multi-prestige classes

[Kahuna Burger]

just a random poll on how people feel about taking levels of multiple prestige classes. My own personal opinion is that if players are taing "cheese levels" of PrCs they are going against the spirit of those classes, and at the very least should start paying multiclassing penalties. Esp those PrCs which are supposed to represent special training that comes from membership in a group...

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Anyone want to comment on choices, particlarly if they seem to run against the average?

I'm sort of suprized that people find a dws/windrider less acceptable than a dws/ootbi. I'd think advancing two aspects of your character at once would be better than advancing the same aspect but supposedly through two very different methods.

Kahuna Burger

 

[Chun-tzu]

Alternating between a PrC and a core class.
Maxing out one PrC and moving on to another.

I don't see either of these as a problem.

Alternating between two unrelated PrCs (a deepwood sniper who is also progressing as a windrider).
Having two or more PrCs with opposing 'flavor text' requirements.


I don't see the first as a problem. Say a player wants to play Zorro. The tough DM wil say, "That's too bad. Zorro's a munchkin." To play a guy like Zorro, you NEED the Duelist and Lasher PrCs, because finesse-based fighters and whip-users are extremely weak in 3E.

To have opposing flavors is a bit different, though. If a player wanted to alternate levels between a brutish, barbarian PrC and a sophisticated, suave PrC, it would just be too strange.

Alternating between two related PrCs (a deepwood sniper who is also advancing in the order of the bow).

There's definite munchkin potential there, but I don't see a justifiable reason to deny it. Combining PrCs in and of itself is not a problem, although certain PrCs are themselves a problem.

Having only 'cheese levels' in one PrC (perhaps to qualify for your main one).
Having 'cheese levels' in two or more PrCs.

I'm okay with the first. Some PrCs have outrageous requirements for certain characters. For example, a Sorcerer who wants to be an Elemental Savant is going to have a heck of a time qualifying because of the extremely high cross-class skill requirements. That's just not right.

But if you've got "cheese" levels in more than 1 PrC, that's really pushing it.

Having three or more PrCs at any level.

For a high-level campaign, this isn't a problem. PrCs are already restrictive in their prerequisites. There's munchkin potential here, of course, but that's usually more due to specific poorly designed PrCs than anything else.

 

[Dinkeldog]

The worst offense I've seen was a cleric with one level of templar to get mettle and two levels of divine oracle for evasion, and then ignored the two PrCs the rest of his development time.

Other than that, I had Wulf's PrCs of Devoted Defender, Slayer, and what, one level of Ranger? That didn't bother me, because the Devoted Defender thing made sense, the Slayer made sense,

 

[Kahuna Burger]

hhmmm... could a moderator please add a "all of these are acceptable to me" option as a control? Forgot that aspect of multiple answer polls...

Kahuna Burger

 

[Apok]

The only one I'd have a problem with is opposing flavor text requirements. Trying to justify a multiclassed Order of the Chalice/Acolyte of the Skin would be damn difficult. Other than that, I'm fine with most PrC combos although some can get pretty insane in terms of power level. I point specifically to the Red Wizard/Archmage PrC combo, which is perfectly legit and realistic if heinously overpowered.

 

[drnuncheon]

I only went for the last, because really, I'm not going to ban anything, if it works with the character's concept. I'd rather see a character with a strong concept and levels in 5 prestige classes that make that concept work than I would someone who chooses class/skills/PrC/feats based on what gives the most plusses.

J

 

[WattsHumphrey]

Anything goes.

I've played all of the above, and I've run games containing all of the above.

Honestly, it depends on the kind of game. I don't expect people to choose interesting but poor classes in some campaigns. I expect people to multiclass more in some games. It's all in the variety.

 

[Reika]

Went with anything goes, because quite frankly as a GM if it's within a char concept, I allow it. And my players know that if I allow them access to something, my NPCs will have the same access. So that helps control things.

For me as a player...I try to stick within the char concept, but there have been times something came up in game that caused a total change of outlook in my char. Such as the time my cleric encountered an avatar of her goddess. Needless to say, when the time came my Mystic Wanderer was going to go the route of the Contemplative, which would have been interesting in a hedonistic char.

 

[Storminator]

I point specifically to the Red Wizard/Archmage PrC combo, which is perfectly legit and realistic if heinously overpowered.

I DM for a player shooting for a Red Wizard/Shadow Adept/Archmage enchanter. The multiple levels of Spell Power are going to shoot his Dominate saves DC towards infinity.

PS