Maybe it's time to clarify if Divine PrC CL add to the existing Divine spellcaster's level in order to to gain new domains powers.
I can understand that a wizard that takes a Arcane PrC doesn't gain new schools powers from the addition of the CL, since it's not specialization anymore ( unless some special PrC are created that would match the specialization itself ).
On the other hand, Divine Spellcaster's still worship their god, maybe even more for some PrC ( example of some PrC ( not included in the prC enhancement ) that have a perequisite of being cleric of some specific god ). Then why should they not progress in their access to domain powers ?
Now mechanically speaking, Domains are not as powerful as schools specialization. Schools powers abilities are more powerful in the overall, and the ability to cast any spell of the school of a given level makes it very flexible. Altough you have two domains for clerics, you are stuck to specific spell like abilities ( some of them won't ever be used, and they can't even be converted into healing )
Speaking of domains granting spell like abilities, I'll also ask the clarification about THIS matter.
I've been running the Nightbelow campaign in 3.5 (conversion from AD&D ) for about a year and a half now and decided to get it to pathfinder.
My actual party is formed by
- A lvl 6 Human Cleric of Pelor ( sun and healing domains ) who intends to do the prestige class of his deity
- A lvl 6 Human Fighter, Spiked Chain Disarmer
- A lvl 6 Elf Druid with animal companion
- A lvl 3 Lizardfolk Half Green Dragon Ranger( House rule modified for a total lvl adjustement of 2 )
- A lvl 5 Elf Wizard ( Evocation with bonded item )
- A lvl 5 Half elf Rogue 4 Monk 1
- A NPC lvl 4 Dwarf Fighter
So far in 3.5, they have been managing quite well. The fights are far more accessible and easy than in AD&D. While they had encountered serious difficulties, they never really had to retreat.
During the first book, they did all the hard fights
Spoiler:
Brokenspire, The second group of Evil Clerics and the Orc caverns
in one go. Sure they did consumme ressources for such challenges and lost a companion, but the fact is : In 3.5 it can be done while in AD&D it was unlikely.
So, from the second book starting, we did the conversion to Pathfinder.
The cleric whinned quite a lot about his class being nerfed ( for the domains in particular ), the fighter decided to replan the level of cleric he was going to take in a few levels and continue in the fighter path ( why really do otherwise ? XD ), all the others were fine especially the Druid who at last could make efficient use of the wild shape ( since she was no contact fighter, and changing into some other form like a bat wouldn't give her the Darkvison ability ).
For the skill points, we decided to rebuild their points entirely, but taking in account some skills they had used.
They all were quite satisfied with the new skill system and tended to put 1 rank in every class skill. But also, some of them had the opportunity to put ranks in skills they had interest in ( eg : the cleric did put ranks in appraise and history beacause he was a noble ). This part is far less restrictive in my point of view and while most players will try to optimise, it gives more versality.
One skill thought was problematic but it already have been discussed and that is the Spellcraft check for concentration. So far I have made the choice of using the Spellcaster Ability for those concentration checks.
Feats were not problematic to handle and the Fighter did welcome the expertise modification with ease, saying that the abilities he gained from being a fighter now compensate this.
Magic items were not too hard too handle either beacause they didn't have lots of stat boosting items.
Now for the second book itself. The 6th levels wer only 5th at that time.
Spoiler:
The first opening fight is a Huge melee with Trolls. The party knew that they were going to encounter a massive amount of Trolls and have been preparing a bit ( the Wizard did get quite a lot of fire spelles, so did the Druid ). There sure is a way to handle the situation otherwise than fighting blindly but the scouts did miss thier stealth checks while the troll guards didn't. The result was a battle of 15 trolls ( including a lvl 3 adept ) vs my 7 character party...
I wasn't expecting them to survive such a challenge. It's something like CR 13 or so... But beacause the cleric couldn't move as fast as the trolls they had to fight their best. And they did smash the trolls... How ?
First let's review the Trolls. Basic stats from 3.5, a little boost in HP ( around 80 in average ) and STR. They rushed the party 3 at a time for the fisrt few rounds before 3 others came and then 3 others then finally the 6.
Even with theses waves pattern I was sure that the party would be crushed if they didn't retreat. But they stood still and overcame this. 4 factors could help explain this :
- They were in a tunnel. It sure was large and 4 large creatures could walk side by side in it without problems, but it did play a role as I'll explain
- the Fighter was enlarged. With his spiked chain, 22 in STR and combat reflexes he could place quite a lot of AoO at 18-20 dammage each time.
- the Wizard blasted the tunnel with fireballs and others spells. The Druid did use Flamming sphere ( very efficient to kill a "dying" troll ) and call lightning while in bat shape.
- Lastly the cleric who could use his channel energy ability.
So here's my analysis of the situation, rules speaking.
- In spite of a certain ground advantage and the patterns of the attacks, they couldn't have survived in 3.5 but did in Pathfinder
- The Wizard extra fireball from his bonded item did come very handy
- The druid Ability to cast spells while in animal shape is very powerful as it can stay away from reach, and not every ennemy would be trying to attack what seems a mere bat ( She mainly used spells that couldn't reveal her identity : nothing came directly from her ).
- The Cleric ability to channel energy is tremendous. It heals 3D6 and he could choose 2 targets not affected ( he did take the feat ). Actually this healing ability overcame the dammage output of the foes.
- The foes sure could have tried to concentrate on a target but the Fighter was bloking the path quite well and before they could reach him they had already taken about 25% of their HP.
- in this situation, when you can't handle a foe, I tend to use the Grapple method. But after a few tries, I found that it was just too difficult. The Fighter's CMBT was 27 while the foes only had a CMB of 11.
- 2 characters were taken down but the augmented HD and the new CON rule for dying saved their day.
So the final constatation for now : 2 ennemies managed to flee, the others were slain
Spoiler:
13 including the caster
. After the fight, they all were pretty helathy thought the cleric didn't have many cure spells left ( and no turn ). They also did burn their only charge of cone of cold in the process. But they are all alive ( except for the animal companion of the Druid ).
I think I didn't go soft on them and played correctly. I don't know if I should be amazed of their fighting skills but Pathfinder sure did add a Boost. But APL 5 vs CR 13 seems just Aberrant. Did something really went wrong ?
