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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Estlor" data-source="post: 2841871" data-attributes="member: 7261">Ideally, I have no problem with both prestige classes and base classes existing alongside each other in D&D.  What I think happened was a lack of focus in defining what a base class "is" and what a prestige class "is".IMHO, a good base class fills a broad (note I said BROAD, not GENERIC) achetype in the D&D game.  A prestige class should represent a niche in one of these achetypes (or a niche represented by a mixing of archetypes) that cannot otherwise be attained just from multiclassing.Let's say, for example, D&D 4e took this to heart.  You might see base classes like this:Fighter - skilled combatant who uses weaponsRogue - clever, intelligent, and skillful that relies on wits and reflexesCleric - priestly warrior of a god or ethosDruid - shamanistic/Totemic nature priestMage - student of arcane magicScout - mobile woodsman and skirmisherHoly Warrior - devout combatant whose powers derive from their alignmentMartial Artist - skilled combatant who does not use weaponsThen you go about defining "prestige" (better to say "advanced") classes that further specialize in some aspect of a base class, giving up breadth of abilities for strength in a single aspect.  Some of these advanced classes that a Fighter could easily reach might be things like Duelist, Gladiator, Berserker, and Weapon Master.Since most prestige classes are 10th level, a good idea is to shoot for most classes having the option to take them around 7th to 10th level, with someone following the "optimal" build getting to it around 5th.</blockquote>

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