Prestige classes are fine (and even cool) if the DM selects or creates a handful of them to represent certain organizations or features in his campaign world, and those are the only prestige classes available. Prestige classes suck when they're just another selection in a power-build buffet.

I got to thinking for a moment... and realized that D&D 4E has made prestige classes integral.

Think about it: at 10th level, you pick a path... a subclass, if you will. They are simply limited prestige classes!

God, I hope the age of the Prestige Class is over.

RPGPundit

I like prestige classes. They're an easy shorthand for describing what a character does and PrCs present the same information as feat chains in a cleaner more organized way.
 
I could see PrCs done right in several ways, but the simplest is just to tie PrCs to character level (like 4E does). A rewrite (like Pathfinder?) would be better if it was done with a steady hand on the tiller. In practice though I just stay very far away from lv 20.
 
I'm not currently in the market for new RPGs so I can't really address the future of the industry or anything, but I and my friends are happy with PrCs. I don't like the high price but amongst friends that share books it's not too bad.

The initial intention of the Prestige Class was a good one; but it fell apart almost immediately turning into an excuse for over-complicated over-powered crap.

RPGPundit

I bet you said the same thing about automobiles.
 
Xzibit a:

Quote from: Philotomy Jurament;335954Prestige classes are fine (and even cool) if the DM selects or creates a handful of them to represent certain organizations or features in his campaign world, and those are the only prestige classes available. Prestige classes suck when they're just another selection in a power-build buffet.

This.  Its a wonderful tool, but best left in teh hands of the DM.

Once the burnout has eased, I think gamers and publishers will revisit prestige classes as a great tool. In a lot of ways, Pathfinder with its ability-every-level philosophy and the new favored class mechanics has created a nice space for Prestige Classes. They can compete, level by level, with base classes and you don't have to worry about low level and capstone abilities overshadowing base classes. The new skill rules have also eased up the "need" to multiclass. The one level dip is now alive and well, and handily alleviates the need for something like the Vigilante prestige class (now you can just make a rogue with one level of Ranger or something.

The end of the 3.5 cycle finally saw new base classes come into their own. I think a balance of new base and prestige classes will be a lot healthier for the game than the previous Prestige class glut, cherrypicking, and nearly obligatory prestiging.