Thoughts about dwarf classing
by paladinnSo looking at the dwarf "class", comparing the dwarf to the fighter class, we can easily calculate the increased XP cost for being a dwarf. Hitting L2 costs 200 xp more than for a fighter. L3 is 400, 4 is 800, 5 is 1000. I suppose that is the cost for the better saves, infravision, etc.
Now taking that concept and applying to, say, a cleric, a dwarf cleric would cost 1700 at L2, 3400 at L3, 6800 at L4, 13000 at L5. That is a far cry from and much more reasonable than the published dwarf cleric; L2 is 4000, L3 is 8000, L4 is 16000, L5 is 32000. I hardly think the dwarf "package" is worth that big an increased cost. If I ever have a player that wants a dwarf cleric, I will use my revised xp chart.
Clerics get a d6 HD; dwarves get d8. I would say dwarf clerics get d8 because.. well.. dwarves. But they gain spells and fight as clerics.
Now, something not clearly allowed in BECMI, but allowed in OD&D, was a dwarf thief. Greyhawk says that dwarf thieves should always multiclass and divide the xp accordingly. Given that "real" multiclassing isn't allowed in Classic, if we apply the same principle for a dwarf thief, L2 is 1400, L3 is 2800, L4 is 5600, L5 is 10600. Again, pretty reasonable considering the dwarf "package."
Thieves get a d4 in Classic; dwarves get d8. We split the difference at d6; better than a human thief, but not as good as a dwarf "fighter". They advance in skills as thieves; but I would let them fight as clerics because.. well.. dwarves.
In both cases I would use the dwarf saving throw matrix.
The only other change to the BtB dwarf is possibly allowing them to be paladins.
Thoughts?