D&D 5E Just a thought about prestige classes.

[steeldragons]

Would anyone in the Adventurer's League care to explain what the frag a "faction" is and how it works for those of us that do not engage in so-called "organized play."

 

[trentonjoe]

Would anyone in the Adventurer's League care to explain what the frag a "faction" is and how it works for those of us that do not engage in so-called "organized play."

It's just an organization you can join.

http://dnd.wizards.com/playevents/players

 

[steeldragons]

Thanks for the link.

Nice to know 5e isn't afraid to maintain D&D's fine tradition of rip offs of other material.

Be that as it may, I don't really see how [something like] that might duplicate/create an effective "Prestige Class" for a character. Fun story stuff, plots hooks, npc allies and foes, and the like, sure. But I'm not seeing a prestige class in there.

 

[Riley37]

What are your favorite prestige classes from heroic fantasy, whether myth (Beowulf, Odyssey, Arthur etc.) or modern fiction (LOTR, Wizard of Earthsea, Three Hearts and Three Lions, etc.)?

 

[Anth]

Would anyone in the Adventurer's League care to explain what the frag a "faction" is and how it works for those of us that do not engage in so-called "organized play."

The Factions are five of the many organization that exist in older Forgotten Realms Campaign material.
The BR-pdf for players actually got an update with an appendix with info about the five factions, even if that info doesn't exist in the PHB.
DMG pp21-24 has some info about factions.

 

[aramis erak]

Would anyone in the Adventurer's League care to explain what the frag a "faction" is and how it works for those of us that do not engage in so-called "organized play."

They are groups with major potential in-game.

If being run as a non-AL game, they are built-in patron choices referenced in some adventures.

In D&D Encounters, they don't do much except build some links between players.

In D&D Expeditions, they trigger some side quests and alternate chapters of the expedition modules.

In D&D Epics, they have stronger effects still, and the faction "winning" gets some potential to change the realms "forever."

And, in D&D Casual Play (be it Expeditions or HotDQ on encounters nights, or home AL play of either), it triggers a few reactions in play.

Plus, in AL play, if you get killed before level 5, your faction will ressurect you at the cost of no XP earned that session of Encounters/Expeditions/Casual Play.

 

[Ahrimon]

Thanks for the link.

Nice to know 5e isn't afraid to maintain D&D's fine tradition of rip offs of other material.

Be that as it may, I don't really see how [something like] that might duplicate/create an effective "Prestige Class" for a character. Fun story stuff, plots hooks, npc allies and foes, and the like, sure. But I'm not seeing a prestige class in there.

It's a basis for everything, story wise, that prestige classes are. Prestige classes started as membership in a prestigious/secret/mystical organization that included class abilities because no one is going to take levels in a class that doesn't give them anything. But if all you are looking for is a collection of, how did you put it in the multi-class thread, a collection of "kewl powerz" then it won't duplicate/create a prestige class.

I'd rather a prestige class be more what it was supposed to be. Membership in that special organization that has story impacts and isn't about what special abilities you can get for the build of the month.

I am curious about what you mean by ripping off material? Where are you saying the idea was taken from?

 

[jodyjohnson]

Nice to know 5e isn't afraid to maintain D&D's fine tradition of rip offs of other material.

They are totally ripping off TSR's Planescape Factions, and integrating Ed Greenwood's original organizations and nations.

Which had precedent in Gary Gygax's organizations and national interests (Scarlet Brotherhood, Circle of Eight, national and self-interested groups) which are of course reminiscent of real life.

Those plagiarizing losers. 8)

The Organized Play factions are in the DMG as examples so home games can rip them off too.

 

[DammitVictor]

Just wanted to stick my two cents in, that I think feats are the best design space for emulating Prestige Class abilities. Go light on the prerequisites (a feat's already a major investment) and try to sum up the core of the PrC in between 1-3 abilities.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

What are your favorite prestige classes from heroic fantasy, whether myth (Beowulf, Odyssey, Arthur etc.) or modern fiction (LOTR, Wizard of Earthsea, Three Hearts and Three Lions, etc.)?

Legendary to be king is from both LOTR and Arthur... Once and Future king from the second. WInter Knight from Dresden, Mother of Dragons from SoIaF, and then there are the D&D ones I liked, Blade singer, Mystic theurge, Duelist, shadow dancer, and fate spiner.