Prestige class levels

[photon1966]

I have a player who is an elven Psiwarrior/Psion, 2/1 right now. Eventually he wants to become a Soul Blade but the question we have is how does the Presitge class levels work as far as experience points and the 20% lost rule if the levels aren't close. He sees himself going 3/3 and then at 7th become Soul Blade 1. When he goes up another few levels how does the experience work then as far the 20% rule.

When a fighter takes a Prestige feat, like Gladiator I just assumed it was part of the Fighter and I wasn't treating them as separate. So a 5 Fighter/1 Gladiator wouldn't lose any experience by the 20% rule, as it was still essentially a fighter. But with my players Elven Psion/Psiwarrior is the Soul Blade simple an extension of both, one, neither. I haven't found any clear rules on this and if you all could point me in a direction, page numbers, books, errats, faq, etc. I would and so would my player be very greatfull.

Thanks

 

[AvarielAvenger]

I don't have my books with me right now, and I don't feel like looking through the FAQ, so this may not give you the solidarity of a reference, but Prestige Classes do not count towards calcuating experience penalties.

 

[photon1966]

They don't?

They don't? Wow I did not know that. Thanks. That makes things much easier to handle then.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: They don't?

They don't?

Nope. Prestige classes aren't separate classes. They represent an extension of what you already are. Have fun.

 

[Crothian]

Re: They don't?

They don't? Wow I did not know that. Thanks. That makes things much easier to handle then.

That is correct. It also encourages people to take them. People opinion on that varies.

 

[dcollins]

Re: They don't?

They don't? Wow I did not know that. Thanks. That makes things much easier to handle then.

You can find this on DMG p. 27, under "Prestige Classes", paragraph 2, sentence 3.

 

[RogueJK]

I haven't found any clear rules on this and if you all could point me in a direction, page numbers, books, errats, faq, etc. I would and so would my player be very greatfull.

DMG page 27, under 'Prestige Classes':

"Taking a prestige class does not incur the experience point penalties normally associated with multiclassing."

And from the DnD FAQ, page 10:

"If you become a multiclassed character by adding a prestige class, do you have to keep the two classes at roughly even levels to prevent an experience penalty?
Taking a prestige class doesn't cause an experience penalty; see page 27 in the DUNGEON MASTER's Guide.

Can you take levels in more than one prestige class? How do all these levels affect your experience?
You can take any number of prestige classes, provided that you qualify for them. Prestige classes do not impose multiclass experience penalties (see previous question), no matter how many prestige classes you have."

 

[photon1966]

Thank you all for clearing this up for me, and my players, esp the Elven Psion/Psiwarrior.