Questions tagged [prestige-class]

In D&D 3.0 and related editions, a prestige class is a class that a player can take in addition to their starting class, to expand the options their character has or to specialize in certain aspects of said class.

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Do you lose your prestige class features when you no longer meet its requirements?

Certain prestige classes detail a list of requirements that are possible for the player to lose (alignment, casting at a certain level), but not what happens if you no longer meet those requirements (...
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What happens if a Rainbow Servant takes levels in Mystic Theurge?

When a Rainbow Servant hits level 10 they gain access to all nondomain Cleric spells. All spells that do not appear on any other spell list they have are cast as Divine spells. This means that, if ...
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How are caster levels determined in concert with the feat Master Spellthief?

The first and third benefits of the feat Master Spellthief from page 79 of Complete Scoundrel are pretty straightforward (although the first's a little sad in that it only affects the level of spell ...
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6 votes
1 answer
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How can an ultimate magus control spellcasting progression when Practiced Spellcaster isn’t enough?

A background in the ultimate magus class and how it progresses spellcasting An ultimate magus progresses a prepared-spellcasting arcane class and a spontaneous-spellcasting arcane class at each of 2nd,...
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Does taking levels in a prestige class cause XP Penalty?

In D&D 3.5, does taking levels in a prestige class cause the XP penalty like multiclassing does? Please provide the source of the answer so I can show it to my players.
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How does a shadowdancer use nearby shadows to hide in plain sight?

In pathfinder; a shadowdancer acquires the ability to hide while being observed. A shadowdancer can use the Stealth skill even while being observed. As long as she is within 10 feet of an area of ...
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How do the Planar Shepherd's features interact with the Outlands?

I have recently read up on the Planar Shepherd, and I have a few questions about it regarding its interaction with the Outlands. And while I know the Planar Shepherd is in an Eberron book, and as such ...
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What does the Exotic Weapon Master's Uncanny Blow require?

The Exotic Weapon Master (Complete Warrior, p. 30) has, as one of its optional class abilities, the Weapon Stunt Uncanny Blow. Uncanny Blow gives a benefit to the Exotic Weapon Master "[w]hen ...
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Can I play a pure Ur-Priest?

I mean, of course I can do anything the DM allows, etc. But is there a rules-as-written sequence of events that ends with a character with only Ur-Priest levels? I.e. ECL = Ur-Priest class level. I ...
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Is early entry into mystic theurge still an option?

My understanding is that originally spell-like abilities could not be used to fulfill prestige class requirements, then spell-like abilities could be used to fulfill prestige class requirements, and ...
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Looking for (even unofficial) duelist variants

As @KRyan told me, it seems like the duelist PrC is a little bit broken. But my party is currently lost in the middle of savages countries far from any civilization and it is very unlikely that I meet ...
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Why is the Master of Nine a bad choice?

Say, what is the first thing that comes to mind when you talk about Tome of Battle? Most likely, the maneuvers - the thing that made the close-quarter combat fun for even those players who don't like ...
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2 answers
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Multiclassed spellcaster, full spell knowledge?

I am making an arcane/divine multiclass to later prestige as a mystic theurge. I have 'practices spellcaster' twice, as to have full caster level in both spellcaster classes. My question is if there ...
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What is the lowest character level at which a binder can take the anima mage prestige class?

The Tome of Magic has the Binder class and the Anima Mage prestige class. Let's assume a Binder/Sorcerer wants to take the Anime Mage prestige class as soon as possible. Probably he would want the ...
dataquerent's user avatar
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Is it possible to achieve 9th level spells in 3 different progressions?

With just a little shenanigans, you can get 9th level in 2 progressions. I think Wizard 3 / Druid 3 / Mystic Theurge 10 / Arcane Hierophant 4 does the trick (If I am not mistaken - no books on me ...
Mindwin Remember Monica's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
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How to get early entry into mystic theurge?

I've heard there is some "cheese" that would allow you to enter mystic theurge without going wizard 3 / cleric 3: how do you do that? What is the earliest you can enter the class?
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Do I lose Reaping Mauler class features when I get Enlarged?

