Every single prestige class has a set of core mechanics are universally existent. These core mechanics form the skeleton and backbone of your prestige class. Generally they are among the first thing you will consider when designing your prestige class. While these core mechanics may seem simple and straight forward they form an important function in balancing a prestige class and should be considered carefully.

Attack Bonus

The very first thing you will find in the class table of any prestige class (aside from the class level) is the attack bonus of a prestige class. Many players will jump right to this element of the class, as it is a quick indicator of martial prowess. Base attack bonus is a powerful building block when designing a class. There are three types of attack bonus, determined as follows:

• Good: A good base attack bonus uses a very simple formula: class level. A good base attack bonus gains a +1 bonus every level. This is the best base attack bonus progression.
• Moderate: A moderate base attack bonus uses the following formula: class level x 3/4, rounded down. A moderate base attack bonus begins with +0, +1, +2, +3, +3, etc. This is the intermediate base attack bonus progression.
• Poor: A poor base attack bonus also uses a simple formula: class level/2, rounded down. A poor base attack bonus gains a +1 bonus to attack every other level. A poor base attack bonus, as the name implies, is the worst base attack bonus.

Generally your base attack bonus progression is going to be close to the base attack bonus of your target entry prestige class. When you are designing your prestige class take a look at three or four classes you feel are the best entry classes. Take a note of their base attack bonus and then assign a similar base attack bonus. This is the quick and dirty method of determining base attack bonus.

For some classes you’re going to want to improve (most likely) or decrease (less likely) the attack bonus as compared to your target entry class. Generally a prestige class might have a higher attack bonus if the prestige class is focused around improving the fighting prowess of a base class. More rarely you might decrease the base attack bonus of your target entry class, though this is done more rarely.

Generally you can increase the base attack bonus as compared to the entry class in exchange for fewer special abilities or spellcasting advances. Conversely you can decrease the base attack bonus in order to grant more special abilities. Be warned that decreasing the attack bonus doesn’t carry as much “value” as compared to increasing it. You can’t simply give a class a ton of special abilities and then reduce the base attack bonus to poor.

Generally classes with a great deal of martial prowess should have a good base attack bonus. These are generally prestige classes where fighter, barbarian, paladin, or ranger are the target entry class. Prestige classes with a good base attack bonus should generally have special abilities that relate directly to melee or ranged combat.

Classes that contain a great deal of divine spellcasting advances, a high number of skill points, or a lot of special features without spellcasting advances will have a moderate base attack bonus. A moderate attack bonus is generally considered to be a safe bet for most unusual or strange prestige classes. A class with a moderate attack bonus can usually have almost full divine spellcasting advances and up to 75% arcane spellcasting advances. A moderate base attack bonus also works as a good starting point for most classes without a clear direction.

A poor base attack bonus is almost exclusively the realm of prestige classes with nearly full arcane spellcasting advancement. A poor base attack bonus is otherwise rarely used outside of this one niche. Even if you have a prestige class with a plethora of special abilities it is better to use a moderate base attack bonus, unless that class also contains a great deal of spellcasting advancement.

Mostly you can determine the proper base attack bonus progression by closely following the same progression as that of your target entry class. It might take some time to master just what base attack bonus progression to use for each class, but it is a skill well worth mastering.

Hit Dice

There are five types of hit dice: d4, d6, d8, d10, and d12. As one might imagine the larger the hit die the more robust the class tends to be. Hit dice are generally paired with a corresponding attack bonus to produce a class that has a good mix of hardiness and martial prowess. These hit dice are generally reserved for different roles, as follows:

• D4: The lowly d4 is almost always reserved for arcane spellcasting prestige classes. Lately there has been a growing trend to give even these classes a d6 hit die instead of a d4. A d4 hit die should only be assigned to prestige classes that are incredibly frail and reliant on other folks to keep them from becoming a smear on the dungeon floor.
• D6: The always popular d6 is one of the most used hit dice. It is the realm of skill-monkeys, combat specialists and almost any class that isn’t directly in combat all the time. The humble d6 is often an excellent starting point for a class without a clearly defined role.
• D8: The shapely d8 is the hit dice of choice for nearly all divine spellcasters and melee skirmishers. Lately it has also seen a resurgence as a popular hit die for classes with a plethora of special abilities but only moderate martial prowess and no spellcasting utility. If you’re designing a prestige class with plenty of divine spellcasting advancement then the d8 is probably the correct hit die.
• D10: A mighty d10 is the hit die of choice for all of your melee bruisers. If the class has a good base attack bonus then it should generally have a d10 hit die as well (or d8 at the low end). This is a good catch-all hit die for classes with a good base attack bonus.
• D12: The hardy d12 is the sole property of the really tough prestige classes. If the class is heavily dependent on sustaining heavy amounts of damage through sheer tenacity then a d12 is probably the correct hit die. Generally the d12 is reserved for prestige classes that target the barbarian base class.

Saving Throws

Saving throws only have two ratings: good ({class level/2}+2) and poor (class level/3). They also come in three categories: Fortitude (physical toughness), Reflex (physical speed), and Will (mental toughness). In total these options give us 8 unique combinations, though we won’t be going over all possible combinations in this article. Instead we’ll be looking at the three saves and how they relate to the class.

Fortitude saves measure the physical hardiness and well-being of a class. Most classes with a good base attack bonus also have good Fortitude saves. Classes that routinely have to deal with poisons, diseases, and other such hazards that attack the body also often have good Fortitude saves. Usually classes that have arcane spellcasting advancement have poor Fortitude saves, while classes with divine spellcasting advancement have good Fortitude saves.

Reflex saves measure the reaction speed and quickness of a class. Good Reflex saves are often given to classes that have to deal with traps or classes that are lightly armored. Good Reflex saves are rarely given to prestige classes that have any sort of spellcasting advancement, unless the class happens to be a hybrid of two different base classes.

Will saves measure the mental toughness and resilience of a prestige class. Nearly every single prestige class that has some degree of spellcasting advancement has a good Will save. Outside of spellcasting prestige classes a good Will save might be given to classes that routinely deal with encounters or environments that routinely invade the mind.

In general most prestige classes tend to have one good save and two poor saves, though a multitude of exceptions exist. Be careful to avoid giving a class three good saves, as those should generally be reserved for prestige classes designed for entry by the monk class. Most divine spellcasting prestige classes tend to have good Fortitude and Will saves. Most arcane spellcasting prestige classes tend to have good Will saves.

If you’re having trouble determining what save progression you should be using take a look at your target entry classes. Generally you should use the same save progressions as the entry class, modifying as appropriate for the theme of the prestige class itself. Prestige classes rarely have fewer good saves than the target entry class.

Conclusion

In closing I hope you’ve learned to carefully consider the core mechanics of a prestige class. They can quickly inform a player about the general role of a prestige class, as well as give you a solid foundation on which to lay your special abilities. Next month we’ll be looking at skill points, class skills, and core class advances. Until next time, happy gaming!