Xp penatly-question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Xp penatly-question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lloardinen
04-07-08, 01:14 PM I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times before, but as I don't have time to check it (playing tomorrow), I'm asking now:
Is there any XP penalty for prestige classing? As a general rule I've said that one base class+ one prestige class (even if not the class is favored) is ok.
Problem is I now have a player wanting to be me thinks 3 prestige classes at the same time, and not the favored class for his race. I guess according to the rules as I've understood them this is fine, but my gut tells me otherwise:P
"Combining so many classes could make you very powerful" a voice in my head told me as soon as my mate asked.

I need opinions, and answers; what is your experience with this? Any good suggestions for house rules and so on?

Any answers welcomed (though meaningless babbling or pointless arguing is not helping out very much, just as guidelines:D )
Shadowhowler
04-07-08, 01:33 PM Nope, no exp penalty for PrC's, only base classes.

Having 3 PrC's may seem like it will make the guy pretty powerful, but unless he actualy knows what he is doing, it might just nerf him into submission. Sometimes at a glance it's hard to tell the differance between a skilled optimizer and a silly freak that just wants to have a bunch of classes.

However... the first psudo-tough encounter you give the character... if he smokes it, it was the work of a skilled optimizer... if the party ends up searching under the couch for lose change to Raise dead, guess he was just a goffball.

:P
Lloardinen
04-07-08, 01:38 PM Well then, we'll see tomorrow. Thanks for answering, and still welcoming answers.

(The whole party is quite powerful thou ,but I'll try to give him a worthy challenge to see how how he tackles it. And, hell, if he dies he sure can blame himself:D )
Bergtann
04-10-08, 04:59 PM It would be more useful to look at what PrCs he is taking than how many. Most good PrCs will emphasise one aspect of a character, while neglecting others. If all 3 classes build on each other, and strengthen the same thing, he may get powerful, if the focus of the classes are all over the place, he is most likly nerfed.
IdleAltruism
04-10-08, 06:07 PM Here it is from an official source, just in case you were wondering.

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.

And heres the link for that as well
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/prestigeClasses.htm

IIRC it was left out of the DMG by accident.
StevenO
04-10-08, 06:54 PM PrCs don't count towards multiclass XP penalties. Part of the arguement is that you pay your dues meeting the prereqs while the penalty is the cost for poor base class multiclassing. Another part is that if they did count towards XP penalties almost everyone would be getting hit by them as the PrC level will often lag far behind the initial classes.
Ranger REG
04-10-08, 07:36 PM I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times before, but as I don't have time to check it (playing tomorrow), I'm asking now:
Is there any XP penalty for prestige classing?
By Rules As Written (RAW), there is no XP penalty for choosing prestige classes. In 3.0e DMG the statement is there, but in 3.5e it was accidentally ommitted (but corrected in the 3.5e SRD and in the official 3.5e Rules FAQ).

As a general rule I've said that one base class+ one prestige class (even if not the class is favored) is ok.
For the record, no prestige class have been included in the race's favored class entry. Only base classes. May be a problem if you include new base classes.

But as stated above and in earlier posts, PrCs do not incur a XP multiclassing penalty.

Problem is I now have a player wanting to be me thinks 3 prestige classes at the same time, and not the favored class for his race. I guess according to the rules as I've understood them this is fine, but my gut tells me otherwise:P
If you're the DM, then that's up to you. You have to right to invoke Rule 0.

BTW, by "at the same time" you do mean that for every time a multiclassed PC levels up, they must choose one class at a time to improve, not simultaneously, right? a three-classed PC at character level 3 could only have 1 class level each, or at character level 9 only 3 class levels each or any combination.

To summarize: character level = the sum of total class levels.

"Combining so many classes could make you very powerful" a voice in my head told me as soon as my mate asked.
Not so much. You know the saying, "Jack-of-All-Trade, master of none." Many multiclassed spellcasters suffer from magic power growth.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lloardinen 04-07-08, 01:14 PM	I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times before, but as I don't have time to check it (playing tomorrow), I'm asking now: Is there any XP penalty for prestige classing? As a general rule I've said that one base class+ one prestige class (even if not the class is favored) is ok. Problem is I now have a player wanting to be me thinks 3 prestige classes at the same time, and not the favored class for his race. I guess according to the rules as I've understood them this is fine, but my gut tells me otherwise:P "Combining so many classes could make you very powerful" a voice in my head told me as soon as my mate asked. I need opinions, and answers; what is your experience with this? Any good suggestions for house rules and so on? Any answers welcomed (though meaningless babbling or pointless arguing is not helping out very much, just as guidelines:D )
Shadowhowler 04-07-08, 01:33 PM	Nope, no exp penalty for PrC's, only base classes. Having 3 PrC's may seem like it will make the guy pretty powerful, but unless he actualy knows what he is doing, it might just nerf him into submission. Sometimes at a glance it's hard to tell the differance between a skilled optimizer and a silly freak that just wants to have a bunch of classes. However... the first psudo-tough encounter you give the character... if he smokes it, it was the work of a skilled optimizer... if the party ends up searching under the couch for lose change to Raise dead, guess he was just a goffball. :P
Lloardinen 04-07-08, 01:38 PM	Well then, we'll see tomorrow. Thanks for answering, and still welcoming answers. (The whole party is quite powerful thou ,but I'll try to give him a worthy challenge to see how how he tackles it. And, hell, if he dies he sure can blame himself:D )
Bergtann 04-10-08, 04:59 PM	It would be more useful to look at what PrCs he is taking than how many. Most good PrCs will emphasise one aspect of a character, while neglecting others. If all 3 classes build on each other, and strengthen the same thing, he may get powerful, if the focus of the classes are all over the place, he is most likly nerfed.
IdleAltruism 04-10-08, 06:07 PM	Here it is from an official source, just in case you were wondering. 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. And heres the link for that as well http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/prestigeClasses.htm IIRC it was left out of the DMG by accident.
StevenO 04-10-08, 06:54 PM	PrCs don't count towards multiclass XP penalties. Part of the arguement is that you pay your dues meeting the prereqs while the penalty is the cost for poor base class multiclassing. Another part is that if they did count towards XP penalties almost everyone would be getting hit by them as the PrC level will often lag far behind the initial classes.
Ranger REG 04-10-08, 07:36 PM	I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times before, but as I don't have time to check it (playing tomorrow), I'm asking now: Is there any XP penalty for prestige classing? By Rules As Written (RAW), there is no XP penalty for choosing prestige classes. In 3.0e DMG the statement is there, but in 3.5e it was accidentally ommitted (but corrected in the 3.5e SRD and in the official 3.5e Rules FAQ). As a general rule I've said that one base class+ one prestige class (even if not the class is favored) is ok. For the record, no prestige class have been included in the race's favored class entry. Only base classes. May be a problem if you include new base classes. But as stated above and in earlier posts, PrCs do not incur a XP multiclassing penalty. Problem is I now have a player wanting to be me thinks 3 prestige classes at the same time, and not the favored class for his race. I guess according to the rules as I've understood them this is fine, but my gut tells me otherwise:P If you're the DM, then that's up to you. You have to right to invoke Rule 0. BTW, by "at the same time" you do mean that for every time a multiclassed PC levels up, they must choose one class at a time to improve, not simultaneously, right? a three-classed PC at character level 3 could only have 1 class level each, or at character level 9 only 3 class levels each or any combination. To summarize: character level = the sum of total class levels. "Combining so many classes could make you very powerful" a voice in my head told me as soon as my mate asked. Not so much. You know the saying, "Jack-of-All-Trade, master of none." Many multiclassed spellcasters suffer from magic power growth.