Players: which prestige class did you actually play?

[Turanil]

I was getting a look at the Hierophant prestige class (DMG), and thought "What a crap!". So I wanted to ask here who agree with me on that point. But then, one thought bringing another in, I would like to know what prestige classes do you have actually played. Also, tell us which prestige classes you think are not worth it, and why. (Of course, those who say that the Hierophant is a dumb crap witout flavor will be congratulated... )

Note: this thread is only about the prestige classes in the DMG (preferably the 3.5). Due to the thousands existing prestige classes, there must be a limit somewhere.

As for myself, I never got the opportunity to play a DMG prestige class, and actually only had once a character with one (from another source).

 

[Psion]

I can only speak from a GMs perspective.

I had a player take the arcane archer, but it was obvious to me that she liked the concept but didn't get how it worked in practice. Casting fireballs through arrows is not that special when the spell has a better range than the bow.

I've used Eldritch Knight multiple times to represent warrior-mage type NPCs. Its a nice compromise, but the inherent weakness of needing light or no armor makes it so you really have to strategize if you want to get your CRs-worth out of such a character.

I've used blackguards but don't like designing them. I kicked them to the curb once Green Ronin's unholy warriors came along.

Shadowdancers make great "annoyingly hard to pin down" skirmishing villain NPCs.

Assassins are, of course, a must-have in any GMs arsenal. Viva la ninja!

Loremaster fill the classic fantasy archetype as well.

 

[Voodoo]

Although the Heirophant is dire (and not in the badger sense of the word) by the look of it, it would make a great epic PrC.

I tend to play PrC from the other books since the ones in the DMG are a bit flavour light.

 

[MichaelH]

I have not actually seen many. My players have stuck with one class or multiclassing that makes sense in game. One of the players wanted to take Arcane Archer, but chose Order of the Bow Initiate instead. He has levels in ranger, rogue, fighter, and wizard. The 15th level wizard will finish his career as an Archmage.

On the other side of the screen, I have used many Assassins and a few Blackguards. Shadowdancer and Dwarven Defender have appeared once, too. I like the idea of prestige classes, but I also like the idea that they should not be too common. It takes away from their prestige if everyone takes them, IMO.

 

[devilbat]

As a player, I have never used one. In the games I've run, I've had a player use a Mystic Theurge.

 

[Turanil]

After 23 people voted, nobody voted for the Hierophant, lending credence to my opinion that this class is crap. I also notice that the Thaumaturgist don't get any favor. It must not be seen the effort when you forfeit d8 for d4, 2 good saves for only 1, and priest bab for wizard bab, all of this to get slight advantages for summoning with outsiders.

In any case, my grip is with the hierophant. It should have been done more like what was the hierophant back in UA 1e, but ended as a dumb whimpy class with a bland flavor.

 

[Pseudonym]

I have had only one character take DMG prestige classes, in this case both Loremaster and later Archmage. I would have been content to have stayed with Loremaster, but due to party dynamics my diviner somehow became the party's main source of fire support, so I went with Archmage to broaden options.

Loremaster is one of those prestige classes where there is almost no reason for a straight wizard not to take it. You loose the every 5 bonus feats and fluffy the familiar doesn't get any smarter, but you retain full caster progression, gain bonus abilities and a wider range of class skills and more points to boot.

In play, it fit my character idea well. I was going for a sort of First Age Noldor type, focused on crafting and divination. Others may not like the class, though.

 

[painandgreed]

I wanted to take Dragon Diciple once simply due to character concept, but the DM wouldn't let me not because of any of the powers you get but because he doesn't like the artwork for it. I really didn't care enough to argue.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I've played both Loremaster and Archmage... Definitely intend to give Dragon Disciple a go sometime - thing that'd make for an interesting fighter type.

As a GM, I've seen those 3, assasin, duelist and red wizard from players.

Used quite a few of them for NPCs.

 

[The LMS]

I have never played as or used a prestige class for anything important in one of my games. Overall I feel PrC's just arn't worth it.