What are the most powerful prestige classes?

[ruleslawyer]

Someone mentioned the Weaponmaster PrC from Sword & Fist, and although I think it wasn't repeated by anyone else, I'd like to ask ... really? I recall when thumbing through the PrC that it seemed merely 'average' to me. Some bonuses here and there, but nothing that magic items of an appropriate level couldn't duplicate or improve on by itself.

The weapon master is no way overpowered.

In fact, there are few enough fighter-type PrCs that are overpowered. I'd say that the only ones that I've seen that scare me are the OA classes: The singh rager, the daidoji bodyguard (that one is *really* hideous), and the kishi charger, which is exactly like a cavalier but better. The witch hunter is pretty bad as well, given its easy combination with other classes coupled with the divine grace... err, kami's grace ability.

 

[ArcOfCorinth]

No one's said Assassin. You throw it together with some Shadowdancer and you're deadly stuff.

 

[Berk]

Speaking of dancing, how about the Spelldancer?

I've always wanted to make a dwarven Spelldancer with a toad familar to make Ghostform Persistent at no cost...

Half way through the second page and someone finally mentions spelldancer. Forget about all the other classes. Want a character with all the buff spells lasting a lifetime? Get a spelldancer. Want 100 in all ability scores? Get a spelldancer. Spelldancer is the most powerful and broken PrC there is hands down.

 

[Wippit Guud]

Disciple of Mephistopheles!

Oh, wait, no one is talking about BoVD... never mind...

 

[LuYangShih]

Well, a few classes are very persistent in almost everyones choices here. My question is, why and how are such PrCs allowed to come into existence in official WoTC products? You'd think they'd be at least tested somewhat, and failing that, in many cases you can simply eyeball the class and see flaws. But many PrCs flat out fail to be balanced and become overpowered. And if anything, the problem has become excarbated (sp?) over the last few books.

 

[Azure Trance]

Some are campaign-centric. Forgotten Realms, and Oriental Adventures, is high-magic, and their prestige classes show that (Archmage, Heirophant)

 

[mseds99]

Only one option.

Oozemaster!!!

followed closely by the gnome tinkerer.


Seriously, Spelldancer is THE most powerful class, though the Red Wizard/Archmage combo isn't too far behind.. Almost any prestige class that has regular spell advancement is powerful. Heck, the master alchemist can rock the house if put in the right campaign and situation.

 

[ashockney]

Someone mentioned the Weaponmaster PrC from Sword & Fist, and although I think it wasn't repeated by anyone else, I'd like to ask ... really? I recall when thumbing through the PrC that it seemed merely 'average' to me. Some bonuses here and there, but nothing that magic items of an appropriate level couldn't duplicate or improve on by itself.

Whirlwind Attack as a Standard Action
Maximum Damage
Increased Crit/Threat Range

Combine the thee with a keen vorpal scimitar.

 

[hong]

Whirlwind Attack as a Standard Action
Maximum Damage
Increased Crit/Threat Range

Combine the thee with a keen vorpal scimitar.

Maximum damage and increased crit multiplier are rather pointless when used with vorpal. If anything, your combo points to vorpal being broken, rather than the weapon master.