Please rate the Shadowdancer

[smetzger]

So, rate it on:
1) How well it stacks up with other classes.
2) How often a PC will go with this class.
3) How often an NPC will go with this class.
4) How 'fun' it is to play this class.
5) How much this class adds to the game.

 

[Li Shenron]

BALANCE:

The class is pretty powerful, and that's quite fine, since it's a PrCl. Compared for example with the Rogue (same proficiencies, same BAB, same ST, uncanny dodge), it loses 2 sp/level and Sneak Attack for many more special abilities than the Rogue class.

FEATURES:

The main and most powerful abilities are new and unique for the SD: Hide in Plain Sight, Summon Shadow and Shadow Jump can be very effective and creatively combined with the base class abilities, eventually spells.

Darkvision, although might be redundant with the racial ability, is also very welcome, but basically there is nothing that a PC may find unuseful from this class' special abilities.

FLAVOR/RP:

I think the concept of this PrCl is one of the most original I have seen, at least for non-spellcasting classes. It is a very rogueish character with mastery in shadow-related but very different things and for very different purposes (defense, backstabbing, stalking, travelling/teleportation, companion/battle support).

It looks so special that I would rather tie the PrCl to an organization, such as a guild: to leave it easily open for everyone would spoil a lot of flavor of it, IMHO.

REQUIREMENTS:

Not very hard to qualify for, the requirements simply reflect the base of the class to be in agility and stealth. A good thing that no requirement exclude any class to qualify for the SD.

It seems to me that the Perform requirement was deliberately set lower than the other not to become an extra delay for Rangers to qualify.

DESIGN:

Some gaming groups have had problems with a couple of abilities being quite easy to abuse, but I think a prepared DM can handle them. Apart from that, the overall design is very inspired and careful.

I think a d6 (or even d4) for HD would have been more appropriate, but it's a minor complaint.

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OVERALL: 10

 

[Merlion]

I agree the Shadowdancer is one of the best prestige classes out there for a stealth-oriented character(and some other types to). A wide range of classes can easily qualify for it, and it has many interesting and useful abilities including a few(Hide In Plain Site, Shadow Companion Shadow jump) that cant be aquired anywhere else, or at least not many other ways.
They get some interesting mystical abilities without infirnging on the magic types.
I could definitly see myself doing a Shadowdancer Bard Ranger or Monk.
And its convient for rogue(the most obvious class to take the PrCL) that several of there abilities continue in the prestige class, much as with some of the spellcaster PrCls
I gave it a 9

 

[Chroma]

Long live the Shadowdancer!

I really like the shadowdancer P-class... I liked it so much, I created a whole new goddess and religion in my campaign based on them!

 

[Shadeus]

Actually, I would say the PrC is designed more for bards than rogues. A lot of their abilities (uncanny dodge, evasion) are stuff a 7th-level rogue is going to have already.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

) How well it stacks up with other classes.

Overboard. A rogue doesn't gain any more sneak attack dice (and gains features he already had), but Hide in Plain Sight needs to be errata'd, badly. In addition, their shadows flank their opponents, giving even more sneak attack opportunities! Its hard to say - on paper, it looks broken, but in play, its less ... broken. A monk with this class is more balanced IMO...

2) How often a PC will go with this class.

It depends on their style of play

3) How often an NPC will go with this class.

Quite often, but again, it depends on their style of play.

4) How 'fun' it is to play this class.

Very!

5) How much this class adds to the game.

Lots! If they nerf HiPS I would recommend it to PCs.

 

[Tar-Edhel]

It seems to me that the Perform requirement was deliberately set lower than the other not to become an extra delay for Rangers to qualify.

Duh! Never thought of a ranger Shadowdancer. Very nice!

Very good PrC for all the reasons given so far. 9

 

[Turin Turambar]

I think the potential of the Shadowdancer is great. I have 11 levels of Rogue, taking the improved Evasion at 10th. And I thought that the shadow features of the class would come in handy. So far, I havn't used it much yet to test its workings, but it looks quite fun to play!!

 

[Apok]

Having never looked at this PrC very closely, could someone please briefly sum-up the problem with it's Hide in Plain Sight ability?

It seems that whenever this PrC is mentioned, that ability comes up and causes no end of argument and discussion. Other than that, people seem to generally agree it's a really neat class. So, what exactly is it about the HiPS that needs to be changed or clarified?

 

[Merlion]

I dont really see anything myself. the ability lets them hide in nearby shadows(exept there own shadow) even if being watched and even if theres nothing to actualy hide behind.