Cyronax
Explorer
Hi, I have had a long standing campaign rolling around in my head (from as far back as 2e days), and as I go about converting the concept, I find myself created a very limited PrC list. This PrC canidate will be 1 of only 10-12.
I have an organization IMC which crosses the concepts of loremaster, bard, and to some extent paladin (as in 'knight errant'). I don't have paladins or many organized religions in this world since it is just eking its way out of a horrific dark age. Arcance magic also is rare and in its formative years. Bards and wizards are rare, while sorcerers (the primal caster) are typically greedy opportunists and villains.
Anyway, I see this new version of the loremaster as a heroic archetype with hefty requirements. I know some of you may say that the loremaster was fine as is, but I disagree. That class gives away what amounts to an equivalent feat (though a minor one like toughness or iron will) every level in addition to a +1 spells per level. Anyway, I thought that with two exalted feats (which require a good alignment and all that to function) that this PrC would create the 'prestige' that I was hoping to evoke.
What do you all think of it? Thanks
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Loremaster (from the DMG): This prestige class is greatly altered from the DMG. It is now primarily a bardic prestige class, and it represents a secret society in my campaign known as the Keepers of the Flame. Most Keepers are bards of great virtue and skill, while a few also have spent time with the wide-ranging Friars of the Rookfoot (priests of Animal, Good, and Luck). Most loremasters are human, but in the past elves, half-elves, and halflings have been members as well
Hit Dice: d6
Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.
The new loremaster’s requirements include (replaces those in the DMG):
Alignment: Neutral good.
Skills: Gather Information 5 ranks, Knowledge (any two) 8 ranks in each, Perform (oratory) 8 ranks.
Feats: Obscure Lore (from The Song & Silence) and Words of Creation (from the Book of Exalted Deeds). Also a loremaster must have any one metamagic or item creation feat.
Spells: Able to cast seven different divination spells spontaneously, one of which must be 3rd level or higher.
Special: Must be inducted into the Keepers of the Flame, the secret order of the loremasters. Prospective loremasters are usually be sponsored by an existing member, many times without the prospective’s knowledge, and are urged to undertake some quest in search of hidden or lost knowledge.
The following changed are made to Table 6-13: Loremaster on p.191 in the DMG:
- BAB: is the same as a bard.
- Spells per Day/Spells Known: At each level of loremaster, the character gains new spells per day and spells known as if he had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class to which he belonged before adding the prestige class level. The class must spontaneously cast spells (as a sorcerer or bard does). He does not, however, gain any other benefit of that class that would have gained (bardic music abilities, improved familiar abilities, and so on).
- Lore: A loremaster’s ‘lore’ ability serves as a continuation of the bardic knowledge class ability, and both bard and loremaster levels stack for determining bardic knowledge/lore checks.
I have an organization IMC which crosses the concepts of loremaster, bard, and to some extent paladin (as in 'knight errant'). I don't have paladins or many organized religions in this world since it is just eking its way out of a horrific dark age. Arcance magic also is rare and in its formative years. Bards and wizards are rare, while sorcerers (the primal caster) are typically greedy opportunists and villains.
Anyway, I see this new version of the loremaster as a heroic archetype with hefty requirements. I know some of you may say that the loremaster was fine as is, but I disagree. That class gives away what amounts to an equivalent feat (though a minor one like toughness or iron will) every level in addition to a +1 spells per level. Anyway, I thought that with two exalted feats (which require a good alignment and all that to function) that this PrC would create the 'prestige' that I was hoping to evoke.
What do you all think of it? Thanks
----------------------------
Loremaster (from the DMG): This prestige class is greatly altered from the DMG. It is now primarily a bardic prestige class, and it represents a secret society in my campaign known as the Keepers of the Flame. Most Keepers are bards of great virtue and skill, while a few also have spent time with the wide-ranging Friars of the Rookfoot (priests of Animal, Good, and Luck). Most loremasters are human, but in the past elves, half-elves, and halflings have been members as well
Hit Dice: d6
Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.
The new loremaster’s requirements include (replaces those in the DMG):
Alignment: Neutral good.
Skills: Gather Information 5 ranks, Knowledge (any two) 8 ranks in each, Perform (oratory) 8 ranks.
Feats: Obscure Lore (from The Song & Silence) and Words of Creation (from the Book of Exalted Deeds). Also a loremaster must have any one metamagic or item creation feat.
Spells: Able to cast seven different divination spells spontaneously, one of which must be 3rd level or higher.
Special: Must be inducted into the Keepers of the Flame, the secret order of the loremasters. Prospective loremasters are usually be sponsored by an existing member, many times without the prospective’s knowledge, and are urged to undertake some quest in search of hidden or lost knowledge.
The following changed are made to Table 6-13: Loremaster on p.191 in the DMG:
- BAB: is the same as a bard.
- Spells per Day/Spells Known: At each level of loremaster, the character gains new spells per day and spells known as if he had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class to which he belonged before adding the prestige class level. The class must spontaneously cast spells (as a sorcerer or bard does). He does not, however, gain any other benefit of that class that would have gained (bardic music abilities, improved familiar abilities, and so on).
- Lore: A loremaster’s ‘lore’ ability serves as a continuation of the bardic knowledge class ability, and both bard and loremaster levels stack for determining bardic knowledge/lore checks.