The theory is this: Reaping Mauler (Complete Warrior (CW)) has a prerequisite feat: Clever Wrestling (CW). Clever Wrestling has a size prerequisite: Small or Medium character. I would be a human, so ...
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What prestige classes include the Class Feature of "+1 level of existing class features"?

I'm looking for prestige classes from D&D 3e or 3.5e that have a class feature of providing "+1 level of existing class features". I currently know of Uncanny Trickster (CS) and Legacy Champion (...
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Is there a prestige class that grants Turn Undead/Rebuke Undead?

Is there a prestige class in D&D 3.x or Pathfinder which, at first level, grants Turn Undead or Rebuke Undead if you don't already have it? I'm using Arcanist/Rainbow Servant. I need Turn/Rebuke ...
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What does it mean when a prestige class says "+1 level of existing class"?

I have a druid ready to become a Verdant Master. I understand everything well enough except the "+1 level of existing class" found under spells per Day/Spells known chart. What does that mean to me?
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Does Rainbow Servant allow a full-list spontaneous caster to cast all cleric spells?

A full-list spontaneous arcane caster (Warmage, Beguiler or Dread Necromancer) does not pick spells to learn each level, like a Wizard or a Sorcerer, and cannot copy spells from other sources to a ...
From's user avatar
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5 votes
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Southern Magician feat as prerequisite for arcane/divine casters

I have trouble understanding the details of the full scope of the Southern Magician feat: Southern Magician [General] Your magical studies in Mulan lands have taught you spellcasting techniques ...
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1 answer
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What changes when an Alienist becomes an outsider?

When a character becomes a 10th level Alienist (prestige class), the following change is said to occur (emphasis mine): Alien Transcendence (Su): A 10th-level alienist, because of long ...
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How does the Hellfire Warlock's hellfire blast function?

I'm trying to properly understand the Hellfire Warlock's hellfire blast. Hellfire Blast (Sp): Whenever you use your eldritch blast ability, you can change your eldritch blast into a hellfire blast. ...
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Questions about an Arcane/Divine combo build [closed]

I had an idea for a character that was multiclass Wizard/Archivist(Heroes of Horror) with Prestige levels in Mystic Theurge. However, upon further examination of the Mystic Theurge class, I noticed a ...
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Prestige Classes for a stealthy Barbarian/Rogue

Hot on the heels of this question, Am I giving up too much with these Unearthed Arcana fighter variants?, I'd decided that I want to build a Half Orc barbarian/rogue for an upcoming low-magic* pirate ...
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Spellcasting progression of Wizard-only Ultimate Magus

There are ways for a straight Wizard character (for example, via Spontaneous Divination ACF or Uncanny Forethought feat) to get some spontaneous spellcasting capability and enter an Ultimate Magus PrC ...
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How can a beast heart adept's abilities improve after finishing the class?

I'm playing a marshal 1/totemist 4/beast heart adept 9. Since I'm nearly done with the prestige class beast heart adept, I need some advice: Do any classes continue what beast heart adept started ...
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Pathfinder Chronicler and All These Bardic Performance-Alike Archetypes and Prestige Classes: How do they stack, in practice?

So. Pathfinder Chronicler is basically "meant" to stack with your bard level for the purpose of determining your bardic performance rounds per day. The relevant rules text of Pathfinder ...
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2 answers
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How to get into Walker in the Wastes as a level 3 Wizard

I am building a Wizard character that focuses on using Greater Drought from the Walker in the Wastes prestige class. The campaign is starting at level 12, so I need to figure out a way to build a ...
Avenger's user avatar
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What's the earliest a creature can take master of flies?

I'm trying to have my PC enter as soon as possible the prestige class master of flies (Savage Species 80–3). The prestige class has as the following entry requirements: 5 ranks in the skill Escape ...
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18 votes
1 answer
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Is the Cancer Mage overpowered?

I am running a D&D 3.5 campaign, and a player wants to go for the Cancer Mage prestige class in the Book of Vile Darkness. Is this prestige class overpowered, as defined in this question?
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What were the winning prestige classes?

Wizards of the Coast in Jan. 2001 sponsored a prestige class contest on the company's messageboards, and, I assume, announced the results mid-April. Unlike the earlier spellwriting contest that saw ...
Hey I Can Chan's user avatar
15 votes
4 answers
10k views

What are the rules for multiple prestige classes?

