PRC - Elf Diplomat

[Nyaricus]

Nyaricus - Thank you and everybody for your comments. BTW - I want to use your berserker classe(s) so I'd be honoured if you used the Diplomat.

hey! that's the first time i've heard someone say that they want to use my Berserker class! awesome! I will be speaking shortly on your classes power levels, but what do you think about my Berserkers balance? there are some issues that are bothering me with it still . . .

I'm a little worried about power creep.

actually, i just took a good long look at your classes abilities, and i realised that this guys power is all over the place - all the flavour is used up in the first level, the rest is just "bonus feat", " +1 level of spell casting class" or "bonus feat and +1 level of spell casting class".

Lets look at class a little closer, now that i just realised my real problem with the power distribution; but lets keep your flavour intact. You want bardic knowledge for elves only, diplomacy, lots of skills, + to spell casting, and some other appropriate, and courtly, abilities too. Currently, your build looks like this:

1 Elf Lore, Favour of the Court, Court Intrigue
2 Skill Focus Diplomacy, +1 level of spell casting class
3 Bonus Feat from list, +1 level of spell casting class
4 +1 level of spell casting class
5 Bonus Feat, Possible Pension or title, +1 level of spell casting class

Elf Lore - similar to bardic lore but focused on the affairs of elves + 1 each level of diplomat. Stacks with Bardic Lore.

Favour of the court: Diplomats receive their intelligence or char bonus (whichever is higher) times 1000 gold to spend on their upkeep and lodgings each year. Where there is a safe house provided they are expected to keep it in good repair and maintain its secrets, stores and hospitality.

Court Intrigue - Yours are not the only reports that the elf court reads
Adjutant: Diplomats stationed in a safe house receive the service of an adjutant or major domo. This servant also reports to the court on diplomat activities successes and failures.

Bonus feat from list - Duel, Riding, Communication, Position & Political feats

Skill focus: Diplomacy +3 levels Diplomacy.

okay, looking over that a second time > what in the abyss is Court Intrigue and its Adjutant sub-ability supposed to do? What reports? who reads them in the court? Does the Adjutant count against your leadership feat? Should Leadership be a prereq for this PrC?

For flavour of the court, it's too much, too soon. Infact, i think that this should be your 5th level ability. You get a house, int or cha x 1000 for spending in upkeep of it, clothing, food, etc etc. The name is fine that way. Also, you should get a number of servants, in which your adjutant is one of them. And a nice title

Court Intrigue could stay @ first, minus the helper.

bonus feats @ 2nd and 4th, and + to spellcasting @ 3rd and 5th.

i feel like it's still missing something though . . .

 

[Sigurd]

Adjutants are sort of a wash. They don't adventure with you and you do not see their reports back to the elf court. If you are screwing up or unpopular at court its likely that your adjudtant will be asking for your removal.

In the meantime they will take care of the dull stuff that players would never due. IE get paperwork signed by the local government - maybe conduct interviews etc....

They absolutely won't adventure with you because that would endanger the whole consulate.

The house is not yours to keep only to administer while you are a diplomat. Another reason for the adjutant is he\she just makes the running of the house automatic if the players take no interest.


I see the class getting 1 bonus feat that's really useful and one that is sort of useful but makes sense. Something appropriate to a politician. Its a prestige class and it aids role play so I don't mind givine the player a carrot for taking it but it should basically pay the player back for taking the prereqs.

20 levels in Knowledge skills is pretty brutal unless you play a character that wants to know everything. A know everything char would be very useful in this position. If you are a wizard the bonus is you pick up a wider skill selection inc. gather information and you get a slightly better hit die. Everything else is sort of gravy.

The big effect of this class is that you will likely tie yourself to one region for 5 levels and have a responsibility to represent your race\court and solve problems. You will also probably have a base of operations for your party. Instant setting. Since the house etc... is likely to dissappear in 5 levels I don't find it unbalancing. By the time a party leaves this class level they will have the skills to make\take wealth to go find another mansion or continue a struggle against a baddie.

At the appropriate game time, the court will appoint another diplomat and the char will go on their way. Alternately, I suppose, the char could continue the diplomat duties and get his advancement elsewhere. If he neglects the will of the court the adjutant will rat on him and he will be replaced. If he leaves in bad standing - no pension, title or whatever.

Sigurd

 

[Nyaricus]

evening Sigurd!

hmmm, you didn't seem to really address my main concern with this class - the fact that all the flavour is in level one. What do you think about my propositions? are they unreasonable, or don't fit your idea of when the class abilities should be gained (like having that money kept back to level 5 instead of 1). I just want you to clarify what you think of that. Thanks man

 

[Sigurd]

hmmm, you didn't seem to really address my main concern with this class - the fact that all the flavour is in level one.

The problem is that this guy is a problem solver for a court that at least appears not to care. They would get their assiignment and go off. So all the flavour would be in the first level. Perhaps an inspection at level 3 or 4. Or a court summons.

Perhaps something like.

Court Intrigue:

Part of being associated with the Elven court is the obligation to house friendly dignitaries and be ready for surprise inspections. Favourable impressions will win the character favour and influence but bad impressions will harm his reputation in very powerful circles.


Some sort of mechanic to govern the impression.


What do you think.