Epic Alienists

[Olive]

The transformational epic progressions on the wizards web site (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/ei/ei20021208a) didn't cover alienists.

Anyone made an epic alienist progression? Any ideas?

 

[Piratecat]

I'm pretty sure that this has been addressed over in House Rules. I'll leave this thread open in case there's something official, but barring that you'll want to post in the other forum.

Thanks!

 

[Olive]

thanks PC.

 

[KingCroMag]

I asked a similar question just a week ago. Looking over the article on transformational epic classes, this is a difficult class to make epic. I would suggest dropping the "certainty" aspect, if not your penalty can quickly outstrip your saves and attacks -6 is pretty steep as it is. I would continue the transformation to the tome of blood version of pseudo natural for the first two or three levels and then I would raise Dr by +1 every four levels, meta magic every four levels add an extra summoning maybe ever four levels .

Some thing like this

1Acid resistance 20
2True strike, alternate form
3DR +1
4 Meta magic secret
5Extra Summoning
6
7DR +1
8Meta magic secret
9Extra Summoning
10
11Dr +1
12Meta magic secret
13Extra Summoning
14
15Dr+1

I still havent been able to come up with anything for level 6, 10 and 14. What do you think. Altough I would love to see one in which the epic level pseudo natural template was used instead of the tome of blood, but that opens a ton of balance issues.
-KCM

 

[Pax]

Another option would be to (if there isn't already) write up an "Epic Pseudonatural" template, and at perhaps Alienist 15, convert all summons to THAT, instead of the T&B template.

As well, giving the Alienist himself ever-increasing odd abilities, based on the concept of himself becoming Pseudonatural, would be workable.

This, by the by, interests me to no end, as in the RPOL Crossroads Arena, one of my characetrs is an Alienist (Sor(6)/Alienist(9) -- name of Odd Peet, heh) ... and who knows, after enough time, Odd Peet might BECOME epic. Someday.

 

[Merlion]

There IS an epic pseudonatural template, in the epic level handbook. Its pretty nasty.
How did Odd Peet get around the 8 ranks of knowledge(The Planes) requirement and get the class going into 7th level?(not that I object)

 

[wolff96]

How did Odd Peet get around the 8 ranks of knowledge(The Planes) requirement and get the class going into 7th level?

Cosmopolitan or Education are both feats that can be taken at first level. Cosmopolitan would allow the selection of Knowledge (the Planes) as a class skill, while Education would make all Knowledge skills class skills.

That would be my guess.

----------------------------

And I think that the Alienist will need a new PrC.

It should use the "Epic Alienist" or some other catchy name.

The main reason being that I feel the Alienist is a wonderful class right up until the transformation -- but that you should then begin working towards assuming the epic template (at around 20 levels, IMO). Thus a Wiz 10/Alienist 10/Epic Alienist 20 would actually gain the Epic Psuedonatural template from the ELH.

I also don't think their 9th level and lower spells should EVER be able to use the Epic Psuedonatural template -- it's just too powerful. Anything they can summon using that template should require an EPIC spell.

It's that good.

 

[Merlion]

Yea your probably right about that. And I know about Education and Cosmopolitan I just wondered if it was that or perhaps a house rule.
I hope sorcerer will be included in the, giving more classes knowledge skills as class skills thing in the revision.
How do you rate the alienist/pseudonatural deal(all versions) as an attempt to capture "Lovecraftiness" in DnD?

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Perhaps for the Pseudonatural epic template idea, use the system presented in Savage Species? With some epic feats every couple levels, of course.

 

[KingCroMag]

The difference between the ToB template and the epic one (psuedonatural) is a pretty big jump. I would love to see it intergrated into a epic class, but there are a lot of balance issues. My character is currently 17th level. If the template was applied to summoned creatures that would make most summon monster spells really powerful. One on the abilities is a +15 insight bonus to all attacks. I would love to see a epic progression that could pull this off and allow for increases in spellcasting levels.

I really love this class it really plays on the things men shouldn't know aspect of magic etc.
-KCM