How's everybody handling PrC's?
It seems like to me that by levels 5-7, when people are ready to prestige up, they're in the middle of the ocean on a boat, on their way to the IoD.
Do they get "schooled" back in Sasserine and level it up on the 'ship when they get the requisites filled?
Maybe they can be "book taught"? ;)
Not sure if I'll bother restricting it... perhaps the PC has been already on the road to discovery of the skills for that PrC, and has justfinally now mastered them? Could be one way to look at it...
PRCs need to be classified similar to templates having the classifications "acquired" and "inherented".
Some PRCs seem to be the sort of thing a person "falls into" or naturally "evolves/trains" toward, like dragon disciple, weapon master, blackguard, and the like.
Others seem to require "initiation" or "special training" like assasin, seeker of the song, or any other PRC with the entry of Special in its prerequisites or similar special training in its "fluff" description.
Obviously, PRCs of the "evolve" form seem easy enough to acquire, but I agree that "initiate" PRCS might be hard to justify along the way. But, keep in mind that every PRC that requires initiation into it was still origionally developed by someone or something that had no one to initiate them.
Hope this is food for thought, cause it sure doesn't help!
When the cleric of Ehlonna wanted to branch into Sentinel of Bharrai on the ship, we ruled that it was a divine epiphany (she sees a cumulus cloud shaped like a great white bear, etc.). No one had too big a problem with that one.
How the PC's acquire prestige classes is usually determined by how the DM handles training and organizations in the campaign. The more strict the DM's take on level/skill/feat training and organizational membership, the more difficult it is to acquire a PrC.
The PrCs that are associated with membership in or affiliation with organizations are usually toughest to fit into the campaign, unless the organization is included from the start (i.e., Champion of Gwynharwyf/Church of the Whirling Fury). Many of the PrCs are not associated with organizations, though; also, there are plenty of choices for "independent development" (and maybe slight changes to the "base" version to reflect the character/world; Stormlords of Procan who use tridents and javelins, for example).
In my world, I'm using the very liberal and not terribly realistic "ding" method of level advancement. It doesn't make for a realistic story but then what exactly is realistic in a game where there is magic and dragons.
I take as my inspiration the Lord of the Rings, where the little untrained hobbits are able to fight battle hardened goblins and a cave troll after a little training from Aaragorn. They just sort of learned it on the way.
That being said, they still need all the prereqs to apply for a prestige class (including the initiation ones). Luckily, they don't seem too interested in prestige classes yet.
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Others seem to require "initiation" or "special training" like assasin, seeker of the song, or any other PRC with the entry of Special in its prerequisites or similar special training in its "fluff" description.
Yeah, I actually have a player who wants to go for Seeker of the Song, but that's nothing a handful of prophetic dreams and/or rediscovered ancient traditions won't fix. I'm less sure about what to do with the fella aiming for Kensai...:(
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Many of the passengers on the voyage are not described in detail; if your player wants to take a prestige class that requires interaction/training/initiation with others, simply establish that the passenger list includes one or more of the appropriate people, who can approach the PC after observing the hero in action. (Or the PC can approach the NPC after learning of his/her presence on the ship.) This may work best if you put the NPC on Lavinia's ship, so opportunities for interaction are limited until the right time, and the revelation doesn't seem contrived.
Alternately, you can have the appropriate people come aboard during one of the stops along the voyage--a replacement crewmember or simply a new passenger trying to get to the Isle of Dread for his/her own reasons. He or she could pop up again later in the campaign, as needed.
PRCs need to be classified similar to templates having the classifications "acquired" and "inherented".
Some PRCs seem to be the sort of thing a person "falls into" or naturally "evolves/trains" toward, like dragon disciple, weapon master, blackguard, and the like.
Others seem to require "initiation" or "special training" like assasin, seeker of the song, or any other PRC with the entry of Special in its prerequisites or similar special training in its "fluff" description.
Obviously, PRCs of the "evolve" form seem easy enough to acquire, but I agree that "initiate" PRCS might be hard to justify along the way. But, keep in mind that every PRC that requires initiation into it was still origionally developed by someone or something that had no one to initiate them.
Hope this is food for thought, cause it sure doesn't help!
Have to agree with Black Bard, soem prestige classes seem to naturally evolve whereas others are definate establishments.
If the players wishes to try for a establishment "prestige" then out in the ocean isn't going to help them.
May seem a little harsh, but all my players have Played liek this for so long, they have adpated to it!