Occult Slayer... ideas and opinions please.

[Felix]

I dig the OS, and was thinking of taking some levels of it with my Forsaker, but my DM pointed out something interesting to me.

Sure, it's flavor text, and not a RULE, but the description of the class notes that Occult Slayers have more than abilities to defeat magic... they think that magic is more than mortals should be allowed to wield. That's why they go around whoping spellcasters.

If you hold true to this flavor of the class, you can't travel with any spellcasters, or cast any spells that you yourself are able to cast through class abilities. This causes a big problem with party unity and cohesion. I think that is what makes this PrC work... it gives some badass abilities, but at the cost of being hostile to anyone that wields magic.

That is, of course, only if you hold true to the flavor text. My DM is, and the idea is out for my Forsaker. Mechanics wise, all those builds look good, and a Forsaker+OS would be wicked cool.

 

[James McMurray]

Don't forsakers also loathe everything magical? How is it ok for one to travel with spellcasters and not ok for the other?

 

[Grazzt]

If you hold true to this flavor of the class, you can't travel with any spellcasters, or cast any spells that you yourself are able to cast through class abilities. This causes a big problem with party unity and cohesion. I think that is what makes this PrC work... it gives some badass abilities, but at the cost of being hostile to anyone that wields magic.

Yep- that's pretty much it. Magic is not for the occult slayer.

As a side note, the Occult Slayer was in Dragon many issues ago, and was written/designed by me and Kolja Liquette (SonofaPreacherman on ENWorld, and even though SOMEONE at Dragon left my name off the article credits I got paid, so its cool )

 

[Wippit Guud]

I like the Hex Blade idea. Not sure what level they get Mettle at, but taking that many levels and puting the rest into fighter could work pretty well.

If you're gonna have access to arcane spells, why not skip the fighter and invest in dragon disciple? The uberness!

 

[Rashak Mani]

Don't forsakers also loathe everything magical? How is it ok for one to travel with spellcasters and not ok for the other?

I think both are hostile to magic... but not so strongly they cannot operate with spellcasters. Its silly to play them as totally hateful of magic AND magic users in a magic full world. They can be like vegeterians... but they exclude magic/"meat" from their diet instead... but live and let live non-veggies.

My occult slayer will have a disdain only or mostly for arcane spellcasters with emphasis for evil spellcasters. (though any arcane magic makes me suspicious at first).

 

[Felix]

Yeah, Forsakers are magitarians; they obstain from using any. Occult Slayers don't want anybody to eat meat... or use magic...

So if you go to the Outback with your vegitarian buddy and he has no problem with your 20oz porterhouse but he only has the potato soup, he's a Forsaker. If, on the other hand, he whallups you upside the head, shoves the porterhouse down your shirt, and proceeds to beat up the chefs, he's an Occult Slayer.

*shakes Graz'zt's hand*
Nice PrC you made there. Give regards to SoaPM.

 

[Taren Seeker]

Yup, OS works with missile weapons.

Also consider using the greatbow and taking a level of EWM for the ability to shoot while threatened without provoking AoO's. With you readying vs enemy spellcasters the rest of your party can operate unhindered.

As for the flavor text, you can work with a spellcaster, but it's tricky. My take on it is that my PC worships Wee Jas. All arcane spellcasters will be viewed with suspicion but my PC is also a realist. He knows that Mages are powerful and you can't just whack every one you meet without becoming an even greater target. As long as a mage that he travels with shows the proper appreciation for his own mystic powers and the teachings of both Wee Jas and Boccob, then that mage can live and contribute. Besides as a source of information such a mage would be invaluable.

He's not a butcher, he's a surgeon. Worst cases first.

 

[Taren Seeker]

Grazzt...VERY nice work. The number of times my Living Greyhawk fighter/rogue Spiked Chain weilder has been victimized by mages made this class a must have.

After 3 years of playing the character I finally found a PrC that fit his abilities and temperment.

*shakes your hand too*

*note the Ranger/OS/EWM build is one that I designed and will try out as well...with 2 lvls of EWM for the close combat shot and ranged disarm.

 

[Rashak Mani]

6. Horizon Walker 1- desert (immune to fatigue), General Feat

Why pick a lvl of Horizon Walker before Occult Slayer ? Am I missing something ? Immune to Fatigue so important ?

 

[Cheiromancer]

Why pick a lvl of Horizon Walker before Occult Slayer ? Am I missing something ? Immune to Fatigue so important ?

Depends on your intelligence, really. The CC skills to qualify for Occult Slayer can be very expensive, and the 4+int ranks from a level of Horizon Walker are thus quite helpful.

And if a DM requires role-playing to get into a prestige class, it is better to meet the requirements and gain a level early. Then it is unproblematic to add other levels later on. The terrain can be whatever you want- I just think the immunity to fatigue is the best ability for a low-level horizon walker.