The Master of Many Weapons PrC

[-Eä-]

This is a generic PrC that essentially is an extension of the Exotic Weapon Master in Masters of the Wild. I felt that I needed a class for those fighters who wants to use many weapons instead of specialising in one.

I think I will use this PrC instead of the Exotic Weapon Master in my world, but I wonder if it needs some twitching.


Master of Many Weapons

Some Fighters throughout the world do not seek ultimate specialisation in one weapon or special powers. They feel that they are better prepared for situation if they are versatile and do not depend on special gadgets or rare powers to be at the edge at any situation, and therefore they seek knowledge on how to use anything as weapons, to create weapons, and to master those. This rigorous pursuit for broad knowledge makes the Master of Many Weapons an unpredictable and dangerous foe.

Class Skills:
Craft (any) (int), Profession (any) (int), Knowledge: Weapons (int), Perform (weapons)

Skill Points Each Level: 2 + int modifier

Hit Die: D10

Prerequisites:
BAB: +9
Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (any three), Weapon Focus (any two), Improved Critical (any one)
Knowledge: Weapons: 6 ranks
Craft: Weaponsmith: 10 ranks
Craft: Bowmaking: 10 ranks

Class Features:

Simple Focus: The Master of Many Weapons gains +1 bonus to on attack rolls when using any simple weapon as if he had the Weapon Focus feat with them.

Partial Exotic Proficiency: The Master of Many Weapons can use any exotic weapon with which he is not already proficient at a –2 penalty instead of a –4 penalty on the attack roll.

Martial Focus: The Master of Many Weapons gains +1 bonus to on attack rolls when using any martial weapon as if he had the Weapon Focus feat with them.

Improvised Weapons: The Master of Many Weapons can use artisan’s tools to craft a usable throwing or melee weapon from any object. This process takes at least an hour and the weapon crafted deals 1d6 20/x2 damage on a hit.

Full Exotic Proficiency: The Master of Many Weapons is now proficient with all exotic weapons.

Simple Specialisation: The Master of Many Weapons gets +2 bonus to damage with any simple weapon he wields as if he had the Weapon Specialisation Feat with them.

Martial Specialisation: The Master of Many Weapons gets +2 bonus to damage with any martial weapon he wields as if he had the Weapon Specialisation Feat with them.

Simple Critical: The critical range doubles for any simple weapon as if the Master of Many Weapons had the Improved Critical feat with them.

Exotic Specialisation: The Master of Many Weapons gets +2 bonus to damage with any exotic weapon he wields as if he had the Weapon Specialisation Feat with them.

Martial Critical: The critical range doubles for any martial weapon as if the Master of Many Weapons had the Improved Critical feat with them.

Exotic Critical: The critical range doubles for any martial weapon as if the Master of Many Weapons had the Improved Critical feat with them.


Table

Class Level  BAB  Fort  Ref  Will    Special
1            1    2     0    0       Simple Focus
2            2    3     0    0       Partial Exotic Proficiency, Improvised Weapons
3            3    3     1    1       Martial Focus
4            4    4     1    1       Full Exotic Proficiency
5            5    4     1    1       Simple Specialisation
6            6    5     2    2       Martial Specialisation
7            7    5     2    2       Simple Critical
8            8    6     2    2       Exotic Specialisation
9            9    6     3    3       Martial Critical
10           10   7     3    3       Exotic Critical

 

[trentonjoe]

Wow!

THe only problem I have is that the Prereq's are so high (8 feats and a +9 BAB) that it would be hard to qualify for this this PRC until a very high level. I think you could do it as a 9th level human fighter the quickest but he would need to use all his feats for the prereqs.

If you take a route other than a very direct and planned route you won't get this until 12+ level. If you do that you can't take the full 10 levels of the PrC before you get involved with Epic rules.

I would suggest tuning it down a bit so you could qualify at 6 or 7th level like the other PrC's. YOu would need to tune down some of the abilities too.

 

[drnuncheon]

Good God.

I think this PrC fails the "would everyone take it" test. There is no reason to stay with a Fighter if this class exists.

One of the things that balances the EWM is the fact that Exotic Weapons are much rarer than Simple or Martial ones. This fellow gets +1 to hit, +2 damage, and Improved Critical on every weapon...

