prestige class

[GawainBS]

2d6 extra damage versus evil creatures is still pretty bad for a +2 enhancement.
The other abilities you summed up don't wirgh up to the cast of opportunity, namely lost caster levels.
Just the fact that the activation of the weapon abilities take a standard action each is reason enough to call this a bad PrC.
Why would a paladin take this PrC? The only advantage would be the better Will save. That would hardly compensate for the lost caster levels. He already has Divine Grace and above average WIS, so his Will save will be pretty decent. He could just as well stay a pure paladin and gain a better mount and more spellcasting and some more smites.
Why would a cleric take this? The only advantages would be the better Base Attack & HD, but the Cleric can emulate this with a 4th lvl spell: Divine Power. He would have to be insane to sacrifice 5!! caster levels to it.
All this is in consideration that the weapon abilities are negligible. If the activation would be a swift action, it would be a bit less worse.

[Siberys]

Just the fact that the activation of the weapon abilities take a standard action each is reason enough to call this a bad PrC.

That's how magic weapons normally work anyways. Most damage affecting special weapon enhancements use the command word activation, and that ALWAYS takes a standard action.

Meaning, if I had a +1 flaming holy brilliant energy longsword. Even without the Shining blade PrC, it'd take me a standard action to activate each one anyways.

Lets also not forget that added enhancement bonuses for most damage effect special weapon abilities -stack- with each other. None of the damage is a named bonus. It doesn't say a +1D6 enhancement bonus to shocking damage, it just says a +1D6 to shocking damage. And using an extra plus one ability modifier, there is absolutely no harm in having a +1 Shocking Shocking Shocking Shocking longsword that simply deals 4D6 electric damage.

Holy is also an unnamed damage bonus, and therefore stacks with itself too.

The only thing that doesn't stack is Brilliant energy and that's because it doesn't have a damage bonus.

The only downside to having a +1 4Shocking blade is it takes 4 standard actions to activate each shocking enhancement.

[GawainBS]

Originally Posted by Siberys

The only downside to having a +1 4Shocking blade is it takes 4 standard actions to activate each shocking enhancement.

That's reason enough to call it "bad".
With standard enhancements, you could activate them when you wake up, and disable them at the end of the day.
In this PrC, the abilities are limited in their duration.
Also, you can't stack them (the PrC abilities) with themselves. (Holy with Shocking, but not Holy x2.)

[Siberys]

Originally Posted by GawainBS

That's reason enough to call it "bad".
With standard enhancements, you could activate them when you wake up, and disable them at the end of the day.
In this PrC, the abilities are limited in their duration.
Also, you can't stack them (the PrC abilities) with themselves. (Holy with Shocking, but not Holy x2.)

Why not? The class doesn't say you can't, and it even has the same description of the weapon special ability. Shocking from a weapon and shocking from the PrC CAN stack, as they are both unnamed bonuses. Furthermore, there are weapons and magic items all over official WoTC supplements that make magical special abilities stack with class or prestige class abilities. Deadly Precision weapon enhancement from complete warrior adds to sneak attack damage. The ring of wizardry sets add to spells per day, as well as pearls of power. The rogues vest from the dungeon masters guide 2 adds sneak attack damage. The monks belt adds additional stunning fist uses per day.


The only thing that doesn't stack with itself even if unnamed is a modifier to a roll, which is not an entirely new roll in itself like shocking or holy weapon abilities.

[GawainBS]

I said that the PrC ability can't stack with itself for the same enhancement. Two shockings from the PrC's, for example. Explicitly stated in the description.
Anyway, damage enhancements aren't the most effective applications of the enhancements of a weapon.

[Siberys]

I'm looking at the PrC now and it also doesn't say that if you use two standard actions on that same shining blade ability it doesn't stack. Nowhere does it say that at all.

The weapon is treated as having the shocking ability, and because it won't unbalance the game, you can stack shocking from the PrC with another PrC shocking ability, you CAN stack shocking from PrC with the weapon ability and you CAN stack shocking from the weapon ability with the shocking weapon ability.

This is not definite, this can be left open to discuss with the DM. My point is that it doesn't say you CAN stack them, and it doesn't say you CAN'T stack them. So I'm not saying that all of them stack with each other even though it doesn't actually mention that, I'm just saying I personally would allow that as it would not unbalance the game in my opinion. And as it's left open for debate, other DM's could agree or disagree with me.

[GawainBS]

Last line of the first paragraph of the second column, p. 64. "The weapon cannot be made to be doubly holy or doubly shocking." (Last line of the Holy Blade entry.)

[Siberys]

Originally Posted by GawainBS

Last line of the first paragraph of the second column, p. 64. "The weapon cannot be made to be doubly holy or doubly shocking." (Last line of the Holy Blade entry.)

My mistake on that part then. But everything else still stands.

[GawainBS]

Yes, and those ten levels in this PrC could be spend a lot more efficient. I'm thinking of Ordained Champion, but that won't increase your Spellcasting power, like the OP asked.
My votes go to either the Prestigious Paladin, or the Divine Crusader.

[Greg.]

Originally Posted by GawainBS

You could use the Prestige Paladin from Unearthed Arcana. It can be found on the SRD here: SRD - Prestigious Classes

It states that "If you use any of the variant classes presented here, the standard version of the class should be unavailable. For instance, you shouldn't include both the standard paladin character class and the paladin prestige class in the same game." So it's not workable.

[GawainBS]

I know, but maybe it's a friendly DM and he allows rebuilds. I'm just spouting suggestions. It's quite hard to give a Paladin some more spell power, you know.

[Elm]

Well I don't know what edition of the game you are playing but why not just turn your paladin evil, by doing some horrible deed for someone and then become an antipaladin and take up mage once you convert.

[GawainBS]

That seems quite impossible, since this is D&D 3.5.

[Elm]

Originally Posted by GawainBS

That seems quite impossible, since this is D&D 3.5

Oh dang, I feel quite out of place now.