Prestige classes and multiclassing XP

[Hellefire]

So, I was just sitting around talking to some of my players about their class/prestige class/multiclass options, and they were surprised when I mentioned XP penalties for multiclassing with prestige classes. After searching through my books, I can't find anything specifically about prestige classes being exempt from the multiclassing XP penalties, and had always assumed prestige classes counted just like any other classes in that regard.

Any thoughts or specifications on this?

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[Ashardalon]

That is an accidental omission from the 3.5 books. The sentence was later added to the SRD. I'm not sure if it is in the Special Edition DMG, but it was in the 3.0 DMG.

And they really shouldn't incur XP penalties. It is quite easy for a PrC to immediately cause this penalty, as a character typically is already 6th level or higher when taking one.

 

[Ceska]

From the SRD:

Prestige classes offer a new form of multiclassing. Unlike the basic classes, characters must meet Requirements before they can take their first level of a prestige class. The rules for level advancement apply to this system, meaning the first step of advancement is always choosing a class. If a character does not meet the Requirements for a prestige class before that first step, that character cannot take the first level of that prestige class. Taking a prestige class does not incur the experience point penalties normally associated with multiclassing.

 

[Hellefire]

Thanks guys. That makes sense - as I was looking at it, particularly since some prestige classes max at 5th or even 3rd level, taking them would ensure a permanent xp penalty for any but the lowest level characters and that wouldnt make sense. Thanks specifically for the text!

Aaron

 

[Ranger REG]

I'm not sure if it is in the Special Edition DMG, but it was in the 3.0 DMG.

WotC put the omitted sentence back in.

 

[airwalkrr]

Not like it would totally break the game if prestige classes DID cause a multiclass penalty. Rather, it would probably balance the game out quite a bit.

 

[irdeggman]

Not like it would totally break the game if prestige classes DID cause a multiclass penalty. Rather, it would probably balance the game out quite a bit.

Maybe, but when the mere fact of taking a prestige class (which is supposed to have a mimimum of 5 character levels before qualification) puts you at an xp penalty that causes concerns.

Say for something like mystic theurge. The quickest way there is 3 wizard/ 3 cleric.

If you are a race that has neither as a favored class, say a dwarf, you immediately have a 40% xp penalty. The xp penalty for multiclassing is cumulative.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If you are a race that has neither as a favored class, say a dwarf, you immediately have a 40% xp penalty. The xp penalty for multiclassing is cumulative.

It is, but downwards, not upwards; you take a 20% penalty for each class whose level is not within 1 of your highest class level.

Your highest class level is 3; as a Clr3/Wiz3/MyTh1, you only have one class with a level not within 1 of 3, so your penalty is only 20%.

If your levels were 3/1/1 or 3/3/1/1, your penalty would be 40%.

-Hyp.

 

[irdeggman]

It is, but downwards, not upwards; you take a 20% penalty for each class whose level is not within 1 of your highest class level.

Your highest class level is 3; as a Clr3/Wiz3/MyTh1, you only have one class with a level not within 1 of 3, so your penalty is only 20%.

If your levels were 3/1/1 or 3/3/1/1, your penalty would be 40%.

-Hyp.

True enough.

But a 3/3/5 wiz/cleric/MT would have an immediate 20% xp penalty. And that is supposed to be the advantage of having a PrCl with a +1 existing spellcaster level.

So it is not an immediate 40% penalty (only a 20% one).

 

[Hypersmurf]

But a 3/3/5 wiz/cleric/MT would have an immediate 20% xp penalty.

You mean 40%? Yeah. If the 3/3/1 kept advancing, his penalty would go from 20% to 0% to 40%.

-Hyp.