Zerth Cenobite PrC

[Renaissance Man]

Does anyone else use the Zerth Cenobite PrC from Dragon #281? (I'm running a Planescape campaign, and thought it sounded like a fun option for githzerai characters.) I find it odd that one of the requirements is Knowledge (outer planes), 8 ranks. For a PrC that is obviously intended for monk characters, why impose a requirement that a single-classed monk could not meet until 13th level? (Knowledge (the planes) being a cross-class skill for monks, per the PHB.) Are the Zerth Cenobite's abilities so valuable as to justify the cost?

Sure, the character could begin his career as, say, a wizard (giving him access to Knowledge (the Planes) as a class skill), switch to monk at 2nd level and go from there, but that seems contrary to the single-minded devotion implicit in the monk class (and therefore the Zerth Cenobite PrC). Thoughts?

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I've noticed a few times that some prestige classes have similar problems. Unless you presume that every campaign ends up epic level, or that your players are going to keep on playing, it seems that some classes are nigh impossible to qualify for.

The worst of example of this is in Defenders of the Faith with the (argh!) Demon Killing Knight PrC (can't remember the name). One of the pre-requisites is "Must have demons as his favoured enemy".

Most of the rest of the pre-reqs are to do with being a paladin, and the text states that most members of this class are Ranger/Paladins. Exactly how many people on this board can claim to have ever met or played a Ranger/Paladin??!

If anyone wanted to take this PrC in my campaign I'd simply remove that pre-req, because it violates one of the "sort-of-rules" of prestige classes, which is "don't include as a pre-req anything that is limited to only one class eg Weapon Specialisation no, Weapon Focus yes".

 

[Nightfall]

Knight of the Chalice I believe is the Pr-class. For me, if I want a good Demon/Devil hunting Pr-class, Silver knight is by FAR the best and easiest for paladins as well as clerics to use. True you won't have NG clerics following the Order of Silver, but come on, the SR abilities, the ability to banish summonings AND summon a few celestials to aid you? Without a doubt, Silver Knight IS the premier Demon Hunter Pr-class for Paladins.

 

[Zerovoid]

I really like the Zerth Cenobite class. I haven't used it, but its the only monk PrC that's ever seemed at all cool to me. I don't know why they had that requirement, but I would just use the Educated or Cosmopolitan feats to get those skill ranks.

 

[LcKedovan]

Being the self proclaimed speaker for the 'zerai on the planes. I could suggest skegging the chant over at www.ps3e.com for Planescape stuff. You should be able to check out some of the things there. Keep an eye out for the upcoming Planewalker's guide to the Gith Races!

-Will