powerful new feats from Complete Mage

[Nonlethal Force]

Doesn't it require MWP: All? I forget. If so, you can't get that with a feat and have to take a class that offers them all, which typically shorts you a spellcasting level.

Nope. From the book:

Special: Must be proficient with at least one martial weapon

 

[Nonlethal Force]

A couple other items of note: Abjurant Champion is a full-BAB, full-casting-progression, d10 HD prestige class with some nice class abilities. Prerequisites aren't too bad: BAB +5, combat casting, proficiency with one martial weapon. The BAB requirement probably makes it a second prestige class rather than a first, though.

There's also a sorcerer variant that could work well with it. You lose one spell known, but you get +2hp per sorcerer level and martial weapon proficiency plus weapon focus with a melee weapon of your choice.

Don't forget about the battle sorcerer variant in UA. That also gives a free martial weapon proficiency. It increases the HD rather than giving bonus HP, but in the long run that's not a big difference.

The main difference between the CM and UA variants is that the CM only loses one spell of their top level whereas the UA version loses on spell of every level. But then again, the UA variant can wear light armor without spell failure, too! I like the UA version better. I'm not sure it works as well with the Abjurant Champion because you'd really only be able to use the benefit on shield bonuses since the UA variant would likely be wearing armor. However, it still could be quite functional.

 

[Shadeus]

So...elves get that for free. And it costs them Combat Casting to qualify for the prestige class (plus the BAB).

 

[satori01]

So...elves get that for free. And it costs them Combat Casting to qualify for the prestige class (plus the BAB).

Yepper, the HD boost alone is very tempting. The PrC also has some interesting synergies with the Argent Savant. A character that takes all 5 levels of Abjurant Champion and 2 levels of Argent Savant would have armor bonus of +11 when using Mage Armor. 4 for the spell, +2 from Force Armor of the Argent Savant and +5 for the levels of Abjurant Champion via the Abjurant Armor PrC ability.

 

[Thanee]

Also nice with Human Paragon.

Don't think it's much of a problem, though. Either you need to be ~10th level to qualify for the BAB, or you are not a primary caster. The benefits seem alright and not game-breaking, especially at higher levels.

Bye
Thanee