Formatting got all screwed up--I hope this isn't too hard to read!
The concept: A spellcaster who specializes in the planes and the creatures who live there. Most likely a Ranger/Wizard, but plenty of other combinations can qualify.
Role: Arcane or divine spellcaster character with *some* melee abilities (see capstone ability).
Hit Die: d8.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Rift Walker, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.
Alignment: Any.
Armor Proficiency: Must be proficient with light armor.
Skills: Knowledge (planes) 3 ranks, Perception 2 ranks.
Spells: Ability to cast at least two conjuration or transmutation spells of 2nd level or higher.
Class Skills
The Rift Walker's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Fly (Dex), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (planes) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
BAB: Medium
Saves: Poor, Poor, Good
Spellcasting: Full Progression
Class Feature Progression
1. Dimensional Steps
2. 1st Favored Terrain: Planes
3. 1st Favored Enemy: Outsiders
4. Engineered Spells
5. 2nd Favored Terrain: Planes
6. 2nd Favored Enemy: Outsiders
7. Nether Precision
8. 3rd Favored Terrain: Planes
9. 3rd Favored Enemy: Outsiders
10. Phase Strike
Class Features
All of the following are features of the Rift Walker prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A rift walker is proficient with all simple and martial weapons.
Dimensional Steps (Sp): This ability is identical to the wizard class feature of the same name, and levels in this class stack with levels in any other class that grants a similar ability.
Favored Terrain: Planes (Ex): This ability is identical to the ranger class feature of the same name, but only Planes may be selected. Levels in this class stack with levels in any other class that grants a similar ability.
Favored Enemy: Outsiders (Ex): This ability is identical to the ranger class feature of the same name, but only Outsiders may be selected. Levels in this class stack with levels in any other class that grants a similar ability.
Engineered Spells (Su): The rift walker's Favored Enemy class feature bonuses also apply to the Difficulty Class of the spells she casts against favored enemies.
Nether Precision (Su): When the rift walker casts a conjuration or transmutation spell the next melee attack she makes gains a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to the level of the spell cast.
Phase Strike (Su): When the rift walker casts a conjuration or transmutation spell she can make a single melee attack against any target within 15 feet.
All suggestions, constructive criticism is welcomed--specifically I want thoughts on Engineered Spells, Nether Precision and Phase Strike.
Notes: I've considered lowering the HD/BAB since I don't want this character to be as good a warrior as a Fighter or even a Rogue, but at the same time I don't want them to be as fragile as a Sorcerer or Wizard and whiff all day.
This is one of those things you should avoid. There's very little reason for any wizard not to take this class. It costs all of one feat to get entry, and grants amazing powers beyond what further wizard levels would grant at barely any cost to wizard progression.
This is one of those things you should avoid. There's very little reason for any wizard not to take this class. It costs all of one feat to get entry, and grants amazing powers beyond what further wizard levels would grant at barely any cost to wizard progression.
I guess I've been trying to keep it on par with AT and EKK. I suppose I could lower the progression to EKK or DD level, but I don't want to hurt it as a caster PrC too much.
I was hoping that the stipulation of the capstone ability being activated by a conjuration or transmutation spell would keep in balanced, but I suppose those are two pretty good spell schools to begin with.
It hadn't occurred to me that there are armor proficiency feats either for some reason--I totally forgot that a feat would eliminate the need to multiclass.
Maybe I'll drop it down to two favored terrains and two favored enemies if that would help balance it too.
Thanks for your reply!