like "Must have defeated a foe of equal level in single combat while under the effect of personally cast arcane transmutation spells of at least 2nd level" capture the essence of what the class is about more effectively? I'd be tempted to trade the HD down to 6 in exchange for increasing the BAB to a full progressing (as you note, this is supposed to be the transmuters answer to abjurant champ and it gets full BAB and full spell progression). I was going to suggest giving the class two saves in the good category, but I realize that as a fighter/wizard (most likely), he'll already get the initial +2 to both other saves, so I'll hold off on that recommendation, but if playtesting shows a slight weakness, that might be a way to boost it somewhat. I'd also be tempted to add an extra level of spellcasting ability (basically just lose two levels over the course of ten) - seems to me the spellsword only loses one (no books in the office) and the abjurant champ loses none. As to the specials: Arcane Precise Strike Since it is the spellcasting attribute that fuels the bonus, I gather it is fair to say that it is arcane power that is fueling the damage - for the sake of flavour and to balance that wizards and sorcerers can boost their prime stat quite significantly - I'd be tempted to make the character choose an energy type for the damage (maybe they could choose a second type at fifth level and get force or untyped magic damage at 10th?). I agree in principal that it should not stack with another intelligence bonus, although the requirement that the swashbuckler's bonus can't be higher than the swashbuckler level puts a bit of a limit on that anyway. Somatic Weaponry Does it need to be limitted to transmutations, although that was the driving force behind this, your fencer character might want to use non-transmutations while wielding weapons. Besides the other restriction on casting spells while in combat still apply Swift transmutation This one, I agree should be restricted to personal transmutations. I agree with a level limit. The formula you use limits a 10th level arcane fencer to 3rd level transmutations - is this ok? You may need to use a non-linear scale to get the effects you want. I would also put a limit on how many times peer day this can be used - the warwizard and the swift quicken feats both just let you do this once per day - you may want more than that since it isn't all spells in the arsenal that can be quickened (and better than quickened even), but I still think you'll want a limit. Magic touch Face it, most 8th level characters will have a magic weapon already, so this is minor, unless you're even stingier than I am. If you keep it this way, I'd make it a first level ability. Or, if you want to power it up, maybe this ability allows the arcane fencer to imbue his light weapon with one other quality (silver, adamantine, magic, aligned, cold iron, etc.) - you may allow different qualities as levels go up. If you did that, you may want to rename it from magic touch to "penetrating stab" or some such name Bonus Feats I always felt that these were used to round out a PrC that didn't have enough. I'd be tempted to use some other power-up (if you feel they are appropriate) and drop some of these. On the other hand, if you keep them, it might be nice to allow weapon specialization (with a light weapon of the character's choice) - a fencer should be a master of his weapon. I can't remember arcane boost so I can't comment on it Arcane Whirlwind This doesn't feel very fencer-like to me - fencer's tend to be master's of the one on one. although it's true that in my favourite swashbuckler type scenes (i.e. Gerard Depardieu's Cyrano) a good swordsman can take on a large group an come through safely - but usually not by taking them all out. I'd be tempted to look more to boosting mobility abilities, abilities to avoid damage, and abillities to soak damage. Things like an ability that allows hp gained through constitution boosting transmutations to be temporary hp, rather than hp lost after the fight; things like disorienting parry - any foe that misses an attack when the arcane fencer is using combat expertise, is dazed for a round; things like the swashbuckler's ability to charge over difficult terrain; or even the barbarian's resistance to flanking. I don't know if any of these, alone or in combination matches what you've got, but it is food for thought. another one might be a contingency type ability that allows an arcane fencer to prepare a trnasmutation, or multiple transmutation to take effect as soon as he begins a combat. anyway, there are my thoughts, take what you like, discard what you hate, and feel free to engage in discussion about anything that is unclear or anything that you think could be improved with exchange. Cheers

kyrin
Commander

3168 Posts

07/17/2008 11:58 AM
Great suggestions! I'll mull them over. JIM aka kyrin

My Have/Want List <-\|-\|->My Trades and References 1 <-\|-\|->My Trades and References 2 Pronounce "Drow" like "crow"! Viva la Revolution! We Shall Overcome! Vindicated Champion of the Stirge! Vindicated Champion of the Githyanki Knight on Red Dragon!! Vindicated Champion of the Androsphinx!

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