To Prestige or not to Prestige

[Dareoon Dalandrove]

i was wondering about all the prestige classes out there and how people feel about them. It seems to me that taking a prestige class is the way to go. You may give up a few class bonuses but you always gain so much more. In some cases your gain more than your would have as a "standard class".

 

[Crothian]

It depends on the character concpet as well as the campaign. I've got a cleric/oozemaster who I knew was going that direction when I made him. I've also got a 7th almost 8th level Ranger that I'm not taking any prestige class for. I was looking for one, but couldn't find any that fit him.

 

[Ravellion]

I think it is mostly a nuisance for the DM. The increased versatility in PC classes does create for more specialistic characters, which more often than not creates more powerful PCs. This will skew the CR system eventually if taken to extremes.

My advice for DMs:
* Only 1 prestige class per PC.
* Define your available prestige classes beforehand.
* Make sure that prestige classes are more than just a smattering of new goodies for a player - roleplay it out that he becomes a weapon master. REALLY roleplay it out when he becomes a Knight Protector of The Great Kingdom (I did this, right up to the one year apprentice ship with a senior knight... it was absolutely great!)

Rav

 

[Nightfall]

Depends on the Pr-class. Some times it worth. Some times no. Though I doubt wizard worth his salt WOULDN'T take Archmage. That's just something that's REALLY overpowered.

 

[Maraxle]

If it fits your idea of your character, go for it. If not, don't do it just to get a few bonuses. That's just lame.

 

[WayneLigon]

I haven't used them much at all. I have one PC that took the Herald Prestige Class out of the Dragon; one or two levels was it, because he'd been taken into royal service. Another went the Holy Liberator route from the beginning, since it fit him and the campaign to a 'T'. No other PC has ever fit a PC.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

i agree with Crothian about character concept. i have 2 PCs (one in a monthly game, one in a weekly) and neither will be taking a PrC, because no PrC fits the character.

(although the wizard should take archmage, he won't. it doesn't fit the character i tryed to build (an artificer))

as a DM, i wouldn't allow a PC to take a PrC without plenty of advanced notice. i probably would also require an amount of time be set aside for training, or make most PrCs dependant on (finding and) joining an organization to get the training.

 

[Psion]

It seems to me that taking a prestige class is the way to go.

Unless you are contrasting with a weak concept, if a given prestige class is automatically the WAY TO GO, then the prestige class is too powerful and should be banned. A balanced prestige class should give you pause for thought.

Someone brought up the FRCS archmage. That is a great example of an overpowered PrC. Almost nothing lost from being an archmage vs. a single class arcane spellcaster.

 

[BryonD]

Re: Re: To Prestige or not to Prestige

Unless you are contrasting with a weak concept, if a given prestige class is automatically the WAY TO GO, then the prestige class is too powerful and should be banned. A balanced prestige class should give you pause for thought.

Someone brought up the FRCS archmage. That is a great example of an overpowered PrC. Almost nothing lost from being an archmage vs. a single class arcane spellcaster.

I agree completely with the first part. If it is a no brainer to take a class, it is almost certainly a poor class.

I do not agree with your assessment of the archmage.
The prereqs to get in are fairly minor, certainly. Skill Focus: Spellcraft is completely overkill and becomes a virtually wasted feat.

But every power also costs a permanent spell slot. If you look at each power as a spell with a duration of 24 hours and the added requirement that they MUST be cast every day forever, they are not to bad.

Arcane Fire should probably be tweaked to reduce the damage potential of low level spells and Spell Power stacking is probably a little to much. If these were your concerns, then I agree, but I don't think the class is really that bad.

 

[Chun-tzu]

The Archmage is not as bad as some others. An Archmage does give up something (spell slots) for his High Arcana; many WotC PrCs give up little to nothing at all. It's also a very different kind of PrC, meant to be taken at the upper levels, and was probably the basis for FFG's Legendary Classes.

To answer the original question, sure, if you find a good PrC you like, run it by your DM and get his OK. PrCs are pretty popular in general, and many players like them. Some classes have a much better selection than others, and some classes give up much more to get a PrC than others do. But even clearly overpowered ones like the Hospitaler or the Doomguide (from Faiths and Pantheons), that give up very little and gain a lot, probably aren't going to break the game.

The potentially dangerous part comes when you add bits and pieces from all these different expansions and d20 books, each giving a boost in power. But that's not too hard to keep under control if your DM knows how to say No.