Draft Prestige Classes

[Raesene Andu]

Following on from my poll about prestige classes in the Atlas of Cerilia, I have attached copies of all the currently submitted prestige classes below.

Prestige Class #1-5

[Raesene Andu]

Prestige Classes #6-10

[Raesene Andu]

Prestige Classes #11-15

[Raesene Andu]

Prestige Classes #16-20

[Raesene Andu]

Prestige Class #21-25

[Raesene Andu]

The above prestige classes are all those that have been submitted to the Atlas project over the past couple of years. What I would now like to do with these is select the most popular submissions OR concepts to bring forward to an editing stage where the BR community can work on them further.

So if there are any of these prestige class that you would like included in the Atlas/BRCS then please reply to this message with a list of those you want to see carried forward to an editing stage.

Also, if you don't like the particular prestige class but like the idea behind the class, then please make a note of which concepts you like, as all selected prestige classes will be open to comments/editing at a later stage before a final vote for inclusion and you will be given an opportunity to propose changes then.

If you don't like any of the current submission, but would like to see certain prestige classes in the Atlas, OR have a prestige class concept of your own to put forward, then include that in your reply as well.

[RaspK_FOG]

I haven't had the time to see through all of these prestige classes, but the whole thing really want to say something: do you remember my prestige class concept (and submission), the traverser of shadows? Wouldn't it be fitting, with halfling freedom fighters and such also making their appearance here?

[Magnus Argent]

I haven't had a chance to look at all of the details of the prestige classes but at a glance, out of the entire list, I only see one prestige class from Birthright, the gheallie Sidhe.

Original prestige classes are cool but shouldn't the Atlas spend more of an effort defining the prestige classes already presented in the 2nd edition material?

Offhand, I can think of:

Knight Guardians
Imperial Legionaire
Member of the Watch
Member of the Discourse
Royal College of Sorcery Alumni
Hogunmark Dragon
Knight of the Silver Crescent
Tuor Duelist
Bard of the White Hall
Highland Skald
Brecht Bandit
Winter Witch
Veiled Sister
.. and many more.

The above are all examples of prestige classes in BR. I mean, they are all organizations or groups of renown, right? And isn't that what a prestige class is all about?

I was under the impression that the Atlas and the BRCS are supposed to update the original material to make it compatable with new rules? Variants and original material is great but should be segregated from the original material if you wish to champion the preservation of the setting.

[Raesene Andu]

I haven't had the time to see through all of these prestige classes, but the whole thing really want to say something: do you remember my prestige class concept (and submission), the traverser of shadows? Wouldn't it be fitting, with halfling freedom fighters and such also making their appearance here?

I do remember the class. Was that submitted to the Atlas or just one the boards here? It would be a fitting prestige class to consider. I only posted the prestige classes I had saved on my computer.


Original prestige classes are cool but shouldn't the Atlas spend more of an effort defining the prestige classes already presented in the 2nd edition material?

2nd Edition never had prestige classes, that is a 3rd Edition addition to the rules. At least 3 of the groups you list are featured in the prestige classes I posted, some I've never heard of, and others are not suitable for prestige classes IMO. We don't really want a prestige class for every order of knights in Anuire...

The recent vote showed that a lot of people want to see prestige classes in the Atlas, and some people won't consider it to be complete until it contains prestige classes :) Hence this thread to discover what sort of prestige classes people would like to see.


I was under the impression that the Atlas and the BRCS are supposed to update the original material to make it compatable with new rules? Variants and original material is great but should be segregated from the original material if you wish to champion the preservation of the setting.

There is very little in the Atlas that needs updating to make it compatable. So instead, the Atlas of Cerilia is going to provide an expanded look at Cerilia, so will contain a large amount of original writing. The core information will not change, but it will be greatly expanded. For example, in the original material the description of Avanil was 2 pages, now it is 12.

[RaspK_FOG]

You can find the Traverser of Shadows here. (http://www.birthright.net/showthread.php?t=2553&page=1&pp=10)

Furthermore, I had an idea for a prestige class for the Rjurik: the Elder Loremaster; the class would require a few levels in both classes, would increase the spellcasting ability of both classes by a reasonable amount, count its levels with bard and druid levels in regard to access to or capability in some class features (including some non-shapeshifting druidic abilities as well as bardic knowledge), and allow the expenditure of a druidic spell to gain additional daily uses of bardic music or the expenditure of a number of daily uses of bardic music to cast a summon nature's ally spell of equal level. One of the secondary issues is that the elder loremaster must use a divine focus and a verbal component for all of his spells; finally, he gets a poor BAB, BFB, BRB and only 4 base skill points per level, but has a high BWB.

[Magnus Argent]

The game mechanics for prestige classes may be unique to 3rd/3.5th edition but the concept is not. Prestige classes are groups of renown that are a cut above the norm. They help to differentiate one campaign setting from another.

