Weapon Master Prestige Class (3.0)

[Ogrork the Mighty]

To my knowledge, the Weapon Master prestige class from Sword & Fist (3.0) was never updated to 3.5. Is there a reason why? Was it unbalanced? I'm running a 3.5 game and someone wants to use it.

The ki damage, increased multiplier, superior weapon focus, and superior combat reflexes all seem okay.

The ki critical is pretty powerful but on it's own probably doesn't break the class (especially if you don't let it stack with other things that increase the threat range).

The ki whirlwind lets you use the Whirlwind feat as a standard action rather than a full action. That's pretty good. Maybe too good.

Thoughts?

 

[Whimsical]

I have created a prestige class for a player whose character was specialized with the greatsword. You can read it here. It's pretty powerful, but a character does need to be 11th level before entering the class.

Since then, I realized that there should be no weapon master prestige class, because the Fighter class should be the weapon master base class. If I was do do what I did again, I would instead create feats where you need to be BAB +15 or Fighter 18 or greater weapon specialization to acquire.

To find high level weapon mastery feats and abilities that already exist, check out the Player's Handbook II, Book of Nine Swords, Iron Heroes, and the Player's Guide to Arcanis. You can also break up the Weapon Master prestige class into a bunch of feats.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Thanks, but I'm more interested in finding out what people think about the 3.0 Weapon Master prestige class.

 

[Whimsical]

Well, Okay. Now that I got my "but Fighter is already the Weapon Master" disclaimer out there.

I have played a 22 level crit monster that had all ten levels of the Weapon Master prestige class years ago in 3.0. Lots of fun. Lots of damage. Lots of dice rolling! With a full attack, I simutaneously rolled a d20 for each of my attacks along with another matched set of d20s to confirm any possible criticals.

Ki critical is unbalanced in regards to x3 & x4 crit weapons vs. 19-20 & 18-20 crit weapons. The x3 & x4 weapons will get double the DPS increase that a 19-20 & 18-20 weapon would from this ability. Something that I took advantage of with my scythe-specialized crit monster.

Either have Ki critical do another D&D "doubling" of the crit range, or replace it with another ability. Such as a chance to stagger or daze an opponent that you successfully critically hit for a round.

Ki whirlwind didn't come into play too often since our opponents tended to be Large or larger in the upper teen levels. In these cases, I tended to not be able to threaten more than one opponent. Sometimes, I would get lucky and be able to strike two opponents with Ki whirlwind.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I don't think it's unbalanced to get +2 threat range from a 10-level class devoted to a single weapon... What level is it gained at? If it's early, just raise it to higher level. If someone wants to go 6+ levels deep just for that...more power to them. As for Whirlwind as a standard action, Warblades can already do that, AND get a bonus on the attack rolls, AND don't need to spend half a dozen feats to do so. (I'm refering to the Mithral Tornado and Adamantine Hurricane maneuvers, of course). I remember they can x times per day do fun things like up the crit multiplier after succeeding in critting and add wis bonus to aoo's per round, too, I think. It's been a while since I saw it, but I always loved the class and (along with deepwood sniper and lasher) am shocked and appalled it never got updated. I may be biased though, since my general outlook on balance amounts to: "If the full casters and tome of battle guys are still more powerful, sure. I'll allow it."

 

[pawsplay]

Thanks, but I'm more interested in finding out what people think about the 3.0 Weapon Master prestige class.

I try not to. It's not hugely unbalanced, but in everything that it actually does, it is unbalanced. It's the Iron Mind of 3.0.