Kinda late game, what with the Magus coming out and all, but I read a post in an archived thread that grabbed my attention. Someone stated that the Eldritch Knight continues to gain Bloodline/Specialist school powers as he levels up in EK, and no one said anything about that point. The way I read it was that EK levels only count for gaining feats, and you do not gain the bloodline/specialist powers of your casting class. Am I wrong, and you do gain those powers? Or am I right, and you do not?
Honestly, if you do, then I can see a world in which the Magus and the EK live side by side. If you don't, then I see the Magus as the EK after he grew up.
Anyone? Anyone? Beuler? Beuler?
The EK is about at a point where it can be thrown out and forgotten about. And good riddance.
There are a few circumstantial builds that can make use of it, like a critical feat ray wizard, or as filler for a dragon disciple or arcane archer.
But really, the EK needs to be cut out and replaced with something actually interesting. I'd like to see an official replacement for the EK in Ultimate Magic. Something that out and out says: EK no longer exists. Use this instead.
The EK is about at a point where it can be thrown out and forgotten about. And good riddance.
There are a few circumstantial builds that can make use of it, like a critical feat ray wizard, or as filler for a dragon disciple or arcane archer.
But really, the EK needs to be cut out and replaced with something actually interesting. I'd like to see an official replacement for the EK in Ultimate Magic. Something that out and out says: EK no longer exists. Use this instead.
I think that's what the Magus is, basically. A 20 level class that does what the EK was supposed to do. But my question... I actually like the EK as a concept, and of what I've seen of the Magus, I'm not particularly impressed. But I haven't play-tested it, so I can't say for sure.
Personally, I would love to see some feat love for the bloodlines. Something that allows continued bloodline progression during a level dip and maybe an improved feat with my first idea as a prereq that uses character level instead of class level.
There are other feats and even traits out there that do this kind of thing, like Boon Companion and Magical Knack. I haven't really done the research to see if any of the bloodlines would cause any game breaking combinations, but I always liked the idea. I almost made up a Prestige class called a "bloodline monk" that allowed full flurry progression (but none of the other monk abilities) for some access to sorcerer bloodlines (think Naruto), but my DM wanted to stick with the core rules to start.
I despise level dips with a heated passion. They're one of the great onramps to the highway of Cheese.Personally, I would love to see some feat love for the bloodlines. Something that allows continued bloodline progression during a level dip and maybe an improved feat with my first idea as a prereq that uses character level instead of class level.
Whereas I love them with a heated passion, as they're one of the many ways to get the character I want to play with the flavor and abilities that suit that concept, rather than being told how to play.
Classes aren't careers. They're skill sets. You can pick up skills in many different sets with a little study.
You cannot advance your bloodline with Eldritch Knight.
The OP may be thinking of the Eldritch Knight's Diverse Training:
Diverse Training: An eldritch knight adds his level to any levels of fighter he might have for the purpose of meeting the prerequisites for feats (if he has no fighter levels, treat his eldritch knight levels as levels of fighter). He also adds his level to any levels in an arcane spellcasting class for the purpose of meeting the prerequisites for feats.
But as you can see this does not apply to bloodlines, just feats.
Alternately, the OP may be thinking of the Dragon Disciple, which does allow Dragon Disciple levels to stack with sorcerer levels for the purposes of advancing Draconic bloodline powers.
As to the value of the Eldritch Knight, there is a very effectively played EK in the high level campaign I am running. He's got a critical build and he gets that Eldritch Capstone off frequently, which just has spectacular results.
And I think that's the thing about the Eldritch Knight: if you are in a campaign that starts at level 1 and leveling your character up to be an Eldritch Knight, you may find yourself frustrated early on in the build, when class abilities aren't meshing well (although not necessarily--stuff like that always depends so very much on so many different circumstances, like build and play style and campaign type etc. etc.). If you are in a campaign that starts at least around level 8 or so, if not higher, you will likely find the Eldritch Knight more rewarding.
What about the bloodline bonus spells? You still get those at least, right?
What about the bloodline bonus spells? You still get those at least, right?
Why would you get those if you don't get anything else? The default for "+1 level of existing spellcasting class" is you get ONLY additional spells per day, spells known (if a spontaneous spellcaster), and an increased effective level of spellcasting. You don't even get the extra spells in your book that a Wizard normally gets.
Some PrCs are an exception, of course, but only if they specifically say what else you get. The majority specifically say something along the lines of: You do not gain any other benefit a character of your class would have gained.
What about the bloodline bonus spells? You still get those at least, right?
For the record, anyone can look up these rules easily by looking to the left; under "Links" there is a prominent link to the PRD.
Spells per Day: At the indicated levels, an eldritch knight gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained, except for additional spells per day, spells known (if he is a spontaneous spellcaster), and an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one arcane spellcasting class before becoming an eldritch knight, he must decide to which class he adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.
No. You do not get bloodline spells from your EK levels. You just get your base spells as you level up. A Fighter 1/Sorcerer 9/EK 10 will be a level 18 spellcaster but only have bloodline abilities and spells up to Sorcerer level 9. That's the tradeoff for getting full BAB, d10 HD, bonus combat feats, and the critical capstone ability.