Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Perseus_Stoned 04-29-07, 06:56 PM	Is there any reason why a Blade Bravo needs "Weapon Focus (rapier)" to access the prestige class? It doesn't use a specified weapon for any of its special abilities..
Lotus Crane 04-29-07, 07:38 PM	Weapon Focus is typically considered an underpowered feat (though perhaps not so much as Toughness or Combat Casting), and part of the theory behind PrC design is that the more powerful a PrC is, the more useless prerequisites it should require.
Perseus_Stoned 04-29-07, 07:56 PM	Weapon Focus is typically considered an underpowered feat (though perhaps not so much as Toughness or Combat Casting), and part of the theory behind PrC design is that the more powerful a PrC is, the more useless prerequisites it should require. I can understand that, but why a rapier? Why not just require it for a certain type of weapon?
bobothechimp 04-29-07, 10:03 PM	Read the first sentence in the description of the class. Ta-dah.
Shadowhowler 04-29-07, 10:07 PM	I thought the Rapier requirement was questionable as well. I would allow and 'Finesseble' bladed weapon for the PrC in a Gnome player of mine was intrested. Blade Bravo didn't seem to me like an overpowered PrC by any means.
Perseus_Stoned 04-30-07, 12:57 AM	Read the first sentence in the description of the class. Ta-dah. That addresses my question as well as saying, "Read the last feat in the required feats section". I thought the Rapier requirement was questionable as well. I would allow and 'Finesseble' bladed weapon for the PrC in a Gnome player of mine was intrested. Blade Bravo didn't seem to me like an overpowered PrC by any means. The strange thing is, with the exception of a few bonus feats (not all of them, so it would still be optional) the blade bravo could be using a giant warhammer or the like and suffer no class ability repercussions. The only requirement for the abilities is light or no armor; hell it looks like a decent prestige class for a gnome monk to dip into (note: decent, not optimized).
bobothechimp 04-30-07, 01:16 AM	Younger gnomes consider it fashionable to engage in rapier duels for honor and glory. That seems to explain why a Blade Bravo needs "Weapon Focus (rapier)" to access the prestige class.
Perseus_Stoned 04-30-07, 01:25 AM	That seems to explain why a Blade Bravo needs "Weapon Focus (rapier)" to access the prestige class. Fair enough, but I think you're missing the point of what I'm trying to say. No where is it commonly accepted knowledge that gnomes do that, the only bit they mention it is for this prestige class (and maybe a bit in the gnome section on top; which is meant to lead into this prestige class). It could just as easily have been "daggers" or "shurikens" (although I imagine it might be a bit harder to deal with throwing weapons ;); the thing is none of the "Blade Bravo's" abilities take advantage of a rapier (again with the exception of optional bonus feats) and so there really isn't much flavor there. It could just as easily have been "slashing" weapons or (as "Shadowhowler" pointed out) finesseable weapons. Hell, it could be spears or halbreds. It seems like a pitiful attempt to throw a bit of flavor into a class that doesn't really follow through beyond a simple requirement. The point I made about your post was, just as one of the feat requirements ("Weapon Focus (Rapier)") could be made into "Weapon Focus (anything)", so could that sentence be "Younger gnomes consider it fashionable to engage in melee duels for honor and glory." Tah-dah, just as much flavor, but now no flimsy weapon requirement. Allows for a bit more flexibility; particularly flexibility that wasn't really enforced beyond a feat requirement.
bobothechimp 04-30-07, 01:40 AM	Why don't you just change the Hammer of Moradin to the Axe of Moradin while you're at it? Change a Bladesinger to a Daggersinger? Change Exotic Weapon Master to Martial Weapon master? Change Order of the Bow Initiate to Order of the Crossbow Initiate? Just as much flavor, isn't it?
FabulousRex 04-30-07, 10:07 AM	I agree, it's not like alot of those classes won't function perfectly well with a different weapon or anything. Flavor is Flavor, if the mechanics are unchanged. Just make sure you take WF in something suitable, likely your primary melee weapon, and it's all good.
feraltibbit 04-30-07, 10:33 AM	Why don't you just change the Hammer of Moradin to the Axe of Moradin while you're at it? Change a Bladesinger to a Daggersinger? Change Exotic Weapon Master to Martial Weapon master? Change Order of the Bow Initiate to Order of the Crossbow Initiate? Just as much flavor, isn't it? Think about it... The Blade Bravo is all about "faking out your opponent". What better way to "egg him on" and get on the enemy's last nerve is to "poke him", hence the rapier, which is a type of swashbuckling wpn. Hell, his AC advantages to size grows as the PrC grows; so, it works out nicely. Heck, add the Invisible Blade PrC along w/it to add more Nsult 2 Njury with the feint mastery. Have fun w/it.
Thrincold 04-30-07, 11:51 AM	I think it is just flavor overall. Then again, if it required weapon focus with any finessable weapon, you'd have Blade Bravos with Spiked chains. Not very blade-like there. Look at the requirements for many classes and you'll find "nonsense" requirements. Good example; why does the Kensai need ranks in Ride to bond to a weapon?
Perseus_Stoned 04-30-07, 07:07 PM	Why don't you just change the Hammer of Moradin to the Axe of Moradin while you're at it? Change a Bladesinger to a Daggersinger? Change Exotic Weapon Master to Martial Weapon master? Change Order of the Bow Initiate to Order of the Crossbow Initiate? I don't have access to "Hammer of Moradin" so I can't comment on that, but... Bladesinger: Because the bladesinger has been an established part of Faerun campaign settings for awhile now, the longsword and rapier makes sense for the elf's history, and because features require a rapier or longsword to make use of them. As I pointed out earlier the Blade Bravo does not have any features that require a rapier. Exotic Weapon Master: Because it already allows any exotic weapon; that'd be stupid and like rewriting the fighter because you want to include spells with him. Order of the Bow Initiate: Because crossbows don't have as flexible range increments, which is something the class relies on. Just as much flavor, isn't it? So no, not at all.
Perseus_Stoned 04-30-07, 07:08 PM	Good example; why does the Kensai need ranks in Ride to bond to a weapon? Ha ha ha, weird. I guess its because they're supposed to be working as an "underling" for some Lord though and, as of such, are expected to go "aventurin'"