Using 3e Prestige Classes in C&C (Sorta)

[DocEldritch]

Back when 3e first came out, something I really liked about it was the original concept of prestige classes. That they were a sort of "add on" to your class, that gave you a few new skills and abilities, but were really meant to reflect the training and abilities from joining a specialized organization (such as a Knighthood, or the Church Exorcists).

Sadly, that quickly dropped off in 3.X, but going back over some of my old material, I started thinking: How hard would it be to use this stuff in C&C?

Say you have a campaign set up, where there are knightly organizations, mage academies and guilds, secret orders and the like...that have some mechanical benefits to their members.

What I had been thinking of was using the prestige classes I wanted, sort of as written in a way. The idea being that when someone in game is able to join/be accepted to such an organization, and gain training from them, they still advance as their own class, BUT they gain some benefits from the PRC. Such as a +1 BtH, if it was a fighter type one, maybe a save bonus, perhaps an HD bonus or HP increase as they level. And each level they go up AFTER joining the organization, they gain some of the powers the PRCs used to give.

Now, admitedly this would not work with all, or even most, of the PRCs as written. And I might be better off converting things to some kind of Kit (al la 2e), which I may in fact end up doing. But a Kit that is only entered after 1st level (I think there were some like that back in the 2e version of Greyhawk, if I am remembering rightly). But it might work well for some of the older and more flavorful PRCs.

[Omote]

I think it can work. And I love the idea of differing levels of knighthood or church exorcists. To make them somewhat like PrCs in 3e, it seems like a multiclassing system would need to be developed - a system where you could add new class levels at a point other than 1st level.

I've never came up with a perfect, clean way to do this. But I think this is a good thought on how you could use PrCs in a C&C game.

~O
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[DocEldritch]

Ya, the basic idea is to keep it simple, bearing in mind this is C&C and all!

I would not want it to be a multiclass or anything, just a "guide" for giving the members of the group abilities that their membership trains or endows them with.

More towards the "kit" idea and less a new class idea, but they would not qualify at 1st level of course.

[Treebore]

I have only used one PrC in C&C so far, and I made them wait until 9th level, and then just used their PrC abilities as their level 10 to 19 class abilities.

ITs worked pretty good, and the TONS of XP C&C requires makes their powers feel earned.
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[koralas]

Hrm, I could see this being as simple as treating it as class and a half multiclassing, only picking up the PrC after 1st level. From that point forward, you gain the better of the advances to hit, averaging the HD, and so forth, and the level of the PrC starts at 1, not 1/2 the parent class, then the PrC level increases at a rate of 1:2 from that point. Optionally you can charge higher XP costs and go 1:1 advance, but choose one method and apply uniformly.

I also would restrict the classes you can use this style with to PrC's you convert or create, and not for picking up a standard class. I also would require XP spend beyond the normal end of the PrC from 3.x if you choose to limit the top level of the PrC.

If a character started as a multiclass (either option), then you must choose if you will allow them to pick up a PrC or not.

[serleran]

I do this through adding special abilities to the character, rather than making classes or the like. In a way, some might consider this a "feat system" or "adjuncts" but they are not mandatory or given lightly -- they must be earned, and earned hard.

However, new methods of dealing with the rules are always interesting.
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[DocEldritch]

Oh, Treebore's idea is also a good one! Kinda quasi 4e ish, and one things I actually liked about that version.

Good way to handle levels 10+ too, since games do go that high! Heck some of the best old Dungeon adventures were the mid level ones (8-14) to me.

I might have to consider something like this...