Manual of the Planes and Epic Levels

[Cedric]

As I move my Cleric of Boccob into Epic Levels, are there any Prestige Classes from the Manual of the Planes that I might want to consider?

I don't have access to it currently, but I could get access to it if there was something in there that might prove beneficial to me. But basically I am just not familiar at all with the contents.

Anything I might want to check out?

Cedric

 

[Cedric]

Barring this, does anyone know where I can find a good review for the Manual of the Planes? Would anyone recommend it?

Does it have any prestige classes in it at all? Is there a place where I can find a decent list of prestige classes online (not the stats, just a list and maybe short description?)

Cedric

 

[humble minion]

There are really only two PrCs from the Manual of the Planes that you'd consider.

First is the Planeshifter (haven't got the book with me at the moment, but I'm pretty sure divine casters can qualify). Planeshifters get full casting advancement (or close to it), plus various little add-ons like plane shift as a spell-like ability, bonuses to planar-related magic, and eventually the ability to shift large areas of terrain into other planes, create their own demiplanes, and so on. Fairly powerful class, but unless you're running a very planehopping campaign I doubt it's worth the trouble.

Second is the Divine Agent - a divine caster who has become the literal instrument of his/her deity. Only half-speed spellcasting advancement, but you get an extra domain, spell-like abilities taken from your domains, a celestial's Aura of Menace, and eventually ascension outsider-hood, with DR and so on. There's some good toys that a Divine Agent gets and it's a pretty flavourful class, but it's not for everyone. Worth a look, but a cleric of the god of Magic might find the slow spellcasting advancement a problem.

Hope this helps

 

[green slime]

Barring this, does anyone know where I can find a good review for the Manual of the Planes? Would anyone recommend it?

Does it have any prestige classes in it at all? Is there a place where I can find a decent list of prestige classes online (not the stats, just a list and maybe short description?)

Cedric

Actually Planeshifters gain spellcasting only every second level. But that isn't a priority anyway, once you pass epic level.

I'd heartily recommend Manual of the Planes, for a DM. I think it is great value for money. Lots of inspiring ideas, new monsters/templates. Prestige classes for each of the 4 base character classes (rogue/cleric/wizard/fighter). New spells, and all beautifully illustrated. It is one of my favourite supplements.

As with any supplement there are always things that I feel could have been done differently. But these are just minor mechanical quirks; a spell's level, a prestige class, and the like. On the whole it makes great reading.

 

[humble minion]

Well, now I'm at home and can check my book, Planeshifters get 7 levels of spellcasting advancement over the ten levels of the class. So both green slime and me got it wrong!

I will agree that the Manual of the Planes book is a great DMs reference. The various creatures and templates, and cosmology ideas are all very useful. For a player, it may be a little less functional, but it's still a pretty good read.

 

[Li Shenron]

As I move my Cleric of Boccob into Epic Levels, are there any Prestige Classes from the Manual of the Planes that I might want to consider?

I don't have access to it currently, but I could get access to it if there was something in there that might prove beneficial to me. But basically I am just not familiar at all with the contents.

Anything I might want to check out?

Cedric

If you haven't done yet, read the reviews by the people of this website
It is one of the most appreciated D&D book, and my personal favourite. You will hardly find a negative review of it.

If you are looking for a lot of Prestige Classes, MotP is definitely NOT about it. It has only 4: the Divine Agent (exactly what his name implies, an agent for a God, focused on planar missions), the Planeshifter (mage specialized in everything planar), the Planar Champion (similar to Divine Agent, but combat-oriented) and the Gatecrasher (hacker of portals).

Perhaps one of the reasons why it is my favourite D&D book, it has only a few crunchy bits: not many spells, monsters or magic items, 4 PrCl, no feats. In any case, it's a great tool for the DM, a huge source of ideas to be tailored to his taste, and a pleasureful book just to be read.

 

[Psion]

As I move my Cleric of Boccob into Epic Levels, are there any Prestige Classes from the Manual of the Planes that I might want to consider?

If you are already epic level, you are probably better off with the Epic level PrCs (or the ones in the Dragon) than the divine agent. The divine agent is decent in concept, but as written, deserves a few more caster levels.

I don't have access to it currently, but I could get access to it if there was something in there that might prove beneficial to me. But basically I am just not familiar at all with the contents.

The review page is generally the best place to start. Here's a link to my review:
http://www.enworld.org/reviews/index.php?sub=yes&where=active&reviewer=Psion&product=MotP

All in all an excellent product, but generally more useful for GMs.

Actually Planeshifters gain spellcasting only every second level. But that isn't a priority anyway, once you pass epic level.

Actually, they get 7/10 levels of advancement. (They should have given divine agent that advancement too.)

If that is the type of character you want, I recommend the epic level "planar investigator class" instead (the cosmic descryer?)

 

[green slime]

Actually, they get 7/10 levels of advancement. (They should have given divine agent that advancement too.)

If that is the type of character you want, I recommend the epic level "planar investigator class" instead (the cosmic descryer?)

You mean as stated above by humble minion?

Well, now I'm at home and can check my book, Planeshifters get 7 levels of spellcasting advancement over the ten levels of the class. So both green slime and me got it wrong!

Perhaps it should be repeated again!, yes they get 7/10ths spellcasting progression, so you won't be seeing very many non-epic spallcasters going for this prestige class.

 

[Psion]

yes they get 7/10ths spellcasting progression, so you won't be seeing very many non-epic spallcasters going for this prestige class.

Well, that depends if the DM is silly enough to allow those various overpowered PrCs that have full caster level advancement and a flurry of powerful abilities... (grumble grumble...)

 

[Cedric]

I need to pick up Manual of the Planes...be nice to compare Contemplative from DoTF with Divine Agent...probably throw in 5 levels of Hierophant too.

Cedric