Turjan said:
Not to highjack the thread, but can you compare it to the legacy weapons advancement rules in "Artifacts of the Ages"?
The Scion classes of Artifacts of the Ages also appear in Unearthed Arcana.
Artifacts of the Ages
Basically, there are Scion classes that correspond to the four main archetypes: Fighter/Sword Scion, Wizard/Spell Scion, etc. Each of the classes advances the core abilities of the corresponding archetype, but is a Prestige Class attuned to one item (weapons only in Unearthed Arcana, but The Game Mechanics, where these originated, have also done Rings and Staves, I believe). The requirements of the PrC are based on the background of the item; anyone not of the PrC using the item sees it as just a "basic magic item". As the character advances in the PrC, s/he gains more abilities from the item (sometimes 1 per level, but it varies by the power and the item).
Like other PrCs, the requirements are mostly phrased in terms of needing a certain BAB, or Race, etc.
Weapons of Legacy
Each item has three grades of powers, which must be "unlocked" in order from Least to Lesser to Greater. At each grade, a character who performs a certain task that emulates the legendary event that the item is known for is then able to sink a chunk of money into performing the ritual that links himself/herself to the item, which grants, in turn, the Least, Lesser, and Greater Legacy feats for that item as bonus feats. A linked character (i.e., one who has the bonus feat(s)) is able to harness additional abilties, based on character level. Least bestow abilities at character levels 6-10, Lesser at 11-15, and Greater at 16-20. However, as the abilties are gained, at some levels there are also "personal costs" to be paid: hit points, skill points, and/or BAB in some combination.
Artifacts of the Ages
Access: Prestige-class based
# of benefits: around 10, 1/level of the 10-level Prestige Classes
Costs: As with any PrC, the lack of advancement in some class abilities, sometimes the occasional need to make specific skill and feat choices, sometimes the need to be the correct race, and sometimes the need for specific class abilities.
Other:
Pro: The PrC mechanic is a familiar one to most DMs, and they have a good sense of how to judge whether this PrC and weapon will be a problem in the campaign.
Con: Adding this option late in the campaign means that new characters have more opportunity to take advantage of it than older ones. Existing characters are limited to gaining only as many new powers as the campaign has "levels to go".
Weapons of Legacy
Access: New mechanic, sort-of feat based
# of benefits: around 15 (your character level -5)
Costs: Monetary and "semi-permanent" penalties in the form of BAB, Skill, and/or Hit Point costs
Other:
Pro: Adding to existing campaigns is easier; more levels to spread powers over. Powers are retroactive - characters of equal level get the same "bang for the buck" whether they have had their Legacy Item for 2 levels or 10, so power levels are more consistent.
Con: The "gaining" of penalties as you continue to use the item seems counter-intuitive.
Both systems share a need for the DM to spend time detailing the item and the powers it bestows, as well as the pace at which they are achieved.
