Creating New Classes and Making Them In Line with 3.5 OGL Issues

[Lord Scythican]

Okay guys, I need you help on something. Either set me straight or help me set my friends straight with some advice.

Currently I am working with some people in making a Campaign Setting and a App to use for 3.5 OGL. We got a lot of fresh ideas and a campaign I believe people will like. With that said I am running into a few problems that seem to not matter to the rest of the group.

For example one class has a base attack bonus at 20th level as +16/+11/+6/+1. To me this is crazy talk. Pathfinder classes and 3rd party classes follow the same formula right? You either have a fighters bab at 20th level as +20/+15/+10/+5, a cleric type bab as +15/+10/+5, or a wizard type as +10/+5. Prestige classes even follow the same formula but do not cap out since they are not 20th level classes. Regardless they progress in the one of three ways listed above.

The people I am working with believe the Babs are a framework that can be modified as they see fit. Am I crazy in thinking they they should not work this way?

The same class also has +1/+1/+1 on all saves at first level. I was under the impression that you either had good saves +2 or normal saves +0.

To build a class that changes everything up like the example above destroys the game balance in my opinion.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Troubleshooter]

I'd say standardize it. When crunching the numbers it's easier to say "This class gets an At Will 4th-level SLA, but it only gets Poor BAB" than to say "This class gets an At Will 4th level SLA, but only gets BAB better than poor but poorer than Average".

I mean, what argument do you have for it being nonstandard when literally every class follows the same formula? For example, multiclassing into a 3/4 BAB class and, while gaining whatever cool ability comes at first level, paying the price of that first lost BAB.

That +1 sounds small, but it can be the difference between qualifying for an important feat (and subsequent chain) at level 11, or 13.

[blackbloodtroll]

I believe this belongs here.

[Lord Scythican]

Thanks for the insight guys. Also thanks for pointing out where this goes, but why would this go in the conversion forum? I am not converting anything. This is new content and I am trying to help my buddies understand the hidden formula that is used to create new content. But if it needs to be moved, what do I need to do in order to move it?

Troubleshooter:
Okay I am liking these terms you are throwing out there. You have a list that I can use to help defend my argument?

Right now I am seeing this

3/4 BAB (or better BAB) class as what ranger, cleric, and druid?
4/4 BAB (or Average BAB) class would be fighter etc?
2/4 BAB (or Poor BAB)class would be wizard?

What is At Will 4th-level SLA?