Changing eldritch knight prereqs

[JRRNeiklot]

I really like the eldritch knight class, but I'd like the option of a more martial fighter/mage. As it stands, the ek seems to be a mage/fighter. I'm thinking of changing the 3rd level spells requirement to 1st level spells and 6 ranks of knowledge arcana. That way, a fighter 5/wizard 1 could enter it, or a fighter 1/wizard 5 as it stands now. At 20, you could be a fighter 9/wizard 1/EK 10. The 1st level spells only requirement doesn't really make him more powerful imo, it just makes it easier to enter. Seems to me a fighter 5/wizard 1 should be about equal in ability to a fighter 1/wizard 5. It'll just play vastly different. For someone who wants to be in melee, yet still cast spells, suffering through several mage levels sucks. At endgame, there won't be much difference, but he'll shine more (as a melee guy) through the early to mid levels. Anyone think that would be unbalancing?

Thanks.

 

[IronWolf]

Anyone think that would be unbalancing?

I wouldn't necessarily think it would be unbalancing. It might take play-testing it to know for sure and tweak as needed.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Nah there is no imbalance there at all. Just a slightly different end game. In fact that would probably be a weaker build than the standard, but that is just a gut feeling.

 

[gamerprinter]

Think Inquisitor, but make him arcane

Forget the Eldritch Wizard, he is in fact a mage/fighter, not the other way around. Its build is fine for that.

I think it would be smarter to develop a Gish based on the new Inquisitor advanced class as a template, just switch up divine casting to arcane and tweak some of the Inquisitors judgements to feel more "wizardy". Since Inquisitor starts casting at 1st level and goes to 6th level limited spell list - this looks more ideal for a fighter/mage gish.

GP

 

[milo]

Look at the Abjurant Champion from complete mage. It has basically those prereqs, but it is only a 5 level class. I really enjoyed playing one prior to Pathfinder, I don't know what if anything would need to be done to it for Pathfinder.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

That opens a can of worms I'm not ready to eat yet. I want to use core only products, if I start allowing outside products the arms race is on, lol. I do like the prereqs much better, though.

 

[AbsolutGrndZer0]

Originally i liked the idea of the Eldritch Knight, but after thinking about the class long and hard, how is it at all worth it? You get a fighter's attack bonus and saves, and a caster's spells, but that's damn near it. How is the class really worth it?

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Originally i liked the idea of the Eldritch Knight, but after thinking about the class long and hard, how is it at all worth it? You get a fighter's attack bonus and saves, and a caster's spells, but that's damn near it. How is the class really worth it?

The folks at Paizo have worked to make prestige classes a flavor option rather than a power option - looks like they've done a good job . . .

 

[JRRNeiklot]

The folks at Paizo have worked to make prestige classes a flavor option rather than a power option - looks like they've done a good job . . .

The problem lies in the fact that you end up with a substantially weaker character by taking a prestige class. Prestige classes shouldn't be more powerful than a regular class, but neither should you be penalized greatly for taking one. As I said earlier, the ek makes a fine mage/fighter - a caster who can still hold his own in melee if forced into it, but he sucks as a melee guy who wants to throw a few spells. I know the optimizers want 4 attacks and 9th level spells at level 20, but I'm not interested in that (at least the spells part). I'd like to see 4 attacks and 5th to 7th level spells, depending on what else he can do. The bard minus everything that makes him - well, a bard - might be a good starting point. Medium bab, 6th level spells is great, but it would need aome other abilities to set him apart. Maybe a fighter feat every 3rd level? Every 4th? instead of the music/skills of a bard. He misses out on a 4th attack, but with the right mix of abilities it wouldn't be that important.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Mmm if you are going in to serious house ruling territory and if you want a fighter with a splash of mage then I personally would use the bard model but with full BaB. No extra bits apart from some arcane in armour abilities at different levels.

You wont have the nice new ability every level but will have something reasonably balanced and not stuck with 3/4 BaB.