Preliminary review of Prestige Class please

[Ravenall Stormborn]

Can you please give me some help, espically with the Arcane Glamour at the end of the class. I basically want it to function like Ring of Commanding Elementals, but not really.

Sconful Egoist
Hit Die: d6
Skills: Same as Sorc. +Intimidate
Prereqs:
No Familiar (ever)
No Wizard Levels
Not knowingly own Wizard made magic items
Cast spells as a 6th level Sorc.
Defeated a foe of at least his CR using only magic.

Saves and attacks as Sorc.

Special

1 More Harm Than Good
2 Gaze of Hate +2 to existing sorcerer spells
3 Scorn the Spellcasters +1
4 +2 to existing sorcerer spells
5 Spiteful Strike
6 Scorn the Spellscasters +2 +2 to existing sorcerer spells
7
8 Overcompensate +2 to existing sorcerer spells
9 Scorn the Spellcasters +3
10 Arcane Glamour +2 to existing sorcerer spells

More Harm Than Good:Egoists don't take failure well. Antime an Egoists spell is countered, resisted, or a negating save is sucessfully made, an Egoist takes damage equal to the spell he was casting.

Gaze of Hate: Once a day the egoist can attempt to strike fear in to his opponent by a show of arcane force. Doing so expends a spells of any level he likes. He makes an Intimidate check equal to d20+ Cha mod+ caster level+level of spells expended.

Scorn the Spellscasters: Egoists view wizards as weak blasphemors who are born with no real power, and instead tap in to arcane forces via loophole. This immense hatred gives the Egoist +1 to all caster level related checks against wizards. This ability increases by +1 evey 3 levels after 3.

Spiteful Strike: Once a day, an egoist can focus his frothing pyroclasm of emotion in to a single melee or ranged attack. For this attack, he can use his caster level in place of his base attack bonus, and 1/2 his caster level to the damage roll. If the attack misses or deals no damage, he takes damage equal to 1/2 his caster level.

Overcompensate: Once a day, an Egoist can have a spell he is casting be afftected by the Maximize, Widen, or Extend meatamagic feat, even if he does not have the feat. Doint so does not increase the casting time as it noramlly does.

Arcane Glamour: When he reaches 10th level the egoist can choose one of the following forms of Arcan Glamour

Halo of Flame:



Glacial Bracers:



Arcane Mask:



Shroud of Mist:

 

[CRGreathouse]

I'm not sure I understand the spellcasting progression. Would you explain it?

 

[Ravenall Stormborn]

In most spellcasting prestige classes, you get +1 to existing spellcaster level at each level. Instead, you gain +2 every 2 levels. The result is you still gain +10 overall, but at more akward intervals. It is supposed to represent that while the egoist does the have the arcane gift, he's to busy finding other avenues to make himself above others to advance at a steady pace.

 

[LightPhoenix]

Prereqs:
No Familiar (ever)
No Wizard Levels
Not knowingly own Wizard made magic items
Cast spells as a 6th level Sorc.
Defeated a foe of at least his CR using only magic.

Why not just make the prerequisites "Must be able to spontaneously cast 6th level spells"? A Sorcerer who can do that (12th level minimum) won't have Wizard levels. Bards don't even get them until 16th level.

I don't agree with the "No Familiar Ever" prerequisite, as you're robbing the Sorcerer of a major aspect of the class for 12 levels. I'd rather see the prerequisite be to dismiss your familiar than never have one.

I don't think the restriction on wizard-made items will work too well. It's either be completely ignored ("Oh, I don't know, I just found this Staff of the Magi") or it will create major complications, since magic items are essential in D&D.

Finally... why is this a ten level class? Sorcerers will only be able to take eight levels in it as written. Reducing the spellcasting requirement to 5th level spells fixes this.

More Harm Than Good:Egoists don't take failure well. Antime an Egoists spell is countered, resisted, or a negating save is sucessfully made, an Egoist takes damage equal to the spell he was casting.

Damage equal to what? Needs to be more specific.

Gaze of Hate: Once a day the egoist can attempt to strike fear in to his opponent by a show of arcane force. Doing so expends a spells of any level he likes. He makes an Intimidate check equal to d20+ Cha mod+ caster level+level of spells expended.

Why not just d20 + Intimidate bonus + spell level? That incorporates both the CHA modifier as well as the casters inherent ability to Intimidate. I'm not keen on using caster level, but that's my own opinion. You could make it twice or three times the spell level if you wanted it more powerful.

In most spellcasting prestige classes, you get +1 to existing spellcaster level at each level. Instead, you gain +2 every 2 levels. The result is you still gain +10 overall, but at more akward intervals. It is supposed to represent that while the egoist does the have the arcane gift, he's to busy finding other avenues to make himself above others to advance at a steady pace.

In my opinion, if a spellcaster isn't completely focused on spellcasting, they shouldn't get +10 spellcasting levels from a prestige class. It's just not balanced when a magic-user prestige class gains a bunch of abilities and loses little. This is especially true for Wizards and Sorcerers, who don't really have anything to give up besides familiars (and bonus feats for the Wizard). But if you're set on it, it should be +1 level/level.

Overall, I like the concept of the class, but it definitely needs a lot more refinement. For one thing, taking damage everytime a spell fails is especially harsh - I'm not sure I'd want to take the chance of casting at all, what with low HP already. I like Spiteful Strike and Overcompensate, and Gaze of Hate is interesting too if a bit wonky in the mechanic (IMO). You may want to take a look at the feat Arcane Strike in Complete Warrior as well.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I think the class is too powerful, overall. It manages to be weak on low levels, too -- on level 1 you have to abide by the wizard item restriction and gain a negative ability, and all you get is +2 Will...

Wait a minute. Does that mean it's best for someone to take the class, grab a wizard-make scroll, and keep it until just before leveling (so he loses all class abilities except BA and saves)?