D&D 3E/3.5 3.5 Shadow Adept - why the nerf?

[Falling Icicle]

I was shocked to see how much of a nerf the Shadow Adept class received in PGtF, only to see the already mighty Incantatrix get buffed. Not only did they lose their 5th level bonus feat, but they also lost perhaps the most significant feature of the class - Spell Power (which used to increase save DCs in 3.0, but now increases caster level instead). Other classes that had this feature got to keep it, why not the Shadow Adept?

It seems to me like this class is now good to throw just one level in and the rest of its levels offer nothing of any great value. I can understand why the bonus feat was removed (they already get 3 bonus feats at 1st level, after all, even if they aren't the greatest feats in the world). But the remaining abilities seem rather lackluster. Low-Light and Darkvision are handy, but can be easily enough gained from race or spells. Shadow Walk, again, can be just cast a spell, though I guess getting it for free once per day isn't bad. And shield of shadows and Shadow Double have never really impressed me much, since they can be used for only very short periods of time and take a standard action to invoke or dismiss.

Do you agree with these changes? Just wondering what people's opions are about this.

 

[frankthedm]

I was shocked to see how much of a nerf the Shadow Adept class received in PGtF, only to see the already mighty Incantatrix get buffed. Not only did they lose their 5th level bonus feat, but they also lost perhaps the most significant feature of the class - Spell Power (which used to increase save DCs in 3.0, but now increases caster level instead). Other classes that had this feature got to keep it, why not the Shadow Adept?

Last i checked lots of DC boosters chopped off. Which 3.5 classes that you refer too?

 

[Falling Icicle]

Last i checked lots of DC boosters chopped off. Which 3.5 classes that you refer too?

The Spell Power ability was changed from adding to the spell DC to increasing caster level instead.

The classes I'm referring to are the Red Wizard, Heirophant, and Archmage, and there are probably others.