What prestige classes have genuinely added quality to your game?

[molonel]

There are presently 745 prestige classes listed in WotC materials on their web site. What prestige classes have added genuine quality and weight to your campaign world, or your game? Either because of how someone played them, or the well-designed quality of the class itself?

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/lists/prc

 

[Aaron L]

All of them that have been played. The people playing them enjoyed them immensely, and I can think of no better criteria for determining the quality of my game other than that it was enjoyable.

 

[havoclad]

I really enjoyed playing an Ashworm Dragoon (Sandstorm). It enabled me to play a character style that seemed otherwise difficult.

The only other way to get a medium sized mounted character that was viable in a dungeon while mounted was to take a paladin and used an advanced mount. Playing a paladin wasn't appealing to me at the time. The Ashworm Dragoon fit the bill.

Initially there were concerns that the PrC was overpowered, but in play it didn't work out that way.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

We've only actually seen the Assassin & Blackguard in 3 year play. They've been good additions btw.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Soldier (d20 Modern)
Note: Technically an Advanced Class.
What It Offered: Its Tactical Aid class feature proved great fun for a character focused on combat but with a secondary schtick of party buffing. Although, by later levels, that character started to *focus* on party buffing courtesy of this class.
Could It Have Been Done w/o the Class: Non-magical party buffs? Not at that time. This was before the MiniHB, so the Marshal class wasn't available. Int-based party buffs? Still not available anywhere else, to the best of my knowledge.

Frenzied Berserker (Complete Warrior)
What It Offered: A unique 'boss' encounter that required the PCs to think outside the box and deal with an enemy they couldn't kill using normal means, without moving away from human foes.
Could It Have Been Done w/o the Class: With some handwaving or extensive templating, yes. The latter would have had a very different vibe, however, and wouldn't have fit the campaign it was used in.

Shadowbane Inquisitor (Complete Adventurer)
What It Offered: The single most badass PC I've seen in any game. I was the GM in this game and by the end, practically every NPC and PC, including ones who could have taken this guy out in combat, were in both awe and terror of him and the players and myself were loving every minute of it.
Could It Have Been Done w/o the Class: The roleplaying could have, but even in a 'no alignment' game I would have had to strip him of his paladin status if the code of conduct was to mean anything. Also, I'm given to understand the class inspired the character.

Mystic Theurge, Arcane Trickster and Eldritch Knight (3.5 Dungeon Master's Guide)
What They Offered: Functional caster multiclassing.
Could It Have Been Done w/o the Classes: Only with houserules.

Martial Arts Master (Blood and Fists)
Note: Technically an Advanced Class.
What It Offered: The wicked cool Blood and Fists martial arts system. Lots of NPCs and a few PCs, including basically every scro, have had a level or two at least.
Could It Have Been Done w/o the Class: I suppose it could be rewritten to work without the class, but it's a perfectly functional mechanism for the system, so why?

 

[mhacdebhandia]

The alienist, albeit the pre-revision version from Tome and Blood.

Hours of fun. I played an alienist in my first Third Edition campaign, a Planescape game, and I think knowing that the Far Realm was out there really added something to the planehopping campaign, even if we never went there.

The fact that, in-character, I called it "Outside" with a strange intonation probably helped.

 

[MerricB]

All of them that have been played. The people playing them enjoyed them immensely, and I can think of no better criteria for determining the quality of my game other than that it was enjoyable.

Ditto.

Actually, some of the prestige classes by the players have really surprised me, and have added heaps to the game.

Cheers!

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I've always been keen on the Loremaster (DMG). Nice class, especially in an adding-to-RP-not-combat sort of way.

The Bloodhound (CAdv) was fun, it's essentially a plot hook maker type class. You don't need plot hooks with a bloodhound. The whole purpose of the class is to go out and find hooks - thus essentially making it DM friendly.

I also really enjoyed playing a Thrallherd (XPH). Its like the leadership feat only better. Considering that I'm not a powergamer, I didn't find the class overpowering in how I chose my thrall. But I have heard it called unbalanced by powergamers.

 

[MerricB]

Prestige classes I've seen in play by PCs...

* Radiant Servant of Pelor
* Order of the Bow Initiate
* Shadowdancer
* Arcane Trickster
* Mystic Theurge
* Arcane Hierophant
* Shadowbane Stalker
* Thief-Acrobat
* Fochluchan Lyrist (almost... next level!)
* Incandescent Champion
* Illumine Soul
* Totem Rager
* Mindbender
* Pyrokineticist
* Seeker of the Misty Isle
* Cavalier

Cheers!

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

My list, incidentally, was by no means comprehensive! I've seen a ton of PrCs in play and most of them I felt added something to the game; I just wanted to give the highlights.

Offhand, in addition to those above, I've seen and liked:

Assassin
Cerebromancer
Deepwood Sniper
Knight of the Left Hand
Lasher
Master of Chains
Master of Many Forms
Order of the Bow Initiate
Rifleman
Shadow Adept* (I'm not sure of the name of this one; its a 3.0 FR class used for another GM's GMPC and it was quite fun, but I don't have the book or recall its exact name)
Warchief
Warforged Juggernaut
Warshaper

And I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Lasher, now that I think about it, should be on the 'special mention' list.