How to create a PrC

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

master_ivan

Apr 14, 2006 7:26:51
Uhm, I'm trying to create 2 PrC's and need some help with it.

I've been looking all over the WotC boards and can't seem to find any thread related to the matter of special abilities and how to make a PrC with balanced extraordinary abilities, spell-like abilities and supernatural abilities. There is some info in DMG but not idiot proof enough for my taste, cuz I'm pretty stupid :D so, my question to you guys is where do I go?
#2

kalthandrix

Apr 14, 2006 8:34:21
Well- you could either post what you have and ask for further input from those of us here- I am sure you would get some feedback that way.

Or you could PM or e-mail people and let them know about the project and and see if they were interested in taking part in it.

I would suggest tht anything that you post or send be in the regular PrC format that is used here- it will just make it easier for those reading it and ease the process as a whole.
#3

master_ivan

Apr 14, 2006 9:11:56
...yeah this was crap...I'm working on a whole new version of this. The name will also be changed, although I like it :D
#4

Pennarin

Apr 14, 2006 9:44:39
Master Ivan, any of us who did the many PrCs listed in the Dark Sun Archive can help you in one way or another.


Troop of Doom? Do you really mean Doomtrooper?

Alignment: There's nothing in the fluff or abilities that precludes Good characters from taking the class.

Base Attack Bonus: +12 implies the class requires an automatic 12th level fighter, minimum. Its not that high-powered a class for a 12th level character. I think it should be lowered to an average level requirement of 6. Note: Level requirements are never spelled out as such, you always find a way to ensure that almost anyone can become your class, such as by requiering 9 ranks in a skill (you need to be 6th level to have that much ranks). You can then restrict the class so that you need to be of a certain(s) class to take it, such as by requiering a certain class ability or a feat that itself has such a requirement.

HD: Your class is a sneak attack character, so right there he's linked to the rogue, so you should drop the fighter HD and replace it with the rogue's: d6.

The Warcraft requirement is a bit weird. Can you explain?

Guarded: Not sure about this.

Doom: No automatic critical hits. That's broken. You can say that, if the character threatens a critical hit, he can choose to expand a daily use of the ability to automaticaly comfirm the hit. That's feasible.
#5

Sysane

Apr 14, 2006 9:56:47
Master Ivan, any of us who did the many PrCs listed in the Dark Sun Archive can help you in one way or another.


Troop of Doom? Do you really mean Doomtrooper?

Alignment: There's nothing in the fluff or abilities that precludes Good characters from taking the class.

Base Attack Bonus: +12 implies the class requires an automatic 12th level fighter, minimum. Its not that high-powered a class for a 12th level character. I think it should be lowered to an average level requirement of 6. Note: Level requirements are never spelled out as such, you always find a way to ensure that almost anyone can become your class, such as by requiering 9 ranks in a skill (you need to be 6th level to have that much ranks). You can then restrict the class so that you need to be of a certain(s) class to take it, such as by requiering a certain class ability or a feat that itself has such a requirement.

HD: Your class is a sneak attack character, so right there he's linked to the rogue, so you should drop the fighter HD and replace it with the rogue's: d6.

The Warcraft requirement is a bit weird. Can you explain?

Guarded: Not sure about this.

Doom: No automatic critical hits. That's broken. You can say that, if the character threatens a critical hit, he can choose to expand a daily use of the ability to automaticaly comfirm the hit. That's feasible.

I agree with everything Penn said especially on the Doom ability.
#6

master_ivan

Apr 14, 2006 9:58:33
Master Ivan, any of us who did the many PrCs listed in the Dark Sun Archive can help you in one way or another.

Yeah, I know, sometimes fear takes control :P

Troop of Doom? Do you really mean Doomtrooper?

NO-WAY I mean troop of doom (like the song...Sepultura "Troops of Doom")

Alignment: There's nothing in the fluff or abilities that precludes Good characters from taking the class.

Ok, the idea is to make this an evil class because there's going to be killing with no second thoughts.
Base Attack Bonus: +12 implies the class requires an automatic 12th level fighter, minimum. Its not that high-powered a class for a 12th level character. I think it should be lowered to an average level requirement of 6. Note: Level requirements are never spelled out as such, you always find a way to ensure that almost anyone can become your class, such as by requiering 9 ranks in a skill (you need to be 6th level to have that much ranks). You can then restrict the class so that you need to be of a certain(s) class to take it, such as by requiering a certain class ability or a feat that itself has such a requirement.

