3, 5 or 10 Level - What are your favourite Prestige Classes?

[Psychic Warrior]

All that I want are prestige classes without any dead levels. As long as the PrC does what it's intended for, in as few levels as possible, it works for me.

That is one thing I cannot stand in a PrC - 'dead levels' where, beyond BAB and saves, there is nothing of note being gained at that level. IMO PrC should be getting a little something at every level.

 

[drnuncheon]

All that I want are prestige classes without any dead levels. As long as the PrC does what it's intended for, in as few levels as possible, it works for me.

Seconded. Nothing bugs me more than 'filler' levels put in to pad a class out to 10 levels.

J

 

[Nifft]

Any special reason for those numbers?

Most class features -- saves, BAB, spellcasting progression, Rage, Bardic music improvements, Sneak Attack -- have a 2 or 4 level pattern. The only things that cycle at 5 levels are Ranger FE bonus, Wizard bonus feats, and iterative attacks -- but that last one is based on BAB, which actually has a 4-level cycle.

Basically, I hate how PrCs can easily boost saves and hurt BAB. It should be possible to do, but not be the default behavior.

-- N

 

[EricNoah]

I like little prestige classes with very few prerequisites. Three interesting levels would be enough for me.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Whatever fits the concept. I'd actually like to see some more Prcs like the True Necromancer with it's something like 13 level PrC or some PrC substitution Levels as mentioned on another thread.

As D20 moves into more game mechanics though, perhaps we'll just get something like Hero or GURPS where you don't have levels and just buy your goods as long as you meet certain prerequisites. Almost like d20 Modern or Grim Tales with Talents and Feats being two different, but similiar things.

 

[Klaus]

Maybe I've been spoiled by the Thief-Acrobat, Master of Radiance, Invisible Blade and other PrClasses, but I'm liking 5-level Prestiges more and more...

 

[TheLostSoul]

As long as the PRC is well balanced, I really do not care how many levels it has. I do prefer that the PRCs do not exceed 10 levels though (more than that should be epic). It is one of the few problems I have with Dragonmech. The Steam Mage PRC should have stopped at level 10 and the Steamborg should have been a PRC.

 

[Kemrain]

I love 5 level PrC's. They are my bread and butter. I haven't made a single 10 level class, but I've proposed 3 5 level buggers in my curent game. I love them to death because they are all I need- a short dip into specialization. You shouldn't have to spend half your progression on something to become a master, and you should be able to master several things in the life of your character.

I've made a Stealth class that gives up sneak attack and even an average attack progression to be able to sprint stealthily and dissapear from plain view even without magic.

I've made a Spellbreaker class specializing in dispelling and counterspelling, while still being able to cast offensively.

I've made a Force warrior who gets a good attack progression, a couple of caster levels, and combat abilities revolving around telekinesis and force effects.

None of these ideas needs 10 levels to carry out, (and with the Force warrior I actually had some trouble bringing it to 5!) You don't need to throw in bonus feats, or blank levels, and everythign fits just right. Plus, if you plan it right, you get 3 completed PrC's by 20, and that's just cool.

- Kemrain who has Seen the Glorious Light.

 

[reanjr]

Kind of an odd question but I want to see if anyone else think like i do. I really like the 5 level prestige classes. I'm not 100% sure why as is does encourage a lot of multiclassing. I think I like them because while they usually have some really good abilities I haven't found any yet that are real game breakers. Short and sweet seem to be my mottos for PrCs.

How about you - any preference or am I just weird(er)?

I have found that I always seem to like the 3s. They seem very focused on what they need to be and then they are done. Fits the "Prestige classes can be used to grant abilities otherwise impossible to get" type of prestige class really well. I find that too many prestige classes seem to give you abilities that you should have to have before you even enter the class, IMO.

But then, I'm one of those anti-prestige class people.

 

[eris404]

I prefer 10-level PrCs for functions that replace a core class-- for instance, Assassin or Alienist-- and 5 level PrCs for supplemental classes, such as Survivor or Invisible Blade.

What he said.