Multiple Prestige Classws [Archive] - Wizards Community

Multiple Prestige Classws [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Everking11
08-19-07, 02:21 PM Where in the rulebooks can I find the rule on multiple prestige classes? I know you can have more than 1, but I can't find the rule to show my DM. He thinks a character can only have 1 prestige class, but if I can find the rule in the books he'll change that rule. Anyone able to help me?:confused: :confused: :confused:
boots_pimpleton
08-19-07, 05:06 PM Well, like what was brought up many times before, a prestige class is just that.
Many DMs will not let you take multiple prestige classes due to the idea that you are seperating away from your character story and building up the metagame.

Suggestion, if you want to play a multiple prestige class character, come up with a very convincing story of why that character has multiple classes (like a vassel of bahaumut taking levels in kensai to further honor his/her lord bahaumut). Either way, also point out that many prestige classes have multiclass restrictions, and if your chosen ones don't, then it could be okay to multiclass them. Show how you will use your character to your DM to make sure your muliple prestige classes won't cause headache and confusion in the game. Most importantly, let your fellow players see what your character can do, that way gameplay can be adjusted, many a time have I seen POWER characters with rather broken techniques break gameplay and hog the spotlight.
Salla
08-19-07, 05:15 PM Where in the rulebooks can I find the rule on multiple prestige classes? I know you can have more than 1, but I can't find the rule to show my DM. He thinks a character can only have 1 prestige class, but if I can find the rule in the books he'll change that rule. Anyone able to help me?:confused: :confused: :confused:

Why would he think you can only have one? There's nothing anywhere that even remotely hints at that.
Everking11
08-20-07, 01:18 AM Sorry for the double post. I posted and it didn't seem to show up on the forum, so I posted again thinking I messed up.

It's not so much that I'm trying to make a power character, but I would like to use multiple classes to better round out my abilities. It would help me build my character in to what I vision him as being.

Thanks for the info. I'll show the reply to my DM and see what he thinks.
RobTzu
08-20-07, 02:26 AM Why would he think you can only have one? There's nothing anywhere that even remotely hints at that.

I beg to differ.

Prestige Classes are purely optional and always under the purview of the DM. We encourage you, as the DM, to tightly limit the prestige classes in your campaign.

Prestige Classes are purely optional and always under the purview of the DM. It's good policy to tightly limit the prestige classes available in your campaign. The prestige classes available in the Dungeon Master's Guide and other sources are not all encompassing or definitive. They might not even be appropriate for your campaign.

I would have to say that is somewhere closer than remote.
KurenaiYami
08-20-07, 02:35 AM I beg to differ.

I would have to say that is somewhere closer than remote.

None of that says anything about one person having more than one class. It says that they should be limited in the campaign.

Rule 0 is probably the closest you'll see to that.
RobTzu
08-20-07, 02:44 AM Hmm, I suggest you read both those sections in their entirety. I did not say that is limited to one either, but the post was a rebuttal to the "not even remotely hinted at" remark. The spirit and intent of those sections are that the DM has final say on all Prestige Classes. I am not going to quote whole sections of books that almost everyone here has. Take a good gander at those pages. The idea of a DM saying you can use X books, and any and all Prestige classes being open is common, and I would say default to most campaigns (mine included). But, be that as it may, that is not what the intent of Prestige Classes were said to be. I have said it in other threads, WotC has schizophrenia on this topic. It is their business model to release splat books with prestige classes in them. Oodles even.

The point is this DM does have a leg to stand on, and that leg can be found on the pages referenced earlier.
Karla
08-21-07, 06:47 AM I would have to say that is somewhere closer than remote.

However one probably would also have to observe that said DMG quotes originated from a time when there were 8 or so prestige classes rather than the 8 gazillion we have now.

That may have been how they envisaged prestige classes then - I really don't think it's how they envisage them now! :)

My belief is that nothing in the rules actually says or even implies one way or the other. So my suggestion to the op is to send this in as a question to WotC Customer Service - they're usually very fast at getting back to you and then you'll have something you can show your DM by way of "semi-official interpretation" (though of course the DM's word remains final!).
Rinian2
08-21-07, 10:03 AM I love the idea of working your way through the lower levels of basic classes before achieving the wonderous goal of a Prestige Class.

If it was my campaign, I would be quite happy to enforce a one PrC ruling.

I suppose I'd enjoy the prospect of entwining some of the abilities of two PrCs to create a single balanced PrC for the player, if they were desperate enough but if the two PrCs were completely unrelated in the first place (say a familiar enhancement PrC and a rage enhancement PrC) I'd suggest that the player try to focus his efforts rather than trying to become a Master of Everything.
serow_#R
08-21-07, 10:42 AM There's no rule stating you can't have more than 1 prestige class because as long as you meet the prereqs, you can have as many prestige classes as you qualify for.

Of course, whether the prestige class is available for play is DM-dependent.
RobTzu
08-21-07, 03:20 PM However one probably would also have to observe that said DMG quotes originated from a time when there were 8 or so prestige classes rather than the 8 gazillion we have now.

That may have been how they envisaged prestige classes then - I really don't think it's how they envisage them now! :)

My belief is that nothing in the rules actually says or even implies one way or the other. So my suggestion to the op is to send this in as a question to WotC Customer Service - they're usually very fast at getting back to you and then you'll have something you can show your DM by way of "semi-official interpretation" (though of course the DM's word remains final!).

Well that is true for the first DMG, but when the second one came out, there were gazillions. I agree with you that if they really wanted to limit PrCs there would not be so many of them. Certainly someone in the company knows that PrCs sells books and they crank those puppies out as fast as possible editing be damned. I would suggest the OP look for a WotC built character with 2 PrCs. That would be "official" and win the arguement for sure.

