Are PrC multiclasses or not? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are PrC multiclasses or not? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
oozemaster
04-28-05, 03:54 AM I have always believed that Prestige Classes do not follow standard multiclass rules (exp penalty for non-favored class), but then my DM jsut pointed out to me that he can't find anywhere this is explicitly stated.

We checked the DMG (3.5) and it says on pg 176, "Prestige classes offer a new form of multiclassing.... The rules for level advancement (see page 58 of the Player's Handbook) apply to this system...."

(Note that level advancement is on page 58 of the PHB but multiclass advancement isn't until page 59)

I see that it says "a new form of multiclassing", so I interpret this to mean that standard MC rules don't apply. Can anyone point to a more explicit wording of what I think is true so i can defend myself to my DM?

Thanks,
ooz :coolcthul
NineInchNall
04-28-05, 03:59 AM Prestige classes offer a new form of multiclassing. Unlike the basic classes, characters must meet Requirements before they can take their first level of a prestige class. The rules for level advancement apply to this system, meaning the first step of advancement is always choosing a class. If a character does not meet the Requirements for a prestige class before that first step, that character cannot take the first level of that prestige class. Taking a prestige class does not incur the experience point penalties normally associated with multiclassing. :Dsrd entry (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/prestigeClasses.htm)
DM Zoc
04-28-05, 04:18 AM Yeah, they accidentally left that line out of the DMG. It's not a bad houserule that way, though, because it generally means PrC's are limited to single-class characters of the race's favored class (Archmage is for Elven/Human/Half-elf wizards, or Human/Half-elf sorcerers; assassin is for Halfling/Human/Half-elf) and it generally limits PrC's across the board.

They still count as multiclassing for the purposes of paladins and monks not being able to go back,though.
NineInchNall
04-28-05, 04:28 AM Yeah, they accidentally left that line out of the DMG. It's not a bad houserule that way, though, because it generally means PrC's are limited to single-class characters of the race's favored class (Archmage is for Elven/Human/Half-elf wizards, or Human/Half-elf sorcerers; assassin is for Halfling/Human/Half-elf) and it generally limits PrC's across the board.

They still count as multiclassing for the purposes of paladins and monks not being able to go back,though.

It would make certain PrCs impossible to take without XP penalties, however, as many of them depend upon having abilities that one can only get from multiclassing a few times. :cough:Fochlucan Lyrist:cough: :rolleyes:
oozemaster
04-28-05, 04:45 AM you guys are great.

ooz :coolcthul
DM Zoc
04-28-05, 05:01 AM It would make certain PrCs impossible to take without XP penalties, however, as many of them depend upon having abilities that one can only get from multiclassing a few times. :cough:Fochlucan Lyrist:cough: :rolleyes:
Not true. I forget what types of spells you need to get into that class, but you could possibly make it as a human or half-elf rogue 3/ bard 4/ druid 4 (even levelling) then apply your favored class to the Fochlucan Lyrist itself.

That, and the Fochlucan Lyrist removes your multi-class experience penalty anyway.
DevilishIdiot
04-28-05, 09:53 AM Not true. I forget what types of spells you need to get into that class, but you could possibly make it as a human or half-elf rogue 3/ bard 4/ druid 4 (even levelling) then apply your favored class to the Fochlucan Lyrist itself.
Not true. You can't just choose which class is your favored class (except here you would choose between bard and druid), since
A human’s or half-elf’s highest-level class is always considered his or her favored class.
gbnogkfs
05-23-05, 07:53 AM Yes, they are multiclassing. The DMG explicitly say you have to apply all the normal multiclassing rules, unless explicitly said otherwise.
runestar
05-23-05, 08:26 AM Taking prcs is considered multiclassing, but you don't incur xp penalties.
gbnogkfs
05-23-05, 08:39 AM Taking prcs is considered multiclassing, but you don't incur xp penalties.

that's not a rule, just a "suggestion" by WotC.
CzarGarrett
05-23-05, 08:42 AM In terms of XP, consider it to not be multiclassing.

