How often are prestige classes allowed & used?

[Count_Zero]

Medium Restrictions, occasionally used (and generally for NPCs). I haven't made it into a d20 game yet that lasted to the point where the players were taking levels in PrCs.

 

[KB9JMQ]

Between 3 DMs running various campaigns that makes up my circle of gaming I am the only one to have ever taken a PrC (Hunter of the Dead). I am not sure but with over 30 other characters made since 3E no one has taken anything other than a straight class.

None of these campaigns have restrictions that would keep players from taking a PrC.

 

[The_Gneech]

I'd say that just under half of the PCs in my group's various games have had a level or two of PrC. There is often a lot of multiclassing generally, but it's just as likely to be among core classes as it is with PrCs. My warrior-mage character ended up taking Eldritch Knight levels just because there wasn't a really good "warriormage" core class -- spellcasters are hit hardest by multiclassing.

My problem with a lot of PrC's is that I want them to be easier to get to. My recent attempt to create a Legolas clone forced him to take levels of Rogue (which I didn't really want) to get to Thief-Acrobat (which I really did want). So now he's got superfluous trapfinding and sneak attack abilities that I didn't particularly want and will likely rarely use, because the PrC he wanted required Evasion to get in.

-The Gneech

 

[Stormborn]

I have never had a PC take a PrC. Ever. I would be so thrilled if any of them actually wanted to that I would allow any they wanted. I have one player who after 4 years of playing still has to be told how to calculate damage in melee, in spite of the fact that he always plays the front line fighter; I have a second who tries her best to learn the rules, but tends to focus on just whatever base class she is playing at the time and doesn't want the "complications" of a PrC; the third shares DMing w/ me and would take a PrC I think but just never has.

 

[genshou]

I like prestige classes to be, well, prestigious in my setting. And the PCs are already prestigious, so I am fine with them taking those classes. The majority of NPCs will only have core classes, but PCs are special. However, my players don't usually see the need to take one every character.

As far as restricting what classes are available goes, I'm easily convinced to allow most classes, but if I don't see the need for that specialization in my setting, no dice. I'd consider myself moderately restrictive in that regard.

 

[Evilhalfling]

I like prestige classes to be, well, prestigious in my setting.

Amen.

4 x 15th lvl charaters IMC (2 PrC) - 1 has a HR wizard prestige class that was required for social advancement,
a second is a shadowdancer, and while having only a little formal training has been to the plane of shadow frequently, and picked up his companion with RP. He still has friends, allies and a few enemies/rivals there.

I allowed a midgame replacement charater to take levels in Knight Phantom (non-eberron game ) with him basically acting as the head of the order - that was a mistake. He decided to return to his previous character - a Expert1/Fighter12/paladin2

So I guess I have loose restrictions in taking the classes but the PrC becomes a major part of the campaign story.