Hi all, I'm getting ready to start a RotRL campaign and I want to tone down the use of prestige classes. However, I would like to expand the core class options for the players as well make multi-classing more attractive. I'll probably lax the multi-class restrictions and use some of the variants from Unearthed Arcana.
So, what base classes are you allowing in your Pathfinder campaign? I definitely want to allow the Warlock and Favored Soul.
Any other classes that you feel are a good fit for Pathfinder that I should I consider? Thanks!
I haven't restricted the class choice to a certain source like PHB or something, but so far my player's choice has been quite "normal" cleric, fighter, ranger, rogue/sorcerer. Although I have to commit there is a beguiler from PHB II and since last session a duskblade from PHB II as well.
My experience is that the beguiler can be very powerful in some encounters, but very limited in others. The duskblade can dish out some fine damage! I haven't seen it in many encounters so I can't say anymore.
I allowed base classes from the SRD and the Advanced Player's Manual. So far the only non-PHB class anyone has taken is psion, but someone took a spell from the APM.
Here's what I'm allowing for my players:
Bandit (Book of Roguish Luck, Malhavoc)
Barbarian (Conan RPG, Mongoose)
--Variant Class Feature: Barbarian Strength (PHB2)
--Variant Class Feature: City Brawler (Dragon Magazine)
--Racial Substitution Levels: Half-Orc Barbarian (Races of Destiny)
Bard
--Variant Class Feature: Harbinger (Dragon #337)
--Racial Substitution Levels: Half-Elf Bard (Races of Destiny)
Cleric (Cloistered Cleric Variant only, Unearthed Arcana)
Druid
--uses PHB2 Shapechange class feature as standard
--Variant Class Feature: Druidic Avenger (Unearthed Arcana)
--Variant Class Feature: Sidhe Scholar (Dragon #339)
--Variant Class: Urban Druid (Dragon Compendium #1)
Fighter
--modified: gains more bonus feats
Hexblade
Marshal
Monk
--Variant Class: Sidewinder Monk (Dragon #331)
--Variant Class: Martial Monk (Dragon #310)
Paladin
-- nothing yet. I'm still looking for a suitable replacement ... something without a Pokemount, which I positively detest.
Ranger
-- instead of standard D&D ranger, use Wildlander class from Midnight 2nd Edition (Fantasy Flight Games)
Scout
Sorcerer
Unfettered (Arcana Evolved, Malhavoc)
Warlock
Wizard
-- no generalist wizards: must choose specialization; use wizard specialist class features from Unearthed Arcana
I've tried to select classes that appear to fit into the setting, and keep out most of the pseudo-eastern/wuxia stuff. Most of the class replacements have been made to adress balance issues and/or make classes more interesting.
I'm still looking for more class feature variants, so the above list is WIP. :)
Anyone come up with some Totem Barbarian matching Golarion's tribes? The Unearthed Arcana ones do not really fit when comparing them with the meager information we already have about the tribes...
Advanced Player's Manual.
What is in there? I would love to see more core classes from OGL sources!
The new core classes in the APM are: eldritch weaver, evangelist, scout, spellmaster, thanemage, and warpriest. The book has a lot of nice stuff in it, though a big chunk is devoted to mass combat (which isn't for everyone). Since Paizo is selling it for five bucks though I guarantee you'll get your money's worth. :)
I really don't get posts like these. How about you just let in whatever classes you players want to play? (I understand keeping some out for power / balance reasons of course).
Basically, there is room for everything in dnd in Golarion. I think I read a thread a while back about fitting a warforged artificer in even. I know warforged aren't for eveybody (and neither are artificers), but I doubt there are any classes that don't "fit" in Golarion.
It's not like swashbucklers walk around with a big flashing neon sign that says "Swashbuckler". To most people, they are just a flashy, dex based fighter. Same with most variants. With a few changes to the fluff, everything will fit just fine in Golarion.
I'm letting my players basically play whatever race / class they want. The stranger it is, the more work they will have to do fitting it in, but that's half the fun.
The new core classes in the APM are: eldritch weaver, evangelist, scout, spellmaster, thanemage, and warpriest. The book has a lot of nice stuff in it, though a big chunk is devoted to mass combat (which isn't for everyone). Since Paizo is selling it for five bucks though I guarantee you'll get your money's worth. :)
Thanks tbug, I might take a look! Especially the eldritch weaver and the warpriest sound interesting.
I really don't get posts like these. How about you just let in whatever classes you players want to play? (I understand keeping some out for power / balance reasons of course).
Basically, there is room for everything in dnd in Golarion. [...]
I'm letting my players basically play whatever race / class they want. The stranger it is, the more work they will have to do fitting it in, but that's half the fun.
(emphasis mine)
I don't know if your post was directed at me, mevers, but I'll answer nonetheless:
The question of what constitutes D&D is different for every group, IMHO. If you started gaming with OD&D, your views on this might differ from people whose first D&D experience was v3.5.
Some groups refuse to accept psionics in their game, although it's part of "published canon". Some groups don't like wuxia elements. Heck, some even ban monks, because they feel that they are too "magical" for a "martial artist" class. That being said, even if the setting in question would allow for all published character classes, it isn't necessary to include them if the group (as a whole) feels that some classes are just inappropriate for "their" interpretation of what constitutes D&D. Thus, excluding certain classes is just as valid as allowing them all - just a question of personal taste, really.
One of my players is using the Battledancer from the Dragon Compendium. It's kinda cool as she's playing a Varisian so normally looks all gypsy dancer..
