Just cause I like to do these sorts of things, and some people like to enter this prestige class with classes other than fighter, simply substitue the power written here when you get to the appropriate class feature:
Diverse Training:
Paladin -- EK stacks for lay on hand uses/ number of d6's rolled on healing (per jason's paladin focus thread)
Barbarian -- EK stacks for the number of rage points the barbarian has, allows the character to cast conjuration, evocation, and necromacy spells while raging.
Ranger -- EK stacks for favored enemy/ favored terrain bonuses, and animal companion.
Bonus Feats:
Paladin -- EK instead gives a smite evil at 1st, 5th, and 9th level
Barbarian -- EK instead gives a rage power at 1st, 5th and 9th level
Ranger -- EK instead gives another favored enemey at 1st and 9th level, and a new favored terrain at 5th level
Spell Critical:
Paladin -- EK can instead prepare (or just cast in the case of a spontaneous caster) any paladin spell in his arcane classes spell slots at 1 level higher than it is for a paladin (i.e. a paladin level 1 spell takes a 2nd level arcane slot), these spells are cast off the EK's arcane caster level
Barbarian -- EK instead gives a + 2 morale bonus to the DC's of any conjuration, evocation, or necromancy spell the barbarian casts while raging.
Ranger -- EK can instead prepare (or just cast in the case of a spontaneous caster) any ranger spell in his arcane classes spell slots at 1 level higher than it is for a ranger (i.e. a ranger level 1 spell takes a 2nd level arcane slot), these spells are cast off the EK's arcane caster level.
This sounds like what some people where suggesting for multiclassing. Basically that each class has a little blurb describing how some class abilities where based on total character level, not just class level. The balancing factor was it required a feat for each class you want this benefit to apply to and it was limited to twice the base class level (I think).
I don't know about any of that to be truthful. I just saw the EK and thought, "Uh, my paladin/sorcerer/EK is going to have access to feats to the same feats that a tenth level fighter has access to? I rather his lay on hands and smite evil improved."
Then did this. It's small stuff, just to show how a person could gently use what's there already to make something more inline with his character.
I see what you are trying to do, and I think it has merit...but that class does not "feel" like something a paladin would do to me. I would be looking for something more like "Sword of Iomedea" or "Bringer of Judgment".....you know something that feels like it builds on the core idea's of the paladin.
I like the idea of the PrC's having multiple options. I am just not sure I see any of them being viable choices for the paladin. I think we will need to come up with something completely different for him. Think Blade of Raziel or on those lines. That is the only PrC for the paladin I have read and really liked what they were trying to do....though I feel it was closer to what the CORE idea of the paladin should have been, instead of prestige.
I like it, good job.
Wow, I think this makes a lot of sense.
A ranger-based Eldritch Knight does seem like a possible choice for some players, and just maybe some would like a combination of the PHB II Knight / Wizard class combinations as well.
Either way - its a very nice touch and heartily would like to see this variant options in more prestige classes to offer more versatility in core class qualifications.
---
Just cause I like to do these sorts of things, and some people like to enter this prestige class with classes other than fighter, simply substitue the power written here when you get to the appropriate class feature:
Diverse Training:
Paladin -- EK stacks for lay on hand uses/ number of d6's rolled on healing (per jason's paladin focus thread)
Barbarian -- EK stacks for the number of rage points the barbarian has, allows the character to cast conjuration, evocation, and necromacy spells while raging.
Ranger -- EK stacks for favored enemy/ favored terrain bonuses, and animal companion.
Diverse Training does not increase any existing fighter abilities the way you are suggesting increasing abilities for other classes. For example the fighter's Weapons Training and Armor Training don't advance. What you suggest goes quite a bit beyond the benefit fighters receive from Diverse Training.
All diverse training does is allow the EK class to use it's levels to qualify for feats built into the class. I would suggest if you are interested in parity and want to advance existing class features for other classes you should consider at the very least giving up the bonus feats.
I like the idea but I don't think it is an even trade, the Barbarian/ Eldritch Knight or Ranger/ EK would be vastly better than the equivalent Fighter/ EK.
All diverse training does is allow the EK class to use it's levels to qualify for feats built into the class. I would suggest if you are interested in parity and want to advance existing class features for other classes you should consider at the very least giving up the bonus feats.I like the idea but I don't think it is an even trade, the Barbarian/ Eldritch Knight or Ranger/ EK would be vastly better than the equivalent Fighter/ EK.
They do give up the bonus feats.
Paladin gets extra smites instead of the bonus feats,
Ranger gets 2 extra favored enemies and a favored terrain instead,
Barbarian gets 3 extra rage powers instead of the bonus feats.
And currently deversified training lets you continue to take fighter feats and build for them. You can continue to take weapon specialization, greater weapon focus, and all those new fighter only feats that JB just posted monday.
I'm still at odds over the barbarian still gaining more rage... I think maybe scaling back the rate at which they get it might be a better idea.
They do give up the bonus feats.
Paladin gets extra smites instead of the bonus feats,
Ranger gets 2 extra favored enemies and a favored terrain instead,
Barbarian gets 3 extra rage powers instead of the bonus feats.
I meant just for the first part of the ability, advancing rage/ FE/ Animal Companion/ whatever. I should have made that more clear.
And currently deversified training lets you continue to take fighter feats and build for them. You can continue to take weapon specialization, greater weapon focus, and all those new fighter only feats that JB just posted monday.
Diversified training allows fighters to use the feats from the normal progression of the class and allows him to qualify for fighter specific feats.
I'm not saying I don't like your idea, only that you are not trading in equals. If you are trading out class abilities you should try and make it an even trade.