D&D 5E Prestige Classes?

[Arnwolf666]

Just a tool for powergaming. Let's just use backgrounds. Oh wait is there a prestige class for wizards with pointy hats. I really need a pointy hat.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I don't mind the idea of something that works like a cross between backgrounds and magic items that give you a benefit for joining an in-game organization.

It was my experience in 3.x that no one ever bothered to use PRCs as in-game organizations, except for in the vaguest sense. (In that if a DM set up organizations in their stories that offered PRCs, no player wanted to join them, and no DM bothered to go into great story detail about the PRCs that players picked. It was nearly always handwaved.

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[77IM]

I view classes as character archetypes. Therefore, a prestige class would be a character archetype that only makes sense for higher level characters. AND is different from just being a higher level of a base class.

E.g., a 1st-level "Archmage" does not make sense, so Archmage maybe could be a PrC. BUT it would need to be different than just a high-level wizard. For example, maybe it's a political position that can be held by any arcane caster (most often a wizard, but could be a sorcerer, warlock, or even a bard).

That 2nd criterion -- different from just a high-level base class -- is actually the hard part of the game design, to me. It means the number of potential PrCs is actually very small. E.g., the martial-arts master is a classic high-level archetype -- if you ever find yourself in a kung-fu movie, do NOT engage the wizened old man, he is definitely the toughest! Unfortunately, in D&D terms, this would be a terrible PrC, because it would basically be the same as just being a high-level monk. Every high-level monk is already a martial-arts master. We don't need a PrC for that and we shouldn't get one because it's redundant with a class we already have. OTOH, a "Headmaster" PrC that can teach at any kind of school might work, if that's a strong enough archetype to warrant PrC support. You could have a monk/headmaster running the dojo, a wizard/headmaster running the magic school, a fighter/headmaster training the royal guard, etc.

I find the best ideas for PrCs involve your place in society. Like in real life, when you get really good at your job, you move into management.

 

[mellored]

IMO, they should be a separate track, from your class, with RP requirements. So they are less a "class" and more of a faction reputation.

So you can be a level 20 rogue, and a level 5 harper. But you only get to gain levels of harper by completing harper quests. And your reward is access to harper hideouts, and harper spy networks, and the ability to order up some harper reinforcements.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

IMO, they should be a separate track, from your class, with RP requirements. So they are less a "class" and more of a faction reputation.

So you can be a level 20 rogue, and a level 5 harper. But you only get to gain levels of harper by completing harper quests. And your reward is access to harper hideouts, and harper spy networks, and the ability to order up some harper reinforcements.

There's acutaly an optional ''reputation'' mechanic in the DMG (could be another name, I dont remember) that also works for faith. Like, you do quests for an organization or church and you gain titles based on the total points you have in a specific organization.

You know what, I'd like PrC to allow players to gain impact on the rules we have, but are optional, like Reputation, Mass Combat or Chase rule. It would be highly optional and situational, but some players might like it if it added to their character concept.
Ship Captain
lvl 1: You gain advantage on any check using Navigator tools and Vehicule (water)
lvl 2: You gain the Mariner fighting style
lvl 3: While you are on the sea or in a known port, creature have disadvantage to resist you social check.
lvl 4: See legs: you are immune to force movement while on a ship.
lvl 5: In a Naval Mass combat, you increase the moral rating of the unit in which your ship is by 2 steps.

 

[77IM]

There's acutaly an optional ''reputation'' mechanic in the DMG (could be another name, I dont remember) that also works for faith. Like, you do quests for an organization or church and you gain titles based on the total points you have in a specific organization.

You know what, I'd like PrC to allow players to gain impact on the rules we have, but are optional, like Reputation, Mass Combat or Chase rule. It would be highly optional and situational, but some players might like it if it added to their character concept.
Ship Captain
lvl 1: You gain advantage on any check using Navigator tools and Vehicule (water)
lvl 2: You gain the Mariner fighting style
lvl 3: While you are on the sea or in a known port, creature have disadvantage to resist you social check.
lvl 4: See legs: you are immune to force movement while on a ship.
lvl 5: In a Naval Mass combat, you increase the moral rating of the unit in which your ship is by 2 steps.

I love this. Every legit PrC concept I can think of would fit into this framework.

 

[Edwin Suijkerbuijk]

In 3.X prestige classes did not feal like they had much prestige to them, they where just a alternative set of abilities you could take.

I would like to see the prestige be put back into prestige classes ( or maybe prestige feats) if they decide to introduce them.
So there would be things you must achieve in the world before you could chose them.

For example you might have to own a fully staffed keep before you can take these options.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

There's acutaly an optional ''reputation'' mechanic in the DMG (could be another name, I dont remember) that also works for faith. Like, you do quests for an organization or church and you gain titles based on the total points you have in a specific organization.

You know what, I'd like PrC to allow players to gain impact on the rules we have, but are optional, like Reputation, Mass Combat or Chase rule. It would be highly optional and situational, but some players might like it if it added to their character concept.
Ship Captain
lvl 1: You gain advantage on any check using Navigator tools and Vehicule (water)
lvl 2: You gain the Mariner fighting style
lvl 3: While you are on the sea or in a known port, creature have disadvantage to resist you social check.
lvl 4: See legs: you are immune to force movement while on a ship.
lvl 5: In a Naval Mass combat, you increase the moral rating of the unit in which your ship is by 2 steps.

I like it. I also think it could be a feat, if that helps.

 

[mellored]

There's acutaly an optional ''reputation'' mechanic in the DMG (could be another name, I dont remember) that also works for faith. Like, you do quests for an organization or church and you gain titles based on the total points you have in a specific organization.

You know what, I'd like PrC to allow players to gain impact on the rules we have, but are optional, like Reputation, Mass Combat or Chase rule. It would be highly optional and situational, but some players might like it if it added to their character concept.
Ship Captain
lvl 1: You gain advantage on any check using Navigator tools and Vehicule (water)
lvl 2: You gain the Mariner fighting style
lvl 3: While you are on the sea or in a known port, creature have disadvantage to resist you social check.
lvl 4: See legs: you are immune to force movement while on a ship.
lvl 5: In a Naval Mass combat, you increase the moral rating of the unit in which your ship is by 2 steps.

Perfect.

I don't remember what Mariner fighting style does, so mayne just give a swim speed. But otherwise, spot on.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Therefore, a prestige class would be a character archetype that only makes sense for higher level characters. AND is different from just being a higher level of a base class.

E.g., a 1st-level "Archmage" does not make sense, so Archmage maybe could be a PrC.

Archmage /was/ an 18th level magic-user, back in the day. Of course, Wizard was an 11th level one. And 'wizard' more than 'archmage' conjures(npi) images of a wise, magically capable elder like Merlin more than a precocious young apprentice (Harry Potter notwithstanding) so it doesn't really make sense for a 1st level character, either.

The point, though is still valid, in that a character class name is something that shouldn't necessarily be (or even necessarily shouldn't be) used in character or be linked to the fiction of the world, but, IMHO a PrC name should be both.

A Purple Dragon Knight should ride around Cormyr, wearing purple, bedecked with heraldic dragons-rampant, and introducing himself as - or better, having his herald preceding him, loudly proclaiming that he is - "Sir Wassisnaym of Cormyr, Purple Dragon Knight!"

...cause, y'know, it's prestigious.

In contrast, a 'bannerette' could be any third-level fighter with a dram of leadership talent, or maybe a kid twirling a flag in a marching band*.






















*arguably also 'prestigious' if you're marching in the Tournament of Roses Parade or something, just not in the same sense.