Knight of the Pale: Yea or Nay? (Book of Hallowed Might)

[Kannik]

Looking for some opinions and suggestions here.

IACIPI, I play a 5th level Paladin and am beginning to think about prestige classes. This isn't your average paladin w.r.t. mentality; he isn't a church crusader, isn't out to defeat demons, isn't an overt holy warrior... he is instead more of a warrior who draws strength from his diety (Aathome) to accomplish what he sets out to do (his backstory (which I didn't do, I inherrited the character) had him becoming a police/guard type in hopes of defending the weaker elements of society). So a lot of the prestige classes I've seen don't exactly fit his needs, nor concept.

Enter Monte Cook's Knight of the Pale. I like its foundation, for it seems to fit the character well: nothing overt, just drawing strength from your conviction and your diety that all-around helps you. My concern when I look at the class, however, is that something is jsut not quite right with the 'suites' (as they call them). On the front they look nice, but something rings at the back of my mind going 'wait a minute, is that really good or no?'

Specific concerns would be...

1) the stat bonuses are an enhancement bonus. So no stat-increase items for you! or at least, if you have some of those, part of your suite is rendered irrelevant...

2) the limitations of the rigidity of the suites. While their flavour is good, the mechanics can leads to some problems. Say the character is now a 10th level KotP, and decides that Armour and protection is needed the next day. Well, the best one for that remains the _2nd_ of the 6 suites gained. It is about +3 AC overall all told; while one may argue the stoneskin in the 5th suite is good, it would only last a certain amount of time vs the whole day. At this point, is +3 AC the best I should have at that level of the prestige class? Is the 6th suite with +4 STR/Con, SR good, or am I being shortchanged since I can't take the Haste of the 4th Suite? If the 4th suite is balanced for that level of the prestige class, then when I get higher level, if I think 'yeah, holy word is neat but that'll only kill maybe 20 of the 400 orcs, whereas haste may allow me to cleave my way through even more...

I think I'm starting to ramble. And maybe not make as much sense as I'd like... lemme back up. Do you find the progression of 'suites' not only appropriate, put power-wise good and the abilities flexible enough? If you were to change it to something more flexible (which is obviously my concern), what would you suggest?

Of course, I'm also open to suggestions of other PrCs that would fit my character }

Awaiting to see what ye all think,

Kannik

 

[Stalker0]

I don't think your getting shortchanged at all. First of all, your getting a better will save. Second, as a paladin the biggest thing you lose at higher level is some mount stuff and a better smite.

As far as the suites go, each one is decent in its own respect, and the fact that you have access to all those abilities makes you very versatile. In some ways your like a wizard, a wizard can do practically anything, but not every day. Also, don't forget you eventually get the ability to craft a holy avenger!!!

I wouldn't worry about power with this class at al..

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I think Stalker0 is right about the power of the class being in it's versatility but he's wrong about what the paladin loses at high levels.

By not continuing in Paladin, you lose access to Holy Sword (only at level 16+ though), undead turning progression (which can be quite significant), and Lay on Hands (which can easily cure 200 hp/day at 20th level) as well as increased smite damage and mount progression. If you ask me, it adds up; Paladin is one of the few classes (Druid, Cleric, and Monk are the others) which really ought to consider staying single classed rather than going into a prestige class a viable power-gaming option.

I don't think your getting shortchanged at all. First of all, your getting a better will save. Second, as a paladin the biggest thing you lose at higher level is some mount stuff and a better smite.

As far as the suites go, each one is decent in its own respect, and the fact that you have access to all those abilities makes you very versatile. In some ways your like a wizard, a wizard can do practically anything, but not every day. Also, don't forget you eventually get the ability to craft a holy avenger!!!

I wouldn't worry about power with this class at al..

 

[Stalker0]

I think Stalker0 is right about the power of the class being in it's versatility but he's wrong about what the paladin loses at high levels.

By not continuing in Paladin, you lose access to Holy Sword (only at level 16+ though), undead turning progression (which can be quite significant), and Lay on Hands (which can easily cure 200 hp/day at 20th level) as well as increased smite damage and mount progression. If you ask me, it adds up; Paladin is one of the few classes (Druid, Cleric, and Monk are the others) which really ought to consider staying single classed rather than going into a prestige class a viable power-gaming option.

Except that the Knight gets to make his own holy avenger sword, so he doesn't need holy sword. He also gets access to heal through one of his suits, although I admit its not as good as lay on hands.

 

[Pielorinho]

You mention that the ability increases are enhancement bonuses. It seems to me that any other type of ability increase is really rare: by default, most increases are enhancement bonuses (all the 2nd-level spells, all the +2/+4/+6 wonderous items, the strength domain, etc.). This is, I think, exactly for the reason that you don't like: it's to keep them from stacking with one another. Divine and inherent and other bonuses to abilities should be very rare.

I think this class looks plenty powerful, and it look slike it'd be fun to play.

Daniel

 

[Kannik]

Cool, thanks...

Alright... maybe I'm just being a bit paranoid. And who knows if we'll ever make it to the higher levels anyway }:> (either from death or from campaign fizzling) I will give it a shot and see what happens! May they fear my haste!

(and may no one ever take my holy sword away from me, oy! }

Kannik

 

[Victim]

As sweet as Holy Sword is as a Paladin spell, it's even better on a wand. Holy Sword for everyone!