Would you allow this PrC (Whirlwind of Steel)?

[HandofMystra]

HI,
One of my players thought that this would make a nice prestige class for his guisarme wielder. What do y'all think? Is there any way that a Medium creature being able to threaten 48 squares (actually up to 62 with Improved Combat Reflexes) is not broken. If you think it is broken, what do you think could be offered as an improvement? If there are any other PrCs for reach weapon fighters out there could someone please give me a reference?
thanks,
Hand of Mystra
BTW is there a better way to make tables than the code tag? :\

[h6]Whirlwind of Steel Knight[/h6]
This class is meant for fighter types that use reach melee weapons. This type of fighter would be able to strike up close and far away in devastating fashion.
HD: d10
Alignment: Any
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2+Int Modifier.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: No change, same and the class that the character already has.
Requirements
BAB +6, Dex and Int 13
Feats of Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization in any reach melee weapon.
Skills Balance 5
Class Skills
The Whirlwind of Steel Knight class skills are Listen (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Balance (Dex), Tumble (Dex)

[B]Level BAB Fort Ref Will  Special[/B]
  1    1    2	1   0	 Improved Combat Reflexes, Uncanny Dodge, Whole Weapon Attack
  2    2    3	1   1    Defensive Whirlwind
  3    3    3	2   1	 Greater Weapon Focus, Shield Defense
  4    4    4	3   2	 5’ Super Reach, Improved Uncanny Dodge
  5    5    4	4   2	 Greater Weapon Specialization

Defensive Whirlwind: Flashing steel pushes your foes back forcing them to flinch before trying to strike you or your fiends. Instead of striking multiple foes you can attack one creature and add +2 Deflection AC to you and any allies that are within your reach.
Improved Combat Reflexes: Same as Combat Reflexes except that Whirlwind of Steel Knight are allowed an additional 5’ step can be taken before additional AOO attempts are taken. Only one additional 5’ step is allowed.
Greater Weapon Focus: As player handbook entry.
Greater Weapon Specialization: As player handbook entry.
Shield Defense: A Whirlwind of Steel Knight can use a Buckler shield without penalties.
Super Reach: Whirlwind of Steel Knight can somehow make your weapon reach just that much further. Your reach increases by 5’. This cannot be combined with Whirlwind attacks or Improved Combat Reflexes but can be used with Defensive Whirlwind.
Uncanny Dodge: Starting at 1st level a Whirlwind of Steel Knight gains the ability to react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to even be aware of it. He retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) regardless of being caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. (Still loses Dex bonus to AC if immobilized.) If a character gains uncanny dodge from a second class (such a rogue), the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge (See blow).
Improved Uncanny Dodge: At 4th level the Whirlwind of Steel Knight can no longer be flanked unless the attacker has at least 4 levels of Rogue above the character.
Whole Weapon Attack: Whirlwind of Steel Knight can attack with no minuses by being able to shorten or extend the weapon during an attack. Any creatures within range of the Whirlwind of Steel Knight can be attacked without penalty.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Interesting.. I don't know of any other reach PrC's off hand, but here are some comments.

First, set the stage, I have a HR feat:
- 'Double Up' which has the benefit of treating a Reach weapon as a double weapon, allowing you to attack with the Haft or the butt of the weapon as an improvised weapon. When fighting this way the reach weapon is considered 5' shorter and you threaten with the Haft to 5'. TWF rules apply as appropriate.

On to the class:
This looks specifically made for a specific PC.. I would cut the Prereqs down to :
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Weapon Specialization in any reach melee weapon.

This already forces the PrC to need 4 levels of Fighter, the other Feats simply made it Fighter Exclusive even beyond that 4th level.

Class Abilities:
- Uncanny Dodge doesn't fit the theme.. I would ditch it. If the player wants this ability, multi-class into Rogue.
- Same with use of the Buckler.

I would change the order and effect of the class abilities to:
1st level: Defensive Whirlwind: When you take the Full Attack Action or Full Defense you gain a dodge bonus to AC equal to your level in WoSK. This bonus lasts until the start of your next turn.
2nd Level: Whole Weapon Attack: When 'Doubling Up', you are considered proficient with the Haft. Additionally the reach of the weapon is not reduced.
3rd Level: Greater Weapon Specialization in the weapon you are specialized in.
4th Level: Improved Combat Reflexes: When taking an AoO, you may spend a second AoO to take a 5' step.
5th Level: Lunge: During your turn you may attack an opponent that is 5' beyond your normal reach.

This puts the nastiest abilities at the top of the PrC and provides incentive to keep moving up the chain. Assuming the PC goes the Whirlwind Attack route, this means a 5th level WoSK Guisarme weilder could attack every character within 15' while gaining a +5 Dodge bonus to AC.

 

[Nifft]

I don't like requiring or giving out Fighter exclusive benefits. Two bonus feats in five levels? Why would anyone who qualified NOT take this class? Requiring a ton of feats means that Fighter is already a good entry vector.

Too few skills for a class that requires decent Int. No Jump, Climb, Swim or Craft?

Don't bother with ability score requirements. If the PC can somehow get Combat Expertise and Dodge without the usual requisite ability scores, good for him.

Reflex save seems wonky. Is it Good or Bad?

The Defensive Whirlwind is good, but Deflection bonus is a very weak bonus. Change it to Dodge and have it scale somehow (+1 at 1st, +2 at 3rd, +3 at 5th perhaps). Also, do you intend to allow a single attack on a single foe, or a full attack on a single foe? I'd suggest that single attack is significantly more balanced.

Suggested phrasing for super reach attack:
"When you make a full or whirlwind attack, you can extend the reach of your chosen weapon. Any reach weapon for which you have the Weapon Focus feat can strike foes 5 ft. farther from you than it could otherwise. You do not threaten this extended area.
"Additionally, your Defensive Whirlwind feature grants its bonus to allies in an area 5 ft. farther than your reach weapon's reach."

I'm not really sure what Whole Weapon Attack does. If it means you can attack adjacent foes without penalty, that's interesting... but normally there's no penalty, you just can't attack them. It's a bit strong for a 1st level ability, too.


Here's my suggested version:

Steel Whirlwind Knight

Prereqs: Dodge, Mobility, Combat Expertise, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack, Weapon Focus (any reach weapon), BAB 6+

Benefits:
HD: d10
Skills: 4+Int Balance, Climb, Craft, Jump, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, Swim, and Tumble.
Good Saves: Fort, Reflex
BAB: Full

1/ Defensive Whirlwind +1, Close Attack -6, Improved Combat Reflexes
2/ Super Reach (single attack), Expert Block
3/ Defensive Whirlwind +2, Close Attack -4
4/ Super Reach (full attack)
5/ Defensive Whirlwind +3, Close Attack -2, Super Reach (whirlwind attack)

Defensive Whirlwind (Ex): See above.

Close Attack (Ex): When wielding a reach weapon in which you have weapon focus, you threaten and can attack adjacent squares which you could not normally attack, but you take the listed penalty on these attack rolls. You can attack adjacent foes with your whirlwind attack (again, at the listed penalty).

Expert Block (Ex): When wielding a reach weapon in which you have weapon focus, you can use the haft of you polearm to deflect attacks. When you fight defensively or use your Combat Expertise feat, you add a shield bonus to your AC in addition to your usual Dodge bonus. Fighting defensively grants you a +2 shield bonus, while using Combat Expertise grants you a shield bonus equal to the penalty you take on attacks, or your class level, whichever is lower.


Cheers, -- N