I see they've done updates on most of the DMG prestige classes. Some they didn't, and I understand why.
BLACKGUARD --- They want to make it a full class. Understandable.
RED WIZARD --- Forgotten Realms specific, also understandable.
Now, these others I have no clue why no PRPG version was done for them:
ARCHMAGE --- I remember reading a statement why this wasn't done, something like the Wizard received a power boost and there was no need for this. I'm going to have to argue that this was necessary to include. First, Archmage is "prestigious". Second, the prestige class offers some very cool "archmage" type abilities that I do not see the Wizard class alone possessing. Third, it probably doesn't matter cause looking at the prestige class, I don't see it needing a PRPG update anyway.
DWARVEN DEFENDER --- It's fine the way it is, I believe, so maybe that's the reason why no porting. Unless I am mistaken?
HIEROPHANT --- I guess this is the same as the Archmage. Though giving it a spellcasting progression and having it sacrifice slots for special abilities like the Archmage would've been an ideal update.
HORIZON WALKER --- A PRPG update would've been sweet on this one, why was it undesirable to do something with this?
THAUMATURGIST --- I assume this was taken out because a Summoner class was coming in for PRPG. But the abilities of this prestige class, I say, would be ideal for a Summoner to get into or even Clerics and Wizards into conjuration but not so much as to multiclass as Summoner. It's ideal for a quick summoning ability booster. I hope Paizo realizes that PrC can be ideal methods for players to enhance in a particular theme quickly without resorting to multiclassing heavily into an actual class and needing to develop far enough into the class to get any real benefit.
I see they've done updates on most of the DMG prestige classes. Some they didn't, and I understand why.
BLACKGUARD --- They want to make it a full class. Understandable.
RED WIZARD --- Forgotten Realms specific, also understandable.
Now, these others I have no clue why no PRPG version was done for them:
ARCHMAGE --- I remember reading a statement why this wasn't done, something like the Wizard received a power boost and there was no need for this. I'm going to have to argue that this was necessary to include. First, Archmage is "prestigious". Second, the prestige class offers some very cool "archmage" type abilities that I do not see the Wizard class alone possessing. Third, it probably doesn't matter cause looking at the prestige class, I don't see it needing a PRPG update anyway.
DWARVEN DEFENDER --- It's fine the way it is, I believe, so maybe that's the reason why no porting. Unless I am mistaken?
HIEROPHANT --- I guess this is the same as the Archmage. Though giving it a spellcasting progression and having it sacrifice slots for special abilities like the Archmage would've been an ideal update.
HORIZON WALKER --- A PRPG update would've been sweet on this one, why was it undesirable to do something with this?
THAUMATURGIST --- I assume this was taken out because a Summoner class was coming in for PRPG. But the abilities of this prestige class, I say, would be ideal for a Summoner to get into or even Clerics and Wizards into conjuration but not so much as to multiclass as Summoner. It's ideal for a quick summoning ability booster. I hope Paizo realizes that PrC can be ideal methods for players to enhance in a particular theme quickly without resorting to multiclassing heavily into an actual class and needing to develop far enough into the class to get any real benefit.
The general feeling is that the archmage and hierophant are titles that should be available to any high-level arcane or divine spellcaster respectively. Not PrCs, but just a title that says "yeah, I'm that good".
The ranger gained abilities that mirror some of the abilities of the horizon walker (favored terrain). This renders the horizon walker somewhat redundant.
I believe there was also an effort to relax the restrictions on prestige classes that use the race as a prerequisite, and hence the dwarven defender is gone while the arcane archer allows half-elves now. Might be wrong on this one.
I believe there was also an effort to relax the restrictions on prestige classes that use the race as a prerequisite, and hence the dwarven defender is gone while the arcane archer allows half-elves now. Might be wrong on this one.
I believe you're correct about the racial PrCs. I think James has mentioned that the racial pre-req for Arcane Archer may be errated out entirely.
Also, Red Wizard wasn't released in the SRD, so that one wasn't coming over in any case.