PrC Critique - Gnomish Realist (Illusionist PrC)

[Wippit Guud]

Cor Azer, who DM's my PBEM game, came up with the first viable illusionist prestige class. Since he's too modest to post it here (Hi Tim!), I figured I'd do it for him and see what people thing.

The link to see it http://www.cgl.uwaterloo.ca/~tmmacphe/rpg/aerilis/classes.html#gnr


Just as an addition since it's not in the description, the illusionary companions act the same as a Shadowdancer's shadow companions with a few changes:

- cannot summon other companions
- type Construct (I think we decided that, since figment isn't a type)
- drains wisdom instead of strength.

 

[trentonjoe]

I think it is very well written and thought out but, unlike most PrC I see, it may be a little UNDERpowered.


If you take ten levels of this class you end up trading 2 feats and access to a school of magic in exchange for the companion, the substansive spell ability and the reality abilitiy. I just don't think that is enough!

Companions, in my opinion, are never as powerful as they seem. If used as an offensive action they tend to get beat up and since most masters fear the death of their companions they end up being used as protectors of the master.

THe substantive ability is great. Maybe it could be every other level?

THe Gnome Reality is great, too. Very apporpraite as a 10th level ability.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Wippit Guud]

We were debating giving the companions a limited shapeshifting ability, after all an illusion can look like anything.

Any suggestions for added stuff? Maybe a bonus metamagic feat of some kind?

 

[Quetzocoatl]

I really like this. It has a great feel, and it seems perfectly balanced, IMO.

 

[Cor Azer]

I think it is very well written and thought out but, unlike most PrC I see, it may be a little UNDERpowered.

Thanks for the compliment (the well written part anyways )

If you take ten levels of this class you end up trading 2 feats and access to a school of magic in exchange for the companion, the substansive spell ability and the reality abilitiy. I just don't think that is enough!

Companions, in my opinion, are never as powerful as they seem. If used as an offensive action they tend to get beat up and since most masters fear the death of their companions they end up being used as protectors of the master.

THe substantive ability is great. Maybe it could be every other level?

THe Gnome Reality is great, too. Very apporpraite as a 10th level ability.

Just some thoughts.

By my calculations, a wizard (note that other spellcasters can pick up this class as well) gives up 2 bonus meta-magic feats, and his familiar doesn't advance ten levels. He gains Substantive Spell (arguably equivalent to a metamagic feat) and Gnomish Reality (which I think is more powerful than a metamagic feat). Over the course of the prestige class, the gnomish realist gains up to three illusory companions, which (again, arguably) make up for the lack of familar progression.

The only disadvantage over a straight illusionist is the extra banned school(s). However, the gnomish realist has a slightly better set of class skills (hide and move silently were added, because illusionist - in my mind - tend towards subterfuge and deception, which often require stealth).

 

[twjensen]

Cor Azer, who DM's my PBEM game, came up with the first viable illusionist prestige class. Since he's too modest to post it here (Hi Tim!), I figured I'd do it for him and see what people thing.

I like it! One of the few PrCs that could actually be used in a campaign without destroying play-balance vs. non-PrC'd characters. Of course, I prefer to err on the side of underpowered PrCs and rely on creativity to use the PrC abilities. For example: an incorporeal construct could safely set off a multitude of traps! Let the rogue search, and if the trap appears to be a physical trap, let the construct deal with it and save that risky disable check.

I'm sure that a good group of players will think of many cool things for the companions to do and no one will care too much that the party's missing out on an extra school of magic.

 

[Greyskull]

Gnomes and Illusions

I have created a PrC that is also based on an illusion master, though i made it open to all races.
(It will soon be available on the Netbook of Classes)

The abilities I gave it are different, but i think a gnoem who took some levels of each would greatly benefit from it ;-)

 

[Happiest_Sadist]

The incorporeal constructs are not to be underestimated. According to my calculations, three of those can dissable in one round ANY dire animal, ANY giant, ANY fighter-type, THE TARRASQUE.

Ability drain is an insane ability.

I wouldn't allow that, but replace it with some onther type of companion.