How do you handle PCs wanting to level in PrCs?

[Darth K'Trava]

I chose "as soon as they qualify". But players usually let the DMs know if/when they're going to take one so the DM can be prepped and so he can look the PrC over to see if it's feasible in his campaign and how he can work it in.

 

[irdeggman]

Depends on the Prestige Class. Like several have already said, some are not clearly organizationally driven.

Hence no choice in the poll is suitable for this selection.

 

[Kalendraf]

Ideally, it would be great if I could use the petitioning / recruiting angle on PrC's that allow it. But in my campaign, I allow level-ups immediately after gaining the exp and sleeping, so 90% of the level-ups occur while the group is out adventuring, typically in the wilds or in some remote locale. It wouldn't be very easy to force them to wait until they next reached the correct location for this or that guild to gain their next level.

Thus, I just let them instantly take the class if they qualify for it. It's not perfect, but it's less hassle for everyone. Hence, the players have more fun and that's the whole point isn't it?

 

[Herpes Cineplex]

I chose "as soon as they qualify". But players usually let the DMs know if/when they're going to take one so the DM can be prepped and so he can look the PrC over to see if it's feasible in his campaign and how he can work it in.

Hey, that's what I was going to say!

Every PrC that has ever been taken in one of our games was first pitched to the GM ("I want to go into this prestige class in two more levels, look it over and tell me what you think"), and if it was okayed for use in the game then we all had some time to work around whatever hoops needed to be jumped through (whether they were mechanical, organizational, or whatever).

But the first step is always to let the GM know what PrC you're considering as soon as you know you're considering it, and get it approved. If that was done, you were set to enter the PrC as soon as you qualified.

--
needless to say, not all prestige classes got gm approval
ryan

 

[Saeviomagy]

PC's don't need to meet any sort of organisational requirements to join a PrC.

PC's do not gain access to the organisational benefits of a PrC until they join said organisation, or come up with some alternative that could provide the same benefits.

For instance - you could become a red wizard without joining the red wizards. However you're not gonna get much use out of the PrC benefits unless you
a) join the red wizards
b) take leadership and form your own coven of apprentice wizards who each have the tattoo focus feat.

Going the other way, it's possible to be a red wizard without ever getting a level in the red wizard class.

Since most PrC's don't actually have many organisational benefits, this works just fine.

Classes are for mechanical benefits. Good roleplaying is for social benefits. Never shall one be wholly based upon the other.

 

[Tonguez]

Classes are for mechanical benefits. Good roleplaying is for social benefits. Never shall one be wholly based upon the other.

I disagree personally I require that ALL PrCs have some kind of roleplaying prerequisite (be it the locate a willing tutor to must have had an encounter with a cetacean whilst swimming (including whilst drowning)) and that these become part of the campaign world

the roleplaying occurs in order to 'set up' the PrC and social benefits of group membership should also result via further roleplaying (ie the Prestige Group is now a RP hook)

 

[Thanee]

Note, that some PrC have the contact with an organization as part of the requirements. So even with the first vote, some of the others are included.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Gunton The Terrible]

This is what I posted to my group;

Prestige Classes: I am taking the view that PRCs have secret knowledge of their individual craft. As such, a character will have to obtain this secret knowledge to gain the PRC. Knowledge can come from a master of the PRC, a forgotten tome, or divine intervention. DM permission is needed for any PRC, even core book PRCs. Some simply do not fit in the campaign, sorry. Before pursuing a PRC let the DM know which one(s) you are shooting for. Even if you meet the prerequisites do not simply take the initial level in prestige class. There may be role-playing implications to the PRC in this campaign, so let the DM know what you are planning on doing.

 

[MDSnowman]

In my upcoming Ravenloft campaign I'm taking the view that prestige classes are largely Role Playing concerns. Yes, I have two players who are already aiming for some Prestige Classes, Hunter of the Dead and Pistoleer. How will they "qualify" for them? I'm not going to make them count feats and skill points, instead I'll get them close to where they need to be to meet published requirements and spring something totally new on them. The would-be Hunter of the Dead may need to survive a night in a sealed Crypt for an existing hunter to teach him the trade, or the Pistoleer may need to win a public quick draw competition.

Either way the players will have certainly think they've earned their place in the prestige class more than if they just took a laundry list of feats and skills.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Like you said: it depends.

Most of the time I require the players to roleplay finding a suitable tutor, mentor, trainer or reliable source of information to get them started. Once the PC has gained at least one level of any particular PrC I usually leave it at that and assume that the PC can find whatever he needs in order to advance in that particular PrC from that point on.

That's probably the way I would do it also.
Of course, not every PrC has an organization. Some are just existing skills taken further by the individual--like some wizard PrCs for instance.