Now that's a lot of Prestige Classes

[Holy Bovine]

I just finished going thorugh my Scarred Lands books trying to compile all of the Prestige Classes into one document catergorized by location (ie where they are found in Scarn).

The list is 68 (84 including the DMG ones) entries long! And that is incomplete because I am missing Calastia: the Black Dragon Throne and Blood Bayou (and there are 3 more Player's Guides due out - they will probably have 8-10 each). I realize that PrCs are an optional and I can eliminate any ones I want but this means I have to read every one of them to figure out what is/isn't balanced and I like to give my players as many character options as possible. Ugh my 'little proect' has already reached monster proportions!

So what about the rest of you? PrCs are always good for some lively discussion Do you allow most/some/none? how do you make the determination of what can/.cannot exsist in your game world? If a player really wanted to play a certain PrC would you let them even if you thought it could be overpowered?

 

[NiTessine]

I allow most PrCs, but all require my approval first. Prestige classes are primarily a flavour thing, in my opinion, and I've disallowed both the Eldritch Knight and the Mystic Theurge on account of them being bland and boring.

As for determining what exists or does not exist... Well, I think about whether it fits and... *Shrug* I play in Forgotten Realms, where you can find most everything, so I generally don't have to do much thinking on this. Of course, classes which rely on a setting-specific mechanic I tend to look over long and hard before deciding whether it is worth taking the time to convert, or if it even can be converted.

When it comes to prestige classes and game balance... I only disallow those which are blatantly and stupidly broken. I am not too good at gauging game balance, and when it comes to powerful characters, my players can create them with the core classes alone. I don't think a PrC can make them much worse, only more focused.

 

[Harlock]

Hey Holy Bovine, awesome project you are undertaking. As a Scarred Lands DM I must say I am going to grovel for a copy of that thing.

*Harlock grovels.

Anyhow, to answer your question, in my current SL game I told the players if they intended to take a PrC they darn sure better start down that road early and often through roleplaying it. A dwarven monk wants to become a drunken master? He better drink his ale regularly and have more than a back story. A Paladin wants to be a Gold Knight healer, she better start using that lay on hands often and on others before herself showing some true altruism and selflessness. She also better be willing to use it on street urchins, sick cattle for Farmer Bob who is going to lose his milking livelihood should Bessie pass, etc. I'd love to see my players "practice" fetas before they get them even. It's purely fluff and would have no in-game effects but wouldn't it be refreshing to have a player say, "Out of frustration, Grishnak wildly flails with his axe trying to take out as many enemies as possible in one flurry" while working up to the Whirlwind attack feat? I love that style of play and intensity and concern for roleplay and so try to offer reasons to roleplay in my game by giving XP bonuses for such ideas. So as far as PrCs go, I consider my players forewarned. If someone comes to me at 10th level and says OOC, "I want to take PrC X" and they've never showed any attempt or interest to it in character, then I'm going to tell them they don't have a chance. As DM I allow choices but I want to see in character reasons for those choices, not min-max or newest kewlest PrC on the block reasons.

 

[Crothian]

I allow most. There are a few I might change for flavor reasons, and less I'd change for power reasons.

 

[tetsujin28]

I'd love to see my players "practice" fetas

I suggest putting it on pizza or salad. That's a good start for beginners. Once they've gained some confidence, they can attempt a gratin or dessert.

 

[d4]

The list is 68 entries long!

weird. i just compiled a similar list of prestige classes for Star Wars d20, and also came up with 68.

and i don't even own any issues of Star Wars Gamer, which undoubtedly had a few more.

 

[Grim]

The list is 68 (84 including the DMG ones) entries long! And that is incomplete because I am missing Calastia: the Black Dragon Throne and Blood Bayou (and there are 3 more Player's Guides due out - they will probably have 8-10 each).

Calastia I own a copy of. It has...
Calastian Battle Mage
Dragon Knight
Halfling Stalker
Kilharman League Envoy
Monk of the Sacred Chain
Thorned Purifier

Which totals 6, although they might be reprints. Anyway, just in case you wanted to flesh out the list.

As for Scarred Lands, I don't think I own enough books to really run it well, just the Ghelspad CS, the Calastia thing, and The Divine and the Defeated. I'm somehow missing FR's NPC crunchiness, along with all the monsters and spells...

 

[Nightfall]

Bov,

Two things, one, Blood Bayou has no prestige classes. 2) I believe the total Prestige class from the next class books is 30. (I could be wrong but that sound about right.)

Also like Harlock, I'm SINCERELY impressed by your efforts. If you need help, well you know whom to ask.

 

[BSF]

For my next campaign, I am strongly working toward requiring a lot of RP to get into a PrC. There are PrC's that I don't like because they are bland. There are PrC's that I think don't fit the flavor of my world. But, I try to be open with working with the players to come up with a character they will enjoy playing.

 

[Nightfall]

Btw the only core classes I probably wouldn't use is Mythic Theurge (use Hallowed Mage instead), Red Wizard and Eldritch Warrior. (Prefer Eldritch Knight from BoEM2 in any case.)