stupid

[someonenonotyou]

Warning* Warning* stupid question ahead
i have never played d&d (i know what a geek right) i know a little about it SO...
i need all you big strong smart geeks to anwser me this
what is a prestige class! elans is the dashing swords man but what is it
thanks.
p.s big fan

[Mad Wizard]

A prestige class is basically a class that has requirements to enter it, has different and special abilities, and is often slightly more powerful then a standard class.

[Zincorium]

Prestige classes, in my mind, are a way to further define your character's talents and abilities. They should always have a fairly specific, solid role, as opposed to the general base classes, and good ones will either allow you to combine the talents of more than one class in a way that doesn't completely suck, or they'll allow you to do things that are simply not possible with the base classes.

That said, there's a lot of junk PrCs (the acronym for prestige class) that are laying around, and DMs should allow Prcs but take a very active role in what ones the players have access to.

[bugsysservant]

Prestige classes, by RAW, don't take an XP penalty when multiclassing, no? THough no one enforces those rules. But yeah, Mad Wizard pretty much summed it up.
The Archmage would be the archetype of the arcane prestige class, and is relatively powerful, but you need to fulfill the following requirements to enter:
Requirements

Skills

Knowledge (arcana) 15 ranks, Spellcraft 15 ranks.
Feats

Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Spell Focus in two schools of magic.
Spells

Ability to cast 7th-level arcane spells, knowledge of 5th-level or higher spells from at least five schools.

This prevents people from gaining high level abilities before a certain level (PrC generally start at about 4-5, though they can go both higher and lower.)

[nerulean]

Essentially, you can't start out in a prestige class, you have to work your way up to being able to take it, meeting prerequisites in terms of skills, feats, spells, and sometimes even specific events in your character's life.

You might start out as a traditional rogue and take your first few levels in that base class, and later on swap over to the assassin and take levels in that prestige class instead.

[UserClone]

(PrC generally start at about 4-5, though they can go both higher and lower.)

Which (WoTC) PrC starts at 4th? Doesn't it suggest in the DMG not to let requirements allow for PrC entry below 5th (well, 6th, really, as you have to meet the prereqs then start your PrC)?

[Skjaldbakka]

You can qualify for Sapphire Heirach from Magic of Incarnum as a 3rd lvl cleric/1st level Incarnate.

Which, btw, gives you 19 levels of cleric casting and 11 levels of meldshaping in 20 levels, as well as some nifty PrC abilities.

[nerulean]

Which (WoTC) PrC starts at 4th? Doesn't it suggest in the DMG not to let requirements allow for PrC entry below 5th?

Well, you asked for it. Check out the top bit of this post. And don't forget prestige bard and prestige paladin from UA (oh, if only we could forget them).

[UserClone]

Oh. Haven't really done much more than thumb through MoI, really. It seemed to me as though I'd rather just wear real magic items and have a class as well. Maybe I just don't get the appeal of soulmelds. At any rate, barring new magic systems like soulmelds, anyone know of a low-level PrC entry that doesn't rely on some stupid trick like Precocious Apprentice?

[Skjaldbakka]

What's wrong with prestige bard/paladin? They aren'y really PrCs, they are kinda half-way classes- meant to replace bard/paladin (there is also one for ranger).

I'm not debating the point, I'm just curious to see the reasons they are bad.

@FlWiPig

I'd recommend trying out an Incarnum for a one-shot or short game. I think MoI is really neat, but definitely doesn't fit every campaign.

[UserClone]

At any rate, barring new magic systems like soulmelds, anyone know of a low-level PrC entry that doesn't rely on some stupid trick like Precocious Apprentice?

In other words, a PrC you are MEANT to get into before hitting level 5(well, 6)?

[bugsysservant]

Which (WoTC) PrC starts at 4th? Doesn't it suggest in the DMG not to let requirements allow for PrC entry below 5th (well, 6th, really, as you have to meet the prereqs then start your PrC)?

Sorry, typo on my part. I meant to say 5-6, though with precocious apprentice cheese and the like, you can easily get many, if not most of the prestige classes early.

[Prince_of_Blades]

Master Specialist (Complete Mage) requirements can be met with a third level specialist wizard.

[Paragon Badger]

Wow, Someonenonotyou... If you love Oots now- you'll REALLY love it once you get the hand of the D&D rules and understand all of the jokes!

[Dausuul]

Master Specialist (Complete Mage) requirements can be met with a third level specialist wizard.

Not only can the requirements be met, it's intended to be met that way--the PrC explicitly states that you're expected to take three levels of specialist wizard and start the PrC at 4th.

[UserClone]

Oh, cool. Prince of Blades wins!