a curiously overbalanced class, or the worst munchkin class ever in one of my games

[nimisgod]

it's the age-old GM issue, IMO.

If you have a PC who is only good at one thing and is overly powerful in it, do you let the character in the game or do you tell the PC to make a new guy?

In the first option, the player is probably going to get bored when faced with anything else except his specialty. So you have to compensate (perhaps to the detriment of other PCs).

For the second, the PC must sacrifice his freedom for the sake of the other players (inc. the GM). Some people don't like that.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

A war-hulk? I never heard of this till now. Good Lord what a monster! If I ever need something to put the fear of Hell into my players, I will dig that terrible thing up.


*makes mental note to never allow war-hulk, no matter how much has booze has been consumed*

 

[Darkness]

I like the War Hulk.

He's best against swarms of lesser enemies.
But so is an arcane full caster who specializes in blast spells.

 

[Piratecat]

Actually, I really like war hulks. Lots of strength but no BAB. They can put the fear of God in players, but they keel over at the first sign of a will save. . . and no social skills. Ever. Very stylish, flavorful class.

I've had one as an NPC adversary in my game over the last couple of sessions, and it wasn't a balance problem.

so I was suprised when on his first attack, he attacked every monster around him, in a 10 foot radius...twice...doing an average of like 35 points...

This sounds like a rules error, incidentally. As was pointed out up-thread, i'm not sure your buddy was applying the rules correctly.

 

[MerricB]

I love the War Hulk. With great power comes great stupidity... or something like that.

Cheers!

 

[Psion]

The war hulk is very clearly not intended as a PC class.

Is there really such a thing? AFAIK, the only WOTC* classes that are authentically not intended as PC classes are significantly less powers, i.e., NPC classes.

* - In non-WotC products, "not intended for PCs" is code words for "we couldn't be bothered -- or our way cool class is too cool to bother -- with balance."

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Is there really such a thing? AFAIK, the only classes that are authentically not intended as PC classes are significantly less powers, i.e., NPC classes.

Well, I've said it was designed more as an NPC class, basing that mostly on the fact that there aren't Core PC races of Large size.

 

[Darkness]

Well, I've said it was designed more as an NPC class, basing that mostly on the fact that there aren't Core PC races of Large size.

The MM is a core rulebook.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

The MM is a core rulebook.

But the Core PC races are in the PHB

 

[Psion]

But the Core PC races are in the PHB

Right, but Savage Species is just as "official" as minis handbook.

The only core prestige classes are those in the DMG... and the rules for playing monstrous PCs are in the same book, come to think of it...