Elder-Basilisk said:
Gee, they're going out of their way to make sure that fighter and wizard don't combine at all aren't they. The shield spell doesn't stack with a normal shield. Haste is nerfed. Monsters now get unbeatable SR and unhittable armor classes (unless you've a full attack bonus). What's the point of putting Spellsword in the DMG when the class combo it supports is suboptimal now and will be pointless under the new rules?
The shield spell doesn't stack with a normal shield... but how were you casting spells with a shield anyway? You do know you have to have a hand free? That's why the Bladesinger PrC mandates 1 longsword and the offhand free.
Haste is nerfed as you say, to be less useful to casters. It's just as useful to melee/caster hybrids. In essence, they made the archetype more useful, as suddenly they are the only ones who can give themselves that extra attack every round.
Monsters have DR that may be a little more difficult to bypass, but will be much much lower. Usually 5, sometimes 10, very occasionally 15.
Monster AC. Currently for many monsters it's a joke. Now you'll actually miss on your first attack occasionally. And oh look. Haste gives you that extra attack at your highest bonus, that you need to beat the AC.
Actually, I'd say the archetype is at least as viable as before, and we don't even know most of the changes yet. Prophesying doom and gloom months before the rules are released is premature, and (as I demonstrated) not even well thought out. Just wait and see is my advice. You may turn out to be right, but I'm not holding my breath.
Of course, I can't even count how high my Con would have to be to hold my breath until July...
--Seule