In terms of restricted classes, in the example of Monks or Paladins, consider it to be multiclassing UNLESS the PrC entry specifically says that it allows for concurant leveling with Monk or Paladin.
DragonsArt
05-23-05, 09:58 AM that's not a rule, just a "suggestion" by WotC.

Prestige classes are like normal classes, in that you multiclass into them. There are two important differences, however. Prestige classes have requirements that must be fullfilled before they can be taken, and prestige classes do not count against you when considering the multiclass experience penalty.

The SRD would disagree, it's a rule... not a suggestion.
gbnogkfs
05-23-05, 10:30 AM The SRD would disagree, it's a rule... not a suggestion.

the SRD is not D&D rules. Books and Errata are.
Maraxus
05-23-05, 10:50 AM that's not a rule, just a "suggestion" by WotC.

What the dm sais are the rules, everything else are suggestions. :)
And since it is clear, that it is meant, that PrC don't have XP-penalties (both, the 3.0 DMG and the 3.5 SRD say so), the dm better accepts this suggestion. :)
Zsasz_Diedne
05-23-05, 10:58 AM The SRD is D&D rules, sans any trademarked material. This was a clerical error, and was named as such in the FAQ, which is also what tells you the SRD is official.
gbnogkfs
05-23-05, 12:10 PM SRD in official as are Monopoly rules, but not for D&D.
If they thought it was a mistake (and I can accept that) they should put that in the Errata.

it's a long story, and I won't spend countless posts on the topic. good game. :D
Pax
05-23-05, 12:35 PM SRD in official as are Monopoly rules, but not for D&D.
The SRD is mor official than the hardcopy books you bought. No, seriously - the SRD gets direct, in-line corrections for typographical errors. IOw, th SRD IS an Errata.

SRD stands for "system reference document", and it's what is supposed to be used by other companies who're making OGL and d20STL products of their own.

