Prestige Classes in your game

[Eye Tyrant]

Just curious if others are of like mind... half the PCs in my group (all 14th lvl) are straight up core classes. Rogue14, Cleric14, Fighter14, with the others being a Fighter6/Wpn Mstr8, Illusionist7/Elem Savant7, and the newest a Ranger11/Horizon Walker3...

Anyone else have a fondness for strictly playing core classes?


This might be a silly poll :/ And Oops! it should've been in the General Forum

 

[Mal-2]

Our current group of 13th level characters consists of:

A Cleric / Contemplative
A Rogue / Assassin
A Bard / Rogue / Shadowdancer
A Sorcerer / Cleric / Mystic Theurge
A Monk

Oh, and one cohort, an ex-paladin / blackguard / warrior of darkness

So, most of us like prestige classes.

 

[Darklone]

I do like the new prestige classes (most of them toned down a bit).

But I don't see many of my players heading that way though they showed an enormous multiclassing so far

 

[Rob-hin]

I'm making my own presige class for the on comming game. (together with the DM)
It's a guy who has been wronged by a wizard and now wants revenge. Kind of like the old wizard slayer, but then with a rogue.

So yeah, I love presige classes!

I've included my bio, for you to read if you enjoy it.
Prestige class stats are listed below.


Faig’der Haerios
Half elf – Nightcaster (GN)

“See that guy? I bet he’s got a lot worth stealing, just watch me…”


Being a child with an elven father and a human mother, Faig’der felt like he had much to prove. All of his friends were pure blooded elves and he was known as the half human. Naturally, he didn’t like this one bit.
He went to great lengths to prove himself to them, getting himself into trouble on more the one occasion.

One day, a traveller came to town, a human. He wore expensive looking clothes and seemed to be unarmed; carrying only a quarterstaff. People like him came by often, drawn to the city because of its reputation of superb magical item which were created by the talented elves who lived there.

Faig’der and his friends were up to their usual mischief, harmless fun mostly.
Seeing this as a good opportunity to be the bravest of the group of boys, Faig’der got an idea. “See that guy? I bet he’s got a lot worth stealing, just watch me…”
He snuck closer, keeping himself hidden from the man’s sight. Once behind him, Faig’der let his hand slide into the man’s pocket. Just as he was about to pull his hand back, with whatever he had gotten hold of, the man turned and grabbed him by the wrist.
“Stealing from me eh?” He shouted with great anger in his voice. “I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t forget!” Then he pushed Faig’der to the ground and started making strange jesters while speaking strange words.
As Faig’der rose to his feet, about to turn and run; he felt his limbs harden. He was unable to move and as he looked down, he noticed his skin was turning grey… stone grey. The man quickly disappeared after this, leaving behind a statue of Faig’der.

It took his family almost two years to save enough money to get another spell caster to reverse the spell. All this time, Faig’der just stood there. His face showing the great panic he felt at that time, but other then that, completely lifeless.

After this experience, Faig’der vowed to get back at this unknown wizard.
As soon as he was ready, he bought the equipment he needed and set of, away from the city he loved so much. Bitter and full of hate towards this wizard, or all wizards for all that matters. To increase his chances against this guy, he started studying the arts himself. Combined with his speed, he knew he would get him. There was no doubt in his mind.

It’s hard for him to let the experience go. Especially since him returning to flesh had some side effects. His whole body had turned to normal, except for his hands. Bits and peaces of it were still covered with a layer of flexible, though hard, stone. So, he wraps his hands with bandage, to keep it hidden from sight.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Faig’der has long greyish hair loosely tied together with a thin string of rope on his back.
He has a long leather coat that goes down to his knees with metal clasps to close it with; it has a high collar to protect him from the elements on his travels.

A dagger is well concealed in the sleeve of his coat. His rapier dangles on his belt, the hilt points out if his coat and the blade is too long to completely be covered. On Faig’der back rests a longbow alongside the arrows in a quiver.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

level BAB FORT REF WILL SPECIAL
1 0 0 1 1 Sneak attack 1d6, ability to cast spells from schools abjuration, illusion, universal
2 1 0 2 2 Trapfinding, ability to cast spells from school conjuration
3 2 1 2 2 Evasion, trap sense +1
4 2 1 3 3 Uncanny dodge, ability to cast spells from school divination
5 3 1 3 3 Sneak attack 2d6
6 4 2 4 4 Trap sense +2, ablility to cast spells from school transmutation
7 4 2 4 4 Sneak attack 3d6

And so on.

