robjh said:
Sorry I'll have to disagree; that would be overkill. To me this is about as potent now as the Loremaster. I think that if there are changes to be made, they would need to be tweaks to special abilities.
Here's the difference: the Loremaster was balanced wrong.
It's based around the idea that many prerequisites can be used to pay for many benefits. And it's not terribly overpowered, but really the only "cost" is one feat thrown away.
None the less, here's what the Loremaster requires:
SRD said:
Skills
Knowledge (any two) 10 ranks in each.
Feats
Any three metamagic or item creation feats, plus Skill Focus (Knowledge [any individual Knowledge skill]).
Spells
Able to cast seven different divination spells, one of which must be 3rd level or higher.
What this means:
1/ Tough for Sorcerers (thanks to the skill and spellcasting requirements).
2/ One throw-away feat (Skill Focus).
3/ Can't take before character level 8.
- - -
Contrast this with your prereqs:
robjh said:
Alignment: Any Good.
Skills: Decipher Scripts 2 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 4 ranks.
Spells: Ability to cast prayer as a divine spell.
Patron: Rhysael.
Special: The candidate can not have deliberately committed murder or a similarly heinous evil offense.
IMHO the idea that expensive prereqs balances many abilities is flawed.
However, your prereqs don't even cost much! The skills can be paid for fully at 1st level -- everything else is just "wait for 5th level" and flavor.
So if you're using the Loremaster as your model, you need to at least require 3-4 feats (one of which should be a throw-away feat, like Skill Focus: Heal), 10 ranks in two skills (Kn: Religion and Heal), and be a Cleric of whatever.
Cheers, -- N