Flame Steward PrC in Dragon 283...help me!

[zdanboy]

I recently considered ordering some back issues of the Dragon magazine.......and among them Dragon 283 with the Flame Steward PrC...

So, if any of you could help me with some info on the Flame Steward?
If ya can, could ya go with some:
- ability descriptions (only descriptions, not game mechanics)
- flavour text
- is it balanced?

Any help is very aprecciated...I am basing my order on your info and opinions on the class...

Thanks in advance...

 

[Darkness]

I like the class quite much, actually, and I think that it's balanced.

Some info:

There's very little background info, but it gets the point across: Basically, flame stewards worship - and learn to harness the power of - a mystical "Sacred Flame" that's not associated with any single god.

The prerequisites are easy to fulfill; a cleric can do it by 5th level if he takes the correct feats. (Note: Evil alignment isn't allowed, though.)

Basically, it's statistics are like the cleric (i.e., saves, HD, weapons and armor, skill points). It gets BAB like fighters do, though.

It gets divine spells up to 5th level (unlike most prestige classes with their own spell lists, who get only 4th). The spell selection is very specialized: Only one healing spell per level, and other than that only fire spells and things like light (oh, and summon monster, but only for fire creatures).
It doesn't get things like domains, spontaneous cure, etc.

At every odd level (beginning at 1st), its inherent Str bonus rises, and it gets more Toughness.

All other class abilities are spell-like - and flame-related: burn people, cure people with flames, burn more people, purge bodily and spiritual ailments via flames, burn yet more people.

Hope it helps!

- Darkness

 

[Darkness]

from zdanboy's sig:
And last, but not least:
MANOWAR FAN!

Me, too!

Heh. There's nothing better than listening to "Hail and Kill" when you're depressed...
(The music itself more than the lyrics, probably, unless you're in a very foul mood... )

 

[Zerovoid]

I think its a really cool class, but is probably on the powerful side. The strength bonuses alone make it an awesome fighter. Why did they give it d8 hp, but Toughness feat every other level, instead of giving it d10.

There is some errata you might want to know though. Monte said the Burning Hands ability is 3/day, and Flamestrike is 1/day

 

[zdanboy]

Thanks, Darkness and Zerovoid...your help is much appreciated...

And Darkness, Manowar truly rules! I think it is the best power metal band (or one the best). Ric Adams is truly a good vocalist...better than Bruce Dickinson IMHO. My favourites from Manowar include:
1. "Black Wind, Fire and Steel"
2. "Hail and Kill"
3. "Kingdom come"
4. "Wheels of fire"
5. "Oath"
6. "Thor"
7. "Hail to England"
8. "Holy War"
9. "Defender"
10. "The Gods made Heavy Metal"

And the whole 2002 "Warriors of the World" album.....simply roxx!

 

[Darkness]

I totally agree.

And yes, their newest album rocks very, very much!

Heh. As for older songs: Apart from those that you mention, I also like "Achilles, Agony & Ecstasy in 8 parts" very much - and its length (>30 minutes!) is quite appropriate to the epic it is about. Very cool...