Golian Press

[Wix of Bel-Air]

I've been having issues with my crunchwise thinking (but that never happens!) and so I need some advice on some things.
The first is my town layout. Even with the MUCH shortened version, it'll still take a long time to write out stuff for each town. So this is my problem: What is a good format for town layouts that doesn't take much time?
Here is my current layout:

Guardedlow (Kingdom of Twilight) (Village) Authority Figures: Reeve Hubert Ganaval (NG, male half-elf Fig2/Ari2), Councillor Lillana (LN, female elf Wiz3);
City Watch and Militia: Eastern Commander Kare Numben (CG, male gnome Rog2/War1) of the Sunfall Warriors, Western Commander Lewdreth Terble (NG, male human Brd2/War1);
Guild Leaders: Beuilta (N, female wood elf, Exp3) of The Vineyard Guild, Nyahal (LN, male goblin Com4) of The Bleachers, Erindith (LE, female blue goblin Tele4) of The Psionic Tutors;
Religious Leaders: Anaksa of Olthan (N, female pale elf Cle5) of House Mneogin, Eyugag of Izmaer (CN, male centaur Cle1);
Other Notable Citizens: Eksarsen, (LE, male human Ari3/Cle2), Balol (NG, male halfling Fig2/Wiz2), Jinina (NG, female human Rog2/Wiz2);
Notes: Iron fenced gardens throughout city and garrisons renovated into businesses.

[Wix of Bel-Air]

Second problem
I've been experimenting with the idea of NPC only prestige classes. Basically, they're support classes that because of their very flexible nature, are for NPC characters only. I just wanted to know: Is this a good thing to incorporate into my campagin (as it adds to the type of flavour and style my game is portrayed as) and is it a viable prestige class?

Alley Shadowbrawler (NPC)

Requirements
To qualify to become an Alley Shadowbrawler a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Base Attack: +2
Hide: 4 ranks
Tumble: 2 ranks
Feats: Blind-Fight

Class skills
The brawlerâ,¬,,¢s class skills (and the key abilities for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Move Silently (Dex), Swim (Str), and Tumble (Dex).

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

The Alley Shadowbrawler



Summon Shadow Partner: The Alley Shadowbrawler may summon an undead spirit to aid him in fighting. It will always fight beside him no matter the odds. The shadow creature cannot fight in absolute darkness or pure daylight; it needs a little of both. Each Shadowbrawler has their own unique shadow companion with each one being between 3-6 HD in strength and medium in size. The shadow always has a turn resistance of at least +4. When the brawler is done fighting, the shadow is dismissed back to itâ,¬,,¢s spirit plane until it is needed again.
Beat Hits: When the brawler hit and deals damage in their attacks, they have a chance to stun their opponent. The target must make a Fortitude save (DC = Shadowbrawler Levels + Strength Modifier) or be stunned for 1 round. If the Shadowbrawler has multiple attacks then add +5 to the DC for each additional attack landed. Exclusive items allow the Shadow Partner to add to the DC as well.
Meld with Shadows: The Alley Shadowbrawler can partially or fully meld with the shadows around themselves. If there is shadow within 5ft. the brawler may add a +2 luck bonus to their AC. If the Shadowbrawler wishes to take all of his action in the shadow simply defending, all attacks against them have a 50% miss chance and the brawler gets a +2 luck bonus to their AC and Reflex saves.

Yeah... my tables rock... I know... :P

[Wix of Bel-Air]

And the last one...
Spell-Tap is a feat/spellcaster ability that I'm trying to incorporate. Every wizard house has its own style, and with that style, they'll mix their spells and specific training into one. With all my houses, there is at least one Spell-Tap feat.
Basically, my questions are basic:
Does any of this make sense? Are the prerequisites too weird?

A Note or Two on Spell-Tap feats:

-You may only take Spell-Tap feats if you can cast spells. If you lose the ability to cast spells then you lose the ability to use Spell-Tap feats.

-On every Spell-Tap's feat prerequiste, there is a certain spell(s) that are listed there. You must have that spell(s) in your repotoire to take the feat. You must have the spell(s) memorized if you wish to use the feat. Those classes in which preparation does not usually happen, you must so instead. For example, if a sorcerer has a spell-tap feat and to use the feat, they must "reserve" a slot just for that one spell. Doing so is done during preparation/meditation time. The character therefore can only use that one slot for the spell reserved.

-If you cast the memorized spell that you needed for the Spell-Tap feat, you have a 1 minute to use the rest of your Spell-Tap attempts for the day. You can always memorize the spell later in the day and gain back your lost Spell-Tap attempts.

-A character can only use one Spell-Tap attempt per round unless it says otherwise.

Sample Spell-Tap Feats:

Rapid Evaluation [Spell-Tap]
You can tell a few things about a magical item at a glance.
Prerequisites: Identify spell
Benefit: With this feat as a standard action, you can cast identify with a casting time of only 1 minute. You may use this feat three times per day.

Sense Magical Presence [Spell-Tap]
You can detect magical auras in the area around you.
Prerequisites: Detect Magic spell
Benefit: With this feat as a standard action, you can cast detect magic with a radius of 1 mile +1 mile for every metamagic or item creation feat you have. You may use this feat three times per day.

Replicate Psionic Power [Spell-Tap]
You can use different psionic powers through your arcane magic.
Prerequisites: Limited Wish spell
Benefit: As a standard action, you may use this feat to manifest any psionic power of 4th level or below. This is usable once per day.

Anti-Psionic Field [Spell-Tap]
You can create a magical field that blocks out psionic powers.
Prerequisites: Antimagic Field spell
Benefit: As a standard action, you can create a 10ft. radius sphere centred on yourself that blocks out all psionic manifestations. The sphere itself wonâ,¬,,¢t move with you but you can move inside the sphere without any interference. This is usable once per day.

[Epic Meepo]

I've been experimenting with the idea of NPC only prestige classes. Basically, they're support classes that because of their very flexible nature, are for NPC characters only.

I'm not sure that's a good idea.  What special property of NPCs allows them to take a class that PCs can't.  And if the only reason is that you want to create a powerful class that you don't want PCs to take levels in, you'll still run into problems.  PCs who want to play the forbidden class can just take Leadership and get a cohort who belongs to the powerful class, anyway.  I'd say let your PCs have access to all prestige classes you make.

[Wix of Bel-Air]

It's not that it is a particularly powerful prestige class (in fact it's very crappy) but it's just that with the guidelines of the powers in the class... well... there aren't any. That makes it more fun for the GM to run things his way. If he wants to put in a shadowwalker controlling the boxer instead of the little shadow, good for him. It's more about flexability, and you can't really give the players that flexability because it creates descrepancies(?) about the rules and what everyone thinks is fair.

[Poseptune]

I agree with Meepo. PCs always want to play what they are not allowed. If you don't belive me start up a game at the WotC Real Adventure forum. No matter what the allowed source are most of the people submitting characters will ask for things from other not that weren't allowed. A 3rd level rogue may want to take this class for some of its abilities, especially if he is a street urchin in a big city. That is just one example of a situation that a PC might want to take this class. The decision in completely yours.