Playing the Class
This section of background information is the one most important to the player. You’re going to be spending a lot of time on this section, and if you want this class to have a specific slant, this is where you inform the player of your wish. Take a minute to sit down, reflect upon the opening paragraph of your class, and how members of the class should act and interact with the world.
Your first step is writing down all of the general information on the class and how it should be played. If any of your information doesn’t fit into the sub categories of this section, put it in these paragraphs. Don’t be afraid to show your writing talents, and be sure to list anything specific that the classes are expected to do. If your knightly prestige class has a code of conduct, you should probably list it here and how it applies to the player and the character.
Next you’ll want to write a section on combat and what role the character plays. Don’t be afraid to reference game mechanics, and if there’s a useful trick with some of the class abilities, let the player know that. If this class is known for rushing headlong into combat, make sure to mention the fact and ways to survive the rush.
A section on character advancement follows. Go over some of the important class features you gain later, and how they might be used. If there are some appropriate skills or feats, mention them as well. Make helpful suggestions to the player as to what he should select and pay attention to when leveling.
The resources section details what resources are available to members of the class from their organization. Make sure to list anything specific, and don’t limit yourself to actual real world goods. If the Knights of the Holy Flame help each other with free spellcasting, mention it. If your Deadly Assassin can get discounts on poison, make sure the player knows. In addition, it might be helpful to suggest specific or general items that the player might wish to purchase for the character.
The Class in the World
This section is where you fit the class into the game at large. It begins with an appropriate quote: don’t skimp or overlook this! It is amazing how much a single well placed and created quote can set the mood of the class. Try to capture the spirit and the worldview of the class with this quote. If you’re having trouble, list the class and ask your friends and random folks on the internet what quote would work here.
Next you’re going to want to write a few general paragraphs on how the class fits into the world, including any memberships or organizations common to the class. This is your chance to show the player selecting the class how it is viewed in the game world and what role it generally plays. Remember that this is the link between the class and the game world, so if they have a very specific role to play, mention it! A player shouldn’t be surprised by how other people view a member of this class.
Take some time and write about the organization this class belongs to, even if all you have to state is that members of this class are generally loners. If you’re created a new organization for this prestige class, you’re going to want to go into a lot of detail on the organization here. You don’t have to write pages, but the player should know just how the class interacts with its organization, if any.
Next work up how various npcs might react to a member of this class. You may wish to include the various starting attitudes of folks who meet a class member, be they positive or negative. While you know how others will react, the player nor other dungeon masters have a clue as to the reactions of others.
Finally, you’ll want to do a lore section. This starts with what knowledge skill or skills govern the knowledge of this class, then the results at various check results. Generally you should have a result for the following DCs: 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30. You don’t have to include all of them, but try to include at least three. This is a way for another game master to impart information about the class to other players.
The Class in the Game
This section includes information of a more metagame nature. Think of it as a set of instructions to the player as to what the class is good at and who might be interested in taking this class. This section generally doesn’t have to be all that long, but it should be highly informative. If this class really appeals to players who like to bash some skulls, don’t let it go without mention.
The adaptation section may be long or incredibly short. Generally it should include at least general advice on how to adapt your class to other game worlds and occasionally different concepts. If your class is centered around a custom god in your world, make sure to mention what gods it could be adapted to in other worlds. Sometimes you might also have to suggest a few mechanical changes to go along with the change in fluff.
Finally, you can choose to write up a sample encounter with an NPC stat block. Many folks online choose to skip this part of the section, as a lot of players feel that this section isn’t all that helpful. However, many dungeon masters pressed for time might want a sample NPC they can use out of the box, so if you have time it’s always a good idea to include this section.
When creating the NPC, make sure that all the game information is correct. Double check spent skill points, feats, and that the NPC can actually qualify for the class (some folks overlook this!). When creating the NPC, use the default array or a 25 point buy, as that is what the books will assume. Then write up a short paragraph as to where the NPC might be encountered and a short bio about the character.
General Concerns
Some designers have a hard time coming up with fluff and descriptive text for a prestige class. If you find yourself with this problem, go and find a friend who’s good a writing. Have a long talk with them about the prestige class, what it does, and its role in the world. Then politely ask them to help you with the fluff text, or even ask them to write it for you. A lot of players enjoy writing descriptive text, so most will leap at the opportunity to help you flesh out an aspect of your campaign world. In addition, if this is for your own game, consider asking the players for additional input. You might find that they can suggest some ideas you’ve overlooked, and even come up with a couple of cool class features!
Conclusion
While it might be hard for you to write this much information about one class, the background information is just as important as the mechanics of a class. You might also find that writing the background information first will give you ideas for class features, so don’t be afraid to make this your first step, not the last one!
Now that we’ve explored the basics of prestige classes in detail and brief, we can start looking at game balance. Join me next month when we starting talking about game balance and prestige classes! Until next month, happy gaming!
