Changing eldritch knight prereqs

[JRRNeiklot]

Nah, I was just thinking out loud. I'm probably just changing the EK prereqs to my proposal above. But there really needs to be a core fighter/mage of some sort, Paizo seems to think the bard or the ek fits that role, but they are misguided.

 

[rgard]

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.

Sounds like you might want to play a Duskblade? 3.5E PHB2.

 

[pawsplay]

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?

A fighter's BAB and nearly full progression. Virtually no other class offers such a solid deal each and every level. The Pathfinder version also gets a couple of bonus feats, a sweat deal on fighter and caster feat prereqs, and a nice capstone ability at 10th level.

Incidentally, Fighter 2/Wiz (or Sor) 6 gives you a stronger base as a more melee-oriented EK. An EK can do nearly anything a fighter can, but not everything a fighter can; you will not, for instance, be able to specialize in bastard sword, go deep into archery, and grab spring attack. If you want to push it even further, Fig 4/Wiz 6 will still let you finish out EK before epic level. You'll end up with BAB +17, 8th level spells, and a ton of bonus feats. Fig 4/Sor 6/EK 10 is not as sweet a spot, 7th level spells, but has its own advantages.