Roleplay and PrC

[astralpwka]

In most cases, we have a set path ready to go for our characters, so the game and story leads toward the PrC. However, it is up to the player, often out of game, to provide a rational background story. If someone in the group just tacks one on, we usually tend not to notice. Our games are a bit easy going.

 

[Trickstergod]

So trick I am curious. Where do you fall on then some of the SL related Pr-classes? I know the group based ones are fine by you, but what about say...Spirit Walker, or Bounty Hunter?

Player's Guide to Rangers and Rogues is currently low man on the totem pole of my book-buying, so I'm not familiar with the Bounty Hunter. From the name alone, however, it sounds like a natural progression prestige class that, so long as it's abilities aren't out of whack, I'd probably be fine with a character just picking up, assuming they'd portrayed themselves as a bounty hunter-like character over the course of their adventures.

As for the Spirit Walker, I'd never developed much of an opinion of it, because it had never much interested me. As it is now, I'd say that, so long as the character in question who wanted to pick it up had made a point of saying they spoke with spirits when casting spells or had a totem feat or something else like that, I'd let it also go along with the natural progression route. If the character hadn't previously associated himself with or had any interest in spirits or the like, though, I'd probably force the player to wait on picking up the class until I could weave in a plot point that would make the character taking up that path a logical one.

 

[shilsen]

In my campaign, it depends on the PrC, but in general it will involve some roleplaying, which is why I've asked my players to let me know 2 levels earlier if they plan to go for a specific PrC. Also, the roleplaying will sometimes involve just the PC and sometimes it will involve interaction with, and perhaps training by, specific NPCs.

For example, the Peloran cleric who recently joined the party did so because of a vision from Pelor. I've discussed the possibility of him heading for Radiant Servant of Pelor, and in his case there will be some in-game justifications, but overall his assumption of the PrC will involve individual roleplaying and not NPC interaction. But if the Ftr/Rog were to head for the assassin PrC (yes, there are non-evil assassins IMC), he would probably have some interaction and training/testing with an assassin guild.

 

[Reynard]

This whole discussion sort of underscores the problem with Prestige classes in general: there is not set definition for one beyond the fact that there are entry requirements. Personally, I would like to see a distinction between a "not-quite-core" class and a "prestige" class, maybe even using the Core-Advanced-Prestige continuum of D20 Modern. There are classes, like Gladiator or Spell Filch (?) that make sense as advanced classes: nothing about them is necessarily tied to setting elements, but rather they are designed to focus character growth toward a particular mechanical ideal. On the other hand, classes like the DL Solamnic classes are tied to the world in which they exist and tend to be of a different order, often a higher one but not necessarily, than the "post core" classes.

In the end, I think the not-quite-core classes would work better as new core classes (just stagger abilities to 20 levels, filling in where necessary) and keep Prestige CLasses as setting specific elements that may or may not be more powerful than the core.

 

[Liolel]

My view is that it all depends on the class. Class's with has organizations behind them should require a little roleplaying to get into the organization or maybe even a test or task.
However it is clear to me that some prestiage class's are just natural progessions (even if sometimes over or under balanced) of a characters advancment in a special area. For example the mystic theurage is the natural progession of a cleric/mage and it does not need an organization behind it so it does not need any roleplaying.

 

[Nightfall]

Trick,

Coolness. Well I would like your thoughts on the Pr-classes from the first three Guides. You do have those right? (And PLEASE pick up PG: Rangers and Rogues! Mostly cause I wrote it! )