I don't argue that prestige classes wouldn't be a nice addition. I just disagree with the assertion that Cerilia doesn't already have them. It does. They just need to be identified and updated with the current rule set.

I thought that was the whole point to the Atlas and BRCS.

[Raesene Andu]

You can find the Traverser of Shadows here. (http://www.birthright.net/showthread.php?t=2553&page=1&pp=10)

Ok, great. I've cut and pasted all the info over into a file and move it into my prestige class directory on my computer.


Furthermore, I had an idea for a prestige class for the Rjurik: the Elder Loremaster; the class would require a few levels in both classes, would increase the spellcasting ability of both classes by a reasonable amount, count its levels with bard and druid levels in regard to access to or capability in some class features (including some non-shapeshifting druidic abilities as well as bardic knowledge), and allow the expenditure of a druidic spell to gain additional daily uses of bardic music or the expenditure of a number of daily uses of bardic music to cast a summon nature's ally spell of equal level. One of the secondary issues is that the elder loremaster must use a divine focus and a verbal component for all of his spells; finally, he gets a poor BAB, BFB, BRB and only 4 base skill points per level, but has a high BWB.

Sounds like an interesting idea for a prestige class. Perhaps link it to a specific religion, say the Emerald Spiral, which is unlikely to have a lot of written records of its secret lore...

[Raesene Andu]

I don't argue that prestige classes wouldn't be a nice addition. I just disagree with the assertion that Cerilia doesn't already have them. It does. They just need to be identified and updated with the current rule set.

Then please identify what you think are Cerilia's prestige classes, that is what this thread is for. And don't just list the name of a group, post a concept of the prestige class so I have something to work with.

[RaspK_FOG]

Sounds like an interesting idea for a prestige class. Perhaps link it to a specific religion, say the Emerald Spiral, which is unlikely to have a lot of written records of its secret lore...
OK, I'll look into that; by the way, I hope you realised that by "both classes" I meant "both bard and druid" classes, 'cause I forgot to type so...

[Raesene Andu]

OK, I'll look into that; by the way, I hope you realised that by "both classes" I meant "both bard and druid" classes, 'cause I forgot to type so...

Yes, I realised that.

I was a bit unsure at first about the idea of matching druids with bards, but when you read through the Rjurik sourcebook, you can see clearly that in tribal Rjurik culture the two are fairly important and Rjurik bards are seen more as keepers of knowledge and tales of the past rather than wandering minstrels.

[RaspK_FOG]

Yes, I realised that.

I was a bit unsure at first about the idea of matching druids with bards, but when you read through the Rjurik sourcebook, you can see clearly that in tribal Rjurik culture the two are fairly important and Rjurik bards are seen more as keepers of knowledge and tales of the past rather than wandering minstrels.
Which is exactly the reason that I came up with this; the Rjurik are an amalgam of Celtic and Norse traditions but that's where the game is most interesting: their druids and skalds are the keepers of tradition, which is rarely if ever recorded, preferring the oral tradition. Remember here that RL druids thought that the Truth was larger than anything, and putting it down in written form would reduce it to a lesser state, which is why they never wrote of the totality of their customs and traditions...

So far, the following ideas is what I came up with:

12-level Prestige class. (Maybe 9-level? Definitely not 10-level.)

Requirements
Age: Middle-aged or older.
Race: Human (Rjurik).
Alignment: Lawful neutral.
Skills: Knowledge (local [Rjurik?]) 10 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 10 ranks, Konwledge (religion [Erik?]) 10 ranks, Survival 5 ranks.
Special: Bardic Knowledge, Inspire Competence, Resist Nature's Lure.
Spells: Ability to spontaneously cast 1st-level arcane spells and to cast 2nd-level divine spells.

Hit Die: d8.
Skill Points per level: 4 + Int modifier. (Obviously, +1 for being human.)

Base Attack Bonus: Poor.
Fortitude: High. (Mainly to offset the setback for the bard levels.)
Reflex: Poor.
Will: High.

I think that any non-shapeshifting druidic ability (other than the Thousand Faces ability) should be gained as if your Elder Lorekeeper levels were druid levels...

Bard and Elder Lorekeeper levels stack in relation to Bardic Knowledge.

Your spellcasting increases by 1 lvl in any of the two classes of your choice, while the same is true for the second class for all levels except for 3, 6, and 9. (If the class turns into a 9-level one, change this to 3 and 7.)

Plus, add the special abilities mentioned above. (Or add them?)

