Lame Prestige Classes

[ForceUser]

While cruising the boards over the last few days I've been reminded of why certain prestige classes WotC has cranked out to fill sourcebooks just blow chunks. Here are a few I loathe and why I loathe them.

• Assassin--this is a profession, not a class. But hey, let's throw spells on it, because that makes total sense thematically for the sneaky guy who kills people!
• Devoted Defender--let's create a PrC whose shtick is taking hits for his buddies, which any character should be able to attempt.
• Dungeon Delver--a class that's really good at finding treasure and disarming traps? It's called the rogue, genius. Let's throw magic on this one too, just because spells are the quick fix to everything in 3E!
• Forsaker--I hate magic! That's why I carry around bags of potions to destroy so I can keep my class features!
• Frenzied Berserkzer--got an enchanter in your group to control this monstrosity? No? Then let it go.
• Heirophant--what cleric or druid in his right mind is going to give up spell levelsfor a couple of tricks? Why would a heirophant be less powerful than a cleric or druid of equal level? Who designed this POS?
• Red Wizard of Thay--what rocket scientist thought this was a good idea? "I cast fireball! Make a DC 24 Reflex save!"

I'll think of more, I'm sure. What PrCs do you loathe, and why? WotC only please, we all know that there are thousands of stinkers out there from other companies.

 

[moritheil]

I think about 1/3 of the standard PrCs are a little weak or lame, but that has more to do with the fact that their entry requirements are laughable.

 

[Crothian]

There is not a single class that can't be made fun of from the right angle. Also, there is not a single class that can't be seen as very good and useful from the right angle.

 

[sniffles]

I don't see that any of those classes are "lame". I've actually wanted to play a Frenzied Berserker. It looks like fun.

The only thing I've ever objected to with prestige classes is that some of the prerequisites seem designed to make it almost impossible to get into them from the core class that they're obviously intended to coordinate with.

 

[Xombie Master]

Force User Let's start a thread bashing prestige classes because we don't agree with how they are represented. I'm not trying to be mean man but it's one thing to discuss the weaknesses of something looking for a better alternative. It's another to just complain. Just change them, it's your game.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Devoted Defender is great. One of my favorite games that I ran had a PC who played one.

 

[Mouseferatu]

You know, there's only one thing wrong with the assassin PrC. One.

That's the name.

Seriously. Change the name "assassin" to something else, make the PrC representatives of some dark secret society of mystically-oriented killers, and it's just fine.

Don't get too hung up on terminology.

 

[vrock]

I generally don't allow prestige classes in my game. I haven't seen a published one yet that I like. If a player in my game wants to become more specialized, or join an elite organization, or receive some special powers just because, they need to show me "in game". The ones you've listed are just a crutch for roleplaying, and storytelling.

 

[just__al]

I generally don't allow prestige classes in my game. I haven't seen a published one yet that I like. If a player in my game wants to become more specialized, or join an elite organization, or receive some special powers just because, they need to show me "in game". The ones you've listed are just a crutch for roleplaying, and storytelling.

There are some presteige classes that fill perceived skill/concept gaps like the mystic theurge, eldritch knight, deulist etc...

 

[Crothian]

I generally don't allow prestige classes in my game. I haven't seen a published one yet that I like. If a player in my game wants to become more specialized, or join an elite organization, or receive some special powers just because, they need to show me "in game". The ones you've listed are just a crutch for roleplaying, and storytelling.

Not really. They are the mechanics side of the role playing. Its fine to say that you are a Assassin but if you don't have the skills to back it up, its meaningless.