What are the most powerful prestige classes?


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By "most powerful" I'll assume you mean the best benefits for the lowest cost (otherwise the higher level prestige classes should always grant the most powerful abilities).

I believe there is undoubtedly a hands down winner: Templar. Rediculously good benefits, particulary at lower levels, with almost no difficulty getting them.

Other very tough abilities are provided by Archmage, Heirophant, Incantatrix, Frenzied Barbarian, Singh Rager, Initiate of the Bow, and Weapon Master.

As for the class you developed, the requirements are way to steep to get into it. Otherwise the powers look to be online. I, personally, would take the BAB down to a +7 (since this could be modeled closest to the Monk class). I would keep the skill requirements, knock the BAB down to +4 or +5 (or do away with it completely, perhaps use a Ref save min instead), and knock it down to two feats.

On your 1 - 5 scale, I'd say the power of the class is a strong 3, with a nod towards 4.
 
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Thanks. A question, then. If I wanted to get it up to a "4" and keep basically the same requirements (which are less stringent than the comparative blade dancer), what would you suggest? Maybe Mystic Weave more often/day?

Or what if I changed nondetection to a permanent ability, maybe give in the 8th level slot? (That is how it was originally).

I just adjusted it making nondetection ("Aheru's Silence") a permanent 8th level special ability in addition to a mystic weave.
 
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Happiest: Unfortunatlly Inantrix's cant do that. Theres a minimum +1 for every time you apply a metamagic feat. Sorcerer/Incantrix's are pretty heinous though if they get all the Illusions they need before getting the PrC.
 


Mithril Man said:
Game Statistics
Requirements:
Alignment: Any non evil
Race: Human, Half-elf or Elf--must be a member of the Fellowship of the Wild
BAB: +7
Skills: Jump 5, Tumble 5, Knowledge Arcana 4
Feats: Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Track, Weapon Focus, Whirlwind Attack


Nasty requirements.

First time I looked at it, I missed the BAB requirement.

With the combination of BAB +7, requiring 6 feats, and selecting skills that are cross class for a fighter, it looks to me as if it takes 7 levels to qualify for this class if you take straight fighter. Even then, you are requiring near total dedication of skill points and feats.

The 'easy' way to do it would be Fighter 4 / Bard 4 (think all the skills are Bard skills), which still requires almost all your feats.
 
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Achemage, for the +6 spellpower is a LOT.
Hospitaler, it's practically 2 classes (fighter and cleric) added together, with just some VERY LOW (and unrealistic, you can be a hostpitaler without a point in heal) prequisites, and a roleplay restriction, which shouldn't be done, according to the designers.
Shadow adapt, Red wizard (any spellcasting class with spell power should have some serious prequisites if it gives complete spell progression)
The old ninja of the cresent moon, Happy it has been errataed.
 

The reason I have such "nasty requirements" is that I originally based it off the blade dancer (which I feel is a pretty near comp). Furthermore, most of those feats are there because they lead up to Whirlwind attack--which is necessary for the blade storm mystic weave, which is basically ki whirlwind attack.

Originally I had arcane or divine spellcasting necessary, but changed that the knowledge (arcana).

But yeah, I feel it SHOULD be a 7th level+ prestige class.
 

Please, :rolleyes: Templar is not that powerful. You have to throw away a feat on endurance for starters and you get specialization instead. Mettle only works on a handful of spells. Extra smite is nice but it was an underpowered feat to begin with. DR 1 is nothing compared to what you get as a Dwarven Defender or the Singh Rager. Then you get another fighter bonus feat at level 4. So far you got 1 extra feat and DR 1 (equivalent to a feat) vs 2 feats for being a fighter. Your caster level is so low that the spells don't help much, not that you get very many of them. Things don't get better after the first 4 levels.

Rage Mage is from Dragon #280, I believe. The one with age of steam on the cover. You get the spell progresion of a bard for 10 levels which doesn't stack with any other caster levels and you are limited to 5 schools. When you rage however you get to use your character level + 2 for caster level and your DC are increased by your rage mage level. At 10th level, when you rage spells do not count towards your daily limit and you are no longer winded after raging. Your spell failure is -10% for wearing armor.

The character level as caster level is what makes dragon disciple appealing. You get caster progression and bonus spells that you could not normally get as rage mage alone or combining dragon disciple with other spell casting classes.

The new rage feats really help the rage mage as well. Extend rage and extra rages mean you can fireball and ice storm all day long at astronomical DCs. Of course a regular sorceror can cast spells all day as well but doesn't have melee skills to fall back on.
 

Re: RE: Arcane Archer

wolff96 said:


The Arcane Archer varies GREATLY by how you enter the class.

My 10 wizard/1 fighter/9 Arcane Archer would like to respectfully disagree with you on the viability of the class -- if he could be enticed out of retirement, that is... the first character I've ever played that went from 1 to 20 without once dying. (Also the only character to survive the entire campaign).

I agree that it's not as gross as some of the newer prestige classes, but never underestimate the power of an arrow that's +5 -- and CAN'T be dispelled.

Also, despite the cost of Chain Lightning scrolls, I think that's got to be the most fun spell I ever imbued into an arrow... :)

AA are insane for Core PrCl.

Though you cant Imbue a arrow with a scroll. Spell must come from you.
 

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