OA PrC Updated for 3.5 in Complete Warrior

[dreaded_beast]

It is worth noting that the Sidebar on "World-specific Prestige Classes" (p.86 if you have the book) mentions that most of the PrCs have been deliberately made more "generic" to be better suited to worlds other than where they originated -- the OA Bear Warrior and Tattooed Monk are singled out as examples of this, while the Thayan Knight is cited as an example of one of the exceptions.

Whether that is good or bad in the long run is an open question, but I would expect that if there is a flavor conflict, that is part of the reason.

i can understand a change in the class description to address the flavor conflict, but would that also changing the abilities of the PrC? or does addressing a flavor conflict involve making a class more balanced or playable?

for example, does a FR PrC work well in a "generic" DnD campaign? Howabout an OA PrC in a FR campaign?

 

[Silveras]

i can understand a change in the class description to address the flavor conflict, but would that also changing the abilities of the PrC? or does addressing a flavor conflict involve making a class more balanced or playable?

for example, does a FR PrC work well in a "generic" DnD campaign? Howabout an OA PrC in a FR campaign?

They mentioned that a "warrior henchman of a powerful wizardly cabal" is pretty common (i.e., generic) in fantasy literature, and that the Thayan Knight could be modified to become that in other worlds. They talk about re-naming the abilities so that they are not Thay-specific ("Horrors of Thay" becomes "Horrors of {evil land}"), and making other changes. I think they missed the boat in this sidebar. They mention "look first at the requirements" and "then work your way down." The implication is that you really need to look closely at tinkering with the class to make it fit an alternate setting, and not just drop it in "as-is"; I really wish they had spent more time illustrating that process, to make that clearer.

The original, 1st Ed OA, presented the lands of Kara-Tur, which was later added to FR as their "asian" setting. Presumably, the non-Rokugan PrCs in 3E OA, like the non-Rokugan base classes, should fit well there. The CW samurai, as mentioned elsewhere, bears some resemblance to the 1st Ed Samurai, and so might make a decent appearance there.

 

[Krieg]

It is worth noting that the Sidebar on "World-specific Prestige Classes" (p.86 if you have the book) mentions that most of the PrCs have been deliberately made more "generic" to be better suited to worlds other than where they originated -- the OA Bear Warrior and Tattooed Monk are singled out as examples of this, while the Thayan Knight is cited as an example of one of the exceptions.

Whether that is good or bad in the long run is an open question, but I would expect that if there is a flavor conflict, that is part of the reason.

...and yet they still chose "Kensai" which actually is a Japanese term. lol

 

[Limper]

Glad to see I'm not the only person disappointed by the CW Kensai.

 

[Krieg]

Glad to see I'm not the only person disappointed by the CW Kensai.

While the CW Kensai is hardly inspiring, my comments were directed at the irony in proclaiming a more "generic" approach...while at the same time having a PrC named after a specific cultural archetype.

If they really wanted a generic term they would have re-used "Weapon Master" rather than Kensai.

FWIW the CW Kensai reminds me most strongly of the "Northern" Sword Singers in Jennifer Roberson's series of books about Del & Sandtiger.

 

[Silveras]

...and yet they still chose "Kensai" which actually is a Japanese term. lol

Yes.. the character in the artwork looks very Japanese, in keeping with the name.

I agree; a more generic name would have been better. Kensai conjures expectations of an asian flavor that is plainly not meant to be there (from the illo.).

 

[Psion]

While the CW Kensai is hardly inspiring, my comments were directed at the irony in proclaiming a more "generic" approach...while at the same time having a PrC named after a specific cultural archetype.

I think I made the same comment re: the CW Samurai in one of the other CW threads.

 

[Krieg]

I think I made the same comment re: the CW Samurai in one of the other CW threads.

Hmm, I guess "Two-fisted Fightin' Noble" just didn't have the proper panache'.