Is taking a PrC equivalent to being in a clan?

[Tuzenbach]

Hi! I'm very new to 3.0/3.5. I was lately reading the description of PrC in the DMG 3.0 and from what I gathered, based upon examples of the Arcane Archer & Assassin anyway, it's not just a type of specialization a character chooses when deciding to go the route of a PrC, but choosing a profession that's already held by a given segment of society, and that one of the prerequisites for attaining the PrC depends upon whether the "others" will let you into their select little band. Am I correct, or is this a false assumption?


If I'm wrong about this, does that mean that there are PrCs that are totally unique out there? For example: I have a friend who's the sole member of his own religion-"The Localized Temple Of Sporadic Flux". The "Temple" is himself. It is "Localized" because wherever he goes, there he is. "Sporadic Flux" is indicative of the fact that he changes his mind frequently. But the point is, he's the only one in it. Are there PrCs in existence with only one member?


On a side note, is there a PrC that's akin to the Arcane Archer but with crossbows instead? The reason being is I have an Alchemist/Thief who's favored weapon is the light crossbow. He likes to invent interesting concoctions and I'd like to give him the ability to spread his inventiveness via his ranged weapon. Is there an Alchemical Marksman out there?

 

[Zappo]

PrCs can be a lot of things. Some PrCs represent membership in an organization, others represent a physical or spiritual transformation, others represent a character's specialized field of study or exercise, others just represent a set of skills exactly like a base class does. Others do other things.

I'd be interested in a crossbow PrC too.

 

[Crothian]

Some PrCl are like a member of a clan, others are not. Some are organization based, some are cult or church based, some are solatairey, and they can really be anything.

There are very few prcl geared to a crossbow and none like the arcane archer that I know of.

 

[Tuzenbach]

Ah, so it IS possible to have a totally unique PrC that nobody else who plays D&D has? That's rather interesting.

One more quick question that the DMG wasn't too clear on: So, you take the PrC at around 5th-8th level or whatever. At that point you're then a 1st level __________? How many experience points do you then have and how many are needed for next level? Or are you a 5th-8th level __________/1st level ____________? I'm so confused!

 

[Caspian Moon Prince]

Basically you just keep following the chart in the Player's Handbook. If a character is a 5th level rogue/1st level assasin they are a total 6th level character and would have to be at the experience point total for that level. To go up to 2nd level in assassin or 6th in rogue, they would have to go up to the 7th level exp mark found in the player's handbook. Each class doesn't have separate exp, it is a total of all the levels the character has.

Hope that clears it up for ya.

 

[Zappo]

It is definitely possible to be the only member of a Prestige Class. I mean, for all the prestige classes that exist, there's got to be someone who was the first.

In fact, I think it's a pretty nifty idea... playing the guy who has actually invented a new prestige class... it may be very nice if you do it with one of the standard prestige classes.

"I am the Assassin"

 

[Shallown]

Of the Prestige classes I have players in this is how they work. All class changes require at least a level of warning so to change classes at 10th means I need to know when you make 8th so through 9th I can work it in.

Bladesinger - Character always wanted to be one from 1st level up. When he finally qualified he was somewhat time constrained in the game so he contacted a fellow Blade Brother who he had a letter of introduction (more or less) and he got training on the road. Luckily his road was through the elven kingdom so it was easy to work in story wise. Now he calls on favors and they do the same but it is a very loose confederation of people but you still have to get A bladesinger to apprentice you and learn the craft.

Windrider - Player wanted to be a riding fighter. I hadn't had much time to work it into the story so I dropped a unique mount in front of him ( A half silver dragon advanced wolf) and played out the elves teaching him. Windriders are even more individuals than Blade singers. So they can spontaneously achieve the class or be taught.

SpellFire channeler - Only one in the world. Considering only 3 people have spell fire and they are all related this is not a big surprise. The actual PrC is home brew since Spellfire was a specific force and place in my game world it so happened the one player who wanted the feat had a back ground that fit in perfectly with its origin. The feat follows the FR feat just the PrC is different and fitting in with what the player/character wanted to do with spellfire.

Sacred Exorcist - player wanted a PrC not for any role playing reason's just to be different. I turned him down for 3-4 PrC's since they were associated with specific churches and he was a worshiper of all the Gods not any one. A difficult position. I saw Sacred Exorcist being from several churches so I created a church council in the major city made up of several chucrh leaders that trained him in the class. He has since almost lost the class twice and may still yet before the game is over.

Later

 

[Thotas]

Hmmm. Interesting point about there has to be a first in every PrC. I've been playing with creating a world for 3.x, and one thought was making all my old AD&D characters (or at least their names and concepts) into the Legendary Heroes of this new world as something of a whimsical touch. I decided I had to do that in at least one case when Expanded Psi book came out. My 2e Psion was aspiring to leave his body behind and become a creature of pure mind, so in the history of my new world, the first Psion Uncarnate clearly has his name!

 

[Saeviomagy]

If the abilities of the PrC fit the character concept, don't deny the player the class because of 'roleplaying' reasons.

The player knows what his character is like, and the mechanics are supposed to reflect his vision.

Remember - roleplaying is supposed to be fun, not a punishment. If the 'cost' of entering a PrC is that you have to do some roleplaying, then you are playing to the idea that roleplaying is less fun than having stats and adventuring.

Ideally - if someone is in a specific area of expertise, he should probably naturally associate with (in either a friendly or unfriendly way) others in his area of expertise. If you have a campaign which is living, this will happen without the need for 'roleplaying' requirements in PrCs.

 

[Deadguy]

PrCs can be a lot of things. Some PrCs represent membership in an organization, others represent a physical or spiritual transformation, others represent a character's specialized field of study or exercise, others just represent a set of skills exactly like a base class does. Others do other things.

I'd be interested in a crossbow PrC too.

Damnit Zappo! Stop making reasonable and well thought out replies to questions! This is the third time tonight I have been forced to say 'ditto, that's what I was going to say'!