Talk:Phaser (3.5e Class)

If you feel the class is underpowered or overpowered...

Underpowered: Give a suggestion as to how it can be brought up to speed and how it is underpowered.

Overpowered: Speak your mind. However, you must also state what level a wizard would have to be to do the same thing.

5 levels?

This is a deliberate design choice. It's too gimmicky as a full class, too underpowered as a prestige class, and it has far too many origin possibilities to have any real requirements. I also noted how someone can reduce the levels to 3 if you think 5 is too much.

I also elected to not use a picture as I am not an artist, nor do I want to tread on the toes of an illustrator by using their work without permission.

--Len Kagetsu (talk) 15:47, 30 August 2013 (MDT)

Why is it too underpowerd to be a prestige class, and why does that matter? Marasmusine (talk) 00:45, 1 September 2013 (MDT)

Because someone would have to burn multiple skillpoints, feats, and possibly meet other requirements for a benefit that still does less than taking additional levels in wizard. The entire design of the class is to allow for any class and any level to mitigate the ridiculous gaping chasm of a difference between magical and martial in third edition. Prestige classes have requirements in general, making it a no-requirement prestige class makes it prestige in name only, and adding requirements results in wasted skillpoints. Most likely in skills that are not class skills for the classes that would take it. I am simply skipping the BS by making it as such. Additionally, if it was a prestige class, people would feel the need to mess with the requirements.

To give an example, a Fighter who wants to take levels in Assassin (humor me) needs 8 ranks in Hide and Move Silently and 4 in disguise. That's 40 skillpoints gone already, and Fighters get few skillpoints as it is. In addition, he would need to be level 14 before he could take his first Assassin level since he only maxes out. By which point he has already been irredeemably outclassed magical classes and his full attack is hopeless after one or two swings depending on his optimization. Even if it only needed 8 ranks in Planar or Arcana knowledge, that's still 16 points burned and he still wont reach it until level 14. He can jump into a second class for skillpoints, but this also shafts him in severe ways. In summary: It would do more harm than good and it destroys the entire point of the class. Also, prestige classes are meant to be heavily specialized and come at a price. The only price this comes with is a lack of access to 9th level spells if you're a caster. --Len Kagetsu (talk) 01:17, 1 September 2013 (MDT)