[Arjan]

Original prestige classes are cool but shouldn't the Atlas spend more of an effort defining the prestige classes already presented in the 2nd edition material?


to add a bit to ians comment on your 2nd ed list.
the decission to not include PrC's into the atlas does not mean we cannot post it here on BRnet.
If you really would like to see more PrC's you should post them into the article section. That section is meant for stuff like: Homebrew, conversions, newly written etc etc
for PrCs theres a whole section.
http://www.birthright.net/articles.php?action=viewcat&catid=6

[mhelles]

I think the following prestige classes are both good and inventive (although they still require some editing, a bit of game testing, etc.):

* Bladesinger
* Doomguard
* Gheallie Sidhe
* Penumbral Master
* Servant of the Sea
* The Primal Adept
* Watch Guardian
* Traverser of Shadows (posted separately)

Also, I like the concept of the Moon Initiate but the details seem a bit off somehow.

Some of the other prestige classes can still be useful and fun, though, even if not of sufficient quality (imho) for inclusion in the Atlas. Maybe we can still have them somewhere for download?

[Raesene Andu]

Some of the other prestige classes can still be useful and fun, though, even if not of sufficient quality (imho) for inclusion in the Atlas. Maybe we can still have them somewhere for download?

Any that are not included in the Atlas can be posted in the articles section of birthright.net and made available for download there.

[The Jew]

I was under the impression that the Atlas and the BRCS are supposed to update the original material to make it compatable with new rules? Variants and original material is great but should be segregated from the original material if you wish to champion the preservation of the setting.

I was under that impression to when I first joined here, but then came to realize that while many people have great reverence for 2ed material, that the Atlas and BRCS updates will reflect the wants of those willing to spend signifant time working on them. The reason those prestige classes you listed aren't written up, is because no one who cared about that decided to invest the time.

as for the preservation of the setting, well it seems like most of the new prestige classes were developed around the setting. They are not abstract classes, but actually very specific to Birthright and its oddities.

[irdeggman]

I was under the impression that the Atlas and the BRCS are supposed to update the original material to make it compatable with new rules? Variants and original material is great but should be segregated from the original material if you wish to champion the preservation of the setting.


Actually this is a common misconception.

Check the following thread (its the Frequently asked questions pinned thread under the BRCS discussion):

http://www.birthright.net/showthread.php?t=2189

I just remade the links in the question of concern. They were all lost during the server rebuild so I will have to go back through and redo all of the others (sorry it will take me a while to do that so be patient).

[ShadowMoon]

Hi, I dont know if this discussion is still, on...

In my Birthright Campaigns a did some Prestige Classes. Nothing overpowering, I only made em to get some depth and to depict some regional diversity.

Classes like:
Houseguard (Elite gurdsman / bodyguard hired by nobles etc.)
Silver Inquisitor (Ruornil's servant)
Sentinel (Elven scout)
Etc...

So I just wanted to know, should I post em, and where?

Cheers

[Raesene Andu]

Classes like:
Houseguard (Elite gurdsman / bodyguard hired by nobles etc.)
Silver Inquisitor (Ruornil's servant)
Sentinel (Elven scout)
Etc...

So I just wanted to know, shoul I post em, and where?

You can send them to me and I can post them here for you if you like. My e-mail address is hoss@chariot.net.au

This thread is still active and I'm still very interested in hearing opinions on the prestige classes that have been submitted so far or ideas for new ones.

[geeman]

At 01:19 PM 9/12/2005 +0200, ShadowMoon wrote:

>I my Birthright Campaigns a did some Prestige Classes. Nothing
>overpowering, I only made em to get some diversity and to depict some
>regional diversity.
>
>Classes like:
>Houseguard (Elite gurdsman / bodyguard hired by nobles etc.)
>Silver Inquisitor (Ruornil`s servant)
>Sentinel (Elven scout)
>Etc...
>
> So I just wanted to know, shoul I post em, and where?

Just wanted to comment... LOVE that name "Silver Inquisitor."

Gary

[Fearless_Leader]

I just want to know how I missed the fact that one of the prestige classes is called a "Minister of Love." LOL.

[geeman]

At 01:54 AM 9/14/2005 +0200, Fearless_Leader wrote:

>I just want to know how I missed the fact that one of the prestige classes
>is called a "Minister of Love." LOL.

Hm. How did I miss that? Very cute. It may, however, not be one of the
ones I appropriate for my own use....

Gary

[Lee]

I`ve finally gotten a chance to read some of these. The Watch Guardian
sounds very good, but it needs some editing to bring it up to 3.5 standards--
some of the class skills no longer exist, like Innuendo, Wilderness Lore and
Intuit Direction.

I`ve no other objection to most of these.

Lee.

[Thelandrin]

Hi. In our 3.5 Birthright games, we try to stick the 2nd Edition feel by not multiclassing without good reason and by taking Prestige Classes that supplement our base classes without giving us loads of new powers. Thus Archmage, Hierophant, Guildthief, Warmaster etc.
Just a thought.

Thelandrin.