Winged Elf Transformational PrC

[Angel Tarragon]

I remember a long time ago, seeing a class that would transform one race into another. Who did these? I'm wondering because I'd like to ask a favor of him/her.

 

[Nifft]

Could you mean the Drider / Gnoll PrCs found here?

Or perhaps these specific half-celestials?

-- N

 

[Angel Tarragon]

The Gnoll PrC.

Do you take requests Nifft?

 

[Nifft]

I certainly consider good ideas.

Tell me what you're after.

-- N

 

[Angel Tarragon]

For my homebrew, the elves crafted skycities from sheared mountains using mythallars (Like the Forgotten Realms), however soon after their first skycity was built, the Elven Allfather blessed those that reached for the sky, and transformed them into the Sky Elves (Avariel). So now, I'm wondering if I should possibly craft a PrC that allows other elves that aspire to traverse the skyways, the option of becoming Sky Elves. I really don't think it should be a 10 level PrC, because I do not want the players to pump more levels into the PrC after they've gone epic. I was wondering Nifft, since your work is astounding and beautiful, if you could help me with this?

 

[Sandain]

How about you make them part of an ancient sky elven ritual (epic spell) that transforms them at a cost of say....20,000 xp into a Sky Elf.

Or something like this?

Avariel Adept
==========
Requirements, any Elf, Dex 15 plus, BaB 10 plus OR ability to cast 7th level spells

Level 1 hp d6 BaB+1 Fort 0 Ref 1 Will 0 Free weapon feat javelin (light spear or lance) OR short bow (incl composite)
Level 2 hp d6 BaB+0 Fort 0 Ref 1 Will 1 Con -1 Dex +1
Level 3 hp d6 BaB+1 Fort 0 Ref 0 Will 0 Chr+1 Wing nubs start growing, must customize armor and clothing
Level 4 hp d6 BaB+0 Fort 1 ref 1 Will 1 Con -1 (bones are the same as birds bones now) Wings start growing larger, PC can glide but not fly, Dex +1
Level 5 hp d6 BaB+1 Fort 0 Ref 0 Will 0 Player now has wings and is physically a full Avariel, free feats - Fly by attack, Wingover

 

[Nifft]

Praise will get you a happy Nifft.

Very interesting, and a great idea! In fact, I'll bet that all Elven sub-races could be turned into short racial PrCs. (Take a look at what I've done to Gnomes in my campaign, and you'll wonder why I didn't think of this sooner...)

Okay, here goes:

1) They get natural flight, which is powerful.
2) They start as Elves, so they'll have stinky Con.
3) So, a low HD will hit them harder than it would many other races.
4) Half spellcasting progression -- a nice set-up for Arcane Archer, but sub-optimal for most anything else.
5) What other bonuses do Avariel get? +2 Wisdom or something? (If you don't care, and just want "flying elves", use this first version...)

Edit: See Below for the final version!

Avariel Racial PrC

Requirements:
Race: Elf
Language: Must speak Auran
Special: No levels in other Elven Racial PrC

Benefits:
HD: d6
BAB: Half (as Wizard)
Good Saves: Reflex, Will / Bad Save: Fortitude
Skill Points: 4 + Int bonus
Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Jump (Str), Knowlege (Arcana, Geography, History, Nature, Religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis) and Swim (Str).

[u]Level   BAB   Fort	Ref	Will	Spellcasting 	Special Abilities[/u]
1	+0	+0	+2	+2	-- 		Air Affinity (+1)
2	+1	+0	+3	+3	+1 Lev Wizard	Eagle Eyes
3	+1	+1	+3	+3	-- 		Air Affinity (+2)
4	+2	+1	+4	+4	+1 Lev Wizard	Ceremony of Flight, +2 Wis

Special Abilities:

• Air Affinity (Ex): The elf becomes more attuned to the element of Air. She adds the indicated bonus to her spellcaster level when casting spells with the [Air] descriptor, to her attack and damage rolls against airborne targets, and to any saving throw against an effect with the [Air] or [Electricity] descriptor.
• Eagle Eyes (Ex): The elf's naturally excellent eyesight improves. She gains a +4 racial bonus to all Spot and Search checks. (This bonus replaces the normal elven +2 racial bonus to Spot and Search checks.)
• Ceremony of Flight: The elf gains secret knowlege from the Elven Allfather which enables her to enact the Ceremony of Flight. (Note: if you're using AU's Ceremonial Feat system, this PrC should require a Truename.) At any time after gaining this ability, she may elect to enact the Ceremony of Flight, which requires three other participants who have wings and 1,000 gp worth of precious oils and spices. (The raw materials can be gathered by hand over the course of three weeks in an enchanted forest, each week requiring a DC 25 Survival or DC 25 Knowlege (Nature) check.)
  The wings provide natural flight, speed 60 ft. (good), unless normal Avarial get something different.
• Wisdom Increase: This bonus is gained as though through level advancement.

