Savage Species- Survivor PrC

[Jon Potter]

It may be that I'm just being dumb, but I can't seem to understand the prerequisite for the Survivor Prestige Class. The bit that has me stymied is the following:

Highest base save bonus must be lower than character level.

How is this possible? I realize that it's possible to have a save bonus reduced by low stats, but is that what the RAW is suggesting? That in order to qualify for the "ultimate survivor" class, you need to have significantly sub-par stats? That seems counter-intuitive. Even the example character they give (and Orc Warrior) seems not to meet that criterion since he has a CON of 12.

I think that the Survivor PrC is an interesting little gem amid some of the dross that is Savage Species, but the entry requirements don't seem to make much sense. I may have to settle for Green Ronin's Autark from Bastards & Bloodlines instead.

 

[Gort]

BASE save bonus has nothing to do with stats, only your class.

For example a first level fighter has a base fortitude bonus of +2, which is higher than his level, so he cannot take the class.

On the other hand, by level 6 it is +5, which is lower than his level, so he can take the class.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Yep. And commoners can take it right away.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Or you could take it at 4th-level, with a Fighter 1 / Wizard 1 / Rogue 1.

Seems kind of a strange prerequisite.

 

[hong]

Or you could take it at 4th-level, with a Fighter 1 / Wizard 1 / Rogue 1.

Seems kind of a strange prerequisite.

It's a strange prestige class, full stop.

 

[noeuphoria]

Stats have nothing to do with it. The fort save 'bonus' for a 1st level fighter is +2. It doesn't matter what his con is, his bonus will always be +2, the actual save may change.

 

[Jon Potter]

Gotcha. Makes a bit more sense now.

Thanks for the quick replies all.

 

[Scion]

Careful though, if your base saves get too high then you fail to meet the prereqs for the class and lose all class features

Personally, for my game I beefed up the survivor a bit more (things like energy resistance and such). For a pure defensive guy he is cool though.

 

[Felix]

Yeah, cool all-defense class, but that +0 BAB for five levels just kills me... at least give him 1/2 progression.

 

[Kemrain]

Isn't that the PrC with prerequisites that, after taking a level of the class, you could no longer meet?

- Kemrain the Confused.