The third "Spellsword" PRC suggestion!

[Sun Wukong]

Spellsword

The dream of melding magic and weaponplay is fulfilled in the person of the Spellsword. But their choice of weapon is not limited to swords. One migth just as well be a Spellaxe or Spellhammer if not a Spellspear - it is the combination of arcane might and martial prowess combined together that creates a Spellsword.


Requirements:
Race: Any
Alignment: Any.
Skills: Spellcraft 8 ranks, Lore: Arcana 8, Concentration 8 ranks.
Base Attack Bonus: +6
Feats: Weapon Focus, Combat Casting
Spellcasting: Able to cast 2nd level Wizard/Sorcerer spells.


Class Features:
- Hit Die: d6
- Base Attack Bonus: Medium
- High Saves: Will
- Weapon Proficiencies: None
- Armor Proficiencies: None
- Skill Points: 2 + Int Modifier.
- Class Skills: Concentration, Craft Alchemy, Craft Armor, Craft Weapon, Listen, Lore: Arcana, Lore: Architecture and Engineering, Lore: Dungeoneering, Lore: History, Lore: Local, Lore: Nature, Lore: Nobility and Royalty, Lore: Religion, Lore: The Planes, Spellcraft, and Spot.


Class Abilities:
Level 1: Spellcasting progression +1
Level 2: Spellsword feat selection
Level 3: Spellcasting progression +2
Level 4: Spellsword feat selection
Level 5: Spellcasting progression +3
Level 6: Spellsword feat selection
Level 7: Spellcasting progression +4
Level 8: Spellsword feat selection
Level 9: Spellcasting progression +5
Level 10: Spellsword feat selection


Spells per Day/Spells Known: At every odd level of Spellsword PRC, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as though he had gained a level in the wizard or sorcerer base class. Spellsword arcane spell progression cannot be applied to other classes, such as bards.


Spellsword feats: At every even level the Spellsword learns a new way to make use of his martial prowess and arcane might.


Spellsword - Spell Power: The Spellsword gains +1 caster level for the purposes of improving level-dependent spell variables such as damage dice or range, howerver, this ability cannot raise the caster level beyond the Spellsword's total hit dice. You can take this feat up to three times.


Spellsword - Channel Spell: The Spellsword chooses an energy type from the following list Acid, Cold, Electic, Fire, and Sonic, and based on the highest level spell of said type the Spellsword has memorised, he can add a burst of elemental damage to his attacks once per round. The damage of this burst is 1d4 per spell level divided by two. You can take this feat once per energy type and use them in conjuction with each other as long as you have memorised enough spells to use them.


Spellsword - Mastery of Protection: The Spellsword gains +1 bonus to the maximum effect of the following spells: Shield, Mage Armor, Improved Mage Armor, Spiderskin, and Shadowshield. This feat can only be taken at the last level of the Spellsword PRC.


Spellsword - Mastery of Barriers: Whenever a Spellsword conjures a Wall of Ice or Stone, this wall will have twice its normal amount of hitpoints.


Spellsword - Mastery of Transformation: When a Spellsword uses the spell 'Tenser's Transformation' he is no longer subject to the spell failure it would normally produce. A Spellsword has reached a point where his arcane might and physical prowess have truly become one and the same. This feat can only be taken at the last level of the Spellsword PRC.


Spellsword - Spellburst: At will, a Spellsword may convert any memorised spell into a Spellburst that deals 1d8 damage per spell level to all hostile targets within 10 feet of the Spellsword.

[Steve]

How about changing to Skill Points: 4 + modifier?

[Sun Wukong]

Not that I am against the idea of any class having mor skill points.... but Wizards and Sorcerers both come with "2 + Int modifier."

[Steve]

But this is a PrC...and why can't Bards take it, actually?!?

[Sun Wukong]

By design, it doesn't really offer them anything...

[Sun Wukong]

Anyhow... What is the most powerful build you can come up with that? I know I wrote it down... but my mind has remained more than blank about that...

[Steve]

I was thinking that this PrC is pretty good...maybe too good.

Perhaps it needs an additional req. of True Believer? Or, since there are 3 spellpower feats that are Evocation, Abjuration and Transmutation respectively, if one would want to take one, they would need to take a Spell Focus: X requisite, in order to unlock one?

I'm just thinking that, it needs more reqs. in order to unlock.

As for powerful builds, Wiz 5 / EK 10 / Spellsword 10 / Dragonslayer 5? That build should get 5 attacks per round, CL 29.

[Sun Wukong]

As for powerful builds, Wiz 5 / EK 10 / Spellsword 10 / Dragonslayer 5? That build should get 5 attacks per round, CL 29.

Caster level: 29

Code: Select all

5 - Wizard
9 - Eldritch Knight
5 - Spellsword
3 - Dragon Slayer
4 - Practised Spell Caster
3 - Three feats on Swordmage - Spellpower

BAB: 24

Code: Select all

 2 - Wizard
10 - Eldritch Knight 
 7 - Spellsword
 5 - Dragon Slayer

What would you spend the two remaining Spellsword feats?

[Steve]

Definitely Channel Spell, and I can't really decide over Mastery of Protection—essentially +3 AC—or Mastery of Transformation. The former is just plain good, though with Displaced Mirror Images, what Gish really needs more AC. The latter is great cause even when Tenser'd, if you're failing in the fight, you can cast an Ethereal and regroup.

But I'm a AC/Defence > AB/DMG guy.

[Sun Wukong]

So one Channel Spell... I'll assume it is Fire, since I know there is some fire spell as ninth level spell. Thus "(9d4)/2" = 22.5~ It would net you about +22~ damage once per round.

Fire, cold - "(9d4)/2" = 22.5~ (Meteor Swarm, and Burst of Glacial Wrath)
Sonic - "(8d4)/2" = 20~ (Greater Shout)
Electric, Acid - "(7d4)/2" = 17.5~ (Prismatic Spray)

So if you took them all... You should get something like +100~ extra damage on average per round.


Edit: I looked up a level 30 Warlock with Hideous Blow... 14d6 Eldritch Blast with Eldritch Master would only be 73.5~ on average hit. (No essence included.) Thus, perhaps the Swahsbuckler - Channel Spell feats should have their damage divided by 3 instead of 2. (15, 13~, 11~... 65~ Together)

But you could also look it from the perspective of being easily dispelled since your Spellsword already eats the Practised Spellcaster feat all on its own. Thus Wizard 10/Spellsword 10/Arcane Scholar would get caster level 29, and BAB of 17 - enough for four attacks - which might be okay if you just want to score that one hit without five different types of elemental damage that could face various resistances...

[Steve]

So, if the idea was to get 4 Channel spells, then at minimum you'd want a BAB of 21 for 5 apr, and, +9 from Tenser's Extended. So, Wiz 7 / EK 10 / SpS 10 / DsS 3. CL 28. 4 Channel Spell feats and 1 Spellpower. Lower the DMG to 40+ extra per round, and get CL 30. But the sweet spot would probably be CL 29 and +60 dmg per round.

[Sun Wukong]

Now, if someone has some ability idea to suggest or ideas how to balance the current ones, please go ahead.