True Elementalist Prestige Class

[Katdoral]

ok, first off I know this basically comes out of nowhere, other then the fact that I was sitting up at 3am and needed something to do. So, I'll list the details first:

The True Elementalist

The True Elementalist is a 14 level prestige class based around the concept of summoning Elementals.

Requirements:
Alignment: Any Good
Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) 8 Ranks, Knowledge (Religion) 8 Ranks.
Feat: Augment Summoning
Spells: Able to cast Summon Monster II as both an arcane and divine spell
Special: Access to one of the Elemental Domains.

Class Skills:
Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Heal (Wis), Knowledge
(arcana) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Profession (Wis),
Search (Int), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifi er.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: True Elementalists gain
no profi ciency with any weapons, armor, or shields.

Level	Base Attack	Fort	Reflex	Will	Arcane Caster Level	Divine Caster Level	Class Ability
1	0	0	0	2	+1	+1	Elemental Persistence
2	1	0	0	3	+1	+1	Summon Elemental 1x/day
3	1	1	1	3	+1	+1	Elemental Prowess +1
4	2	1	1	4	+1	+1	Zone of Empowerment
5	2	1	1	4	+1	+1	Summon Elemental 2x/day
6	3	2	2	5	+1	+1	Elemental Prowess +2
7	3	2	2	5	+1	+1	Zone of Greater Empowerment
8	4	2	2	6	+1	+1	Rapid Summon Elemental 1x/day
9	4	3	3	6	+1	+1	Elemental Prowess +3
10	5	3	3	7	+1	+1	Earth quake
11	5	3	3	7	+1	+1	Rapid Summon Elemental 2x/day
12	6	4	4	8	+1	+1	Elemental Prowess +4
13	6	4	4	8	+1	+1	Elemental Swarm
14	7	4	4	9	+1	+1	Storm of Vengence

Elemental Persistance. (SU) Elementals summoned by a True Elementalist receive a bonus to any form of banishment equal to the True Elementalist's class level.

Summon Elemental: (SP)At second level a True Elementalist can summon an elemental from the list of elementals available from their highest Summon Monster spell once per day. At 5th level this increases to two times per day.

Elemental Prowess. (SU) At 3rd level, any elemental summoned by a True Elementalist gains a +1 to their Attack rolls, damage rolls, saves, caster level checks, save DC's, and hitdice. This increases by +1 at 6th, 9th, and 12th level.

Zone of Empowerment. (SU) Any elemental that has been summoned by a True Elementalist has the effect of their Augmented Summoning feat doubled so long as they remain within 20 feet.
Zone of Greater Empowerment. (SU) At 7th level the True Elementalist's Zone of Empowerment extends for 10 feet per True Elementalist's class level.

Rapid Summon Elemental. (SP) At 8th level, a True Elementalist can cast a summoning spell to summon an Elemental as if they had the Rapid Spell feat. If they already posses the rapid spell feat, they instead summon as a swift action. At 11th level a True Elementalist can use this ability two times per day.

Earth quake. (SP) At 10th level and higher, a True Elementalist can cast the Earth Quake spell once per day, with a caster level of their character level, plus the bonus of Elemental Prowess.

Elemental Swarm. (SP) At 13th level and higher, a True Elementalist can cast the Elemental Swarm spell once per day, with a caster level of their character level, plus the bonus of Elemental Prowess and Zone of Greater Empowerment applies.

Storm of Vengence. (SP) At 14th level and higher, a True Elementalist can cast the Storm of Vengence spell once per day, with a caster level of their character level, plus the bonus of Elemental Prowess.

[Katdoral]

Alright, so, discuss.

[Sardinal]

Just read it, I'll probably have more thoughts in a while, after my mind has digested it a bit more. Off the top of my head, though, I'd question the "any good" alignment restriction as Nathis is TN and the only god with the elemental domains. I'd recommend removing the restriction all together or making it the same as druid "must be neutral on one axis.

Have you considered dropping the dual casting aspect and making it a druid prestige class that in addition to some of the listed abilities enchances the relatively weak druid "Elemental wild shape" ability? Perhaps give the ability early than druids normally get it and than boost it a bit.

just some initial thoughts. more to come

[Katdoral]

Well, the alignment restriction is more of a reflection of the PC that I intend to have create this prestige class then it is a reflection of nathis himself.Admittedly it obviously would have to be nathis that was granting the divine caster levels, however once the reason for this prestige class is explained I don't think he'd have an issue with it. The concept was to create a viable counter point to the true necromancer, which is why the abilities match true necromancer's progression closely.

[Zivix]

My only concern is the same concern I have with the true necromancer...its a dual-casting class that not only gives bumps to each spell level as it progresses, but adds a lot of bennies on the side. When compared to other dual-casters, both this and the true necro seem quite a bit OP. Just my opinion.

[Sardinal]

ok, I've had some time to dwell on it. Here's my thought.

1. True necromancer does not receive +1 caster level to both at each level. It loses a Divine caster Level at levels 1 and 6 and an Arcane caster level at levels 2 and 7. You'll have to edit that to make the class viable.

2. Once the spell progression is fixed, the class seems viable, or at least game test worthy. My Nathis persona likes the thought.

3. This class, unfortunately, will not be an effective counter to true necromancer. Without adding any abilities or feats other than those required by the classes, a level 20 TE and a level 20 TN walk onto the field. The TE starts to summon, the TN sits back and counters every spell they can while the 76 HD (or 136 HD depending on your DM's interpretations of the rules) they brought with them pound the TE into the ground. The true power of the TN is in its dual escalating undead pools. No summoning time, they follow you everywhere. The come equipped with an incredible variety of abilities, and a wild array of forms.

If you have time to summon before hand, then the TN did as well, which means they used Summon Undeads and Legion of Undeath to counter the elementals you brought. Both sides have roughly equal arcane and divine spell levels which means roughly equal aoe damage potential. By the time you kill the extra undead, the TN has killed your elementals, once again leaving you against the TN and their original undead HD total.

4. I believe the flaw in the logic is that a viable counter to True Necromancer should mirror the True Necromancer. A viable counter should prey on the TN's weaknesses.
Full caster progression in either arcane or divine will give you 8th and 9th level spells while the TN is only casting 7th. this increased your aoe power to get rid of all the undead as well as making you summons harder to counter.

some suggestions.

A straight cleric progression that offers some elemental summoning boosts as well as abilities that use the clerics turn undead attempts to bolster the elementals with positive energy to do more damage against undead and uses the elemental turning abilities granted by the elemental domains to bolster or heal the elementals. Elemental Healing and Elemental Boost in Complete Divine are good ideas for either prereq's or bonus feats for the class.

A straight divine progression (Cleric or druid) that grants some form of Elemental Leadership to give you permanent elemental followers and some of the above abilities to bolster them.

a straight progression (Divine or Arcane) that slowly gives the caster some of the elemental traits most pertinent to fighting undead and give abilities that to DOT's to undead, the premise being that you are using nature to accelerate their rot past the point that the negative energy can sustain them.

Just some constructive critique'ing.

Sard