 

[Dash Dannigan]

With the 3.5 classes for the first time in years I have players saying things like: "Forget that PrC, I'm going full Ranger! or...full Druid!", etc.

I think whetehr its core or PrC doesn't matter so much anymore just depends on what you want to do, it's all more or less equal now. Before I couldn;t think of why you wouldn't take a PrC and now its: sure, if that's your character concept.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Lessee, party of 13th level characters. (started in 3.0.0)

Wizard5/Rogue1/MageotAO7
Cleric12/sorceror1
Paladin13
Rogue10/Sorceror2/Dragon Disciple1
Fighter12/Dervish1 (house rule)
Bard4/Rogue4/Arcane Archer3/DeepwoodSniper2
Ranger2/Druid11

Ehhh, It's about 50/50. The ones that like the PrCs are either going for a particular style (DD), a power upgrade (MtAO, AA/DwS), or a combination of the two (Dervish = spinny blades of ouchie).

Not sure if the bard would've ended up the archer-twink if he didn't have the lowest hit points in the party. It's so bad the rest of the party measures their HPs in bardic increments "Fighter's down a bard and change" or "yow, that crit was half a bard!"

As for the MotAO, I actually keep close eyes on spell acquisition so the free spells are handy and with only one serious arcane caster he needs the spell-pool flexibility.

 

[Gort]

I'm fine with prestige classes, as long as there's PRESTIGE to them.

For example, I'd probably say no to a player taking a second prestige class. I'd also probably prefer them to take the class to completion if they had the levels... no single-level prestige classing in my campaign.

Also, I'd vet them VERY carefully. Frenzied Berserker woes? Sign me up. A DM used a Feral Minotaur Frenzied Berserker on my party, killed 3 PCs in 3 rounds. Boy that was fun. Good thing my character stayed well distant.

 

[Spatzimaus]

A bit from column A, a bit from column B.

Some prestige classes have easy entry requirements, but have some ongoing cost compared to a core class in exchange for some cool abilities. So, powerwise, they're balanced. A great example of this is the Horizon Walker; it's not tough to get into, if you're a Ranger, but you're giving up spells and bonus Feats and such to gain its abilities; a Ranger 15 isn't less powerful than a Ranger 5/HW 10, just different.
These classes I have no problem with. They need a bit of tweaking to fit with the campaign, but powerwise there isn't a problem, so I don't prevent the players from dipping into the class for a few levels.

Then, there are classes with stiff requirements but that are better in every way than the class they build off of. (See also: any PrC with "+1 spellcasting level" at every level). As you add more PrCs, prerequisites become less of a drawback, since you can almost always find a class whose prerequisites are met by the abilities you would have bought anyway. For example, Loremaster looks tough (20 ranks and 4 Feats), until you realize that the class is aimed at Wizards and they get 3 of those Feats for free by level 10, and the lost 20 ranks are paid back by the extra 2/level the class gives. Heck, even the Skill Focus isn't really a cost, since the class gives a free Feat.
These classes I have problems with. If a player wants one of these, I expect him to aim his character towards it for a few levels in advance, not just buy all the Feats at the last second. It should become central to his character concept, so switching PrCs later shouldn't happen. And, I'll usually end up tweaking the class into something I feel is more balanced.

 

[BSF]

I like PrCs. But, I don't like generic PrCs. For me, it is about the Prestige. There should be something unique about a PrC that makes it interesting, not just overpowered.

Although, I do not subscribe to the camp that declares only 1 PrC per character. If the character can develop into a new PrC, I will allow it. Now, I do not belittle those that restrict PrCs, nor do I belittle those that toss them from the game altogether. To each their own.

In my games, I am slowly writing up campaign specific PrCs and increasingly restricting or customizing others. If a player has a concept, and it includes a PrC, I will work with them to bring something into the game. It might not be exactly what they wanted at the beginning, but we will find a way to fit the flavor of the character and the campaign.

 

[Xarls Taunzund]

Party of 18th-19th level characters.

Wizard 6/Elemental Savant 10/Archmage 3
Wizard 15/Fighter 1/Spellblade 2
Cleric 5/Sacred Exorcist 10/Adept of Ptah (homemade) 4
Fighter 16/Survivor 3
Bard 15/Virtuoso 4
Druid 8/Shifter 10

Hmmmm, nope, no PrC's there.