The new Prestige Class format

[MerricB]

I still haven't seen Races of Destiny, but I do have Races of the Wild, and I'd just like to say a few words about the new (expanded) format for presenting Prestige Classes:

I really, really like it.

I'm sure there's an excerpt around here somewhere that displays it...
Hmm. Can't find one.

For those unfamiliar with the new format, each prestige class now takes up about four or five pages. Here's the headings for one of them:

Champion of Corellon Larethian
Becoming a Champion of Corellon
Class Features
Playing a Champion of Corellon
- combat
- advancement
- resources
Champions of Corellon in the World
- organization
- NPC reactions
- Champion of Corellon Lore (knowledge checks for PCs to know about the order)
Champions of Corellon in the Game
- adaptation
- encounters
- sample NPC

The expanded descriptions seem, to my eyes, to greatly ease the integration of the new Prestige Classes into my ongoing campaign. They give me a lot more useful information for using them as NPC allies or enemies, and for knowing how a PC would join the class, and what the implications of such would be.

Cheers!

 

[Dark Psion]

The preview of the Chameleon shows the new format.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20041210b&page=1

 

[Jdvn1]

Yeah, I think they did something similar with Races of the Wild.

 

[Crothian]

Does this new format also include a sample NPC or have they nixed that?

 

[Jdvn1]

He listed it at the end.

Neat format, though.

 

[MerricB]

Does this new format also include a sample NPC or have they nixed that?

Still has a sample NPC, but it's now attached to an encounter idea. Much, much, much better.

e.g. for the Champion of Corellon Larethian:

Encounters:
Champions of Corellon Larethian are rarely found in villainous roles, although it is always possible that a PC party acting in ignorance might inadvertently pose a threat to an elf community - for example, by exploring a dungeon in whose sealed chambers some dangerous monster lies imprisoned. While most champions are slow to draw their swords against folk who are not clearly evil, the possibility for a tragic misunderstanding is still present.

EL 13: A doppleganger assumes the guise of one of the PCs and assassinates an elf diplomat in a human city. Alissera Berothar, a champion of Corellon, sets out to bring the PC to justice, unaware that he is innocent. She waits for an opportunity to catch the PC alone and does her best to avoid killing the character; she wants to bring him to trial in elf lands, not execute him in the streets. Alissera can be persuaded of the character's innocence if she is given an opportunity to question the PC with the benefit of a discern lies or zone of truth spell cast by an impartial cleric, through other magical means that establish the truth of the matter, or by reputable authority figures who provide an alibi.

** Alissera's stats: elf Rog1/Ftr7/Champion 5 **

 

[Crothian]

do these books have less prestige classes then the other books, or about the same amount? does the space devoted to the classes increase or stay the same?

 

[MerricB]

do these books have less prestige classes then the other books, or about the same amount? does the space devoted to the classes increase or stay the same?

Fewer prestige classes.

Races of Stone has 35 pages devoted to Prestige Classes and 15 new Prestige Classes.
Races of the Wild has 39 pages devoted to Prestige Classes and only covers 8 new Prestige Classes.

Cheers!

 

[RSKennan]

Personally I like it. IMHO if it's worth making a prestige class it's worth exploring in-depth. Good call, Wizards.

 

[coyote6]

I like it.

Except . . . are they still repeating material (e.g., explanations of the class's special abilities) in the example NPC writeups? It's unnecessary & space-wasting. They'd save quite a bit of space if they'd stop doing that; probably enough for a whole other prestige class, even in the expanded format.