Creating a new class


Homebrew and House Rules


So I'm wanting to create a new class because I want something that fits well with my race that I made (basically a fairy). I used a guide I found online (http://inkwellideas.com/resources/FantasyClassBlendingRules.pdf) but I thought I should get it checked before I take it to my GM. What I'm going for is basically a sneaky, arcane archer type (without using the prestige class), possibly with a larger familiar that she can ride.

The features I chose are
-D10 for health
-medium BAB
-4 skill points +int
-Light Armour
-Simple and, longbow, short bow, rapier, short sword and quarterstaff
-Barbarian Maneuverability
-Ranger combat style feats
-spells as a wizard (only two schools)
-rouge sneak attacks
-wizard cantrips
-arcane bond

Basically I just want to know if this is balanced, or if I should change anything, or if there is something that would fit better flavor wise. I'm not sure what to do for the level 20 feature either, any ideas?


The race features are
Humanoid/Fey
Diminutive (-2 size mod,-2 special size mod, +6 fly size mod, +12 stealth mod)
Base Speed 20ft
Fly Speed 50ft (normal)
Weapon Familiarity as a bonus feat
Low light vision
Languages: Common, Sylvan
Vestigial Wings (+4 to fly)


One thing you might want to keep with Pathfinder rules is that BAB is tied to hit dice.

A D10 hit dice means full BAB, for this 3/4 BAB you might consider D8 hit die.

Also seems a bit powerful. Are you getting 9th level spells, full sneak attack progression, and ranger combat feats?
Seems a bit beyond what you'd expect from a single class, but I'm not sure how I'd balance it.


As a GM I would never allow something like this. You are cherry picking the best abilities of multiple classes. Limiting your schools to two is not that much a of limitation sense you are probably picking the schools. Only wearing light armor is not much of a limitation for a DEX based class. This class would be stronger than many gestalt combinations. Combining sneak attack with a full caster is over the top.


Thanks for all your points. I'm not trying to make a super character, just one that has the flavor of sneaky fairy.

I want to have sneak attacks as well as casting, would changing to the sorcerer progression make it better? Or is there something else that would be more balanced? I'd still limit it to two schools. The ones I'm going to use are enchantment and illusions.

Also, because I'd be playing a diminutive character with this class, I put in the ranger combat feat progression so I would actually be able to attack at lower levels. Is there a better way of doing that? I'm fine taking it out if it's too much.


Alright, I have some ideas that might be able to help you with this idea, and help it make it a bit more balanced. I don't really have any experience with building classes, and there will probably be gaps for you to fill in if I flesh it out, but I suggest looking at a couple classes first, that way, if you like the archetype suggestions, it's a lot less work for me.

Sandman Bard Gives up some bardic stuff for other bardic stuff, but gets sneak attack
Stygian Slayer Loses some slayer talents and an ability that's basically worthless for your idea for UMD castery stuff

There might be a few others out there that are kind of similar, but they aren't coming to mind right now.

If those don't do it for you, then are you dead set on having level 9 spell progression? And would you prefer this to be more martial or more caster-like?


Bards more or less use enchantment and illusion, and they are 6/9 casters. There's a Bard archetype, Sandman, that gets sneak attack at a very slow progression. That's balanced already, so just use it.

Ninja'd!


I'm wanting it to be more caster like, but I'm also going to be using sneak attack a lot, especially at lower levels. I won't worry about the ranger combat feats, It's more the casting and sneak attack I am wanting.
I don't need to have level 9 spell progression.

I looked at bard, but the flavor of it just doesn't fit with the idea in my head. My group already has two anyway.


I did just remember another archetype
Greensting Slayer It's a Magus archetype that uses its arcane pool to get sneak attack. I'm not all that familiar with it, but ability wise you might be interested in it.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
IgnisCaelum wrote:

The race features are

Humanoid/Fey
Diminutive (-2 size mod,-2 special size mod, +6 fly size mod, +12 stealth mod)
Base Speed 20ft
Fly Speed 50ft (normal)
Weapon Familiarity as a bonus feat
Low light vision
Languages: Common, Sylvan
Vestigial Wings (+4 to fly)

How does Vestigial Wings translate to a 50 foot fly speed and a bonus on the skill to boot Which tops out to +10 before attribute and skill rank bonuses??

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Scrap your race work as it is and try using the rules for the Advanced Race Builder, starting from scratch.

As for class, you might consider a straight rogue/wizard/arcane trickster build.


That actually works really well. I didn't really think about magus being an option for a fairy character. Thanks.


No problem, I'd also suggest listening to LazarX's comment about building the race, and possibly thinking about Arcane Trickster. AT is less martial than I think you want, but it is pretty good for sneak attacking with spells, on top of being a full caster.


I used this to create the race. http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/other-rules/creating-new-races

I put 8 points into flight to get 50ft fly speed. Is there something else I should use instead?


Alright so I typed out a bunch of stuff then lost it, but basically from what I can tell that falls under 15 RP which is advanced, which should be fine.
Some of the race stuff I feel is just stuff that you want for your build, rather than for the race in general, but I won't go into that any further.
The vestigial wings feel unnecessary, as you have wings that actually let you fly, and flying creature get an innate bonus on fly checks if I remember correctly.
I also only see rules for down to size tiny, not diminutive, and this size modifies +2 Dex and -2 Str
You are also lacking attribute modifiers from the race itself (Such as an elf getting +2 DEX/INT -2CON)
I think that was all.


Flying creatures get a +4 bonus on checks if they have good maneuverability, I only have normal, so having vestigial wings gives me the bonus. Also, it doesn't say that having flight gives you wings so I thought I would have to take vestigial wings to get them.
I estimated the size modifiers as being +4 to dex and -4 to strength
I think attribute modifiers would be +2 cha +2 int -2 con. Or possibly +2 dex instead of cha, but then that seems like a lot of dex modifiers.


I love Mass Effect and wanted to run a game in the Mass Effect universe. I tried to create some stuff but it was sod tough to balance then a flash hit me. I just re skinned 4e for my Mass Effect game, and in all honesty reskinning is the easiest most balaced way.

Maybe start with one of the above mentioned classes and make small modifications to it. Your GM seems not be cool to let you even broach the subject of home brewing a whole class so this may be an easier way to sell it.


I've been reading over the magus class and I'm fine with playing that with the greensting slayer archetype. He is okay with me making a new race/class as long as it isn't overpowered.

RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16

Classes are one of the hardest things to design in this game.

Arcane duelist bard would also work well I believe.

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