Prestige Class Progression

[Samothdm]

I've seen PrCs with 3-levels, 5-levels, and 10-levels. Is there anything magical, rules-wise, about these numbers?

 

[the Jester]

Only the 10-level prcs have a magic number, and that's because only they get an epic progression.

I have a 7-level prc in my game (the Sorority of the Seven Veils), and I've seen 12-level prcs as well (and I really wonder if they should be allowed some kinda epic progression as well!)

I've also been considering 1-level 'flavor' classes that would put a regional stamp or cultural twist on a character.

 

[Terath Ninir]

When you have a 20 level system, 5 and 10 level classes follow naturally. Some daring rogue created the 3 level class, and I thank them for their daring.

There was a prestige class contest (I think sponsered by ENWorld, even) that Bugaboo entered a 9-level class in. You'd think he had been killing and eating babies from the reaction he got! People kept asking for and demanding the 10th level...

 

[Pax]

Hmm, there are other level progressions out there. 7 is, while not common, about as frequently encountered as 3-level progressions are.

And there are a few with more-than-10 progressions without going epic.

Jut in WOTC products, some example nonstandard PrC progressions are:

• Void Disciple (CD, updated from OA), 13 levels;
• all of the Racial Paragon classes (UA), 3 levels;
• Maho-Tsukai (OA version; UA updated it to a 10-level PrC), 15 levels;
• Bone Collector(Ghostwalk), 6 levels;
• Nar Demonbinder (Unapproachable East), 7 levels;
• Telflammar Shadowlord (Unapproachable East), 6 levels;
• Exotic Weapon Master (CW), 3 levels;
• Hulking Hurler (CW), 3 levels;
• Sword of Righteousness (BoED), 3 levels;
• Wonderworker (BoED), 3 levels;

And that's without delving into non-WOTC stuff, nor looking at any opf the 3.0 "splatbooks". However, 5 and 10 seem to be the "target" progressions - what designers TRY to fit their PrC idea to.

 

[maransreth]

In either the first Librum Equitis or the second, Hellhound came up with some reasons as what it means when a PrC is 5 levels, or 3 or 10.

I believe 10 levels is seen as a natural progression of any of the core classes. 3 or 5 levels is seen as a specialist PrC and is solely focused on one aspect. However there is no reason why you can't have PrCs with a certain amount of levels. And also remember, in 3e originally a character could only ever get 20 levels. If the requirements for the PrC meant that the earliest anyone could attain the PrC were after 10th level, then what was the point of having a 10 level PrC?

Let's see if Hellhound answers about the Librum Equitis thingie or if someone has a copy and can find it in there.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Don't forget all those PrC's made for dragons, in the Draconomicon. They've got 12 levels each.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

And also remember, in 3e originally a character could only ever get 20 levels.

This is still the standard. Epic levels might be discussed in the 3.5 DMG, but 20 levels are still the norm.