Master Specialist: Yay Or Nay?

[Bartmanhomer]

So anyway, right now I'm playing a Level 3 Neutral Good Female Lesser Drow Wizard (Transmuter) on I'm going to choose her prestige class, Master Specialist. So far the prestige class is pretty decent. But will the Master Specialist be useful in the long run?

[SnugUndies]

In my experience, the Master Transmuter is to be taken for two, maybe three levels before taking another prestige class, and only because two levels of Master Transmuter are better than levels 4 and 5 of wizard. Some of the esoterica abilities are quite powerful, for instance the capstones for conjuration and abjuration (targeted anti-magic field, anyone?) but transmutation has no such luck. I'd take a couple levels and then jump out if there was anything else you had in mind.

[Bartmanhomer]

In my experience, the Master Transmuter is to be taken for two, maybe three levels before taking another prestige class, and only because two levels of Master Transmuter are better than levels 4 and 5 of wizard. Some of the esoterica abilities are quite powerful, for instance the capstones for conjuration and abjuration (targeted anti-magic field, anyone?) but transmutation has no such luck. I'd take a couple levels and then jump out if there was anything else you had in mind.

Well I was going to take the Master Transmorgist or whatever the name of that prestige class but it doesn't have the requirements for my character.

[Mike Miller]

Link in sig, here is relevant opinion

4.8 Transmutation
Minor: When your transmutation spell is dispelled, it lasts for one more round and then ends. This gives you time to respond to the dispel instead of being out of luck, but it doesn’t help prevent the dispel at all. I am tempted to make this red, but I suppose it is useful in planning what to do next.
Moderate: You reroll failed Fort saves against transmutation spells. Considering these tend to be nasty, such as baleful polymorph, flesh to stone, and disintegrate, an extra save is nice.
Major: If an enemy saves against your transmutation spell, they still take damage equal to the level of the spell. That is pitiful damage and remember, only three times a day. This is no capstone. Yes, damage is damage, but for the level you obtain this ability it just isn’t great.

Overall, it is a tough call for the transmuter. I really like the moderate esoterica ability, but the minor ability is only somewhat useful and the major is disappointing. I think it could be worth taking 7 levels of Master Specialist to get the moderate ability, but it depends on what other PrCs you are looking at.

[Jay R]

In my experience, Master Specialist shouldn't be your primary prestige class. It's the prestige class that you take until you qualify for your real prestige class.

[Karl Aegis]

I'd rather have the speak with master familiar ability and the bonus feat at level 5 and the BAB and save bonus at level 6. I don't really use transmutation spells with saves so.... I guess Spell Focus is useful when you get Baleful Polymorph? In forever...

[KillianHawkeye]

In my experience, Master Specialist shouldn't be your primary prestige class. It's the prestige class that you take until you qualify for your real prestige class.

I agree with this.

[weckar]

In my experience, Master Specialist shouldn't be your primary prestige class. It's the prestige class that you take until you qualify for your real prestige class.

Plenty games/tables that only allow one prestige class per character, though. Which, I think, is how they were intended to be used?

[Thrice Dead Cat]

Plenty games/tables that only allow one prestige class per character, though. Which, I think, is how they were intended to be used?

Whether that was the original intent or not, that's nothing that was ever ruled. The paragraph in the DMG recommends limiting which prestige classes should be available in a campaign, but given how they kept including PrCs in practically every additional supplement, even that line is at best a suggestion.

[Bartmanhomer]

Plenty games/tables that only allow one prestige class per character, though. Which, I think, is how they were intended to be used?Where does the rules say that? :confused:


Whether that was the original intent or not, that's nothing that was ever ruled. The paragraph in the DMG recommends limiting which prestige classes should be available in a campaign, but given how they kept including PrCs in practically every additional supplement, even that line is at best a suggestion.

I really don't think there a limited on how many prestige class should a player received depending on the campaign.

[weckar]

Where does the rules say that? :confused:Other than where TDC referenced it, the books imply it time and time again by tying PrCs to very specific organizations, traditions and practices. Effectively, having multiple is like holding down several full-time jobs.

Not saying this is the way the game is played or should be played, but it certainly seems intended and a number of tables I've sat at play that way.

[Bartmanhomer]

Other than where TDC referenced it, the books imply it time and time again by tying PrCs to very specific organizations, traditions and practices. Effectively, having multiple is like holding down several full-time jobs.

Not saying this is the way the game is played or should be played, but it certainly seems intended and a number of tables I've sat at play that way.

Ok thank you for telling me that. In my opinion depending the campaign, I don't think there should a limited of number of prestige class should each character. But I'm getting off-topic with this one.

[KillianHawkeye]

Plenty games/tables that only allow one prestige class per character, though. Which, I think, is how they were intended to be used?

There is absolutely zero evidence for this.

Sure, some prestige classes are linked to organizations, but the vast majority are not. There is absolutely no issue with taking more than one prestige class if you qualify to do so and if you and the DM can wrap your mind around how it might make sense.

EDIT: Master Specialist, in particular, is a pretty good first step into Archmage, so it doesn't even make sense to disallow multiple prestige classes in the specific instance this thread is about.

And who is going to tell me that a Master Abjurer shouldn't go into Abjurant Champion? No one, that's who! :smallannoyed:

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Honestly, master specialist is more "meh" than "yay."

[weckar]

Just sayin' that the availability of any and all prestige classes is up to the DM, and in the DMG they are explicitly advised to make them matter in the world. Having multiple, by RAI, should be extremely rare and does not in many cases make sense.

Okay. I'll shut up now.

[Tedective]

Good if you're going Pale Master. Thematic if you're also a Focused Specialist.