I'll just throw in my two copper pieces.
Bluemoon said:
Some Prestige Classes have only five levels while others have ten.
5 and 10 are the most used numbers of levels. However, there's no hard rule about that. I've seen a couple of 3-levelers, at least one 6er, and one of 13 levels. Others are possible, too.
If you are interested in the Epic rules (for characters above the 20-levels limit): Core classes can be advanced beyond 20th level, and PrC's beyond 10th - but only if they already are 10ers (or around that number). 5-lv-PrC cannot be made epic.
2) Can you multi-class in more than one Prestige Class just like you can multi-class in more than one Core Class as long as you meet the requirements?
Sure. Since PrC's aren't taken into account when calculating XP penalties for uneven multiclassing, this can even be more favorable than multiclassing in core classes. But DM's can always limit the number of classes you can multiclass in, and PrC's are often restricted more than core clases (I.E. 4 classes, but 2 PrC's tops)
3) What happens when my 5th level Core Class (Fighter, Wizard, Rogue, etc...) multi-classes into a Prestige Class that only has five levels? So what happens after achieving 5th level in the Prestige Class? Now I am a 5th level Core Class/5th level Prestige Class, am I stuck like that forever? Should I have multi-classed into the Prestige Class when my Core Class was 15th level instead of 5th level? Is the only way to get unstuck to multi-class into a third class? If so, can I multi-class into a second Prestige Class? Can I ultimately have a character that is 5th level Core Class/5th level Prestige Class/10th level Prestige Class?
After you have finished a 5-level-PrC, you must continue in other classes, i.e. the one you had before, a new one, or a new PrC.
Not that at with every level-up, you can decide anew what class you advance: So at 7th level, your Fighter5/Champion1 could become Ftr5/Chm2, Ftr6/Chm1, or even Ftr5/Chm1/Somethingelse1.
There are only two classes you (usually) can't return to once you multiclass: Paladin and Monk. But many DM's disregard that rule, certain PrC's circumvent that rule (e.g. a Monk that is a Red Avenger can advance further as a monk), and some Paladin and Monk Orders have exceptions to the rule (e.g. Monks of the Dark Moon - monks of Shar in the FR - can multiclass as sorcerers), sometimes having a restriction (Must have more levels as monk than all other class levels combined, for example)
4) What are the advantages/disadvantages of multi-classing into a Prestige Class as opposed to multi-classing into a regular Core Class?
Well, that's easy: You lose the stuff of the core class (which you'd get if you advanced in that) and get the stuff from the PrC. It's like multiclassing in general. But PrC's are often more specialized (and more powerful in that special case), and there are PrC's that let you advance in some core class abilities (most often spellcasting, but sometimes turning undead, bardic music, and so on).
5) Are there any Core Classes that shouldn't multi-class into Prestige Classes? Core Classes that loose more than gain when multi-classing?
It always depends on the PrC, and your character concept.
Example:
You're a rogue. High-leveled rogues get special powers at 10th, 13th, 16th, and 19th level, having the choice between fairly good stuff each time. If you multiclass, you will have less (or none of those powers). But some PrC's grant you some of those powers (though you usually cannot chose which). You could become shadow dancer, and gain improved evasion at 10th Shadowdancer level, so if you want that power, you could become Shadowdancer. In that case, you wouldn't get as much sneak attack bonus dice as with a straight rogue. If you don't care about the special abilities, but want the sneak attack, you could become an assassin, which gets that but none of the special rogue abilities.
6) Are there any Core Classes that should multi-class into Prestige Classes? Core Classes that gain more than loose when multi-classing?
Sorcerer and ranger are often mentioned at that (though in 3.5e, the Ranger will almost certainly be more attractive beyond 1st level, and sorcerers might get something else, too).
7) There are a lot of sourcebooks out there introducing new Prestige Classes from many D20 publishers but are there any sourcebooks introducing new Core Classes besides the Player's Handbook and Oriental Adventures? If so, which ones would you recommend?
Lots. Most D&D material from Wizards introduces at least a couple of new PrCs that contributes well to the rest of the book: the FRCS has some generic, but tailored-to-faerûn PrC's, Magic of Faerûn has Spellcaster - PrC's, Faiths and Pantheons Speciality Priests, the Manual of the Planes has Planar PrC's, The Unapproachable East PrC's for specialities from that area....
8) What are some of your favorite Prestige Classes and why? Which sourcebook from which publisher can I find them at? Do you like them because they are uber-cool for powergamers or because of atmosphere/character-development reasons for role-players?
My favorite would be the Bladesinger. It was first released in Tome and Blood (the Wizards' and Sorcerers' Guidebook), then errata'ed in the T&B Web Enhancement, and now made a new entry in Races of Faerûn (with some of its powers made more generic). It's the ultimate elven Warrior-Poet, combining all the Elves hold high in his fighting technique: Swordsmanship, Magic, Music, Dance. It's essentially a melee-warrior with some spellcasting ability and the ability to use arcane magic in melee without distraction or spell failure. Their magic focuses on spells that make you better in combat. (They have an own spell list, but can use their powers with whatever other arcane spells they can cast, though the most effecitve way for that class is almost straight fighter/bladesinger)
It's both powerful and offers great roleplaying opportunities.
The Arcane Trickster (also from T&B), a combination of Arcane Spellcasters (they advance their previous spellcasting class) and Rogues that can combine these two parts to get some additional tricks. In essence, it's a wizard or sorcerer (same BAB, same HD, same saves) with some roguish powers.
9) What are some of your least favorite Prestige Classes and why? Which sourcebook from which publisher describe these Prestige Classes that you do not like?