Ok

HD: Your class is a sneak attack character, so right there he's linked to the rogue, so you should drop the fighter HD and replace it with the rogue's: d6.

I just changed the Blackguard class, and there is a sneak attack ability. That class has d10, and I wasn't sure there. But the blackguard gets up to 4th lvl devine spells, so that's why I gave the d12.

The Warcraft requirement is a bit weird. Can you explain?

It's supposed to be an army trained class...so I thought that this skill was a given...

Guarded: Not sure about this.

Me neither, I guess I was trying to make an original class skill...

Doom: No automatic critical hits. That's broken. You can say that, if the character threatens a critical hit, he can choose to expand a daily use of the ability to automaticaly comfirm the hit. That's feasible.

Yeah :embarrass now you might understand why I started this thread :D
#7

jon_oracle_of_athas

Apr 14, 2006 10:55:01
There is a general D&D forum where they can help you out with design questions.

The best advice I can provide is to study the existing classes and prestige classes. Once you have a broad overlook of text descriptions, class features and requirements, you are set to go.

A class should be made around a concept meshing fluff and mechanics, not a specific mechanical ability. A class designed simply to beat the crap out of PCs/NPCs will by default have faults.
#8

master_ivan

Apr 14, 2006 12:23:36
There is a general D&D forum where they can help you out with design questions.

The best advice I can provide is to study the existing classes and prestige classes. Once you have a broad overlook of text descriptions, class features and requirements, you are set to go.

A class should be made around a concept meshing fluff and mechanics, not a specific mechanical ability. A class designed simply to beat the crap out of PCs/NPCs will by default have faults.

Takk for det, Jon. That helped a lot.

(Just wish that you would have been the first to answer :P )

Yeah, uhm...Kal...you're a dead man! :fight!: :P
#9

kalthandrix

Apr 14, 2006 12:41:17
That is not a very good way to ask for my help Master. IMAGE(http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/ruinkai/FIREdevil.gif)

But bring it on- this will give me the opportunity to see what my new Ti-diyuan can do to someone.

The pain you will experience will be LEGANDARY! IMAGE(http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/blackeye/AR15firing.gif)
#10

cnahumck

Apr 14, 2006 15:06:44
I like the concept, and use something similar from the complete adventure called the Nightsong Enforcer. That gives you pretty much everything you are looking for here. I say, use that one or swap out some of the level based abilities for other ones.
#11

master_ivan

Apr 14, 2006 18:54:43
That is not a very good way to ask for my help Master. IMAGE(http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/ruinkai/FIREdevil.gif)

But bring it on- this will give me the opportunity to see what my new Ti-diyuan can do to someone.

The pain you will experience will be LEGANDARY! IMAGE(http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/blackeye/AR15firing.gif)

:surrender
#12

elonarc

Apr 14, 2006 19:58:26
That is not a very good way to ask for my help Master. IMAGE(http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/ruinkai/FIREdevil.gif)

But bring it on- this will give me the opportunity to see what my new Ti-diyuan can do to someone.

The pain you will experience will be LEGANDARY! IMAGE(http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/blackeye/AR15firing.gif)

I am already content with the stuff I am taking, but I obviously have to take the stuff you use. IMAGE(http://www.elk-x.de/forum/images/smiles/vader.gif)
#13

master_ivan

Apr 14, 2006 20:38:31
I am already content with the stuff I am taking, but I obviously have to take the stuff you use. IMAGE(http://www.elk-x.de/forum/images/smiles/vader.gif)

My stuff or Kal's? Cuz my stuff might KILL YOU :evillaugh
#14

Pennarin

Apr 15, 2006 0:12:35
I failed to tell you the essentials, as Jon did. Boo me.

A PrC is indeed built around a solid fluff concept, matching the setting's flavor, with ideas on who can take the class, what they become when they've done so, and what powers they get from it (in vague terms, i.e. invoking a mystic shield vs spells; striking the enemy after successfuly sundering his weapon; etc).

Posting your class before this is done won't get you far. When you got it all, make a first pass at it. Don't be afraid to steal other classes' abilities, word for word if necessary, cause it won't matter since you're presenting to us but a draft. What I usually do is hunt the PHB spell chapter and all of the PrCs in every WotC book I have for abilities close to those I want, and then I see how the authors made those abilities work for that class by looking at the abilities' mechanics themselves but also in the class' requirements.

You can try your hand at presenting your the draft here on the DS boards or on the Prestige Classes boards.
#15

master_ivan

Apr 15, 2006 6:25:31
Thanks you guys, appreciate it ;)