Furthermore they can improvize weapons that are better than any existing weapon - 2d6 damage is the same as a greatsword, but under these rules you could apparently make a one-handed weapon that did that much damage...

This is way over the top. It outshines every fighter and just about every fighter-type PrC I have seen.

J

 

[-Eä-]

I can see your qualms, but the PrC in Masters of the Wild has 5 levels and gives specialisation and focus to all exotic weapons in addition to the Greater Improvised Weapons-thingy. I wanted one that could give it to the rest of the weapons as well... I'll remove Greater Improvised Weapons, as well.

 

[trentonjoe]

Maybe you could give the group specialization but it would only apply to non-magical weapon?

I can't think of a real good reason but it would balance it out.

 

[-Eä-]

Good God.

I think this PrC fails the "would everyone take it" test. There is no reason to stay with a Fighter if this class exists.

One of the things that balances the EWM is the fact that Exotic Weapons are much rarer than Simple or Martial ones. This fellow gets +1 to hit, +2 damage, and Improved Critical on every weapon...

Furthermore they can improvize weapons that are better than any existing weapon - 2d6 damage is the same as a greatsword, but under these rules you could apparently make a one-handed weapon that did that much damage...

This is way over the top. It outshines every fighter and just about every fighter-type PrC I have seen.

J

Yes, many would choose to stay fighter to get feats to qualify for other Prestige Classes that could buff them even more. The point of this one is that you will probably manage if you are depleted of your normal allotment of weapons. Take the Weapon Master, for instance, in Sword and Fist: If you wield to short swords and choose the path where you fight with two weapons, then this character would be much more dangerous than one who takes this path if he has his short swords. It's pretty much the same for other weapon specific PrCs...

As I have mentioned before, there is an Exotic Weapon Master PrC in Masters of the Wild, and for thee feats and five levels of the PrC, Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialisation is given in all Exotic Weapons.


What do you think I should decrease?
Should I give the ability: Choose 4 exotic, martial and simple weapons instead, or 5? Should I increase or decrease the prerequisites?

Personally I am currently leaning towards: Choose 5 simple weapon, choose 5 martial weapons and choose 5 exotic weapons.

 

[las]

You can give it in stages like the one in MotW.

 

[Shinsetsu]

I haven't seen this prc in MoTW, but it sounds like a load of hogwash to me- 5 levels or not. After all the fussing about exotic weapons, and spending feats just to use them effectively, it seems ridiculous that even a PrC would enable a person to use any of them, and much less, gain a weapon focus or weapon specialization bonus to all of them.
I like the Improvised Weapons and Partial Exotic Weapon Proficiency abilities, though. As a way to broaden your exotic weapon skills, perhaps you could allow an ability that would enable the character to use similar types of weapons, for example, chain weapons, exotic polearms, exotic two handed swords, exotic bastard swords, exotic small throwing weapons, etc. Using them without penalty is one thing. Allowing improved critical and specialization with them all is another, and may not be material that is appropriate for even a prestige class.
Is it me, or is there a trend in WoTC making and then breaking all their rules? Or has it been decided that exotic weapons are not really all that powerful, and there was never a need to make such a fuss about access to them?
If not, then what do I have to say to all the people who've given me hell about exotic weapon access in the past, now that they're probabling hooting and hollering about how cool this Exotic Weapon Master prc class is? It really makes me think- do these people think for themselves or just eat up everything they're spoon fed? (I'm talking about WoTC board experiences- EN World rocks)

 

[-Eä-]

As it seems now, all of those who have posted think this is overpowered, and I think I'll drop this one altogether.

Thanks for the feedback, though...

And Shinsetsu, I think this is exactly what I'm going to do. Making the PrC more focused on chain weapons, straight bladed swords, bows and crossbows... This is certainly something I should like to twitch the class to do.

So: If I for instance change the first level ability to:
Choose one class of weapons: Bows and brossbows, straight bladed swords, curved swords, chained weapons, polearms and other weapons. Would it then be OK? Perhaps 5 levels will be enough then?

Tell me what you think.


Here it is:

Master of ???

