[Prestige Class] Shadowthorne

[Buddha the DM]

After yet another round of playing clean-up, I have reached a nearly finished state (all i need to do is add the list of epic bonus feats). As such is the case I have removed the PrC from the first post but will attach it as a pdf in a zip file in a post below.

 

[Buddha the DM]

Is this PrC that balanced that no one has anything bad to say about it?

 

[uv23]

Hmm I dunno. I don't see much use in taking this PrC. Most if not all of what you have there is duplicated by available feats that a rogue could just take. And deadly strike is the same as sneak attack anyway.

 

[Buddha the DM]

Ok.. Is there anything else that you have to say about it?

 

[Maximillian]

I have to agree with uv23... This is a list of feats that the character could have otherwise taken, and a significant reduction in sneak attack ability. The player who wants these benefits would get the same number of feats (and some other bonuses) by taking fighter levels intermitantly.

Sudden Strike: Not quite as good as Improved Initiative, which could be taken with a fighter bonus feat.

Improved two weapon fighting: It's a feat, but it's a significantly powerful feat, awarded without the all requirements being taken... I'm going to presume, however, that anyone working their way into this class will take Two Weapon fighting, since Ambidexterity is sort of worthless otherwise, meaning that this feat could just be gained by taking fighter levels.

Deadly Strike: This is sneak attack. Six levels worth. I'll come back to this.

Greater Weapon Focus: It's not a feat that can be taken, but taking levels of fighter would give a BAB bonus that would outweigh this bonus in usefulness.

Ghost in the Wind: A lovely name for a bunch of skill bonuses. This is the only thing that can't be duplicated with multiclassing.

Critical Strike: Another feat that can be gained by multiclassing.

Improved Evasion: Something that would be gained with a few more levels of Rogue.

So: You have to be a fifth level rogue to gain entrance to this class. Presuming you want this class, you're not giving anything up to get in (You're going to take ambidexterity, if you want to two weapon fight), except Weapon Focus Shortsword (Rogues already have short sword proficiency, so that's a non-issue. Here are two 15th level characters (I'm presuming your class has a rogue BAB):

Rogue 5/Shadowthorne 10 (BAB +10)
Rogue 11/Fighter 4 (BAB +12)

The second one can spend his bonus feats on Improved Initiative, Improved Critical(Shortsword) and Improved Two Weapon Fighting. He gets a BAB two points better (better than any benefit he would have gotten from greater weapon focus), better hit points, a slightly better will save, a better fort save (but a worse reflex save), the same sneak attack damage and all martial weapon proficiencies. It's arguable that the Shadowthorne will have better skills (especially hiding and moving silently after those bonuses). The Rogue will also have his choice of 10th level special abilities, rather than being stuck with improved evasion.


So, bottom line, the class you've made has no real flavor. It's not unbalanced, but its prerequisites do not force the character to make interesting choices, and wind up giving him no cool ne abilities that he couldn't have gotten otherwise. Hope this doesn't sound too critical, but I think you were begging for some analysis.

 

[Buddha the DM]

After thinking some things over, and talking with a few people I have made some changes to the list of granted abilities for the Shadowthorne. All changes can be seen in the first post of this thread.

 

[Maximillian]

Much better. More interesting. I'd have to think longer about the balance, but I think this is more deserving of a prestige class.

 

[Buddha the DM]

Ok. Glad that you seem to like this version more than the first.

 

[Buddha the DM]

Anyone else have any further comments for me on how this PrC stands?

 

[Buddha the DM]

As promised in the first post here is the PrC in a zip file.