The Exotic Weapon Master PrC is just too cool

[kitoy]

When I first saw this class I immediately thought. . . . Jackie Chan. Jackie can use ladders, shopping carts, bottles, and the kitchen sink for weapons. Once I had this idea in my head, I had a hard time reconciling the Rage ability as a prereq for the class. I'm thinking of using something else as an either/or prereq with Rage.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

That is fair enough.

But I still think that the unorthodox/rage concept is a perfectly reasonable model.

Though I don't think Jackie Chan is very well modeled by the Monk class, for what it is worth.

Rename "Rage" as "Controlled Spaz Attack" and maybe that describes some of the crazy Jackie Chan stuff.

 

[Privateer]

Not to hijack the thread, but I always thought that Jackie Chan was more of a modified Drunken Master --- it has a lot of funky, far-out abilities. But you need to replace the drinking abilities with other crazy, whacked-out abilities

Hmm. I think someone is going to make this PrC. Eventually. But it won't be me; I'm lazy and bad at making classes

 

[The Cardinal]

the *best* way to go:

start with the Ninja class from the Rokugan setting: sneak attack, BAB like a fighter, proficient with dagger, dart, shuriken, katana, chain, kusari-gama, and blowgun. HD: d6. AL: any non-lawful. Skills: Int+4

...add some levels of Barbarian, Ranger, and Fighter, and you're set...
...hmmm...maybe you could go for Tempest after the 5 levels of Exotic Weapon Master...

 

[Archer]

Monks get proficiency as a class ability they do not have 3 EWP feats. There is a difference.

 

[Crothian]

Monks get proficiency as a class ability they do not have 3 EWP feats. There is a difference.

Class abilities do count if they are the same as a feat. Also, they mean the exact same thing.

 

[ruleslawyer]

Correct. The Sage has issued a clarification to this effect.

Personally, I think the EWM was poorly designed. IMO, the rage requirement was thrown in to make sure that monks couldn't qualify for the class by virtue of their class feats, since at least one playtester of the product raised that point on the WotC boards while MotW was still in the testing stage. However, the authors didn't reckon on the fact that having the rage requirement would rob the class of cohesion, and that powergamers would take a level of (ex-)monk anyway to meet the requirements.

Axiomatic Unicorn: I disagree with your characterization of the EWM. If the only abilities of the class related to fashioning/improvising weapons, your case would have a bit more force. However, the EWM gains focus and SPECIALIZATION in a vast array of extraordinarily complex and often difficult-to-use weapons. The duom, spiked chain, whip, kusari-gama, elven thinblade, and three-section staff are not weapons that demand an "improvise anything" fighting style; they are complicated weapons that take time and effort to train with beyond the scope of a fighter's martial training; hence the EWP requirement. Believing that a barb (or any other character) can become super-skilled with these weapons simply because he has an unorthodox fighting style that allows him to grab just anything and use it as a serviceable weapon is a bit of a stretch, IMHO; though I guess it's a better explanation for the class's current requirements.

IMC, the EWM has the following prereqs:

BAB +5
EWP and WF in any two exotic weapons
Proficiency in all simple and martial weapons

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

Axiomatic Unicorn: I disagree with your characterization of the EWM. If the only abilities of the class related to fashioning/improvising weapons, your case would have a bit more force. However, the EWM gains focus and SPECIALIZATION in a vast array of extraordinarily complex and often difficult-to-use weapons. The duom, spiked chain, whip, kusari-gama, elven thinblade, and three-section staff are not weapons that demand an "improvise anything" fighting style; they are complicated weapons that take time and effort to train with beyond the scope of a fighter's martial training; hence the EWP requirement. Believing that a barb (or any other character) can become super-skilled with these weapons simply because he has an unorthodox fighting style that allows him to grab just anything and use it as a serviceable weapon is a bit of a stretch, IMHO; though I guess it's a better explanation for the class's current requirements.

IMC, the EWM has the following prereqs:

BAB +5
EWP and WF in any two exotic weapons
Proficiency in all simple and martial weapons

Then we disagree. No big deal. Your alternate prereqs seem fine to me.

I'll still stand by my claim that the way I see it is the intent of the class. That does not mean that other approaches can't work. But I think my view is clearly in the ballpark of what the author intended.

Improvisation is CLEARLY a fundamental element of the class. Is it really reasonable to be able to pick up a 3-section-staff and know how to use it just because you are so very good at improve fighting? Hell no. Not at all. But it is fun and it fits into high fantasy with no problem. Even being instantly SPECIALIZED is fine.

You alternate does not really solve that problem anyway. If I take EWP and WF in Bastard Sword and shuriken, I can get into the class your way. Then get focus and specialization in the 3-section-staff without ever touching one. Do you believe that I could do that, or is it a bit of a stretch? (No offense, just making a comparison)

It is fantasy. Who cares?

 

[Gaiden]

Right - so back on topic - What class combos would be best with the EWM? Had a rec. for Tempest. Any other rec.s?

 

[Crothian]

Well, the power of the class is versatility in melee fighting. Anything that focuses on just one weapon is not helpful, you need something ratrher general. The Tempest isn't bad, but I like Frenzied Beserker. You don't need to carry weapons and heir frnezy ability is great in melee. Assassin could be fun, sneak attack is always good and in your hands anything is a lethal weapon. Forsaker could be good, too.