Talk:Master Spellcrafter (3.5e Prestige Class)

This class is far to powerful for a mere item creationist. I like the fact that you are trying to do something different but I feel some necessary revisions are in order.

First off, the sheer number of bonus feats that this class gives is extreme. Also the bonus feats are intensely powerful for allowing them to be either metamagic or item creation. Most other Item creation prestige classes, i.e. The Artificer from Ultimate Prestige Classes Vol 1 and Maester from Complete Adventurer, allow their bonus feats to be only item creation feats. My advice would be to lower the number of bonus feats and or limit their scope. if you limit the scope of the bonus feats too item creation only then the prestige class could have them every three levels. It you are allowing them to be metamagic as well the limit the bonus feats to one every five levels.

Secondly, the most I have seen a class reduce item creation effort was 50% but with severe restrictions. The Artificer from Ultimate Prestige Classes Vol 1 allows you to reduce the cost of creation, both experience and cost of materials by 5% per level as long as you were in your own specialy made workshop, cost of which was 5,000 gp. Your class reduces the cost in huge chunks and totals at the end a 50% reduction in time and cost no matter where you create the item. If your class reduces cost of materials, experience cost, and time of creation with no limit on where, it should probably only reduce at maximum 25% each. If you also want to break up the cost/time reductions then perhaps you should also put it in order that would be most beneficial to continue taking the class. For Example, reduce time first, then materials cost, and lastly experience cost.

Next, the continued spellcasting advancement for a class that gets so many bonus feats and has many class abilities should be lovered to at least +1 level per two levels in the class and unless there is a reduction in bonus feats it should probably be +1 level per three levels in the class. An alternative to gaining levels in spellcasting is to allow the Master Spellcrafter's levels to count toward the caster level requirement of items. i.e. if a character had Wizard 5/ Master Spellcrafter 3 she would have a caster level of 8 for the purpose of meeting the caster level requirement for crafting magic items. You could even let the levels count toward meeting the caster lever requirement for qualifying for item creation feats.

The requirements for Spell Crafting Insight are not properly balanced. normally adding 50% more charges to an item would up the cost by a commensurate ammount so having this class get that ability for practically free, +75gp is far too small an ammount, is a little unbalancing. Perhaps if it was only for spell trigger items such as wands rather than daily use items. The required skill check for such an attempt should have a higher DC, especially if the ability itself already requires 15 ranks of another skill to function. A solution might be to have the character have to pay the Ad Hoc cost for the attempt regardless of success or failure and to make the skill check rely on a more easily related skill such as Use magic device. DC for such an attempt should be at least 30 and only work on wands and other item with a limited number of lifetime charges.

If you want to keep more power in the class consider making more restricions. Making the character put max ranks in spellcraft and knowledge arcana, something they would probably do anyway, is not much of a restriction. Consider making the character unable to learn or use metamagic feats, losing a spell slot of each level, and/or not learning any new spells even if they gain spell slots of a new level, in effect making them have to purchase scrolls to scribe in their spellbook. Consider making these changes permanent even if the character multiclasses.

You could also make the class have all saves as poor saves and make it have the worst base attack bonuses. Also I think the Spell Crafting Insight even with the aformentioned revisions might be too powerful for the cost. Instead of Spell Crafting Insight or alongsaide of it consider having the Master Spellcrafter qualify as having metamagic feats for the purposes of item creation only. This would allow the character to create more powerful versions of items while paying the commensurate cost for said item. It would also mean the characer wouldn't have to worry about taking all those pesky metamagic feats to create a favored item.

Thank you for your time I hope my criticisms have been helpful.

P.S. you forgot to have spell casting level requirement. i.e. must be able to cast 3rd level spells etc.

Rating

Power - <<<1>>>/5 I give this class a <<<1>>> out of 5 because <<<refer to the discussion page; this class is far too powerful for an item creationist>>> --129.7.17.198 07:33, 1 April 2011 (MDT)

Wording - <<<5>>>/5 I give this class a <<<5>>> out of 5 because <<<It was clear, concise, and well written>>> --129.7.17.198 07:33, 1 April 2011 (MDT)

Formatting - <<<4>>>/5 I give this class a <<<4>>> out of 5 because <<<the Spell Crafting Insight ability should be labeled on the table of abilities at first level, also the bonus feat at first level should be relabeled to Craft Scepter>>> --129.7.17.198 07:33, 1 April 2011 (MDT)

Flavor - <<<2>>>/5 I give this class a <<<2>>> out of 5 because <<<The flavor of this class is overshadowed by the rather overpowered abilities. Bonus feats for an item creationist should not include spell mastery.>>> --129.7.17.198 07:33, 1 April 2011 (MDT)