* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : Variant Classes for BECMI/3E Started at 02-08-06 03:13 PM by havard Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=583734 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : havard Date : 02-08-06 03:13 PM Thread Title : Variant Classes for BECMI/3E This really would have been an interesting addition to things, and one I'd really enjoy seeing. I'd say that a little bit of this was attempted in the Gazetteers later on (Rake, for instance), but not to the extent to which Mr. Mentzer suggests here. This actually touches on some recent posts here, particularly by Havard (the Western Monk and Knight threads that he has started elsewhere on the board). Anyone have some ideas on doing something like this for OD&D classes? I'm making a separate thread for this. I think this should cover both BECMI/RC and 3E D&D. Regardless though, I think variant classes should follow the setup from the 3E UA. Basically, they are just modifications to existing classes, though they usually work on the basis of adding one ability and removing another (or more, as long as there is a balance). Here are a few: Darokin: -Fencer (Fighter variant, limited to light armor and weapons, but with some defensive move abilities) -Merchant (Could just as easily be a variant class: Thief variant, no thieving abilities, merchant spells. Northern Reaches: -Barbarian Warrior (Fighter variant, limited to light armor, but increased HP) -Berserker (like the 3E Barbarian) Athruagin -Hunter (Fighter variant, limited to light armor, increased movement, tracking) -Shaman (Cleric variant, light armor, shaman spells) Ethengar -Bratak -Horse Warrior -Shaman -Hakomon Isle of Dawn -Druid (Cleric variant) Ylaruam -Dervish (Cleric Variant) etc etc... Thoughts on this? Håvard -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : Cthulhudrew Date : 02-08-06 05:16 PM Northern Reaches: -Barbarian Warrior (Fighter variant, limited to light armor, but increased HP) Interesting. Light armor only (up to scale/chain mail, or less?), with a d10 instead of d8? -Berserker (like the 3E Barbarian) Note there is a Berserker in the Cyclopedia already, who gains a +2 to hit (IIRC). Should this be changed for OD&D, or kept like the "monster" version? Athruagin -Hunter (Fighter variant, limited to light armor, increased movement, tracking) I'm not sure this needs a variant- the fighter in the Cyclopedia is pretty generic already. How would you differentiate the Hunter's tracking from general Track skill use, if you were to do so? I like your thinking, though. Wonder what other "variants" we can come up with? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : gawain_viii Date : 02-09-06 04:52 PM I'm of the oppinion that the ROLE is more important than the ROLL in character development. I have always suggested to my players that, instead of creating hundreds upon hundreds of variant classes and/or prestige classes, the player should simply make the character ACT like the variant he wants to be. Pre-3E, when I absolutely refused to go to AD&D or 2E, I would argue that there was absolutely NO need for a Barbarian class. Simply roll a Fighter, adjust scores to reflect high physical traits and low mental traits, and CHOOSE to wear light armor and carry large weapons. Unfortunately I'm on the loosing end of this battle, so as a comprimise, I've adopted the idea of Templates from Star Wars d20, where the Variant class was simply a suggested progression of multiclassing... As an example, the 2E/3E conversion of the Mystaran druid became the Balancer... IMC the Balancer is not a new class, but a progression of Cleric and Druid... Same for the Paladin and Avenger... Paladin's template is Ftr 1-4 and at 5th the template suggests picking up the Paladin class... That way, at 9 character levels, the paladin get's his first spell (convenient, I'd say). The Avenger template is simply Ftr/Blackguard... I use the same template system to describe "typical" Mystaran demihumans, the examples for those are posted elsewhere on the boards. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 09:24 AM.