Nice. I'd completely forgotten about the Battledancer. Thanks for bringing that up, Paul T!
I am going OGL. Just like the baddies.
Don't forget that in the SRD/Unearthed Arcana and Player's Handbook II there are a wealth of substitution levels and replacement class features that will nicely shake up the base classes. (I'm looking at you, eight different Monk styles.)
Don't forget that in the SRD/Unearthed Arcana and Player's Handbook II there are a wealth of substitution levels and replacement class features that will nicely shake up the base classes. (I'm looking at you, eight different Monk styles.)
Yes...but where is Drunken Monkey!?
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I've allowed Core+complete Series+PHBII. I also allow Unearthed-arcana-style modifications and ballanced homebrewing to allow the base classes to further match the player's character concepts
Examples:
Shaman: A druid variant that looses Animal Companion and Wildshape, but gains extra spellcasting (in the form of a massive bonus to wisdom for the purposes of bonus spells/day) and Bonus feats as a wizard.
Watchman: A fighter Variant that gains 4+int skill points and a few bonus class skills like Gather Info, Know(local) and sense motive, but looses heavy armor and ranged martial weapons. Fighter needs more skills anyway.
I'm allowing the Witch alternative to Sorcerer from the DMG for "Seoni" in my game--with the clarification (it's not spelled out clearly in the text) that, while the spells per day are unchanged from Sorcerer, the spell list of spells known functions just like a Beguiler (i.e., the Witch knows all spells upon gaining access to the spell level). As this is unclear in the text despcription and the list itself is not particularly strong I feel this to be balanced.
I am going OGL. Just like the baddies.
Does anyone know where a comphrensive list of OGL classes can be found? It may not exist, as my google fu fails to unearth it.
I don't know if your post was directed at me, mevers, but I'll answer nonetheless
No, not specifically at you, but your answer is more than welcome.
I was more commenting on the OP's (and others) question about what "fits" in Golarion. Well, it all does, that's the point.
But on a related note, I really don't see the reason for disliking classes for flavour reasons. People say the Monk is to "asian" or the ToB classes are to "wuxia" or whatever.
Seriously, if you don't like the flavour, change it.
The way I see, A class has flavour and Crunch. The two are usually related, but you can basically freely change either without needing to change the other. I just do not see the reason to keep classes out of campaign for "flavour" reasons.
I am going OGL. Just like the baddies.
I'm allowing the players a little more latitude than the baddies, but they still can only use open sources (since that's part of the flavour). For any baddies I'm adding I'll only draw on the sources already being used by Paizo (so far: the SRD, the Tomes of Horror, the Advanced Bestiary, and the Book of Fiends).
Starting to worry . . .all my posts are dissappearing. Does anyone know of a list of OGL classes floating around out there?
I really don't see the reason for disliking classes for flavour reasons. People say the Monk is to "asian" or the ToB classes are to "wuxia" or whatever. Seriously, if you don't like the flavour, change it.
That solution can work, but not in every instance. Take the ToB classes, for example. Explaining how someone can suddenly deal elemental damage with his or her attacks without keeping a (at least partially) mystical background is next to impossible, and thus limits fluff changes. Don't get me wrong, I like the ToB classes for what they are, and think that they are actually superior to the fighter in terms of being fun to play. But making them "mundane warriors" just doesn't work. YMMV, as always :).
Starting to worry . . .all my posts are dissappearing. Does anyone know of a list of OGL classes floating around out there?
I see both your questions, but I have no answer. Sorry.
Paladin
-- nothing yet. I'm still looking for a suitable replacement ... something without a Pokemount, which I positively detest.
Pokemount! Haw Haw! "Pikachu, I choose you!" Dude, I'm feeling you there. You gotta hide your familiar in your pocket, but the freaking WARHORSE just pops in and out of nowhere.
I'm using a number of the classes from Arcana Evolved. The Champion is sort of a variant Paladin that has different powers depending on what cause the uphold.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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You know, I've never thought about the style of paladin's warhorses before (as I've never played such a character since AD&D 2nd Edition...) but I can see the down-side of the "POP - there's my warhorse" flavor issue.
How does this sound?
The paladin summons his celestial warhorse spirit, same as now, but that spirit possesses his material warhorse for the duration of the summoning. So, less Pikachu and, I guess, more BattleCat.
And a while ago, I thumbed my way through all the options books for 3.5, looking for what class abilities kept getting swapped out or optioned around. The two big winners were sorcerer's familiars at Level 1, and paladin's warhorses at level, what, 4? Monastic slow-fall and rander spells were the other class abilities with a varity of switch-outs.
My group went pretty much straight from the players guide this time halforc warrior, human mage, elf cleric, human monk, and a gnome bard( she loves the 4e news :) ) each with a midnight heroic path. Didnt really limit them but after Ptolus using Arcana Evolved and Iron Kingdoms using gunmages/ogrun etc I think we all wanted to go back to basics.
Here's what I'm allowing for my players:
Paladin
-- nothing yet. I'm still looking for a suitable replacement ... something without a Pokemount, which I positively detest.
There was a class acts (I want to say it was in one of the last three issues of Dragon, but I'm not certain) article that presented a variant where the Mount was replaced with a summon-able Holy Weapon. Might be what you are after.
A quick trip to the old D&D shelf reveals that I'm way off.
Dragon 349, Pg. 93, Sword of Celestia variant class feature (a la PHB II).