Give Favored Soul turning ability: Yes or No?

[Thanee]

But let's compare them to a cleric:

1 better save category
Less spells known but more per day
No heavy armor
No domain powers
No turning
3 Elemental Resistances
DR
Wings

Don't forget spontaneous casting.

They also get Weapon Proficiency (probably with a martial weapon), Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

I think the Favored Soul is about the same level as the Cleric. A few nice benefits, plus the spontaneous casting, which is especially good, since the divine spell list has a lower number of good spells as compared to the arcane spells and the Favored Soul has more spells known than the Sorcerer, so choosing spells is easier for them and they do not suffer as much from the limited spells known.

The wings... yeah, they are a bit weird, it's probably meant to be similar to a celestial/half-fiend that way, I suppose.

I would definitely not give the Favored Soul the Turn Undead ability, not even with a reduced level, since that lack is one of the two major balancing factors of the class. No domain abilities is the other.

What I would do, is to give them access to the domain spell lists (even all of them), so they can add these spells to their class list and then learn them in the same way as cleric spells. This would grant them access to a few arcane spells and gives them a little more deity-specific flavor.

As compensation, one could drop the wings. *shrug*

I would also consider, adding a new feat, which grants a Favored Soul one domain ability from one of their deity's domains (can be taken multiple times, of course, for different domains).

Bye
Thanee

 

[CRGreathouse]

I would be willing to give them turning (as a paladin) in exchange for a feat.

 

[Thanee]

With Knowledge (religion) 4 ranks as a prerequisite.

But yeah, as a feat, I would probably allow that, too. That's a reasonable cost, especially since it is one of the really tough decisions for a Favored Soul, how to use the feats... and then Divine Feats will also be available, but with one feat less, which is used up on Turn Undead.

Bye
Thanee

 

[CRGreathouse]

With Knowledge (religion) 4 ranks as a prerequisite.

But yeah, as a feat, I would probably allow that, too. That's a reasonable cost, especially since it is one of the really tough decisions for a Favored Soul, how to use the feats... and then Divine Feats will also be available, but with one feat less, which is used up on Turn Undead.

Clearly Thanee is wise in the ways of game design.

 

[DragonTurtle]

The inability to channel positive/negative energy I believe is ok, as it better allows the two classes (FS and Clerics) to exist in the same campaign. If characters with turning ability are needed I think a feat that allows the FS to burn a spell slot to turn/rebuke undead would be appropriate. Perhaps the level of spell slot burned decides turning modifier instead of the normal ability score modifier.

 

[Ero Gaki]

I would give the class turning, simply because the use of divine energy seems to suit someone who has the favor of a god. Heck, everybody and their mother can squeeze out a divine spell or two. But directly channeling divine energy to smite ones foes...

 

[Phaedrus]

The issue is that the party has no cleric or paladin, just a FS. And with no ability to turn undead, undead encounters are much more dangerous. Esp. those level-draining beasties.

I suppose I could ditch the FS and go to UA's spontaneous cleric. But compared to the FS, that alt.Cleric is underpowered.

 

[Crothian]

FS is aw powerful class. at 10th level i dominated combat and had great healing ability. I would not give them turning.

 

[jerichothebard]

The issue is that the party has no cleric or paladin, just a FS. And with no ability to turn undead, undead encounters are much more dangerous. Esp. those level-draining beasties.

Yes and no - remember that most undead are balanced without consideration for turning abilities, since not all parties will have clerics that can turn (or so I've heard...).

If that is in fact true, then a party with only a favored soul shouldn't be suffering the hurt too much, really, in a balanced encounter.

in theory.


jtb