Chameleon: anyone played it?

[Lonely Tylenol]

Well, a 40d6 Disintegrate at 15th level is something to worry about, IHHO.(In His Humble Opinion )

That's much worse than a 30d6 disintegrate at 15th level? If it's such an issue, house rule a clause on the end of the sentence on caster level that reads "to a maximum of your character level."

 

[SelcSilverhand]

There's a possibility that this is not true:

You can't use any abilities gained from your aptitude focus, ability boon, or mimic class feature abilities to qualify for a feat, prestige class, or other option.

Other option...

You don't need to "qualify" in order to use a wand or such, but maybe this is the spirit of this rule.

Aside from rules issues, from what you wrote I think you don't find the PrC unbalancing, but only ...odd when dealing with divine power, isn't it?

I think with the right build it would be strong but probably not grossly broken the more I read and re-read. It could be handy in small groups when no one wants to play certain roles such as a healer. Built well it could be a headache to the DM. Use Rogue or bard levels to get plenty of class skills and skill points. You'll end up with a handful of skills at a respectable level. Scribe scroll is almost mandatory, maybe some other item creation feats too. Throw in max ranks in Use Magic Device to use the scrolls you've created while mimicing another class. You also get good hp's and skill points. The caster level being equal to twice your class level is a little disturbing. Luckily most spells have a limit on CL to damage die...

It helps that you are limited to only 6th level spells and that you are limited to about the number of spells per day that a bard would get. As part of the spell casting, even if you mimic, say, arcane and wild at the same time (Double Aptitude), you're only going to get the same number of spells per day. (If I am reading it right).

 

[Dr_Rictus]

Well, a 40d6 Disintegrate at 15th level is something to worry about, IHHO.(In His Humble Opinion )

40 dice is a big number, but it still basically just means save or die at best. That doesn't seem terribly powerful as the biggest thing a 15th-level character gets to do. Against a single target, an actual wizard at 15th level can generally get just as good a result using polymorph any object.

And that's about as good as it ever gets for the Chameleon short of epic levels. He will never even get the really high-end spells.

 

[Egres]

It helps that you are limited to only 6th level spells and that you are limited to about the number of spells per day that a bard would get. As part of the spell casting, even if you mimic, say, arcane and wild at the same time (Double Aptitude), you're only going to get the same number of spells per day. (If I am reading it right).

I posted a thread about this issue on this boards a few months ago, and the common agreement was that you get two separate set of spells per day.

40 dice is a big number, but it still basically just means save or die at best. That doesn't seem terribly powerful as the biggest thing a 15th-level character gets to do. Against a single target, an actual wizard at 15th level can generally get just as good a result using polymorph any object.

And that's about as good as it ever gets for the Chameleon short of epic levels. He will never even get the really high-end spells.

Agreed.

 

[Dr_Rictus]

I posted a thread about this issue on this boards a few months ago, and the common agreement was that you get two separate set of spells per day.

That would be my read as well, though do you get two Ability Boons at that point? It's not entirely clear, but it doesn't seem so. And that would make arcane/divine Double Aptitude tougher in practice.

For comparison (and without further comment) the total spells/day for arcane/divine Double Aptitude would then max out as follows:

8,8,8,8,8,6,2

Compared to a 15th-level Cleric or Druid:

6,5,5,5,4,4,3,2,1

Or, if you prefer, a Mystic Theurge (Wiz and Clr each CL12):

10,9,8,8,6,6,4

Without taking bonus spells into account.

 

[Egres]

That would be my read as well, though do you get two Ability Boons at that point?

That was the common agreement.

Well, the right comparison should be made with the theurge, since the PrC itself cites it.