Is this too over the top? (Class/prestige combo)

[Vargo]

I have a player who wants to do the following:

Cleric of Knowledge/Madness, taking max in Knowledge: Arcana and Knowledge: Planes, then taking levels of Alienist starting at 6th level.

Yeah, I know that DotF says that it's domains are prestige class only domains - it just kind of fits in a weird way, and I almost want to say "go for it." The character worships Boccob, if you couldn't tell...

As far as the Madness domain goes, I can't see any big gotchas. I might even consider allowing the player to count Alienist levels against the Madness domain levels - it fits, doesn't it?

We're playing a moderately powered campaign (30 points) with DM approval for all stuff before hand. I'm not quite sure about this, especially due to the non-standard domain... But I like the idea so much, I'm almost tempted to let him do it.

Whaddya think? Any gotchas I should look out for?

 

[Crothian]

The Maddness domain is a prestige domain out of DotF. THat makes it only avilaible through certain prestige classes.

 

[Roland Delacroix]

The Maddness domain is a prestige domain out of DotF. THat makes it only avilaible through certain prestige classes.

Glad to see you took the time to read his whole post.

 

[kreynolds]

Glad to see you took the time to read his whole post.

I was gonna post the same thing as Crothian, actually, but he beat me to the punch. That's pretty much the big "gotcha" he needs to look out for. There's a reason prestige domains are limited to prestige classes.

 

[Voadam]

It is also a normal domain in RttTEE and I think in DDG. I would not assign madness domain to Boccob though. Unless he is a cleric of a force who just happens to also worship Boccob

 

[Crothian]

Glad to see you took the time to read his whole post.

I did. Sorry if I was unclear that I thought the prestige domain was too much to be just granted hap hazardly like this. I was reiterating the only way to get them to make the point.

 

[Vargo]

Yeah, I know about the prestige limitation - it's just such a FITTING combination, that I feel like I might allow it, on the stipulation that he follows his prewritten level plan EXACTLY, no deviations.

I know about the increased DC and decreased Will/skill bonuses - any other gotchas I should be aware of? Mainly in the realm of letting a Cleric become an Alienist at such a low level?

 

[RogueJK]

Sean K. Reynolds had the following to say about a section in Faiths & Pantheons (emphasis mine):

"Prestige Domains as Regular Domains - Several of the domains presented in this section originally appeared as "prestige domains" in Defenders of the Faith. They are presented here as standard domains for some of the deities who appear in this book. These domains--Community, Creation, Glory, and Madness--are not too powerful to serve as regular domains, while other prestige domains from Defenders of the Faith (particularly Beastmaster and Celerity) would not be appropriate to serve as regular domains."

I agree with him on this point.

But what makes you think that you're letting him become an Alienist "at such a low level"? As long as he meets the requirements, he can start taking levels as an Alienist at 6th level. (Just be sure to point out to him that Alienists lose 2 points of Wisdom permanantly at 2nd level, which could hurt his effectiveness as a cleric...)

 

[Crothian]

Sean K. Reynolds had the following to say about a section in Faiths & Pantheons (emphasis mine):

"Prestige Domains as Regular Domains - Several of the domains presented in this section originally appeared as "prestige domains" in Defenders of the Faith. They are presented here as standard domains for some of the deities who appear in this book. These domains--Community, Creation, Glory, and Madness--are not too powerful to serve as regular domains, while other prestige domains from Defenders of the Faith (particularly Beastmaster and Celerity) would not be appropriate to serve as regular domains."

I agree with him on this point.

But what makes you think that you're letting him become an Alienist "at such a low level"? As long as he meets the requirements, he can start taking levels as an Alienist at 6th level. (Just be sure to point out to him that Alienists lose 2 points of Wisdom permanantly at 2nd level, which could hurt his effectiveness as a cleric...)

Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't realize Wizards had said anything like that about any of their prestige domains. Then I retract my statement. Go for it. Sure, Alienists lose a little wisdom, but a worthy sacrifice for a charater concept.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Well, he can certainly meet the prerequisites for Alienist by 6th level. I would not allow him to have the Madness domain at first level, period. The best suggestion I can make is to let him forego his first metamagic secret and acquire the Madness domain instead. He would be 9th level by that time.