Occult Slayer... ideas and opinions please.

[Zaruthustran]

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.

Er, I didn't get that at all. Sure they think that magic is more than mortals should be allowed to wield, but I didn't see anything that says that they hate magic or can't use it themselves.

Forsakers forsake all magic. That's their thing. Okay. So, they don't use magic.

Occult Slayers kill irresponsible magic users. That's their thing. Okay. So, they kill magic users.

One could make a Wizard occult slayer that uses his magic to keep others from using magic. In that way he'd be like a vigilante: a criminal who really hates other criminals, and who routinely breaks the law in order to punish lawbreakers.

Certainly a dedicated Occult Slayer would use the best tools available to accomplish his mission, including the best magical gear he could afford. Of course, he'd probably first commission a powerful magic weapon and then slay the creator once it's made. And he'd chose as companions those that can best help him accomplish his mission: since the occult slayer is a fighter class, he'd chose as companions a rogue, a wizard, and a cleric. Sure, he'd probably plan on killing or at least reforming the wizard and cleric. But he'd have no problem travelling with them, as long as they're responsible with their abilities and help him out.

I don't see anything in the flavor text and certainly not in the rules (unlike the Forsaker) that says that Occult Slayers can't or won't use magic. Heck, some of the *class abilities* are supernatural/magical.

-z

 

[Creamsteak]

Drow hexblade to OS is the way to go, but only works if an Occult Slayer and the Hexblade are compatible.

Spell resistance 11+classlevel and an additional +2 + Charisma bonus + Occult slayer bonus vs. spells and spell-likes and an additional +2 vs. enchantment spells and spell-likes, plus drow get bonuses to the stats you need for the class. Means, on average, a 45% chance to get spell resistance against spells that qualify, and if charisma bonus is +5 or better you should be deflecting an extra 45% of spells thrown your way. And, AFTER THAT, comes the occult slayer abilities...

 

[Rashak Mani]

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.

Oh ok... still "immune to fatigue" doesn't seem that great. Your DM subjects you much to fatigue rules ?

 

[Felix]

Zaruthustran

Yeah, you're right. He wouldn't go around breaking magic things willy-nilly like a forsaker might. But he would go around breaking spell-casters willy nilly when a forsaker might not. So where you gain a little slack towards magic use with items, you lose towards casters. And yeah, he has supernatural abilities, but (going out on a limb... IDHMBIFOM) he doesn't have any (Sp). Big ol difference twixt a (Su) and a (Sp).

This gets complicated when the OS knows that most magic items are made by mortal casters. I guess you could rationalize it by saying "he's using their weapon aginst them", and that might work, but the tolerance he would have for people who just use magic items would not be extended for the casters/item creators.

I guess the Forsaker 10/ Occult Slayer 5 is going to have to be the vegan of the magic world.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I guess the Forsaker 10/ Occult Slayer 5 is going to have to be the vegan of the magic world.

IIRC, a forsaker can't use supernatural abilities. He's more extreme than the occult slayer.

 

[Creamsteak]

Oh ok... still "immune to fatigue" doesn't seem that great. Your DM subjects you much to fatigue rules ?

And fatigue is something that can be circumvented by just taking care of yourself, or even one of many different items...

 

[Wippit Guud]

Oh ok... still "immune to fatigue" doesn't seem that great. Your DM subjects you much to fatigue rules ?

Sleeping in heavy armor, you're fatigued when you wake up. This would eliminate that penalty.

Among other things.

 

[pawsplay]

The Occult Slayer seems to be a weird combination of AD&D barbarians ("Me hate magic!") and Talislanta's Xambrian Wizard Hunters ("Necromancers killed my ancestors. I enjoy killing rogue wizards for cash"). As written, they seem almost unplayable in a normal D&D campaign. Imagine a character driven to slay computer programmers turned loose in London or New York.

 

[Rashak Mani]

Sleeping in heavy armor, you're fatigued when you wake up. This would eliminate that penalty.

Among other things.

Nice ! Hadn't thought of that one... though most rangers avoid heavy armor anyway.

 

[Felix]

Saeviomagy
IIRC, a forsaker can't use supernatural abilities. He's more extreme than the occult slayer.

Nah. A forsaker can use (Su) all day long.

He cannot use any (Sp) that he might have, which includes casting spells gained from class levels, nor can he use any magic item. So he can't swing a longsword +1, or step through a mirror of mental prowess. He must attempt a saving throw against all magical abilities that allow one.

As for being more extreme... he just doesn't use magic himself. The OS specifically seeks magic users to... slay. The difference twixt refusing an offered cigarette and beating up smokers (and maybe while smoking one's self! ).