DMs: PrCs more effort than worth?

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

For the same reason as the cavalier and the mystic thurge. To fulfil an archetype that is difficult to replicate in the core class. The Guild Thief doubles asa organisation PrC. The Guild Thief is the classic thief that the rogue somethimes gets distracted from...

I'm not seeing it as being particularly different from a rogue. If you want to stick with the guild, use RP - you shouldn't get metagame benefits and penalties for being part of a guild.

Maybe only the Shadow Thieves can teach you a specific technique, but that would still be covered by a feat. Either make being a member of the Shadow Thieves a requirement for the feat, or more likely just make it a flavor requirement for your campaign. (Maybe the rogue learned it from an ex-Shadow Thief. )

I can see a reason for the Mystic Theurge but not the Cavalier. I have yet to see a good cavalier PrC, I'm sorry to say. Part of the problem is you want a mount that gets better over 20 levels but you're looking at a 10 level PrC. Making matters worse, every cavalier PrC I've seen is some kind of power trip. Too often they try to make Spirited Charge even better. (Spirited Charge replaces 3 attacks with no iterative attack penalties, so IMO it's as strong as 4 regular attacks, and works quite well with Power Attack.)

I think the best fix would be something similar to the Wild Cohort feat - let it work with warhorses, give more powerful benefits and cost 3 or so feat slots. I wouldn't feel pain if I had to spend 3 feat slots for a slightly more powerful Wild Cohort feat.

 

[tauton_ikhnos]

To everyone who commented on "drop prereqs, have ONE prereq: persuade the organization to let you join":

THANK YOU. YOINK. MINE! AND THANKS.

Exactly how I will handle from now on.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

To everyone who commented on "drop prereqs, have ONE prereq: persuade the organization to let you join":

THANK YOU. YOINK. MINE! AND THANKS.

Exactly how I will handle from now on.

Don't forget they still have to give something up compared to the base class.

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

I have a real dislike of PrCs. I think pretty much every character concept is covered by careful selection of multiclassing regular PC classes.

 

[Will]

I think I'd be happier if Prestige Classes simply said 'must be level X before joining,' instead of trying to be all indirect about it. Because some abilities simply aren't balanced too early.

And man, some prestige classes... most, are so terribly designed. I mean, the problem is that few people are all that good at system work, when it comes down to it. I think PrCs then cause more problems, because the construct is a bit more elaborate, and people keep getting sucked into the 'it doesn't have to be balanced because it's exclusive' mindset.

Though I had a satori moment a minute ago...

So I was thinking of designing NPCs, and the difficulties therein. I was thinking of UA and variant classes. Then I thought 'hmm... I guess it might be easier just to swap in... HOLY CRAP!!'

Prestige Classes should be mined as a source for variant classes. You know, like UA has 'swap special abilities' as a basis for making new classes? Take a ranger, swap out favored enemy for a fighter bonus feat/familiar/wild shape/...

PrCs then become a pool of interesting abilities that can be mined for unique new classes... which solves the layering.

Instead of cleric + ranger + vole farmer, you just start with a cleric and say 'ok, I want this NPC to have X, Y, and Vole abilities. What do I pull out?'

Man. I'm a jeenyus.

 

[hong]

I have a real dislike of PrCs. I think pretty much every character concept is covered by careful selection of multiclassing regular PC classes.

Well, sure. And every character concept could be covered by careful selection of the three generic classes in UA, too.

A class system is more than just a way of representing skills and concepts, though. If that was all you wanted, you might as well go classless. A class is also a label to apply to a character, that should have some sort of in-game existence to go with its metagame mechanics. It's a way of personalising your character, of making it more than just an abstract collection of skills and powers.

PrCs have that function, which is why people like them. If it was purely a matter of kewl powerz, feats would be just as popular.

 

[Gez]

They aren't?