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I've got a bit of a problem here concerning the Shadow Apostle Prestige Class from Dragon #322, and I was hoping someone might illuminate me, as I've gogt an evil cleric cohort for one of my characters and this seems to be right up his alley.
If everyone would turn to page 65 in their hymnals... The requirements for this class list your basic alignment and skill stuff. All fine and good (evil, that is). But check this out:
"Spells: The ability to cast 3rd-level arcane or divine spells, including at least three spells with the Darkness descriptor or shadow subschool descriptor."
That makes perfect sense, considering the flavor of the new god Erebus and all. But I'm looking through the core rules and -correct me if I'm wrong here - as far as I can tell, a straight class Cleric from the core rules will NEVER be able to qualify for this prestige class. There are only two spells on the cleric spell list that have the Darkness descriptor. 'Darkness' and 'deeper darkness.'
Now, I realize, if you open things up to the BoVD or (God forbid the FRCS), then it might be easier to qualify. Especially if one of the cleric in question's domains is Darkness. But in the core books there is no Darkness domain, and my DM is only allowing domains from the PHB. My cohort has Evil and Trickery and that's that.
Was the Shadow Apostle intentionally locking out clerics not built with the BoVD or FRCS? I notice that the new spells in the Erebus sidebars are solely Sor/Wiz as well. If they were divine spells too, then there'd be a chance for a straight cleric to EVENTUALLY qualify. But no!
Does anyone have a solution to this problem?
Thanks,
Fleetfang
If your DM allows only Core Domains, then you have no business using this PrC in the first place.
This Prestige Class (being a non-core element by default) is not for a campaign using Core Rules only. Open up to Forgotten Realms, where there is a Darkness domain, or to many other supplements (Underdark, etc.) and you have a viable Prestige Class.
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Ah, but you see, he really really liked the article on Erebus and he's integrating it into the center of his campaign story.
The real problem here is that he's a bit of a control freak when it comes to his campaign (and that's totally his prerogative)... but he doesn't recognize that my character's cohort is, by the RAW, a second PC under my control. Instead, HE plays him as an NPC who has his own secrets and motives. His number one priority is to protect my PC.
Unfortunately, this all means that, control freak that I am about my character, I don't get to pick what spells my cohort is preparing for the day, I don't get to dictate his movements in combat, I will always have a sneaky suspicion that the cohort will stab my character in the back...
My DM wants it both ways. We're playing a BoVD campaign, but this cohort doesn't "do" any of that Vile stuff. The bottom line is that I think he's afraid of what I could do with a cleric who is really maximizing the effectiveness of my Rogue character. I mean, the guy never prepares Blindness or Hold Person...and forget about Wrack.
I mean, come ON, this is basic "enable the Sneak Attack" stuff.
Sorry about the rant, but I'm still a little peeved that my DM doesn't look at the Leadership Feat in the proper way. Even from the get-go of recruiting my cohort.
Sounds like you have a bigger problem than the combination of Core Rules and a non-Core PrC. Your DM needs a little help. The easy solution is to ask him how the cohort can qualify when the requirements go outside the core rules. That way the ball is in his court. Anything else we might suggest is useless because your DM's filter is pretty inconsistent.
Was the Shadow Apostle intentionally locking out clerics not built with the BoVD or FRCS? I notice that the new spells in the Erebus sidebars are solely Sor/Wiz as well. If they were divine spells too, then there'd be a chance for a straight cleric to EVENTUALLY qualify. But no!
A very good point. Perhaps it was designed primarily as a sorcerer/wizard class, but they saw no reason to ban clerics from the class, and added it in as an afterthought without realising that a straight core cleric couldn't ever qualify. In that case, the only way to take it would be to use a non-core cleric domain or introduce a new cleric spell with the darkness or shadow descriptors.
Shadow apostle is a pretty lame PrC. It would be better if they just left it at pseudoelemental summoning spells, possibly requiring a feat to use (Initiate of Erebus).
Then the PrC could have been given some real abilities, or it could have just been left out.
[Edit] Getting a Shadow as a familiar, on the other hand, is awesome. "Me and my Shadow..." [/Edit]
It really does sound like the problem is your DM.
Playing your cohort is largely your prerogative else it is a waste of a feat. I agree with a cohort having secrets and hidden motivations etc... but this cannot be at the expense of his primary role as your PC's loyal servant/ally etc....
Anyway, if Erebus is going to be such a key part of your DM's campaign, it might be in his best interests to allow the Darkness domain.