RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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I'm not sure how many people here are familiar with it, but I have a PrC I would like to analyze with the help of everyone here.
It's called the Weretouched Master and it is a shifter PrC from Eberron. One of its abilities is that it allows the character to assume a 'hybrid' form much like a normal lycanthrope. The stats are different depending on which animal the character wishes to emulate and the animal, once chosen, cannot be altered. Sounds pretty cool, yeah? Well, there's an issue...
The 'Bear' hybrid gives an INCREDIBLE boost to Strength and Constitution. Something along the lines of +18 STR and +12 CON (it might even be more than that). Granted, the character can only assume this form as many times per day as he could shift normally but with the prerequisite feats to qualify for the class, the character should be able to make this change 2 or 3 times per day. This is also a HYBRID form which means that the character can still make use of weapons and armor normally (in fact, it states this to be true).
Let's compare this to the Frenzied Berserker (another controversial class):
Frenzy ability grants +10 STR but does not affect CON. It stacks with rage, granting a possible +16 STR and +6 CON at level 20. However, frenzy + rage leaves a character exhausted after the duration ends and can be brought low by a simple calm emotions spell. Frenzy also deals nonlethal damage to the character each round and lowers his AC. Let us not forget the possibility that the character will go bugnuts and start attacking friendly targets, either.
The weretouched master suffers none of these issues and, in fact, GAINS natural armor when shifted.
Now, the Frenzied Berserker also gains things like Supreme Cleave and Supreme Power Attack which are, imo, the true powerhouses of the class. I wish I could remember off-hand what the other abilities of the weretouched master are to find out if they balance. Anyone who has access to the Eberron Campaign Setting book could summarize them here to assist us greatly in this quest.
Note that I am not DECLARING the class (or classes) in question to be 'overpowered,' I am simply calling for an honest evaluation of their abilities. Discuss.
Be sure you're using the errata for the class. As I recall, after the errata the class actually becomes a sub-optimal build. I'll have to check when I get home and have my book...
Come on Fate, this is WOTC were talkin about. In DnD, Errata has errata! :)
Yep, it fixes other things as well, like that crazy threat range/crit multiplier on one of the Talenta weapons.
I check the errata site about once/month, just to see what's what. I keep the latest errata for each book printed out and with the book. This practice is what led me to hate Libris Mortis, which seems to have the largest stack of silly errata (i.e. should have been caught by any decent editor) I've ever seen.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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I check the errata site about once/month, just to see what's what. I keep the latest errata for each book printed out and with the book. This practice is what led me to hate Libris Mortis, which seems to have the largest stack of silly errata (i.e. should have been caught by any decent editor) I've ever seen.
I'm glad I don't own that book. Please reference the rant thread to see my opinions on errata.