[3E] Best Capstone?

[Zeta Kai]

Which base class do you think has the best capstone (IE 20th level) ability?

Which prestige class do you think has the best capstone (IE last level) ability?

Discuss.

I, for one, vote for the Beguiler & the Dragon Disciple. Those are some pretty cool abilities, ones that aren't just incremental bonuses to existing class features.

Also, the Rogue & the Green Star Adept are banned from this discussion. May Candle Jack take you if you mentio

[arguskos]

Base Class: Knight. Bar freakin' none.

Prestige Class: Oh dear. So many choices. I can't honestly pick just one. I'll go with... Swiftblade, personally.

[Frosty]

For base class, the Knight has one of the best capstone abilities. Seriously. You get to ignore death by HP damage for a LONG time. Enough for your cleric to patch you up.

EDIT: NINJA'ED!

[Fax Celestis]

Can I count homebrew? <_<

[Gralamin]

Warblade. Two stances at once? Yes please.

[deuxhero]

Hey, rogue got an actual capstone (not that great, something like decreased trap disabling times , but passable).

[Lycanthromancer]

I count the factotum's 19th level ability as their capstone.

Any three Ex abilities from any 15th level base class, for one minute each! Heck yeah!

Especially if you go with "official sources" such as CustServe and The (Guest) Sage and have any class ability that isn't overtly magical in nature qualify. Such as inspiration points or fighter bonus feats.

[Zeta Kai]

Can I count homebrew? <_<

For you? Sure.

Warblade. Two stances at once? Yes please.

I never understood how that is supposed to really work. I mean, assume a martial arts stance. Now, assume a different one. Now, try & do both? Do you feel any cooler? I'd be willing to bet that you look stupid & couldn't easily do any decent moves without dropping your stance first. It's a split-second delay, but in actual combat, a split-second separates victory from defeat.

Hey, rogue got an actual capstone (not that great, something like decreased trap disabling times , but passable).

Well, they did have the web-only option of gaining Skilled Saboteur, but like nobody knows about that one, & I'm the only DM that I know that uses it.

I count the factotum's 19th level ability as their capstone.

Good for you. But I said 20th level. If we let that in, then someone's gonna choose a Wizard's 9th level spells as a capstone, even if they get those at 17th level. No dice.

[Tavar]

For the warblade, their expertise allows them to blend the two stances together, thus gaining the benefits of both.

I like the Jade Phoenix Mage, personally. I mean, who doesn't want to explode?

[Glimbur]

Totemist. Double* the effect of your attack soulmelds? Not bad.

[jokey665]

Good for you. But I said 20th level. If we let that in, then someone's gonna choose a Wizard's 9th level spells as a capstone, even if they get those at 17th level. No dice.

I choose the Wizard's fourth 9th level spell slot.

[Starscream]

Another vote for Knight here. Dread Necromancer is also nice, and pretty much the only way to be a lich without nerfing yourself by giving up caster levels.

[Lycanthromancer]

Fighter 20. Because getting the same class feature you got at level one is AWESOME*.



*Not really.

[arguskos]

Another vote for Knight here. Dread Necromancer is also nice, and pretty much the only way to be a lich without nerfing yourself by giving up caster levels.

BAM! No dice on that one! Death Master has the same capstone.

Also, Dry Lich.

[Starscream]

BAM! No dice on that one! Death Master has the same capstone.

Yeah, I suppose they do. Don't seem like nearly as good a class overall, though. Better HD and BAB, but fewer spells and lamer class features.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Monk.

Being able to Polymorph into an outsider is good.

[AstralFire]

Dual-Boost.

[Tavar]

Monk.

Being able to Polymorph into an outsider is good.

Shame about taking 20 levels to do it, though.

Plus, Elemental Savant does the same thing, and only loses a few CL.

[Lycanthromancer]

Shame about taking 20 levels to do it, though.

That's 27 levels. You need at least 7 more levels of spellcasting.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

That's 27 levels. You need at least 7 more levels of spellcasting.

No, you use UMD and spend lots of money on wands.

[Lycanthromancer]

No, you use UMD and spend lots of money on wands.

Oh. Right. It's such an obvious move! How could I have ever missed that?! *Facepalm*


And of course no sarcasm was harmed used during the writing of this post.

[Akal Saris]

Monstrous Team Up at 10th of Beast Heart Adept (Dungeonscape) looks fun:

Each time one of your 3 monstrous companions strikes an opponent (1/R per companion), you and all of your allies (including your other 2 companions) gets a free AOO, and that includes ranged classes? And any time 1 of your companions flanks with you or an ally, both get +4 Attack/+2 dmg? That really looks like ridiculous fun for the whole party as long as you and some of your allies/pets have Combat Reflexes.

[streakster]

If I could say PrC's, I'd say the Jade Phoenix Mage, no contest. Nothing tops that. I mean, its weekly, and I hate daily abilities, and I love it to death. That should tell you something.

The best base class capstone is Dual Stance.

Or, possibly (because it's weird, it can be your capstone, or you can take it early) Five-Fold Breath of Tiamat.

[Pyro_Azer]

Base: I'll cast my vote for knight here

PrC: Walker in the Waste. Dry lich for free? Yes please.

[Mongoose87]

PrC: Walker in the Waste. Dry lich for free? Yes please.

Yeah, I'm a fan of that one.

[Stegyre]

Monk.

Being able to Polymorph into an outsider is good.

If that's all you want it for, take the Otherworldy feat (PGtF).
Sure, it's a less-than-prime feat, but if the alternative is 20 monk levels . . .

[Draken]

Base class? Totemist. Because a +12 to +16 enhancement bonus to your attacks is just... I dunno.

Prestige Class... I am strangely fond of the Warshaper capstone.

[arguskos]

Yeah, I suppose they do. Don't seem like nearly as good a class overall, though. Better HD and BAB, but fewer spells and lamer class features.

They get a MUUUCH better spell list though. More things to do with their spells, rather than just "lolNecromancy" spells.

Dreads do have a way nicer set of class features though, no joke there.

[Gametime]

For base class, Truenamer has a pretty absurd capstone. An ability that can be combined with Leadership and good placement of allies to have unlimited free action planar travel? Yes please.

For prestige classes...does it have to be 10th level? Because Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil gets a pretty awesome 7th level ability.

[Wings of Peace]

Base class? Totemist. Because a +12 to +16 enhancement bonus to your attacks is just... I dunno.

Prestige Class... I am strangely fond of the Warshaper capstone.

What Soulmeld is that? I'm very much a Totemist fan but I admit in terms of offensive Melds my main experience is with the Manticore Belt.