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

[reanjr]

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

Yeah, I think prestige classes should have +1/+0 for saves at first level and +0 for BAB only when it is a half progression. Or something along those lines.

Or just use fractions

 

[Bigwilly]

Any as long as they are 'balanced'

I voted any, although I have a slight dislike of the three level paragon type PrCs. Don't know why as I haven't seen any in play. Just one of those things.

Bigwilly

 

[Psion]

Whatever fits.

The two conventions I am pretty much a stickler on is that the basic (non-epic) levels of a prestige class should be done by level 20 and that only 10+ level classes have "epic extensions."

If you have a 5 level class you can get into by level 15 or a 15 level class you can get into by level 5, it's all cool to me.

The 10 level class you cannot get into until level 11 irks me. Yes, I speak of a particular product (or rather, product line.)

 

[Psychic Warrior]

I voted any, although I have a slight dislike of the three level paragon type PrCs. Don't know why as I haven't seen any in play. Just one of those things.

Bigwilly

I forgot about those! A lot of my players have taken the paragon racial classes (human, halfling and half-orc so far) and I love them! Tightly focused and they give very good abilities for any character (the human especially, imo. Having a skill that is forever and always a class skill for you is very nifty and fits with the human 'jack of all trades' aspect). Some may balk at the ability popint boost they give at the 3rd level but my game runs on the assuption you are going to have very good stats.

 

[Gez]

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

You have not seen the Light. Bow before your savior, the fraction bar. All hail the mighty fraction bar!

/​

*insert chorus of angels singing and golden light falling from the sky, as there's no vB code to do that*

 

[IronWolf]

I voted 'Doesn't matter as long as it is balanced'. I would tend towards the 3 or 5 level classes though. I see them more as a add some missing trait/flavor you see fit for your character. So one would pick them up to round the character out and then go back towards taking regular class levels.

Though as someone already mentioned, if the Prestige Class is more of a class in and of itself (assassin listed as the example) then I can see it having more like 10 levels.

In the end, I just want the class to be balanced - regarldless of how many levels it is.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

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.

I don't like 'dead levels', period. Even characters sticking to base classes should be getting something new every level.

One of the reasons I use Gestalt.

 

[Crothian]

I don't like 'dead levels', period. Even characters sticking to base classes should be getting something new every level.

characters get skills points and hit poitns at the very least every level

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

characters get skills points and hit poitns at the very least every level

Granny's rules forbid me from describing the action I'm pantomiming in response.

Skill points and hit points aren't very exciting. BAB and Saving Throw increases aren't interesting. Extra spells per day aren't fun-- though new spells often are. It's the special abilities that make the character feel like it is growing and advancing.

 

[Zuoken]

I tend towards 5 level prestige classes; they're short, quick, and good for adding a little extra flavor to that bland dwarven fighter that you have lying around.

I don't like 3 level PRCs, because they're too sort for any type of character development IMO. 10 level PRCs I like better then 3rds, but it's rare that I find a character concept that is focused enough to justify eating up half my levels for.