Forsaker (Masters of the Wild) - The must to destroy magic and the fact that they may not use any magic of have magic cast on them makes them inappropriate for almost all campaigns.
There are many other PrC's that aren't very interesting.
10) And the question that will never be settled, is it better to:
a) Single-class. (Better for which Core Class?)
b) Multi-class into another Core Class. (Better for which Core Class to multi-class into which Core Class?)
c) Multi-class into a Prestige Class. (Better for which Core Class to multi-class into which Prestige Class?)
d) Multi-class and use all your new experience points into advancing your second class and never advance your first class again, as long as you do not suffer the -20% XP penalty.
e) Multi-class and use your new experience points to advance both classes.
Depending on your character concept, on the core class, on the PrC (and the general amount of good PrC's for them), this can be any of the above.
Hmmm... Something else about the core classes (counting only those from the PHB, no additional ones, like those from OA or the PsiHB) and multiclassing:
Fighter: There are a lot of good and funny PrC's about. You surrender your Bonus Feats for some more specific Powers. Of special note is the Divine Champion (from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, short FRCS): He gets fighter bonus feats and special powers (and one more good save). As long as your character has an interest in religion (and ranks in Knowledge(religion)), this PrC almost always benefits your character.
Ranger: Don't gain to much on later levels (though this will change in 3.5e), so multiclassing will often be benefitical. If you take the Ranger for the skill points and class skill list the class offers, you might want to take special ranger PrC's. There are a couple of nice PrC's for rangers (and of course, the fighter-likes are often a good choice, too). The Deepwood Sniper, for example, will help you with ranged combat and builds on the rangers skills of stealth and reconaissance.
Paladins: Don't gain to much on later levels, either, but beware: it can be that you won't be able to return to the class, due to the special multiclassing restrictions. In addition to fighter-type PrC's, there are a couple of "holy warrior" themed classes.
Barbarian: If you multiclass from that, you'll have less uses of rage (though there are feats for that), less (or no) DR, miss the chance of greater rage (and ultimately to avoid being winded after the rage, though this isn't an issue to often, due to short durations of combats). There are several PrCs for ragers and berserkers out there that give you additional uses of rage, improve your rage, or give you something that stacks with rage (the frenzy of the frenzied berserker).
Warriors in Geneal: Fighers, Rangers, Paladins and Barbarians share good fortitute saves, high hit dice (d10 or even d12, in the case of the barbarian), and especially the good BAB progression (equal to the class levels). They can be mixed and matched almost at will, and many PrC's are equally well suited for all of them.
Clerics: Other than more power to turn (or rebuke) undead, clerics lose nothing when multiclassing (and one or two classes advance that, too), so most clerics that don't care about the undead will multiclass. There are many Speciality Priests of a specific Deity, plus lots of PrC's that turn the generic cleric into a special-purpose Priest (liek Inquisitor, or Divine Agent)
Druids: Druids have more to lose from multiclassing than clerics have: If you like the Wildshape ability much, you shouldn't multiclass - unless you find a PrC that has some wildshape - like ability (the Verdant Lord will let you wildshape into a treant once a day, and the Shifter will focus on wildshape, giving you lots of new possibilities for wildshape in size and shape - at the cost of spellcasting ability, since that won't increase with shifter levels). There are a couple of "Speciality Druids" out there (and even some "Anti-Druids" that Blight nature instead of nurturing it)
Monks: Will lose quite a lot when multiclassing, as they continue to get special qualities the whole time, plus their unarmed attack, their Monk AC bonus, their speed and their unarmed damage depend on monk levels. There are a handfull of "Monk-PrCs", though, whose levels can be added to the monk levels to determine these things. Monk PrC's often specialize in some special philosophy.
Rogues: They lose their nice special abilities (and possibly sneak attack) when multiclassing - so if you want those, go seek a PrC that grants you those abilities that you want. There are several nice PrC's for rogues, but many that are not so good (especially if you like sneak attacks). In general, the rogue class is versatile enough to emulate many concepts (they can be an assassin even without the Assassin PrC's death attack and spells - but they help)
Bards: After a lot of crappy Bard-PrC's, there are finally some good ones. In general, multiclasing means that the bard will have less uses of bardic music (though a few PrC's advance that) and maybe spellcasting power (though many bard PrC's advance that). The power of bardic music is determined by your ranks in Perform, so you'll be able to increase that even with levels in other classes. Nice PrC's include the Virtuoso (Song & Silence; the only decent bard PrC in the book), and the Warrior Skald and Spellsinger (both from Races of Faerûn).
Wizards/Sorcerers: Special abilities from familiars are tied to wizard levels, so multiclassing means your familiar has less abilities (though many wizards neglect their familiar, anyway). That's true for both wizards and Sorcerers, and for most, it isn't enough of a deterrence from multiclassing. Wizards get bonus feats in addition to that, and this is a better reason not to multiclass (but the powers of the PrC's more than make up for that most of the time). There are some classes that require you to be able to prepare spells (so they are closed to sorcerers, unless you take some special feats, and even then they are of limited use to him), and some require to be able to use arcane spells without preparation (so they're only open to sorcerers and bards).
Spellcasters (Especially Wiz, Sor, Clr, Drd - the "full-time-spellcasters"): Only classes that offer advancement of the spellcasting ability make sense for these classes, except when you want to make a combination of spellcasting and other powers. Many classes offer full advancement, some only every other level (this often means that the special powers of the class are very strong, or that it is a PrC for a class combo, like the Spellsword, a combination of fighter and wizard/sorcerer), and some have full progression except on one, two or three levels in 10 (e.g. every level but 1st, or but 1st, 5th and 10th). You must decide whether the abilities those PrCs grant make up for the loss in pure spellcasting power.
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