Hunter of the Dead

[atomn]

I've always wondered. Why do you suppose the PrCs with those few spells and miniscule spell lists are treated in such a way? Why not have it grant, say 3 or 4 levels of casting as a cleric (levels 2, 5, 8 or levels 1, 4, 7, 10)? Why not have the Assassin gain a similar number of levels as an arcane caster? In the end it would make it much easier to deal with PrCs like this. By the level they gain any casting, most of it is so low in level as to be borderline useless anyway. This way it could perhaps aid in the casting level and spells known of whatever class they needed to access the PrC in the first place - or a thematic appropriate class (such as cleric for HotD).

I can think of some possible reasons:

--If the PrC provided straight continuation of existing spellcasting class, it could make the character too powerful. Good BAB, saves or special abilities may keep the PrC balanced and the addition of increased caster level and spells could unbalance it.

--Often times those types of PrCs can come from a base class that has no magic ability. (Like a Fighter going into HotD.) At least this way they get some spell casting abilities, whereas if they just got "+1 to current spellcasting class", they'd have nothing extra.

--While I've never really looked into detail at the spell lists, I seem to recall that many of the spells in the spell lists are enhancing type spells. I think the Assassin gets True Strike or a spell that gives an automatic crit on a successful hit. And maybe Spider Climb or Expedious Retreat. And the HotD gets Cure X Wound spells. Those types of spells serve to enhance the characters themselves and don't need high DCs, so they can be just as effective at the lower level.

 

[FireLance]

--If the PrC provided straight continuation of existing spellcasting class, it could make the character too powerful. Good BAB, saves or special abilities may keep the PrC balanced and the addition of increased caster level and spells could unbalance it.

Presumably, if the character already had some spellcaster levels, it would be balanced by a lower BAB and hit points than if he had entered the PrC as a more melee-oriented character.

--Often times those types of PrCs can come from a base class that has no magic ability. (Like a Fighter going into HotD.) At least this way they get some spell casting abilities, whereas if they just got "+1 to current spellcasting class", they'd have nothing extra.

Or, the PrC could grant "+1 level of cleric" which could stack with existing cleric levels or grant one if the character did not have any previously.

Personally, I'd like to see a PrC that gave the character the option to advance his existing spellcaster ability (perhaps at the rate of +1/2 levels, or +1 per level if it advanced a half-caster class like paladin or ranger), or provides its own spellcasting advancement for characters with no existing ability.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Hi everybody,
What do you all think about the Hunter of the Dead PrC's fifth level ability? To paraphrase, any undead killed by a 5th level HotD (by either weapons or magic) are completely destroyed forever. It sounds pretty nifty and useful, but would it really have much effect in a game? I ask because I wanted to make an undead killer and 5 levels of HotD really takes away from spell casting ability. Thanks for any opinions!

Check out Piratecats storyhour - there is a Hunter of the Dead in there who is a tremendous PC, and this 5th level ability has occasionally proven invaluable (although might have been forgotten in one or two situations when it would have been useful...)

 

[atomn]

Presumably, if the character already had some spellcaster levels, it would be balanced by a lower BAB and hit points than if he had entered the PrC as a more melee-oriented character.

I was thinking that if the PrC had the best BAB, great hit dice AND +1 spellcasting level advancement, it could be overpowered. If the PrC didn't have a limited spellcasting list, the PrC would have the best of both worlds, full spellcasting with a high BAB and hit points. The balance you mention wouldn't be there.

Am I explaining lucidly? I feel like I'm probably not.

Or, the PrC could grant "+1 level of cleric" which could stack with existing cleric levels or grant one if the character did not have any previously.

Personally, I'd like to see a PrC that gave the character the option to advance his existing spellcaster ability (perhaps at the rate of +1/2 levels, or +1 per level if it advanced a half-caster class like paladin or ranger), or provides its own spellcasting advancement for characters with no existing ability.

Yeah, that could work too.