D&D 3E/3.5 Worried about 4E replacing 3E? Worry about 3E replacing 2E instead!

[Dark Jezter]

Merric, your knowledge of D&D lore and history never ceases to amaze me.

 

[johnsemlak]

* Prestige Classes hark back to the Bard and Thief-Acrobat of 1E, though greatly enhanced.

Cheers!

I've always thought there were a couple of other pre-cursors to PrCs in the Basic/Expert game

• The Paladin, Knight, and Avenger class in the Companion Rules set (which you qualified for a 9th level)
• The schools of magic in the Glantri Gazateer, which were actually new 'sub-classes' you could gain levels in by spending XP and meeting requirements.
• Some of hte other D&D gazatteers had classes that also show similarities to 3e's Prestige classes. The merchant class in the Darokin book, for example, which again to took in in addition to a normal class by meeting certain requirements.

 

[Gez]

DragonLance also had precursors of prestige classes.

 

[Fiendish Dire Weasel]

I've always thought there were a couple of other pre-cursors to PrCs in the Basic/Expert game

• The Paladin, Knight, and Avenger class in the Companion Rules set (which you qualified for a 9th level)

If I recall the oD&D Companion Set (the boxed set for the middle levels) set up class varients, at least in name, for all classes at level 9, based on your alignment (a 9th level Lawful Fighter became a Paladin, a 9th level Neutral Cleric became a Druid if I think). I sadly can't remember this real well though if these were automatic at 9th or you had to so somthing to get the title. I wish I had a copy of the old rule, especially the companion, I think I would consider running a game

DragonLance also had precursors of prestige classes.

Yes, thats right! The old Solamnic Knights in the AD&D Dragonlance book were wery much like PrCs.

[edit]Ooops, it was the Companion set (for levels 4-14!) that introduced this I think.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I am sure they do have plans for a 4th edition in the works. I mean these people have to earn a paycheck don't they? Technology works the same way. Computers are just about outdated by the time you buy it.

I was never sure what the big deal was with the fears of 3.5 and now 4. Its not like you have to buy 3.5 or 4 when it comes out. Nobody will come busting into your Thursday night game with a gun forcing you to switch.

I run DnD in an alternating game (XCrawl, actually). We use 3.0 and have no intentions of going to 3.5. Its not like anything is falling apart because of it. If 4th edition is a radical change (for the better) from 3.0/3.5 then I would likely buy it.

 

[johnsemlak]

If I recall the oD&D Companion Set (the boxed set for the middle levels) set up class varients, at least in name, for all classes at level 9, based on your alignment (a 9th level Lawful Fighter became a Paladin, a 9th level Neutral Cleric became a Druid if I think). I sadly can't remember this real well though if these were automatic at 9th or you had to so somthing to get the title. I wish I had a copy of the old rule, especially the companion, I think I would consider running a game
Yes, thats right! The old Solamnic Knights in the AD&D Dragonlance book were wery much like PrCs.

[edit]Ooops, it was the Companion set (for levels 4-14!) that introduced this I think.

The COmpanion set was levels 15-25; the Expert set was 4-14.

You're right about how PCs could become a Paladin, at 9th level. They gained spellcasting and turning equal to 1/3 thier fighter level.

 

[diaglo]

* The Skill system was foreshadowed in Skills & Powers.
* Attacks of Opportunity, Miniatures + Grid were in Combat & Tactics
* Feats are an extension of the Weapon & Non-Weapon proficiency system, especially as in the Player's Option (which extended from the Complete Fighter and similar.)
* Prestige Classes hark back to the Bard and Thief-Acrobat of 1E, though greatly enhanced.

you could stretch it back even further...

skills were in older editions. mostly as class abilities. but they were also in the DMG for NPCs like sages and other hirelings.

AoO were in OD&D and 1edADnD when you attempted to flee combat... and also with reach weapons included too.

Feats...at least some of them...were also older if you look at the other D&D settings. OA 1ed comes to mind with quick draw.

PrC...again go back to original classes...bard in OD&D in the Strategic Review...and eventually the 1edADnD PHB. much like the subclasses. don't forget the Cavalier in the Dragon before and when it went into UA. the Paladin shifted from Fighter to Cavalier subclass. As mentioned DL had them. and so did the Companion set.

heck the druid was a PrC subcursor in OD&D supplements.