Call me a stickler or a purist, but there needs to be more benefit for sticking with a class for an extended length of time - as it is, you can take class after class to gain the beneficial starting features of that class. Maybe a cap on number of classes per character is in order - say, three?
Skills
Different class skills for the cleric domains would be nice. It makes no sense at all that a Dreadmaster of Bane has to spend only 1 skill point for a rank in Diplomacy and 2 for Bluff and Intimidate, particularly as one of their domain "perks" is +1 to the talking skills.
Warriors need more skills. Right now, there's no point to a fighter with more than minimal intelligence (ok, aside from expertise), because the only class skill is intimidate.
![Roll Eyes :rolleyes:](./images/smilies/)
I'm not sure what else should be added, but maybe a certain number of skill points could be put toward getting an attack bonus or a generic AC bonus.
What about allowing certain spells to be cast through skill points? Say it takes 3 skill points to be able to cast a first-level spell once per day (choice of bless, doom, sleep, cure light wounds, Laerloch's Minor Drain, etc) and for each additional skill point you get an additional casting. Could also allow some 2nd level spells to be cast this way (Eagle's Splendour, Luck, Cat's Grace, Barkskin, Blur, Protection from Arrows, Minor Elemental Barrier).
Access to these spells through skill points could be determined by class - e.g. ranger can use Cat's Grace, MEB, PfA, Barkskin, etc.
This would enable a bit more customization of characters, and a bit tougher decision of what skills to pick on level-ups.
Classes
The Demarch of Mask is also a decent (if odd) combo with a rogue.
I am in total agreement with the need to up the ranger's utility. More spells, an archery/swordsmanship bonus, or even a couple more bonus feats (perhaps on attainment of higher levels, like a wizard) would go a long way toward making the ranger a class on par with the rest. I agree with an upgrade to the bard, also.
Changes to druid shapeshifting are a must - if nothing else, the mechanics of shapeshifting are so buggy... - and a shapeshifted druid in HoF mode should gain at least some partial HoF advantages - say +100% HP and damage with AC bonus - as it is, the shapeshifted forms are
useless as tanks in HoF.
Feats
The feats need some work, too. Anyone ever take Precise Shot? Forester? Deflect Arrows?
My biggest beef is with Toughness. Instead of +3 HP across the board for a measly +15 HP for FIVE feats, it should be an increasing amount - say +4 with one feat spent, +10 with two, + 18 with three, +30 with four, and +45 with five. This would encourage people to stick with the fighter class for longer, so as to get the extra feats for a total of 45 extra HP.
Improved Initiative needs to be fixed.
Some of the useless feats should be removed and replaced with better ones, or just given a better bonus. Someone might give Forester a whirl if it was a +6 instead of +2, Precise Shot should remove the close-up distance penalty altogether, and Deflect Arrows should be about +3.