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Message: <blockquote data-quote="airwalkrr" data-source="post: 2935830" data-attributes="member: 12460">I have two primary problems with prestige classes, neither of which are solved by this solution. The first is that a) prestige classes artificially inflate saving throws while usually watering down BAB, but a wizard/loremaster is still just a wizard specializing in knowledge, why should he have better saves and worse BAB? The second is that b) prestige classes, by and large, are inherently better than the base classes. Choosing to play a fighter is detrimental when you can be a pious templar, exotic weapon master, kensai, occult slayer or dervish.The system encourages PCs to take prestige classes, but for all the wrong reasons. The idea of prestige classes is great, but it should be a decision based on style and unique character flavor, not mere power. A majority of PCs simply take prestige classes because they oogle at all the nifty abilities they can have, not because they want their PC to be a swashbuckling warrior with quick wit. I'm not saying prestige classes need to be weak, they just need to be comparable to the base classes.Ok, I'll stop hijacking my own thread now. Back to multiclassing.The problem with bridging prestige classes is that you might as well just build a new class. Why have an eldritch knight at all? Just build a class that gets proficiency with all armor and weapons, gets 3/4 spellcasting progression, and has a high BAB. Problem with that is it is a pain to have to come up with a new base class everytime someone wants to try a different class combo. And I don't want to have to think about taking a prestige class just to play a fighter/wizard, cleric/wizard, or rogue/wizard who is effective. I can play a fighter/rogue or barbarian/fighter who is effective without a prestige class (although a prestige class is certainly better). But I get hosed with a spellcasting multiclass combo unless I enter a prestige class. That seems inequitable to me. To me, the eldritch knight, mystic theurge, etc. is just a band-aid on a bigger problem with multiclassing.And I don't think the magic level rules completely addresses the problem. I think it gets halfway there by addressing the caster level issue so that it is easier for multiclass casters to overcome SR etc., but caster level is only part of the equation. Besides all that, in a lot of ways it doesn't make much sense. A Ftr16 takes one level of wizard and suddenly his magic missiles do just as much damage as a Wiz5's? Why should the character who has spent all his life training as a fighter be better at magic just because he is older. He has no experience with magic. The young wizard fresh out of wizard school has spent his entire life studying magic and yet some old fart fighter can cast a better magic missile than he can. That doesn't seem right.</blockquote>

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