Contributor
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Hi,
So, for the Divine Scion PrC from Inner Sea Magic, it states for the 3rd level "Domain Specialization" ability:
In addition, each domain specialization grants a spell-like ability (which functions at a caster level equal to the divine scion’s total character level) and a permanent sacred bonus (or profane, if the divine scion is evil) on a single type of d20 roll."
Does this mean that an Inquisitor who has chosen to take an Inquisition instead of a Domain completely loses the healing benefit, but still gets the spell-like ability / d20 bonus?
Thanks very much!
The wording is not clear. After all, oracles and rangers can choose this PrC too. I guess that you can choose an all-new domain if you had not one before, treating your DS level as your cleric level.
If you are an inquisitor and specialize in an inquisition you already had, yes, I think it goes as you said. But if you choose an all-new domain, you should have the domain spells (and therefore the healing benefit).
Although most divine scions pick domains that they’ve gained from other classes (such as cleric), they don’t have to do so.
This pretty clearly means a Scion does not have to select a Domain he or she currently possesses. Without access to a Domain, though, you cannot cast domain spells. In such situations yes, you would miss out on the healing provided by this ability.
There's not really anything to debate with this one; not all Prestige Classes are ideal for specific builds, after all.
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Contributor
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But if you choose an all-new domain, you should have the domain spells (and therefore the healing benefit).
That's the part that I'm really not sure about. If it said it had to be one you already took, I'd be 100% with Heaven's Agent's post above.
"Although most divine scions pick domains that they’ve gained from other classes (such as cleric), they don’t have to do so."
Yea, I'd love to interpret it as you do Bardess, but it's close enough to being ambiguous that I felt like asking here...
But if you choose an all-new domain, you should have the domain spells (and therefore the healing benefit).
Specializing in a Domain that you do not currently have access to does not grant access to the selected Domain.
An Inquisition-build Inquisitor of Sarenrae, for example, could select the Fire Domain as his specialization. That said, this would not grant him access to the Domain itself; this would not grant the Inquisitor access to that Domain's spells or abilities.
Inquisitors don't get Domain Spells anyway, even if he picks a domain instead of an inquisition.
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Contributor
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One flaw in your logic, Heaven's Agent and Quantum Steve - once the PC is a Divine Scion, they're no longer taking levels on Inquisitor/whatever. The Divine Scion, by the RAW, seems to get access to Domain Spells (or else why would the class mention "casts a domain spell from her specialized domain" ?)
Although most divine scions pick domains that they’ve gained from other classes (such as cleric), they don’t have to do so. Every time a divine scion casts a domain spell from her specialized domain, she heals damage equal to twice the spell’s level.
It just seems odd to me that the PrC would specifically say that you could specialize in a domain other than one you previously had, and get healing when you cast a spell from said domain-that-you-didn't-have-before, unless that implied that you gained access to those domain spells...
It's confusing, yes, which is why I brought it up...and the more I look at it the more I agree with Bardess - but I'd certainly prefer it if an official ruling came down on it, so to speak.
One flaw in your logic, Heaven's Agent and Quantum Steve - once the PC is a Divine Scion, they're no longer taking levels on Inquisitor/whatever. The Divine Scion, by the RAW, seems to get access to Domain Spells (or else why would the class mention "casts a domain spell from her specialized domain" ?)
There's no flaw in my logic. The Divine Scion neither gains access to Domains nor progresses in them. That's not what the PrC is about. That said, most Scions will have access to both Domains and Domain spells from prior class levels.
If they have access to one or more Domains (which most -- but not all -- do), and if such a domain is selected as the character's Specialization choice (which most -- but not all -- do), then the Scion receives a healing benefit when casting spells from the specialized Domain. If these conditions are not met, the healing is not received. The situation is fairly straightforward, and there's not really anything to question.
It just seems odd to me that the PrC would specifically say that you could specialize in a domain other than one you previously had, and get healing when you cast a spell from said domain-that-you-didn't-have-before, unless that implied that you gained access to those domain spells...
It doesn't say this. You are combining two separate sentences into a single meaning.
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Contributor
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It just seems odd to me that the PrC would specifically say that you could specialize in a domain other than one you previously had, and get healing when you cast a spell from said domain-that-you-didn't-have-before, unless that implied that you gained access to those domain spells...It doesn't say this. You are combining two separate sentences into a single meaning.
Very good point - I was reading them as part of the same thought and not as two separate sentences saying two different things. That in and of itself might be the source of my initial confusion right there.
I still think it seems odd that the PrC would allow you to specialize in a domain if you might not have any (Paladin, Inquisitor, etc).
I still think it seems odd that the PrC would allow you to specialize in a domain if you might not have any (Paladin, Inquisitor, etc).
I think the reason this may seem odd is that you are not fully understanding what this PrC represents.
The Divine Scion is the living embodiment of an aspect of a deity's portfolio. The Specialization ability simply serves to identify this aspect and grant power based on what it represents. In the game these aspects are represented by cleric Domains, which is why they are utilized for this purpose.
A Divine Scion of Sarenrae, for example, does not need to have access to the Fire Domain in order to embody the Dawnflower's righteous and redeeming, but sometimes unforgiving, flame. It represents the character's outlook and how the goddess is served. The class draws power from a specific aspect of a deity's portfolio, not from a Domain granted by that deity.