In short, you don't GET more official than the SRD. Period.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
oozemaster 04-28-05, 03:54 AM	I have always believed that Prestige Classes do not follow standard multiclass rules (exp penalty for non-favored class), but then my DM jsut pointed out to me that he can't find anywhere this is explicitly stated. We checked the DMG (3.5) and it says on pg 176, "Prestige classes offer a new form of multiclassing.... The rules for level advancement (see page 58 of the Player's Handbook) apply to this system...." (Note that level advancement is on page 58 of the PHB but multiclass advancement isn't until page 59) I see that it says "a new form of multiclassing", so I interpret this to mean that standard MC rules don't apply. Can anyone point to a more explicit wording of what I think is true so i can defend myself to my DM? Thanks, ooz :coolcthul
NineInchNall 04-28-05, 03:59 AM	Prestige classes offer a new form of multiclassing. Unlike the basic classes, characters must meet Requirements before they can take their first level of a prestige class. The rules for level advancement apply to this system, meaning the first step of advancement is always choosing a class. If a character does not meet the Requirements for a prestige class before that first step, that character cannot take the first level of that prestige class. Taking a prestige class does not incur the experience point penalties normally associated with multiclassing. :Dsrd entry (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/prestigeClasses.htm)
DM Zoc 04-28-05, 04:18 AM	Yeah, they accidentally left that line out of the DMG. It's not a bad houserule that way, though, because it generally means PrC's are limited to single-class characters of the race's favored class (Archmage is for Elven/Human/Half-elf wizards, or Human/Half-elf sorcerers; assassin is for Halfling/Human/Half-elf) and it generally limits PrC's across the board. They still count as multiclassing for the purposes of paladins and monks not being able to go back,though.
NineInchNall 04-28-05, 04:28 AM	Yeah, they accidentally left that line out of the DMG. It's not a bad houserule that way, though, because it generally means PrC's are limited to single-class characters of the race's favored class (Archmage is for Elven/Human/Half-elf wizards, or Human/Half-elf sorcerers; assassin is for Halfling/Human/Half-elf) and it generally limits PrC's across the board. They still count as multiclassing for the purposes of paladins and monks not being able to go back,though. It would make certain PrCs impossible to take without XP penalties, however, as many of them depend upon having abilities that one can only get from multiclassing a few times. :cough:Fochlucan Lyrist:cough: :rolleyes:
oozemaster 04-28-05, 04:45 AM	you guys are great. ooz :coolcthul
DM Zoc 04-28-05, 05:01 AM	It would make certain PrCs impossible to take without XP penalties, however, as many of them depend upon having abilities that one can only get from multiclassing a few times. :cough:Fochlucan Lyrist:cough: :rolleyes: Not true. I forget what types of spells you need to get into that class, but you could possibly make it as a human or half-elf rogue 3/ bard 4/ druid 4 (even levelling) then apply your favored class to the Fochlucan Lyrist itself. That, and the Fochlucan Lyrist removes your multi-class experience penalty anyway.
DevilishIdiot 04-28-05, 09:53 AM	Not true. I forget what types of spells you need to get into that class, but you could possibly make it as a human or half-elf rogue 3/ bard 4/ druid 4 (even levelling) then apply your favored class to the Fochlucan Lyrist itself. Not true. You can't just choose which class is your favored class (except here you would choose between bard and druid), since A human’s or half-elf’s highest-level class is always considered his or her favored class.
gbnogkfs 05-23-05, 07:53 AM	Yes, they are multiclassing. The DMG explicitly say you have to apply all the normal multiclassing rules, unless explicitly said otherwise.
runestar 05-23-05, 08:26 AM	Taking prcs is considered multiclassing, but you don't incur xp penalties.
gbnogkfs 05-23-05, 08:39 AM	Taking prcs is considered multiclassing, but you don't incur xp penalties. that's not a rule, just a "suggestion" by WotC.
CzarGarrett 05-23-05, 08:42 AM	In terms of XP, consider it to not be multiclassing. In terms of restricted classes, in the example of Monks or Paladins, consider it to be multiclassing UNLESS the PrC entry specifically says that it allows for concurant leveling with Monk or Paladin.
DragonsArt 05-23-05, 09:58 AM	that's not a rule, just a "suggestion" by WotC. Prestige classes are like normal classes, in that you multiclass into them. There are two important differences, however. Prestige classes have requirements that must be fullfilled before they can be taken, and prestige classes do not count against you when considering the multiclass experience penalty. The SRD would disagree, it's a rule... not a suggestion.
gbnogkfs 05-23-05, 10:30 AM	The SRD would disagree, it's a rule... not a suggestion. the SRD is not D&D rules. Books and Errata are.
Maraxus 05-23-05, 10:50 AM	that's not a rule, just a "suggestion" by WotC. What the dm sais are the rules, everything else are suggestions. :) And since it is clear, that it is meant, that PrC don't have XP-penalties (both, the 3.0 DMG and the 3.5 SRD say so), the dm better accepts this suggestion. :)
Zsasz_Diedne 05-23-05, 10:58 AM	The SRD is D&D rules, sans any trademarked material. This was a clerical error, and was named as such in the FAQ, which is also what tells you the SRD is official.
gbnogkfs 05-23-05, 12:10 PM	SRD in official as are Monopoly rules, but not for D&D. If they thought it was a mistake (and I can accept that) they should put that in the Errata. it's a long story, and I won't spend countless posts on the topic. good game. :D
Pax 05-23-05, 12:35 PM	SRD in official as are Monopoly rules, but not for D&D. The SRD is mor official than the hardcopy books you bought. No, seriously - the SRD gets direct, in-line corrections for typographical errors. IOw, th SRD IS an Errata. SRD stands for "system reference document", and it's what is supposed to be used by other companies who're making OGL and d20STL products of their own. In short, you don't GET more official than the SRD. Period.