Prestige Class Question

[Water Bob]

I've seen Prestige classes with levels 1-10, and I've seen them with levels 1-5.

Does this mean that the Prestige class is limited to those levels?

For example, if, at 5th level, a character multi-classes into a second class--a Prestige class with 10 levels--that the character can only stay in that Prestige class for those 10 levels? When the character's overall level reaches 16 (5 levels in the original class plus 10 levels in the Prestige class), the character must either revert to its originial class or multiclass into a different class?

Is that correct?





Also, if a requirement for a Prestige class is BAB +4, and a character gets BAB +4 at 4th level, does that mean that the earliest the character can enter the Prestige class is his overall character level 5? That's the way I read the DMG.

 

[parinho7]

if, at 5th level, a character multi-classes into a second class--a Prestige class with 10 levels--that the character can only stay in that Prestige class for those 10 levels?

he can stay in that prestige class for up to 10 levels. he might take less than 10 levels of that prestige class and chose to multiclass to something else earlier.

he can advance more than 10 levels in the prestige class if he reach epic levels and an epic level progression exist for that particular prestige class.

When the character's overall level reaches 16 (5 levels in the original class plus 10 levels in the Prestige class), the character must either revert to its originial class or multiclass into a different class?

Is that correct?

yes it is correct.

Also, if a requirement for a Prestige class is BAB +4, and a character gets BAB +4 at 4th level, does that mean that the earliest the character can enter the Prestige class is his overall character level 5? That's the way I read the DMG.

also correct.

 

[Wyvernhand]

This is one of the (many) reasons that Mystic Theurge is seen as crappy. Even if you enter the way they "intended" (Wiz3/Clr3), that only takes you up to level 16, and then you have to go back and take a combination of 4 levels of either.

This is also the reason there are so many gish PrCs. Spellsword, Abjurant Champion, Eldritch Knight, Jade Phoenix Mage, Knight Phantom, etc. When you finish one, you can simply take another one to continue on your duel nature. Same thing with arcane rogue archtypes with Unseen Seer, Spellwarped Sniper, Daggerspell Mage, and Arcane Trickster.

Its a flaw in the system, but one that isn't hard to work around if you know what you're doing.