So, what's the deal with the Fiend-Blooded?

[Pazu]

Heroes of Horror presented the Fiend-Blooded prestige class, a 10-level arcane casting class that seems to be aimed specifically at sorcerers. However, as one of its prerequisites is 8 ranks in Knowledge (the planes), it would appear that a single-classed sorcerer can't enter this prestige class until 13th level, and thus can't take all 10 levels. Is this intentional, or has this been addressed somewhere? I notice that neither of the sample NPCs for this class has 8 ranks in Knowledge (the planes) either.

 

[frankthedm]

Explain "aimed specifically at sorcerers".

Do you mean "really powerful if a sorcerer could walk into the class"? If thats the case, then it may be intentional the Sorc CAN'T get in until 13th..

 

[Elemental]

Aimed in flavour terms--"you awaken your fiendish heritage, gaining improved stats, extra spells and resistances". There's nothing in there that would particularly make a sorcerer much more powerful than a wizard.

 

[irdeggman]

I don't have access to the book.

Is is a spellcaster prerequisite or capable of casting spells?

Would a warlock qualify?

Sounds to me, from the description that they might.

 

[rgard]

Heroes of Horror presented the Fiend-Blooded prestige class, a 10-level arcane casting class that seems to be aimed specifically at sorcerers. However, as one of its prerequisites is 8 ranks in Knowledge (the planes), it would appear that a single-classed sorcerer can't enter this prestige class until 13th level, and thus can't take all 10 levels. Is this intentional, or has this been addressed somewhere? I notice that neither of the sample NPCs for this class has 8 ranks in Knowledge (the planes) either.

I agree with you and Elemental in that it's flavor or flavour points it to a sorcerer taking the PrC.

To answer your question, you can still take all ten levels even if you take the PrC at 13th character level. It's just that your last 3 levels of the PrC will be gained when you are Epic.

Also...

You can get around this by taking the Skill Knowledge feat (UA page 81) that lets you assign one cross class skill as a class skill. Depending on the other requirements, you could then qualify earlier.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Pazu]

I'm not sure it's entirely based on flavor that it seems directed towards sorcerers--one of the prerequisites is the ability to cast 2nd-level arcane spells without preparation, and one of the prerequisite feats also demands that you be a spontaneous arcane caster. It also allows you to progress your familiar and add the fiendish template to it. A bard could qualify easily enough, but the class doesn't really add anything special for the bard.

Plus, the first line under "Becoming a fiend-blooded" reads: "Clearly, the sorcerer is the shortest path to becoming one of the fiend-blooded", which, by RAW, it's clearly not.

All these things lead me to believe there was a bit of a disconnect between the original intent of the designer and what was eventually printed on the page.

 

[rgard]

I'm not sure it's entirely based on flavor that it seems directed towards sorcerers--one of the prerequisites is the ability to cast 2nd-level arcane spells without preparation, and one of the prerequisite feats also demands that you be a spontaneous arcane caster. It also allows you to progress your familiar and add the fiendish template to it. A bard could qualify easily enough, but the class doesn't really add anything special for the bard.

Plus, the first line under "Becoming a fiend-blooded" reads: "Clearly, the sorcerer is the shortest path to becoming one of the fiend-blooded", which, by RAW, it's clearly not.

All these things lead me to believe there was a bit of a disconnect between the original intent of the designer and what was eventually printed on the page.

Ok, thanks for providing more of the text. Sounds like any of the spontaneous casters could qualify. You could do this with a Warmage, Beguiler or Duskblade...unless there is more text that we are unaware exists.

You could review the FAQ, Sage Advice or Ask Wizards (or whatever they call it) to see if there is any errata for this.

Barring that, take the Skill Knowledge feat.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Pazu]

Ok, thanks for providing more of the text. Sounds like any of the spontaneous casters could qualify. You could do this with a Warmage, Beguiler or Duskblade...unless there is more text that we are unaware exists.

Warmage and beguiler both lack Knowledge (the planes) as a class skill. Duskblade could do it, but you'd drop to 1/2 BAB, which probably wouldn't be worth it.

You could review the FAQ, Sage Advice or Ask Wizards (or whatever they call it) to see if there is any errata for this.

I dimly recall a thread that brought up this issue when Heroes of Horror first came out, but I don't recall if there was any official resolution on the subject. Maybe Mouseferatu can clarify, if he remembers.

Barring that, take the Skill Knowledge feat.

Or have your sorcerer take another prestige class first, that gets Knowledge (the planes) as a class skill. I think Elemental Savant, Nightmare Spinner, and Wild Soul are all relatively easy for a sorcerer to take prior to Fiend-Blooded.

 

[Hammerhead]

The real story is that the designers forgot that Knowledge (the planes) isn't a sorcerer class skill. Also, the Education feat (Eberron, FR) gives you all knowledge skills as class skills...much better than Skill Training.

Note that the sample character is able to qualify at 6th level despite being a single classed sorcerer without any of the above mentioned feats.

 

[Arkhandus]

And anyway, don't forget that it's easy to multiclass 1 or 2 levels into something with that as a class skill, and pour skill points into it. 1 or 2 levels of Bard, Wizard, Loremaster, or Dragon Disciple (that's right, DDs got all knowledge skills) will do ya. The (non-psionic) feat from Expanded Psionics Handbook that gives you 5 extra skill points once could also help with that at the level you make Kn(planes) a class skill.