Unearthed Arcana: human paragon

[Li Shenron]

YMNA, but I think that all the paragon racial classes should have +1 spellcaster level at every level. Otherwise, a single class spellcaster is always better than the spellcaster paragon, which is not a "paragon" anymore, even if it has +2 in the spellcasting ability...

 

[FireLance]

YMNA, but I think that all the paragon racial classes should have +1 spellcaster level at every level. Otherwise, a single class spellcaster is always better than the spellcaster paragon, which is not a "paragon" anymore, even if it has +2 in the spellcasting ability...

The problem with that approach is the racial paragon will probably become more attractive than the single class spellcaster. Most spellcasters will have no reason not to multiclass. Anyway, it's "race" paragon, not "spellcaster class" paragon.

 

[WizarDru]

The problem with that approach is the racial paragon will probably become more attractive than the single class spellcaster. Most spellcasters will have no reason not to multiclass. Anyway, it's "race" paragon, not "spellcaster class" paragon.

What he said. The Paragon class is about being the pinnacle of your racial type. The loss of two levels of spellcasting is rapidly off-set, particularly at the lower levels, by the +2 bonus to your stat of choice, good hit points and other benefits. Being one spell level behind a non-paragon spellcaster is a cost associated with the benefits of the class, which is a good sign of balance, IMHO.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

The loss of two levels of spellcasting

But of course, it's only one level you lose, so it's even less of an issue. (I think you can afford to lose a single level of spellcasting for all the goodness, including the stat boost. Too bad my current character is a star elven sorcerer, and a star elven paragon would be bard.

 

[WizarDru]

But of course, it's only one level you lose, so it's even less of an issue. (I think you can afford to lose a single level of spellcasting for all the goodness, including the stat boost. Too bad my current character is a star elven sorcerer, and a star elven paragon would be bard.

You're right. I just popped open the book at lunch to check it. In short, it's +3 WILL, +1 REF and +1 FORT, +2 levels of spell-casting class (if you had one), a bonus feat (no restrictions) and the adaptive learning virtual feat, which allows you to specify a class skill from one of your classes as always being a class skill, regardless of what class you take from that point on. You get d8 for a hit die (an average of 6 more hit points for a wiz/sor total), 10 class skills of your choice and 4+INT skill points.

I don't care what class you're in, it's a pretty sweet deal. It's a good, all-around package. Fighters get plenty of skill points and a nice bonus to their will save at the cost of a feat (and the adaptive learning ability is much more valuable to them than the sor/wiz), while rogues get a bonus feat, a good BAB progression and a free martial weapon proficiency of their choice.

Without the bonus caster-levels, though, this would be an expensive class for a caster to take.

 

[Li Shenron]

What he said. The Paragon class is about being the pinnacle of your racial type. The loss of two levels of spellcasting is rapidly off-set, particularly at the lower levels, by the +2 bonus to your stat of choice, good hit points and other benefits. Being one spell level behind a non-paragon spellcaster is a cost associated with the benefits of the class, which is a good sign of balance, IMHO.

Then it is my fault. I simply don't see the point of a "Paragon" being balanced

 

[CCamfield]

I don't care what class you're in, it's a pretty sweet deal. It's a good, all-around package. Fighters get plenty of skill points and a nice bonus to their will save at the cost of a feat (and the adaptive learning ability is much more valuable to them than the sor/wiz), while rogues get a bonus feat, a good BAB progression and a free martial weapon proficiency of their choice.

I'm not sure it's such a great deal for rangers (I'm playing one and considering it). You could get a bit more flexibility with skills (take Tumble or UMD or something else not on the ranger list) and the general benefits are nice, but the Human Paragon has fewer skill points, you lose a point of BAB, and your animal companion does not progress for those levels.

 

[WizarDru]

I'm not sure it's such a great deal for rangers (I'm playing one and considering it). You could get a bit more flexibility with skills (take Tumble or UMD or something else not on the ranger list) and the general benefits are nice, but the Human Paragon has fewer skill points, you lose a point of BAB, and your animal companion does not progress for those levels.

Agreed. The same applies for several classes, such as Ranger, Paladin and Monk being prime examples. For a Ranger in particular, it's a trade-off, especially at the lower levels, where you're still getting good stuff fairly frequently. The advantage is +2 to a stat of your choice (which is, quite frankly, HUGE), a permananent class skill (whose value is directly related to your decisions to multiclass) and a bonus feat.

It's the classic trade-off of power versus utility. You wouldn't be as powerful as a ranger of similar character level, but you would be more flexible in their design.

 

[WingOver]

Human paragon: +1 spellcasting level?

Everyone keeps saying "+1 spellcaster level". I read it last night and I thought it said "+1 Wizard level". Did I read it wrong? Or has there been an errata to where it applies +1 to any spellcasting level? Or is everyone just generalizing and I'm not getting it?

Thanks

 

[Crothian]

The elf says +1 wizard level, human says +1 level of existing class