Editing Shugenja (section)

===Making it Work===
First, it has to be mentioned that if you are playing in the Rokugan campaign setting, Shugenjas are extremely limited in their multi-class choices by their clan and the impositions written in the rules that prevent them from returning to their class if they ever leave it. ''(outside of certain circumstances)'' The options in Rokugan are more designed towards careful roleplaying [[Powergamer|rather than class optimisation.]]

So in the '''core''' ruleset, Shugenja's are practically begging to be multi-classed since they have no scaling class features other than their ''Sense Elements'' ability which can be very comfortably dropped without any regret at all. Any divine spellcasting prestige class with ANY class features at all is already an improvement over being a Shugenja, so the question becomes what synergises particularly well? 
It must be remembered that half of their spells must still be of their chosen element regardless of what future prestige class they gain, also remember that as a spontaneous divine caster, gaining domains '''does not''' instantly grant you additional spells known, only broader choices of spells available when you learn more by levelling up.

The '''Elemental Savant''' is the most obvious prestige class, even suggested by '''Complete Arcane''' as a good choice for a Shugenja: It gives you very [[fluff]]y elemental resistances, spell penetration bonuses, spell DCs and eventually transforms your character into an Elemental of their chosen type. So it synergises very well with your original selection. What to be careful of though is that it forces you to change the energy type of all damage dealing spells into that of your chosen element ''(air = electricity, earth = acid, fire (duh), water = cold)'' even if these spells were granted to you from a different element... which can leave you next to useless against opponents resistant to you, so have a think about your [[GM]]'s [[Metagaming|Meta]] before deciding if you want to commit.

Air or Fire Shugenjas can qualify for the '''Stormcaster''' prestige class from '''Stormwrack''' as early as level 7 with good choice of spells. ''([[derp|Water]] and Earth Shugenjas fail to qualify since they cannot learn the correct spells due to being locked out of opposing elements.)'' Being a Stormcaster gives you a class feature at every level, ranging from enhanced electricity damage, crazy resistances, to weather control. This class only hampers your spellcasting progression by one level, but even then it still ''enhances'' your caster level for your chosen element by +2 giving you a net gain of +1 at a cost of only one less 9th level spell known and per day ''(5 from 6)''. 

The '''Earth Dreamer''' is a five level prestige class from '''Races of Stone''' that is qualified for very easily. It gives you a set of earth-based class features including Tremorsense, Divination and the ability to see and move through stone as if it was not there. The best bit about it though is that it does not require you to be an Earth Shugenja, only needing the ''Earth Sense'' feat and a few skill points for entry. So a Shugenja can use this class as a filler until he qualifies for another prestige class and mix up his elements like something out of [[Avatar: The Last Airbender|Avatar]].

The ''Hexer'' prestige class from ''Masters of the Wild'' is relatively easy to qualify for, indeed Shugenja is the main way to qualify outside of [[Adept]]. Requiring lightning bolt as a divine spell (done) and ranks in Knowledge Arcana, Spellcraft (which you get as class skills) and <s>Wilderness Lore</s> Survival (The apprentice feat in DMG2 and other prestige classes can get you this), as well as being a "primitive" (is being behind the sakoku primitive?). In return for these modest requirements you get full BAB (helps land touch spells better, though still D6 HD so no entering melee) a hex ability that scales off wisdom (your dump stat) a few times a day, and, most importantly, the ability to add wizard spells to your spell list (you still need them as spells known though). These spells can be of the maximum spell level you can cast, and with a typical entry (8th level Shugenja casting) you're in a position to grab the spell on your next level up.

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