Nowhere in the rules I have seen a statement about not being able to choose several prestige classes at the same time. And since there is no XP penalty when multiclassing prestige, it seems quite ...
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13 votes
5 answers
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What exactly are Prestige classes, and what purpose do they serve?

What exactly are Prestige classes, and what purpose do they serve? Are they, in any way, better than the default classes? Do they have any disadvantages/advantages to them?
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How does a ranger take shades as his favored enemy?

The Player's Handbook on favored enemy says, "If the ranger chooses humanoids or outsiders as a favored enemy, he must also choose an associated subtype, as indicated on the table" (47). The PH then ...
Hey I Can Chan's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
2k views

What are the armor limits for stone warden?

The prestige class deepwarden (Races of Stone 105–7) has the class feature stone warden that says Beginning at 2nd level, a deepwarden knows how to use his strengths to compensate for his weaknesses. ...
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Is my Red Wizard prestige class for 5e balanced?

In the Unearthed Arcana article "Prestige Classes and Rune Magic" (pdf link), they introduce the idea of prestige classes, a class with only a few levels and more multiclassing prerequisites, borrowed ...
NathanS's user avatar
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1 answer
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How long does Weapon Aptitude (Warblade class feature) last?

The Warblade class feature "Weapon Aptitude" permits transfering weapon specific feats to another weapon. The description reads: You also have the flexibility to adjust your weapon training. Each ...
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What bloodline should I choose for a character I want to turn into an arcane trickster?

I've just started playing Pathfinder, and I have a 1st level gnome rogue. I decided early on that I wanted to eventually go the route of an arcane trickster, so my good attributes are DEX and CHA, ...
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Saint-like template/prestige class for villains

The Book of Exalted Deeds offers the Saint template for good-aligned characters. This template is quite powerful, but has strict prerequisites (as described in Sainthood section). Is there any ...
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6 votes
1 answer
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Is it possible to take a prestige class level 1?

I would like to take levels in Forsaker (we're importing it from 3.0) and the only requirements are Feats: Great Fortitude , Iron Will , Lightning Reflexes If I take those feats at level 1, can I ...
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5 votes
2 answers
334 views

Iron Maiden prestige class—Tome of Battle homebrew

See here for v2 of this class I would like a review of this Tome of Battle-based prestige class I wrote. I decided to go ham on the write-up and do the full entry as Wizards themselves did (I even ...
KRyan's user avatar
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What game elements can raise the caster level of a fixed-caster-level supernatural ability?

The prestige class thrall to Juiblex gains the supernatural ability polymorph self that says, "An 8th-level thrall of Juiblex’s form is more amorphous than ever. It can change its appearance and form ...
Hey I Can Chan's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

Kensai Monks and Unarmed Strike questions

So, I'm currently building a Monk for a 3.5e campaign. While researching development options, I came across the Kensai prestige class from the Complete Warrior book. However, it led me to some ...
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Are there any rules for creating your own prestige classes

Hey you might remember the Druid from my last question well while him and I were talking we got on the topic of prestige classes.He said wanted something like a witch doctor.We looked in our core ...
Robert's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
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Psionics/Magic Transparancy and PrC Qualification

So, I'm in a campaign that is running full (aka, 100%) Psionic-Magic Transparency. I'm a Divine Caster with not psionics classes, but am interested in taking Thrallherd. So, for purposes of ...
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4 votes
2 answers
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Are Psychics arcane casters? Can they prestige into Dragon Disciples and do they suffer Spell Failure?

Nowhere on the Psychic section does it state that Psychics are arcane or divine casters. As such, it's not clear if they suffer spell failure, let alone whether or not they can prestige into Dragon ...
Axoren's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
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Iron Maiden prestige class—Tome of Battle homebrew (v2)

Iron maiden v1 Not a lot to say, per se, up front, since the goal is for the class to read like you just came across it in Chapter 5 of Tome of Battle. See the preamble to v1 if you are unfamiliar ...
KRyan's user avatar
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4 votes
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How much essentia can a necrocarnate accumulate from harvesting souls?

The prestige class necrocarnate at level 1 gains the supernatural ability harvest souls that, in part, says [Y]ou can perform a short ritual to capture the soul energy of a newly dead corpse. This ...
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