Most Unbalanced Prestige Classes?

[Celtavian]

re

There are three WotC cleric PrC's that I am aware of that advance full caster progression and full turn undead progression. Doomguide (F&P), Radiant Servant of Pelor (CD) and Sacred Exorcist (CD).

Out of all of these the Radiant Servant is probably the weakest and most restrictive to qualify for when it comes to choosing domains. The additional healing powers barely do enough to tempt you to take the poor healing domain (Preparing cure spells as a cleric - tut tut). There are better choices in the sun domain, but this isn't the strongest domain out there either. I'd say that this PrC makes worshiping Pelor a bit stronger.

The Doomguide is fairly strong although is a bit tricky to qualify for. The extra abilities are pretty decent and you get 3 bonus feats too

The strongest and easiest to qualify for is the sacred exorcist. No feat requirements at all, 2 skills which you would probably take anyway, no domain reqs or god reqs. You get a favoured enemy bonus's vs undead or evil outsiders, plus permanent consecrate and a few other nice spell like abilities

All in all these are stronger than a straight cleric, especially the sacred exorcist which requires no planning at all.

The only overpowered ability of the Radiant Servant is the Greater Turning. They gave too many uses to both the Radiant Servant and the Eye of Horus-re rendering undead adventures just about obsolete. Otherwise, the Radiant Servant is just fine. The martial weapon proficiency doesn't fit from a flavor standpoint, but that is easily fixable.

The Morninglord of Lathander and the Eye of Horus-re also grant turning levels. The Eye is way overpowered, the Morninglord is a bit underpowered.

 

[Marshall]

The only overpowered ability of the Radiant Servant is the Greater Turning. They gave too many uses to both the Radiant Servant and the Eye of Horus-re rendering undead adventures just about obsolete. .

Why? Whether the undead runs away or is destroyed the encounter is a win for the PCs.

 

[FireLance]

Why? Whether the undead runs away or is destroyed the encounter is a win for the PCs.

I guess some people take the perspective that if the undead are not destroyed, they can always come back to haunt the party at an inconvenient time.

Careful though, this might turn into a "depends on how the DM runs undead" argument.

 

[hong]

I guess some people take the perspective that if the undead are not destroyed, they can always come back to haunt the party at an inconvenient time.

As in, ten rounds later.

 

[Prism]

The Morninglord of Lathander and the Eye of Horus-re also grant turning levels. The Eye is way overpowered, the Morninglord is a bit underpowered.

Not sure how I forgot the Morninglord as I play a cleric of Lathander soon to take that PrC. The reason I didn't worry too much about the Eye is that it loses a caster level at first and has an annoying feat requirement and some cross class skill prereqs.

 

[FireLance]

As in, ten rounds later.

Twenty, actually - ten rounds of fleeing, and ten rounds of running back . Unless they have access to teleport magic, of course.

This also assumes that the undead want to or are forced to go back and the party hasn't gone somewhere else during those twenty rounds. Either that, or the undead have access to some kind of advanced party-dar (tm), party-tracker (tm) or incredible coincidence (tm) capability which enables them to show up where the party happens to be.

 

[Celtavian]

re

Why? Whether the undead runs away or is destroyed the encounter is a win for the PCs.

Incorporeal undead have a good chance of coming back as do vampires and liches who have other means to escape. Just turning the undead is not a win, they still have to track them down and kill them.

Not to mention that Greater Turning will often work against very powerful undead. If the cleric uses Greater Turning against the bad guys main guards, he can destroy one or two of them per attempt no saving throw. With cerain magic items and a very good roll, he can probably destroy the main undead enemy with no saving throw.

Just imagine it this way: A PC receives a death spell capable of killing an equal level foe with no saving throw irregardless of hit points or protections. That is what greater turning is like to undead. How happy would you be if some class received the ability to kill a living PC or enemy of equal to 4 levels higher than your level with no saving throw or warding spells? One time a day is very good, 2 to 4 times a day is nigh on godlike power, and 3 plus Charisma times per day makes many encounters a joke. Greater Turning can absolutely dismantle and destroy an undead encounter making it much easier than it should be.

 

[DClingman]

I'll be honest as a game designer. When it comes to high level chars and PrCs, I think in general the balance needs to shift to the player. In an electronic game, I don't have the ability as the GM to sit there and correct imbalances. However in D&D, I can always add another monster out of the blue to overcorrect and make an encounter interesting even for a class that people would consider "unbalanced". I can add 10 hp to the monster to keep him up one more round, etc. Whether its the Theurge or whatever you got, everyone has a limit of spells/day and hit points. With enough crap thrown at them, something is going to give.

As a quick side note, I don't want to sound like balance is irrelevant cause it totally is. What I am saying is that those things can be corrected in real time when playing RPGs.

Dustin

 

[HighlandsBear]

Mystic Theurge is weak! Can't believe this argument keeps popping back up. Everyone knows some super secret spell combo that would just make it roxor but I'm never around to see it.

Also, can't believe someone argued Holy Liberator was overpowered now. It was nerfed to the point no one will ever use it again. First off, unlike a paladin it does not get turn undead anymore. That means no divine might or other divine feats. Also, you get half the number and power of smites, and no lay hands - not much payoff for having high charisma for your character's first 10 levels and getting absolutely nothing out of it. Celestial companion is vastly weaker than a pal horse until like 19th level. You basically need to split your stats like a paladin, but are even weaker.

 

[Taneel BrightBlade]

I was thinking that Frenzied Berzeker was brocken myself the Deathless Frenzy is too low level (at least thats the problem I see). But at high levels mages and sorcerers are just as broken so it evens out