Balanced PrCs and underpowered PrCs.

[Brother Shatterstone]

There’s another thread discussing PrCs the Most Unbalanced Prestige Classes but none listing PrCs that are balanced or those that are underpowered and not worth what you get, minus for fluffy in character reasons.

I’ve never written a PrC and I’m sure there’s a great many people, maybe a majority, on this board who hasn’t also so how about a little discussion in the other direction?

With thousands, if not tens of thousands, of PrCs made lets try to keep this to WoTC’s PrCs but I’m not going to throw rocks if you quote one from elsewhere.

 

[Jolly Giant]

The balanced and possibly underpowered PrCs don't get that much debate, because it's the overpowered once that are causing problems; but I sure wouldn't mind hearing which PrCs people consider too weak.

The Arcane Archer immediately springs to mind as one of the rather weak classes...

 

[Thanee]

Well, actually most PrC are pretty much balanced, many are underpowered and only really good for fluff reasons (which isn't a bad reason at all, of course).

Some irrelevant broken character concepts, which involve PrC, don't make individual PrC broken in my eyes.

To list one... the Mystic Theurge is balanced (maybe even underpowered).

Bye
Thanee

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Most mounted PrCs I've seen are quite weak. Because they're only 10-level PrCs, the mounts don't advance over all their levels, and end up quite weak.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

but I sure wouldn't mind hearing which PrCs people consider too weak.

Yeah, same here and the real reason for this thread.

Top of my list is the Heartwarder[/I] Sune's divine PrC from forgotten realms...

Though I'm sure some sorcerer fans will say its great why would any cleric devoted to Sune that this besides for fluff? Sune isn't a god of magic so why have a PrC so based upon a sorcerer? (I’ve taken it before but the DM was generous and the Character was a Favored Soul so the charisma was needed but not like a sorcerer and it’s quite fluffy.)

 

[Anabstercorian]

The Celebrant of Sharess is just... weird. In a lot of ways. But it's also somewhat underpowered, and its role in a party is unclear.

 

[Psion]

Well, topping the list of classes that look overpowered at first glance but are really weak:

Divine Crusader

It has a 9 levels in 10 levels spell progression, which usually spell trouble. But they are unlikely to get 9th level spells early, only know one spell per level, only fight as good as clerics, and until third level, their only class ability is to appear "more" of their alignment to detect [alignment] spells.

 

[Thanee]

Top of my list is the Heartwarder[/I] Sune's divine PrC from forgotten realms...

Mainly because of the crazy feat requirements, or not?

Especially the stuff with spell focus is kinda weird, as it seems you basically gain the feat you have to have as a prerequisite later when advancing in the class.

Has it been updated or errata'ed somewhere?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Legildur]

Well, topping the list of classes that look overpowered at first glance but are really weak:

Divine Crusader

Yeah, but it does have easy to meet prerequisites, and you gain a domain granted power, 2 good saves, and some useful (if not outstanding) class abilities.

The medium BAB isn't so bad if you start out as fighter or paladin for the first 7 levels (minimum BAB to qualify).

Combined with Practised Spellcaster and Quicken Spell feats, you could have some fun, but probably not any more than a straight fighter or paladin - which is probably a good indication that the PrC isn't overpowered.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Mainly because of the crazy feat requirements, or not?

Feat requirements yes, abilities gained yes, I've seen more than a few PrCs gave straight +1 bonus so why the inherit clause? The 8th level ability that allows you to make a single potion once a tenday if you cry but you still need to pay the XP for it? :\

d4, poor skill points, not much of a divine cleric deity PrC if you ask me. :\

Has it been updated or errata'ed somewhere?

Nope it's been mostly ignored.