Hunter of the Dead mods. Comments please.

[SableWyvern]

Having just had a player express interest in the Hunter of the Dead PrC, I took the time to look at it closely, and am in agreeance with what seems to be the common view, that the class is underpowered.

However, I think the two simple mods listed below will do a good job to rectify the imbalance. Any feedback would be appreciated, especially from anyone who has seen the PrC in action (as written, or modified).

1. Levels of Hunter of the Dead count towards cleric or paladin levels when turning undead. (BTW, I find it very hard to believe that leaving out _any_ improvement in turning efficacy was intentional).

2. Instead of gaining the Hunter of the Dead spell list and progression, a HotD can gain a spellcasting level in an existing class at each even level. Upon taking the first level of HotD, a character must choose whether to use the HotD spell list/progression or to increase levels in an existing class. Once made, this decision determines the type of spells gained for all ten levels of the class. (IE, a HotD cannot increase his HotD spell progression in some levels and an existing class in other levels).

IMHO, these changes make the HotD an attractive option for any class with an interest in Hunting Undead (tm), without being overpowering.

 

[enrious]

It seems about right to me. I agree with you, I think it's balmy that it doesn't add to turn checks.

 

[Crothian]

Seems fine to me, too.

 

[Shadeus]

Oddly enough, I was working on a re-write to this PrC this weekend. No problem with the first one idea. It seems to be a big mistake to remove the ability to turn undead from the undead hunter.

I would limit their access to spells though and force them to use the lower-powered hunter of the dead spell list. I don't think a choice of one or the other is good...although I have no great reason why.

Some other ideas I though might be interesting to put in the class:

- consecrate blade: use a turn to charge your weapon with positive energy inflicting an extra 1d6 to undead only. It could be a 4th- or 5th-level ability. The process should take an hour or so, a ritual. At higher level, it could also imbue the weapon with the ghost-touch ability.

- Getting Extra Turning as a free feat is kind of lame. I added it as a prereq though.

- Try adding supernatural strike to the PrC. I believe its supposed to come out in MotW and let's you do criticals against things that can't be criticalled (like undead).

So all your changes seem fine to me, although the "you pick your spell progression" doesn't sit right with me for some reason.

 

[SableWyvern]

Yeah. Given that most Hunters will be clerics, and even paladins are probably better off with my modified spell progression, the original hunter list is sort of redundant.

I'm probably going to ditch the turn undead pre-req. though, so the standard list becomes relevant again.

It's quite possible that your problem stemmed from that, or simply the fact that choosing from a set spell list or a +1 spellcaster level is an option not found in any other PrC.

OTOH, it could just be one of those "things".

 

[SableWyvern]

No-one else has anything to say?

IE: *BUMP*