Fiendish Spellcasters Are Not Created Equally

[OldManAlexi]

I was looking over the Prestige Classes available to characters that worship demons, daemons, or devils. There seems to be a pretty big difference in power.

Devil worshipers get a super imp and a bunch of class features dealing with conjuring up devils and making deals with them. Basically, they get improvements in the things that devil worshipers should be the best at.

Daemon worshipers get an Improved Familiar, 2 summoning SLAs usable once per day, and a bunch of SLAs that are powered by a touch attack ability. I guess this wouldn't be bad for a cleric but arcane casters are squishy. Why would they want a touch attack? Plus, they don't get full casting.

Demon worshipers get one extra spell per day, a buff that causes confusion afterwards, the demonic boons at an earlier level, a bit of summoning, and one more buff. Again, not full casting. Plus, to be able to use the abilities of this class, including the spell casting advancement, the character has to perform a daily ritual based on their demon lord. For some demon lords, this can be hand waved as being done as part of the morning routine. For others... Lamashtu requires her followers to try to either get pregnant, get someone else pregnant, or sacrifice a baby. A pregnant follower of Lamashtu would be stuck sacrificing babies. Thus, at level 10, she must sacrifice 30 babies a month or lose 9 levels of casting. How is she supposed to find 30 babies a month? Obviously, this wasn't meant to be a PC class but still, it's kind of ridiculous.

Right, done ranting. Anyone else got any comments on this?

[Cheapy]

Not all options are meant to be equally powerful, just like in real life.

[OldManAlexi]

I wasn't expecting them to be equal but I figure they should all be at least good enough that someone might consider taking any of them. As far as I see it, taking a level in demoniac would never be a good idea for a follower of Lamashtu. Of course, this is ignoring the fact that it's already better not to multiclass.

[Jak the Looney Alchemist]

Points to consider when determining power balance between the prestige classes.

1. Diabolists take work, cash and time before they can become heavy hitters. They also have to be extremely careful in the use of their power.

2. Souldrinkers get the delightful ability to use and trap souls which makes them excellent crafters.

3. Demoniacs get 3/4 bab and the stat boost is a free action and profane so it stacks with most everything. The boons are of course very ymmv depending on build and choice of lord. The demoniacs capstone ability is somewhat unremarkable.

[OldManAlexi]

Those are good points. However, I would still say Demoniac isn't worth it based solely on the demonic obediences. Maybe if they messed with the frequencies. Say, an obedience that is easy to do must be done every day but the more difficult ones, like Lamashtu's, have to be preformed less often. As it is, Demoniacs of certain demon lords would have to spend so much time securing the sacrifices that they have no time for anything else.

[Sir Ophiuchus]

Just to clarify...

OldManAlexi wrote:

Lamashtu requires her followers to try to either get pregnant, get someone else pregnant, or sacrifice a baby.

It says "a creature that has been alive no more than a week". A puppy would do just fine. In fact, a butterfly would do just fine.

[Gorbacz]

Sir Ophiuchus wrote:

Just to clarify...

OldManAlexi wrote:

Lamashtu requires her followers to try to either get pregnant, get someone else pregnant, or sacrifice a baby.

It says "a creature that has been alive no more than a week". A puppy would do just fine. In fact, a butterfly would do just fine.

However, sacrificing pregnant puppies which you have impregnated yourself beforehand is considered to be in great taste.

[Jak the Looney Alchemist]

For many of the demon lords I agree with you OldManAlexi. Before considering Lamashtu I'd have to sit down and have a talk with my dm about my insect/tadpole/fish collection and see if it qualifies. Plan B would be taking leadership to get a sex buddy. In my book that is a little too much work under normal circumstances for what you're getting without a very specific build idea in mind.

[A highly regarded expert]

Gorbacz wrote:

Sir Ophiuchus wrote:

Just to clarify...

OldManAlexi wrote:

Lamashtu requires her followers to try to either get pregnant, get someone else pregnant, or sacrifice a baby.

It says "a creature that has been alive no more than a week". A puppy would do just fine. In fact, a butterfly would do just fine.

However, sacrificing pregnant puppies which you have impregnated yourself beforehand is considered to be in great taste.

Classy!

[Kydeem de'Morcaine]

What book are those PrC's in?

[The Terrible Zodin]

Gorbacz wrote:

Sir Ophiuchus wrote:

Just to clarify...

OldManAlexi wrote:

Lamashtu requires her followers to try to either get pregnant, get someone else pregnant, or sacrifice a baby.

It says "a creature that has been alive no more than a week". A puppy would do just fine. In fact, a butterfly would do just fine.

However, sacrificing pregnant puppies which you have impregnated yourself beforehand is considered to be in great taste.

Can eidolons get pregnent?

[Jak the Looney Alchemist]

Kydeem de'Morcaine wrote:

What book are those PrC's in?

Book of the damned 1,2, and 3. For an overview you can check the pfsrd. They're up.