Power Assessment of the Prestige Classes (A List)

[Endur]

umm, errr, I would modify the rating system.

* weaker than core class
** same as core class
*** more powerful
**** vastly more powerful (archmage, frenzied berserker, etc.)

Also, what do you mean by weaker than the core class?

1. Is weaker: imagine a character that meets all the pre-reqs (has the feats, skills, levels, etc) and then he has to decide between the core class and the PRC and if he chooses core, the PRC is weaker?

2. Or is weaker: imagine a character that could meet the pre-reqs: i..e high enough level to spend 7 feats to become a Weaponmaster, then compare the character who spent his feats on pre-reqs and joined the PRC to a character that chose to spend his feats and skills elsewhere and remained core?

If the answer is 1, then I think there are no weaker than the core class PRCs. And there are very few that I would rate as ** same as the core class.

If the answer is 2, then the comparison makes more sense. some of the PRCs have very costly entrance requirements (toughness feat, endurance feat, etc.). Others have very easy entrance requirements (power attack, cleave, etc.)

Tom

 

[LGodamus]

how are you figuring these....I saw a few that I wouldnt say were accurate.

 

[Emirikol]

Thanks, I updated the frenzied berserker and archmage ( I left them at *** though.


Yes, there can be as many stars as necessary I guess. The actual importance lies in the same, more, or less though. It's essentially the CR modifier of the PrC.

A larger rating system could be used, but it's not really necessary...
0= worthless (CR-2)
*=weaker (CR -1)
** = same (CR = total char levels)
***= stronger (CR +1)
**** = very powerful (CR+2)

The power level is simply whether or not the PrCl is worth taking over a level of your main class that got you there (fighter, rogue, wizard or whatever). Essentially, we're assigning a CR modifier to the prestige class. This helps the DM and player.

If the CR is less, the DM or player had better consider the 'cool' factor. There's nothing like beging stuck with a lame character prestige class AND the fact that it's weak. Sure, a good player can make a 'cool' character otherwise, but that's not the argument here.

If the CR is the same or more, then the player can expect that he's actually getting some reward for overspecializing his feats. The DM also see's value in actually designing an opponent that might actually live beyond one combat. Afterall, a time-wise DM doesn't waste his time writing-up an NPC that's not going to fight..or who is weaker..but with more work

Thoughts?




..

 

[rounser]

Thoughts?

I strongly suspect that your assessments of Magic of Faerun are out of whack. Monte Cook mentioned on his boards that some of them look underpowered...might be worth re-assessing them whilst pretending they're not Forgotten Realms PrCs, if that's affecting your judgement.

 

[Wormwood]

I agree. That's about two stars more than the Gnome Artificer deserves (for example).

 

[Emirikol]

Thanks for the tip on the Artificer. I looked them all over. I'm sure that they're at least average. The reason is because they all get normal spell progression, plus a bonus ability beyond what a core character would normally get. That's what I call 'above normal.'

Any other specific ones to note?

Em

 

[rounser]

So you're ignoring the cost of "sub-par" feats and skills selection in order to meet pre-requisites? That puts your assessments in a different light.

 

[Emirikol]

I can't think of more than 3-4 prestige classes that require enough sub-par feats to make a difference. Which ones were you considering?

Em

 

[demiurge1138]

It's an interesting idea, and mostly a well done one, but...
I must disagree on your assessment of the Weapons Master. Increased crit multiplier, max damage and Whirlwind Attack as a standard action are well worth a few feats, IMO. And don't get me started on the warpriest...

Demiurge out.

 

[Endur]

Following the CR modifier approach,
MOTW

Shifter, Tempest, Exotic Weapons Master and most of the others will be same as.

CR+1: Deepwood Sniper, Foe Hunter, Frenzied Berserker, Oozemaster, Verdant Lord.