Is a hammer of Moradin balanced?

[Endur]

The Hammer of Moradin is more powerful than the Dwarven Defender PRC, but lots of people consider the Dwarven Defender PRC on the weak side of PRCs (Endurance, Toughness, and Dodge as pre-reqs for DD and being unable to move in the stance).

Personally, I think the Hammer of Moradin isn't too powerful, since it has rather high entry costs (being able to cast level 2 spells, BAB+7, only one region and religion, etc.) which mean you can't get in until your character is at least level 8. Many of the benefits only apply to a hurled hammer, which is a very inefficient weapon. A bow is far more powerful than a hurled hammer, because you can shoot six arrows a round with a bow (4 + rapid shot + haste) vs. 1 attack with a hammer.

So I think you can safely ignore all of the hurled weapon benefits and focus on the benefits that apply in melee.

Just looking at those, the Hammer of Moradin is powerful. But not too powerful.

Cavalier (from Complete Warrior) or Archmage (DMG) or Red Wizard are PRCs that I think are more powerful than Hammer of Moradin.

Frenzied Berserker is just plain broken.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Powerful it may be, but it's nothing to the Incantatrix. *That*'s a broken class, even more so now that the PGF 3.5'd it...

 

[FireLance]

Personally, I still wouldn't play one though, by high levels straight Dwarven clerics will own a HOM. Still, almost everyone else agrees HOMs are overpowered though.

This is an interesting set of statements. I can only conclude that either the core cleric is overpowered, or the HOM is not.

 

[Snow Savant]

I have to say, I am somewhat shocked by what I am reading from everyone.

At mid-to-high levels, the class abilities of the HoM PrC are a nice addition to a martial-based character, but they are *far* from being over-powered. Especially if you are in an adventuring group of top-tier character optimizers (i.e. min/maxers) where the predominant displays of game-capturing firepower and versatility are coming from highly optimized Cleric, Wizard, and Druid builds.

HoM helps martial characters bridge the gap from the power-level discrepancies between the straight-level Fighter-types and the primary spellcasters. But it sure as heck does not even come close to putting a HoM character anywhere near the power level of the spellcaster.

Ideally, all martial-based PrC's should have similar power-up mechanics to the Frenzied Berserker PrC ... or the HoM *plus a little extra*. Remember, the power levels of the martial characters rise on a linear level, the spellcasters rise on an exponential or quadratic level. The comparisons are not even close.

In summation, the HoM is just fine. And it could use a few other added class abilities (minor ones, mind you) if you are playing with other min/maxed characters.

XO,
Snow!

 

[JRRNeiklot]

I agree with Snow. I see nothing overpowering about the class. The only thing I find wrong with it is it's a bit bland.

 

[Chronosome]

It's beefy, but not a mad cow.

 

[Kaibith]

If it gets banned

Depending on what you want from the class a good substitute for aspects like launching warhammers around and them returning would be bloodstorm blade from the TOB you would have to drop at least one level intowarblade so you have access to iron heart manuevers. This was my back up idea if I wasn't allowed a HOM launching warhammers left right and centre.