Prestige Class: Number of levels

[Herzog]

Every released prestige class has either 5 or 10 levels.

Why?

I have started looking, but I haven't found any reference to the specifics of this number of levels, other than the reasoning behind restricting some prestige classes to 5 levels.

If there is any rule about the game balance of having a maximum of 10 levels, can somebody point me toward it?

Herzog

 

[hong]

There's a couple of 3-level prestige classes, but at that point you have to wonder why even bother having a PrC. There's also some with 15.

The void disciple in OA (reprinted in Complete Divine) has 13 levels.

People like having things in multiples of 5, basically.

 

[Nifft]

It's because the game changes every 5 levels, right?

Some exceptions:
- Exotic Weapons Master (3 levels)
- Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil (7 levels)
- Sanctified Mind (6 levels)

Cheers, -- N

 

[Laman Stahros]

True Necromancer has 14 levels.

I read somewhere that the 10 level classes were supposed to represent an in depth specialization while the 5 level classes are merely an enhancement to the existing class.

 

[pawsplay]

Every released prestige class has either 5 or 10 levels.

Why?

It is the conventional. It tends not to be true of PrCs that are either dips (3 levels) or that are intended as replacement progressions (Void Disciple, Prestige Paladin, etc.). There are also a couple of "cute" tables, like ones that mirror a number associated with the name of the class, or a couple of thirteen level PrCs from the BoVD.