I have a player who wishes to play a sorcerer/fighter mix.
essentially the Eldritch knight prestige class.
Should he keep getting his bloodline abilities as he goes up in caster level once he is an EK?
my initial view is yes but I am after some input.
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After rereading the Bloodline section, and looking over the sorcerers table. It looks like you only gain Bloodline abilities/powers/feats when leveling as a Sorcerer.
My way of seeing it is that a "straight" sorcerer, is looking into what his magic is. Why is he able to hurl bolts of lights or fly? He wants to know more about his heritage...his source of power.
The Eldritch Knight though focuses more on turning her magic into a "weapon", than trying to understand the heritage of it. Why should I she care if she's decended from an angelic being, or if some creature from-beyond tainted her blood. She has power.
But again just my take. I'm sure someone else could give a better explaination.
The whole point of giving the core classes extra abilities was to ensure that they remain competitive with Prestige Classes that grant for example full or nearly full spellcasting. Hence, there is no need to Pathfinderise the Eldritch Knight and he should certainly not receive the Bloodline or the Spell School abilities that Sorcerers and Wizards get for advancing in their respective classes.
+1 vote for not changing anything with the PRCs. This was one of the most annoying features of 3.0 and 3.5 that Pathfinder is doing a pretty good job of fixing. In the previous editions, there was no reason to stick to a single core class, everyone jumped into the PRC wagon and rolled off into the sunset without looking back.
Wizards who move into a PRC should not get their bonus spells or special abilities, clerics shouldn't get thier domain bonuses or increase their turning (unless the PRC specifically stays it grants turning which stacks with any previous turning ability), etc.
If a player wants to take up the Eldritch Knight class then by all means they can, they just don't get any of the additional abilities from their previous core classes since they are getting ones from their new PRC.
Of course, my only question is how to handle PRCs that grant extra domains.... I hope we get to the Cleric class feedback pretty soon :)
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Well, strictly, Eldritch Knight should have a d10 Hit Die under Pathfinder, and that's about it as far as changes, other than folding Concentration into Spellcraft in class skills. Maybe another bonus Combat feat at 6th level and full caster progression (including 1st level) if you really want to get ambitious and provide a true upgrade over the 3.5 version.
Yes, Eldritch Knight should definitely get d10 HD.
Spells per day, spells known, and caster level for spells already increase, but they absolutely should NOT receive additional bloodline abilities, bonus feats, or (for wizards) school spells/abilities -- those are sorcerer/wizard class features, not "free" caster benefits.
I would also argue against giving extra caster levels or more feats -- d10 HD, full BAB, and 9/10 caster level should be enough of a draw. We want to avoid a situation where "any caster who doesn't take this PrC is stupid."
Yes, Eldritch Knight should definitely get d10 HD.
Well, yes, under Pathfinder RPG rules it should, though I would still prefer it if d10 HDs were cut down to d8 HDs. I definitely agree, however, that it shouldn't get any further abilities.