prestigious Ranger Bard Paladin variant classes,whats the deal?

[Siuis]

Are there other prestigious classes, like for non spell casters, fighter?

No. What would a pretoge fighter do? They already get fighting techniques and advance BaB really well, so there is nothing left for a fighter to get as a PrC.

Originally, prestige classes WERE stronger than regular classes, and were in the DMG so the dungeon master could control access to them. Their power was balanced by both DM fiat, and by onerous prerequisites.

People also feel that paladins and rangers are sort of gimped. Why be a paladin when you could be a cleric and do the same, but better? Rangers are just Druid/fighter multiclass, with a rogue dip.
But how could we make paladins and rangers strong enough, and flavorful enough, without unbalancing things? By restricting access based on DM fiat.

Of course, it doesn't work, but worth a shot, no?

 

[Celebrim]

No. What would a pretoge fighter do? They already get fighting techniques and advance BaB really well, so there is nothing left for a fighter to get as a PrC.

Most PrC's that people actually take fall into one of two classes. They either give you full spell-caster progression while giving you additional class benefits as well, or they give you full BAB progression while giving you the equivalent of one feat per level and often other benefits as well. Looked at that way, a lot of PrC's are simply fighter prestige classes.

Originally, prestige classes WERE stronger than regular classes, and were in the DMG so the dungeon master could control access to them. Their power was balanced by both DM fiat, and by onerous prerequisites.

That was the theory at least. PrC's were original stronger than all but tier one base classes, but their power was never controlled, the prerequisies never particularly onerous and within mere months they were appearing in player centered splat books. They never ended up serving the original purpose of creating flavorful organizations within the campaign world. Prestige class is spelled with a $.

People also feel that paladins and rangers are sort of gimped. Why be a paladin when you could be a cleric and do the same, but better?

Well sure, but you could rewrite that sentence by replacing Paladin with just about any other class and have the same answer or lack thereof. That says more about the brokenness that is Cleric (and Druid and Wizard) than it says about anything else.

But how could we make paladins and rangers strong enough, and flavorful enough, without unbalancing things?

Ooohh I know, I know. Pick me.

 

[Eman Resu]

What could you do with fighter prestige class? Categorize your fighter in a style
sword & board
Archer
two wep
armor & wepc
two handed
reach weapon

give bonuses to these styles, unique style charactoristics, give access to fighter feats within these styles 2 or more levels early.

I like the idea of a fighter armor specialist: Its a 5 level prt class(could be 10?), but for now lets look at the 5th level example, +1 BAB/level, -1 to armor ck penalty/level, +1 dex allowed in armor/level, at 2nd level -5 move penalty offset, 5th level -10 move penalty offset, +1 armor smith skill point per level, +1/level to armor hardness +2 armor hit pionts/level, no penalty to using armored spikes, blades and razors in a grapple, in fact any round begun in a grapple he will get an additional "rake" attack,
at 5th level 1 more rake attack, free feats wep spec-armor, Don armor & sleep in armor. The armors damage is counted as 1 size category larger at 5th level

there is some very unique fighter type in class abilities, the armor stud th Vanguard of Armor.

 

[Celebrim]

What could you do with fighter prestige class? Categorize your fighter in a style
sword & board
Archer
two wep
armor & wepc
two handed
reach weapon

Sure. But isn't that what fighter bonus feats are supposed to do?

All that proves to me is something that ought to be really obvious - base fighter didn't get enough feats either in quantity or quality. If the base fighter was actually something other than a 2 or 4 level dip class, then it also wouldn't need PrC's to characterize its style. Pretty much any PrC can be characterized as 5-10 bonus feats.

 

[Eman Resu]

I happen to like fighters, but absent the spellcasters there DOA, by mid level, they need buffs, and protections and magic in general. So they ARE dependant upon other classes abilities. Unlike the Druid, Hexblade, Psi Warrior, Cleric, Duskblade, Beguiler etc dont need anybody else, as they can fair for themselves. Clerics and Druids are argueably the epitome of well rounded pc's. Like I said I like the idea of the Fighter and with all those feats he can enjoy melee prowess...but could a base human fighter at 10th level take on a 10th level soulknife, 100' apart in an arena?

 

[Dandu]

Soulblade?

 

[Eman Resu]

Soulblade?

thanks I corrected it...soulknife, but you knew what I meant!

 

[Dandu]

There's also Hexblade and Duskblade.

Also, an archery based fighter might be able to do it.