Like I said before though, this is not an insanely unreasonable DM.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Everking11 08-19-07, 02:21 PM	Where in the rulebooks can I find the rule on multiple prestige classes? I know you can have more than 1, but I can't find the rule to show my DM. He thinks a character can only have 1 prestige class, but if I can find the rule in the books he'll change that rule. Anyone able to help me?:confused: :confused: :confused:
boots_pimpleton 08-19-07, 05:06 PM	Well, like what was brought up many times before, a prestige class is just that. Many DMs will not let you take multiple prestige classes due to the idea that you are seperating away from your character story and building up the metagame. Suggestion, if you want to play a multiple prestige class character, come up with a very convincing story of why that character has multiple classes (like a vassel of bahaumut taking levels in kensai to further honor his/her lord bahaumut). Either way, also point out that many prestige classes have multiclass restrictions, and if your chosen ones don't, then it could be okay to multiclass them. Show how you will use your character to your DM to make sure your muliple prestige classes won't cause headache and confusion in the game. Most importantly, let your fellow players see what your character can do, that way gameplay can be adjusted, many a time have I seen POWER characters with rather broken techniques break gameplay and hog the spotlight.
Salla 08-19-07, 05:15 PM	Where in the rulebooks can I find the rule on multiple prestige classes? I know you can have more than 1, but I can't find the rule to show my DM. He thinks a character can only have 1 prestige class, but if I can find the rule in the books he'll change that rule. Anyone able to help me?:confused: :confused: :confused: Why would he think you can only have one? There's nothing anywhere that even remotely hints at that.
Everking11 08-20-07, 01:18 AM	Sorry for the double post. I posted and it didn't seem to show up on the forum, so I posted again thinking I messed up. It's not so much that I'm trying to make a power character, but I would like to use multiple classes to better round out my abilities. It would help me build my character in to what I vision him as being. Thanks for the info. I'll show the reply to my DM and see what he thinks.
RobTzu 08-20-07, 02:26 AM	Why would he think you can only have one? There's nothing anywhere that even remotely hints at that. I beg to differ. Prestige Classes are purely optional and always under the purview of the DM. We encourage you, as the DM, to tightly limit the prestige classes in your campaign. Prestige Classes are purely optional and always under the purview of the DM. It's good policy to tightly limit the prestige classes available in your campaign. The prestige classes available in the Dungeon Master's Guide and other sources are not all encompassing or definitive. They might not even be appropriate for your campaign. I would have to say that is somewhere closer than remote.
KurenaiYami 08-20-07, 02:35 AM	I beg to differ. I would have to say that is somewhere closer than remote. None of that says anything about one person having more than one class. It says that they should be limited in the campaign. Rule 0 is probably the closest you'll see to that.
RobTzu 08-20-07, 02:44 AM	Hmm, I suggest you read both those sections in their entirety. I did not say that is limited to one either, but the post was a rebuttal to the "not even remotely hinted at" remark. The spirit and intent of those sections are that the DM has final say on all Prestige Classes. I am not going to quote whole sections of books that almost everyone here has. Take a good gander at those pages. The idea of a DM saying you can use X books, and any and all Prestige classes being open is common, and I would say default to most campaigns (mine included). But, be that as it may, that is not what the intent of Prestige Classes were said to be. I have said it in other threads, WotC has schizophrenia on this topic. It is their business model to release splat books with prestige classes in them. Oodles even. The point is this DM does have a leg to stand on, and that leg can be found on the pages referenced earlier.
Karla 08-21-07, 06:47 AM	I would have to say that is somewhere closer than remote. However one probably would also have to observe that said DMG quotes originated from a time when there were 8 or so prestige classes rather than the 8 gazillion we have now. That may have been how they envisaged prestige classes then - I really don't think it's how they envisage them now! :) My belief is that nothing in the rules actually says or even implies one way or the other. So my suggestion to the op is to send this in as a question to WotC Customer Service - they're usually very fast at getting back to you and then you'll have something you can show your DM by way of "semi-official interpretation" (though of course the DM's word remains final!).
Rinian2 08-21-07, 10:03 AM	I love the idea of working your way through the lower levels of basic classes before achieving the wonderous goal of a Prestige Class. If it was my campaign, I would be quite happy to enforce a one PrC ruling. I suppose I'd enjoy the prospect of entwining some of the abilities of two PrCs to create a single balanced PrC for the player, if they were desperate enough but if the two PrCs were completely unrelated in the first place (say a familiar enhancement PrC and a rage enhancement PrC) I'd suggest that the player try to focus his efforts rather than trying to become a Master of Everything.
serow_#R 08-21-07, 10:42 AM	There's no rule stating you can't have more than 1 prestige class because as long as you meet the prereqs, you can have as many prestige classes as you qualify for. Of course, whether the prestige class is available for play is DM-dependent.
RobTzu 08-21-07, 03:20 PM	However one probably would also have to observe that said DMG quotes originated from a time when there were 8 or so prestige classes rather than the 8 gazillion we have now. That may have been how they envisaged prestige classes then - I really don't think it's how they envisage them now! :) My belief is that nothing in the rules actually says or even implies one way or the other. So my suggestion to the op is to send this in as a question to WotC Customer Service - they're usually very fast at getting back to you and then you'll have something you can show your DM by way of "semi-official interpretation" (though of course the DM's word remains final!). Well that is true for the first DMG, but when the second one came out, there were gazillions. I agree with you that if they really wanted to limit PrCs there would not be so many of them. Certainly someone in the company knows that PrCs sells books and they crank those puppies out as fast as possible editing be damned. I would suggest the OP look for a WotC built character with 2 PrCs. That would be "official" and win the arguement for sure. Like I said before though, this is not an insanely unreasonable DM.