Most Unbalanced Prestige Classes?

[BASHMAN]

Okay

okay. *whispers* "mystic theurge is broken beyond belief. they are the same thing as a sorcerer who also gets to cast cleric spells on top of sorcerer spells. there is zero justification for this. sure they cannot turn, but neither can a sorcerer for crying out loud. it is broken."

 

[silentspace]

The one I see mentioned a lot is the Order of the Bow Initiate, from the FRCS (I believe). Really, really powerful.

In fact, I find most stuff (feats, spells, everything) from the Forgotten Realms books to be just over the top in terms of power. At first glance, they seem balancing, but then I always regret allowing it later on. The "spell prodigy" feat comes to mind. There are others.

I've seen some "weak" prestige classes, but I've not personally come across any really powerful ones in my own campaign.

A lot of that stuff has been revised in the Player's Guide to Faerun. Spell Prodigy now affects bonus spells only, not DC

 

[Psion]

MYSTIC THEURGE IS BROKEN BEYOND BELIEF!

I can hear the M-T loving babies crying now: "But they don't get wizard feats! And they don't improve at turning undead! That makes it balanced!"

Balanced my @$$. Sorcerers gain none of those things. Basically, all a mystic theurge is is a sorcerer who also gets to cast cleric spells ON TOP of his arcane spells. BROKEN!!!!!!

Note: Caps, exclamation points, and size doesn't make your point more correct. Really.

The mystic theurge debate is old, but here's my take:
It's unbalanced at its highest levels, but not at low levels.
At low levels, the entry requirements of having to have 3levels in two different spellcasting classes, and ergo be 3 casting levels behind a single class spellcaster, puts it at a disadvantage despite the larger spell list.

However, adding two caster levels per spellcasting level after that tends to work of that initial disadvantage pretty quickly, and by 8th-10th level or so, the class has extremely broad utility, great endurance, and strong internal synergies that make it a bit of a scene stealer.

(The typical argument that it is not unbalanced presumes some sort of mage duel arrangement. If this was a game of arena combat, that would be a valid measure. But it's not, so it isn't. It's a game where a team of characters are expect to face a variety of obstacles.)

 

[Piratecat]

*whispers* "mystic theurge is broken beyond belief."

Despite initial assumptions, we haven't found mystic theurge to be broken at all. The loss of those high level spells is excrutiating.

I agree, however, about Divine Servant of Pelor -- give up diddly, get lots in return. The same could be said for the archmage, which I would allow nevertheless.

 

[Someone]

I don´t agree with the mystic theurge being broken. I´m playing one right now, in a (large) party that also has clerics and wizards. I found that a) he´s real, very good as support and utility and b) pathetic in combat.

 

[Sejs]

What's the deal with the Hulking Hurler anyway? It doesn't seem unbalanced at first glance...

Give it a second glance.

The damage a Hulking Hurler does with a thrown object is based on the object's weight. The heaviest object an HH can throw is something up to their light load capacity, or their medium load capacity with the Overburdened Heave trick. And remember carrying capacity scales not only with the strength of a creature, but also with its size. And additionally, a sharp or pointy object deals damage as if were an object of twice its actual weight.

So as a very modest example, say we have a Str 25 ogre with 2 levels of Hulking Hurler, and Overburdened Heave. Medium load is 533 lbs, doubled due to being Large, clocks in at 1,066 lbs. Okay, so our ogre purchases a 1000 lb ball of spiked iron. Imagine it looking like the head of a really large, really mean flail. Enchant it to be +1 and Returning, just for convienance sake. Each attack, our very, very modest example can chuck his weapon for 13d6 dmg, plus relavent modifiers.

 

[Piratecat]

EpochRPG, shouting with a large font size is rude; please don't do so. I have edited your post accordingly.

 

[Wonger]

okay. *whispers* "mystic theurge is broken beyond belief. they are the same thing as a sorcerer who also gets to cast cleric spells on top of sorcerer spells. there is zero justification for this. sure they cannot turn, but neither can a sorcerer for crying out loud. it is broken."

I've already made up my mind about the MT, so lets not let this thread turn into that thread (one that has been done a dozen times already). I am going to steer clear of that one.

Keep them coming!

 

[Longbow]

Frenzied Berserker, Improved Power Attack and Deathless Frenzy are insane.

 

[silentspace]

As for archmage it is overpowered simply in the fact that what mage wouldn't take it?

Archmage in 3.5 is not nearly as good. Spell Power is +1, for level-dependent variables and caster level checks only. Spell-like ability hasn't changed, but it's not such a great ability. Arcane Fire is alright, but 3.5 has Scorching Ray, which is very good (Empower it, Maximize it). The good arcana are Arcane Reach (not so many touch attack spells though), Mastery of Elements and Mastery of Shaping.

Still, Mastery of Elements and Mastery of Shaping are pretty attractive, especially if you like evocation spells, so yes, a lot of wizards will take it.