I just got the new FR campaign setting..

some prestige class questions:

1. when you start a prestige class, do you stop advancing in your current class?
2. do you have to follow the p-class to the highest level it goes?
3. where are the exp tables for the p-classes?

I hope this help answer you questions.

1. Yes, a character who gains a level can EITHER take a level of their original class or a level of the p-class. NOT both.

2. No, you can stop taking p-class levels at anytime.

3. p-class advancement uses the same XP as all other classes.

ok.. then if I am a 20th level wizard, then I start a prestige class, I start that class at level 1 of that 'prestige class'., then I can go to level 21 in wizard then go back and get level 2 of my p-class?

and it seems that you don't need many exp to get the next level of your p-class? i.e. 3 thousand for level 2?

Getting the 3rd Ed. DM's manual might help. It details the prestige classes.

When determining how many XP you need to achieve the next level, you take the total level, not the individual class level.

Taking your example, when your 20th level wizard gains enough XP to reach 21st level, you can take your 1st level in the prestige class instead to make a 20 wiz/1 prestige level character.

Then when you gain enough XP to reach 22nd level then you can take a level in either the prestige class or the wizard class (or any other class really... )

AFAIK, the rules only deal with levels up to 20 so far though, so your 20th level wizard can't gain any more levels in any class...

[This message has been edited by Blackthorne TA (edited June 04, 2001).]

thanks for the responses!

I see now that I should read the DM's guide.. I have only the PH and the Forgotten Realm's Campaign (which is fantastic btw).


I am actually an old timer who played 1st edition.. the 3 edition is so different.. but interesting..

so, right now, the rules only detail levels upto 20? but basically, you are less of a template and more of a 'free-spirit'.. allowed to jump between classes with few restrictions? correct interpretation?

it also seems that ability scores mean something different--and increase as you gain levels... true?

Yes and Yes. Your PC can take level in different classes almost at will. If you are human you can take a level in any class at any time. If you are not human you can't have a huge different betweeen the levels of your classes without a penalty. For example your 20th level wizard - if he is a elf -can't take a level of bard and then just leave it. If he then goes back to wizard without raising the bard up to 20 he will start getting a 10% cut in XP.

As for the stats increase you get one ability point every 4 levels. A lot better than cav's rolling percentile dice every level.

The basic rule for multi-classing in 3E is that you must keep your class levels within 1 level of eachother or suffer the 10% XP hit.

The complication is that every race has a preferred class that you don't take in to account when looking at level separation.

For elves the preferred class is the wizard, so you can have an elf wizard/whatever without worrying about the XP hit.

For humans and half-elves the preferred class is whatever class has the highest level at the time. So for humans and half-elves, as long as you have only 2 classes, you don't have to worry about the XP hit. If you go to 3 classes, then the 2 lowest-level classes must remain within 1 level of eachother, or you take the XP hit.

As far as I know P-classing is like Multiclassing just without the XP penalty.

Just like my sorcerer/Ember Mage lvl 7/1
I don't get any Xp penalty, and I can take a Sorcerer level anytime I want, and later on gain a level as Ember Mage.

I really love the Archmage p-class that's in the new FR book. In addition to all the new metamagic feats... whew

I have not pick up the new FR book yet, what new metamagic feats are there? I liked the new ones in Defenders of the Faith and the more the better.

with prietige class the net probably has lots of info


may the great stench watch over you

Reeky, if you looking for new P-class info on the net this site has some good ones. http://www.wku.edu/~charles/rpgs/d&d/

Enjoy!