Why do prestige classes have prerequisites?

[Erekose]

Why do prestige classes have prerequisites in terms of feats, skills, BAB, etc?

Given that characters will only ever meet organisations, with prestige classes associated with them, when the DM allows it and given that to join such an organisation [at least in our campaign] involves an adventure to prove the applicant worthy?

I can see why their are level restrictions due to the relative power of the prestige class and I can buy into the implicit bias that only certain classes can gain access to certain prestige classes [although the latter seems a bit forced] but the other restrictions don't seem to fit given the nature of campaign-specific prestige classes.

[With apologies to all if this topic has been "done to death" elsewhere ]

 

[Crothian]

Why do prestige classes have prerequisites in terms of feats, skills, BAB, etc?

Given that characters will only ever meet organisations, with prestige classes associated with them, when the DM allows it and given that to join such an organisation [at least in our campaign] involves an adventure to prove the applicant worthy?

There is more to being worthy to take a prestige class. Real life example: Navy SEALs. It doesn't matter how worthy one might be, you have to have a fair amount of training to qualify to become a SEAL.

Also, some prestige classes improve some basic power. So, if the class improves on the Alertness feat it makes sense the character first have the alertness feat for example. It also stops things like someone taking 6 levels of Barbarian and then taking Blood Magus prestige class.

In the end the DM can eliminated them and just have a level requirement.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

[With apologies to all if this topic has been "done to death" elsewhere ]

Not at all. It is the nature of message boards to see similar questions over the years.

Anyway....

The game mechanics reason is that you want the player to work for whatever it is he's qualifying for. If you can just "switch on" the new class like you could a core class then the prestige class loses some of it's zing.

One of the story reasons is that an organization would demand a certain ammount of ability in areas that they excel in. For instance, a common arguement about assasins is that really anyone could be one. A sorcerer with invisibility and lightning bolt would make a pretty good assasin. So why the requirements? Because assasins are sneaky by nature and the group -- as presented in the rules -- wants people who are also sneaky.

For other classes it is supposed to represent a certain ammount of study. A Loremaster has, in theory, been reading a book or two in his time before he is ready to become a true loremaster.

And, finally, a lot of it is bad design. You aren't supposed to be eligible for a PrC until at least 6th level and rather than fleshing out the organization or profession some designers just tack on stuff.

 

[Desdichado]

I think part of it is to channel players away from potentially difficult or overpowered combinations. But I still see your point; if the DM is in control of that kind of stuff (which, in theory, he should be) then houseruling away requirements certainly works fine.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Coz u gets kewl powrz

 

[MerakSpielman]

What I don't get is the somewhat arbitrary decision that levels in a character class aren't allowed to be prerequisites, but having a paticular race is.

And then people get around the character class bit by requiring the character to possess a particular class ability that is only possessed by one or two classes.

 

[Erekose]

Thank you for the quick replies . . .

Originally posted by Crothian

There is more to being worthy to take a prestige class. Real life example: Navy SEALs. It doesn't matter how worthy one might be, you have to have a fair amount of training to qualify to become a SEAL.

I can see your point but I would argue that it just means that the nature of the adventure to qualify for the prestige class should be appropriate (i.e. be an opportunity to demonstrate excellence in the type of activity the prestige class is focused on).

Originally posted by Crothian

Also, some prestige classes improve some basic power. So, if the class improves on the Alertness feat it makes sense the character first have the alertness feat for example.

For me this just means that the prestige class should start a step earlier than it currently does. e.g. if you need Alertness, then that could be the first feat/benefit you get from belonging to that class. Admittedly this means a rejigging of the class but many seem to petter out before they actually do at 10 levels . . .

Other issues like it stops an abuse of the system feels kind of odd - why would a DM allow a player to abuse the game? If he/she allows it, and the other players get similar treatment, it's no longer a problem . . .

As an aside, where it makes sense having two prestige classes per organisation (one for nonspellcasters and one for spellcaster) always feels like a fairer system for players.

 

[billd91]

What I don't get is the somewhat arbitrary decision that levels in a character class aren't allowed to be prerequisites, but having a paticular race is.

And then people get around the character class bit by requiring the character to possess a particular class ability that is only possessed by one or two classes.

By not requring a specific level in a specific class, it allows PCs to arrive at the prerequisites through a variety of paths, not an unsurprising thing with 3E's relatively open skill and feat structures. Sure, some may require powers that only 1 or 2 base classes get. But other prestige classes might be a window into that power as well and not just class x and y. The important thing is the base ability that makes up the prerequisite, whether it's a skill, feat, fighting ability, spell-casting ability, or class feature, and not the specific source of that ability.

I can also understand having a particular race be a prerequisite. There are just some things that a dwarf will flat out not teach to a non-dwarf, for example. There are some prestige classes that are designed to be meaningless without the cultural background of that particular character race. And that should be OK.

 

[DanMcS]

And then people get around the character class bit by requiring the character to possess a particular class ability that is only possessed by one or two classes.

And sometimes do so bizzarely. There's a prestige class in Complete Adventurer that seemed extra whacked out to me. It's supposed to be a mystic theurgish class for bard/druids (there's some overspecialization for ya). So it requires some bard abilities, some druid abilities, and evasion. When do bards get evasion? Oh, right, NEVER.

Weirded me out.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

And sometimes do so bizzarely. There's a prestige class in Complete Adventurer that seemed extra whacked out to me. It's supposed to be a mystic theurgish class for bard/druids (there's some overspecialization for ya). So it requires some bard abilities, some druid abilities, and evasion. When do bards get evasion? Oh, right, NEVER.

Weirded me out.

I believe the reason for this 'bizarre' mix was to emulate the way a Bard used to be in 1e.