[3.5] Eldritch Disciple Adaptation

[Dictum Mortuum]

This is an adaptation using the eldritch disciple class (invocation/divine dual caster). It is meant to enter the class as a dragonfire adept/druid.

Entry Requirements

• Skills: Diplomacy 8 ranks, Knowledge (Nature) 8 ranks, Knowledge (Religion) 4 ranks, Knowledge (The Planes) 4 ranks, Use Magic Device 4 ranks.
• Spells: Ability to cast 3rd-level divine spells.
• Invocations: Ability to use least invocations.
• Special: Ability to Wild Shape, must posess a breath weapon, must worship a neutral deity.

Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Special	Spellcasting
1st	+0	+2	+0	+2	Wild Shape, Animal Companion	+1 level of existing invocation-using class
2nd	+1	+3	+0	+3	Breath Effect	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class and +1 level of existing invocation-using class
3rd	+2	+3	+1	+3	Eldritch Knowledge	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class and +1 level of existing invocation-using class
4th	+3	+4	+1	+4	Venom Immunity	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class and +1 level of existing invocation-using class
5th	+3	+4	+1	+4	Breath Effect	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class and +1 level of existing invocation-using class
6th	+4	+5	+2	+5	Eldritch Knowledge	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class and +1 level of existing invocation-using class
7th	+5	+5	+2	+5	A Thousand Faces	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class and +1 level of existing invocation-using class
8th	+6	+6	+2	+6	Breath Effect	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class and +1 level of existing invocation-using class
9th	+6	+6	+3	+6	Eldritch Knowledge	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class and +1 level of existing invocation-using class
10th	+7	+7	+3	+7	Timeless Body	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class and +1 level of existing invocation-using class

Class Skills: Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Intimidate, Knowledge (All), Listen, Profession, Ride, Spellcraft, Spot, Survival, Swim, Use Magic Device.
Skill points per level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class Features

• Wild Shape: Eldritch disciple stacks with the druid class to determine how strong your wild shape ability is.
• Animal Companion: Eldritch disciple stacks with the druid class to determine how strong your wild shape ability is. If you don't have an animal companion you may acquire one with a effective druid level equal to your eldritch disciple level.
• Breath Effect: You may select any breath effect from dragonfire adept's list that you can qualify for. Your effective dragonfire adept level for choosing your breath effects is your dragonfire adept level (if any) + your eldritch disciple level.
• Eldritch Knowledge: Each time you gain this ability you gain a +1 bonus to your knowledge (nature), knowledge (arcana) and knowledge (the planes) checks. So at 9th level you'll have +3 bonus to those knowledges.
• Venom Immunity: Like the druid ability.
• A Thousand Faces: Like the druid ability.
• Timeless Body: Like the druid ability.

[EjoThims]

Not too bad, though I think it could stand to use a list of abilities that run off wildshape uses like the standard ED abilities run off turning.

[Dictum Mortuum]

Not too bad, though I think it could stand to use a list of abilities that run off wildshape uses like the standard ED abilities run off turning.

Well, i thought about that, but i prefered to give the prestige an animal companion progression and improved skill list (along with more skill points per level). Also it gives you a thousand faces. So, it only loses venom immunity and two caster levels from a straight druid.

[EjoThims]

Well, i thought about that, but i prefered to give the prestige an animal companion progression and improved skill list (along with more skill points per level). Also it gives you a thousand faces. So, it only loses venom immunity and two caster levels from a straight druid.

Ah, I missed that. You might then want to separate them into two different class abilities, as you can qualify for the prestige class without an animal companion.

I'd do first level as 'Wild Shape, Animal Companion'

Then do:

'Wild Shape: Your Eldritch Disciple Adaptation level stacks with your other class levels for the purpose of determining your ability to Wild Shape.

Animal Companion: You gain an animal companion as a Druid equal to your Eldritch Disciple Adaptation level. If you already have an animal companion from another class, the levels stack to determine your effective Druid level for your animal companion.

[Dictum Mortuum]

I eliminated all the dead levels. What do you think? Too powerful?

[DavidWL]

Hmm ... thinking out loud:

The big deal is that there are very few prestige classes that advance both the Animal Companion and Wild Shape, let alone dual advancement.  (We could compare this to the Arcane Heirophant, but that is usually agreed to be a powerhouse of a class).

However, the dragonfire adept gets invocations at a slower rate than the warlock, so if you are a druid 5/dragonfire adept 1/eldritch disciple 10/druid 4 => only 5 invocations at the cost of 2 CL (one of the invocations is a greater invocation).

So for example, at 16th level, you cast as a 14th level druid, and have 1 greater invocation (some are quite good).  Of course, in a few levels you'll be regretting not getting 9th level spells.  Mid levels are a slight positive, lower levels a slight negative.

Overall, I think it's good.

Best,
David