Some fighters are adept at using any swords. They use their knowledge of them extensively to learn more about them - to explore new techniques and how to combine to different swords to produce a different effect than when using two similar ones. This dangerous pursuit of raw knowledge and execution makes such swordmasters dangerous when using any sword or any combination of them... There are other masters, as well, wielding the flails and other chains and the much feared polearms, but these are few and far between.

Class Skills:
Craft (any) (int), Profession (any) (int), Knowledge: Weapons (int), Perform (weapons), Balance (dex), Tumble (dex)

Skill Points Each Level: 2 + int modifier

Hit Die: D10

Prerequisites:
BAB: +8
Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency in two weapons of the weapon class you are specialising in. Weapon Focus in one of them. Skill Focus: Knowledge Weapons
Knowledge: Weapons: 5 ranks
Craft: Weaponsmith or Bowyer: 8 ranks

Class Features:

Weapon Class of Choice: The character chooses one class of weapons in which he pursuits further studies and knowledge. The choice is from these classes: Straight bladed swords, curved swords, bows and crossbows, polearms, chain weapons, axes or other weapons.

Partial Proficiency: If the character tries to use a weapon that he has never seen before, but is of the class of his choice, the penalty for using them is -2 instead of -4.

Improvised Weapons: The character may opt to create a weapon quite similar to the weapons within his weapon class if the proper materials is at hand (you cannot create a stone bow, for instance). The necessary tools must also be at hand. This weapon functions as a weapon of the chosen class and does 1d6 20/x2 damage.

Proficiency: The character now uses any weapon within the chosen class as if he had proficiency in using it, even if he never has seen the weapon before.

Supreme Knowledge: The character now knows nigh everything about the weapons within the class of his choice. He is familiar with the most famous weapons and is likely to recognise them if he studies them. In effect the character uses his class levels times two as a bonus for using the skill Knowledge: Weapons when studying weapons in the chosen class.

Class Focus: The weapons within the chosen class is now regarded as if the character had the Weapon Focus Feat with them.

Class Quick-Draw: As the character is now very familiar with the weapons in the class, he may now freely choose which one he is going to use. In effect the character has the Quick-Draw feat when using these weapons.

Unhealthy Focus: Due to intense study of the weapons within the class, the training with other weapons has been rather sparse. Now the character has a -2 penalty to attack rolls when using weapons outside his chosen class. This penalty may be bought off by using an Exotic Weapon Proficiency to the appropriate weapon.

Class Specialisation: The character gets +2 bonus to damage with any weapon within his chosen class as if he had the Weapon Specialisation Feat with them.

Class Flurry: When using this extraordinary ability, the character may opt to do an extra attack when using appropriate weapons. When using this ability, all attacks are at -3 penalty.
(Instead of 20/15/10/5, it is 17/17/12/7/2)

Twin Style: The character gets access to the Twin Weapon Fighting style, even if he is not using to similar weapons, as long as both weapons are within the chosen weapon class.

Class Critical: The critical range doubles for any class weapon as if the character had the Improved Critical feat with them.


Table

Class Level  BAB  Fort  Ref  Will    Special
1            1    2     0    0       Weapon Class of Choice, Partial Proficiency
2            2    3     0    0       Improvised Weapons
3            3    3     1    1       Proficiency
4            4    4     1    1       Supreme Knowledge, Class Quick-Draw
5            5    4     1    1       Class Focus, Unhealthy Focus
6            6    5     2    2       Class Flurry
7            7    5     2    2       Twin Style
8            8    6     2    2       
9            9    6     3    3       Class Specialisation
10           10   7     3    3       Class Critical

Edit: Added axes class, removed Severe Habit

 

[twjensen]

prereqs make it balanced

I think this PrC fails the "would everyone take it" test. There is no reason to stay with a Fighter if this class exists.

Um, say again?

You've got to dump loads of feats into specializing in all these weapons and for what? So you can strap a wagon to your back full of bohemian earspoons & the like that you get a +2 bonus in?

What happened to spring attack, whirlwind attack, expert tactician, etc.?

I thing the PrC is fine as is. It is for a player willing to give up a lot of things fighters can do in exchange for being able to use many different types of weapons. Don't shortchange the feats our fighter is NOT taking so that he can be part of this PrC!

I mean, it's powerful, but LOOK at those pre-reqs!