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Message: <blockquote data-quote="nothing to see here" data-source="post: 1513295" data-attributes="member: 16432">I think we're seeing a bit of dissensus emerge on the role of prestige class requirements.I agree that I find the traditional prestige requirements a bit onerous.  Not necessarily because they are too high (though that applies somoe), but beacuse many of the feat/skill requirements are two specific and don't allow for other paths into the class.So, like many, I rule zero it -- an approach tacitly endorsed by WOTC's own designers when they introduce the idea of 'test-based' prestige classes in Unearthed Arcana.Here's where the problem starts.The rationale given by the WOTC staff is that mechanical requirements are chosen over flavour requirements -- purely as a balance aid -- from game to game.  This is fair enough.However, when you look at some of the more 'controversial' Prestige classes, like the Mystic Theurge -- designers like Johnathon Tweet (IIRC) have defended the idea that the specific prestige class requirements don't just ensure an appropriate level of entry -- they also require a diffusion of class power between differnet classes to qualify -- forcing the character to make a sub-optimal choice to quaify for the PRC -- a choice that will be compensated for by the higher than normal power curve once they are inside the class.I wish I could be more clear than that.  And I'm sorry to hijack the threat a little.  It's just important to note that in some cases (Mystic Theurge being most obvious example) the requirements are not just a barrier to entry -- they are intentionally designed to handicap a character during the qualification process.  For these special cases, changing requirements can be very unbalancing.</blockquote>

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