Let me know what you think!

-- N

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Interesting options Nifft, looks good. I'd like to modify it a bit though:

add 2 more levels andd change the following:

Level 1
Air Affinity: Sorcerers and wizards can learn the arcane counterparts of the spells derived from the Air domain, clerics and other divine spellcasters can cats these spells at +1 caster level.

Level 3
Ceremony of Flight (btw I'm not using the Truename ability from AU, as I currently do not own the book [or did you mean UA?]): The elf gains secret knowlege from the Elven Allfather which enables her to enact the Ceremony of Flight. At any time after gaining this ability, she may elect to enact the Ceremony of Flight, which requires three other participants who have wings and 1,000 gp worth of precious oils and spices. (The raw materials can be gathered by hand over the course of three weeks in an enchanted forest, each week requiring a DC 25 Survival or DC 25 Knowlege (Nature) check.) The wings provide natural flight, speed 30 ft. with good maneuverability. Elves with wings automatically gain a +2 to their Dex.

Improved Air Affinity: Sorcers and Wizard cast spells that have the Air descriptor at +1 caster level, while divine spellcasters cast spells with the air descriptor at +3 caster level.

Level 4
Divine Insight: Avariels that have achieved this level have expanded their minds and usually are more open to new ideas and ways of thinking. They gain a +2 to Wis.

Level 6
Improved Flight: Avariels that have undergone the ceremony of flight become better flyers. They have a flying speed of 60 feet and have average maneuverability.

-----------------------
Spellcasting: Avariels gain a +1 to the spellcasting ability of any class they had before entering the Avariel PrC, per two levels gained in the Avariel PrC.
-----------------------
What do you think Nifft?

 

[Nifft]

Level 1
Air Affinity: Sorcerers and wizards can learn the arcane counterparts of the spells derived from the Air domain, clerics and other divine spellcasters can cats these spells at +1 caster level.

I dunno. Elves very clearly have Favored Class: Wizard. If you change how Favored Class works in your game, this may be a viable adjustment.

Level 3
Ceremony of Flight (btw I'm not using the Truename ability from AU, as I currently do not own the book [or did you mean UA?]): ... Elves with wings automatically gain a +2 to their Dex.

Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed -- if you're not using that, just ignore my comment. Anyway, IMHO wings are the one big deal about this PrC. They should be the final ability at the highest level -- there's no point in taking a "winged elf" PrC after you get wings -- so the PrC should be slightly weaker than other PrCs initially, since the payoff is huge.

+2 Dex is very strong, since Elves already get +2 Dex. The class doesn't need this boost.

Improved Air Affinity: Sorcers and Wizard cast spells that have the Air descriptor at +1 caster level, while divine spellcasters cast spells with the air descriptor at +3 caster level.

Favoring Clerics over Wizards. Not my idea of the Elf Way(tm).

Level 4
Divine Insight: Avariels that have achieved this level have expanded their minds and usually are more open to new ideas and ways of thinking. They gain a +2 to Wis.

If you replace the +2 Int with +2 Wis, this class is overall slightly weaker -- as long as you keep the focus on Wizard spells. So, if we swap +2 Int for +2 Wis, you can grant 60 ft. flight (good) instead of 30 ft. flight (good), if that's what Avariel are supposed to get.

(I'm a bit confused as to why your "improved flight" grants 60 ft. (average) as a step up from 30 ft. (good)...)

Note that my Air Affinity, as written, applies equally to Cleric, Bard, Druid and Sor/Wizard spells. This PrC would be good for a prospective Mystic Theurge (like everyone's favorite Avariel, Aerie).

-- N

 

[Angel Tarragon]

In my campaign I have houseruled that elves have the Cleric and Wizard or Cleric and Sorcerer classes as favored classes.

As per the flight, I'm wondering, based on what you are saying, if at 4th level the get Ceremony of Flight. Then I could make an Avariel Paragon class for those elves who have received the Ceremony of Flight, to improve their flight ability. The Avariel PrC would then be shifted back down to the original 4 levels and the paragon class would be 4 levels as well.

As per Air Affinity, It is going to require a little more thought on how to rework it. You're right it does show favoritism, I will change that.

Anyway Avariels as written in Races of Faerun have a +4 to Dex, so that is why I granted the extra +2.