NPC Generic Classes: For NPCs in campaigns using the Generic Class variants
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AFGNCAAP
First Post
Sorry about that... well, since I have a bit more time available for posting:
Generic NPC Adept:
Hit Die: d4.
Base Save Bonuses: One good save and two poor saves.
BAB Progression: As Spellcaster Generic Class.
Class Skills: Choose any four skills as class skills, plus Knowledge (all).
Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: One simple weapon; no armor or shields.
Spells per Day Same as Adept NPC class from DMG.
Spellcasting: An adept learns and casts spells as a sorcerer. She may select her spells known from the adept, assassin, bard, blackguard, paladin, and ranger spell lists (if you wish, adepts may also select spells from the hexblade spell list).
An adept must choose at 1st level whether to be an arcane spellcaster or a divine spellcaster. This choice has no impact on the spells that she may learn, but affects what kinds of scrolls she can use and which ability score controls her spellcasting. An arcane spellcaster may designate either Intelligence or Charisma as the ability score that determines the highest-level spell she can learn or cast, and the Difficulty Class of her spell?s saving throws. A divine spellcaster must use Wisdom to determine the highest-level spell she can learn or cast, and the DC of her spell?s saving throws.
NPC ---Spells Known---
Level 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
1st 3 1 - - - -
2nd 3 1 - - - -
3rd 4 2 - - - -
4th 4 2 1 - - -
5th 5 2 1 - - -
6th 5 2 1 - - -
7th 6 3 1 - - -
8th 6 3 2 1 - -
9th 6 3 2 1 - -
10th 6 3 2 1 - -
11th 6 3 2 1 - -
12th 6 3 3 2 1 -
13th 6 3 3 2 1 -
14th 6 3 3 2 1 -
15th 6 3 3 2 1 -
16th 6 3 3 3 2 1
17th 6 3 3 3 2 1
18th 6 3 3 3 2 1
19th 6 3 3 3 2 2
20th 6 3 3 3 3 2
Generic NPC Aristocrat:
Hit Die: d8.
Base Save Bonuses: One good save and two poor saves.
BAB Progression: As Expert generic class.
Class Skills: Choose any four skills as class skills, plus Diplomacy and Speak Language.
Skill Points: 4 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: All simple weapons; one martial weapon; light armor.
Generic NPC Commoner:
Hit Die: d4.
Base Save Bonuses: All are poor saves.
BAB Progression: As Spellcaster generic class.
Class Skills: Choose any three skills as class skills, plus Craft and Profession.
Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: One simple weapon; no armor or shields.
Generic NPC Expert (Professional):
Hit Die: d6.
Base Save Bonuses: One good save and two poor saves.
BAB Progression: As Expert generic class.
Class Skills: Choose any ten skills as class skills.
Skill Points: 6 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: All simple weapons; light armor.
Generic NPC Warrior (Soldier):
Hit Die: d8.
Base Save Bonuses: One good save and two poor saves.
BAB Progression: As Warrior generic class.
Class Skills: Choose any four skills as class skills, plus Craft.
Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: All simple and martial weapons; light and medium armor; shields (but not tower shields).
At the very least, all that's really needed for use in a Generic class-based campaign is the generic Commoner class: the Generic PC classes would work just fine for characters with some degree of combat, skill, or magical ability.
However, all of the generic NPC classes listed above have less skills overall than the comparable PC classes, and less feats overall (they only get the standard feat per 3 levels, and do not gain any bonus feats from their class, unlike the PC generic classes).
Generic NPC Adept:
Hit Die: d4.
Base Save Bonuses: One good save and two poor saves.
BAB Progression: As Spellcaster Generic Class.
Class Skills: Choose any four skills as class skills, plus Knowledge (all).
Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: One simple weapon; no armor or shields.
Spells per Day Same as Adept NPC class from DMG.
Spellcasting: An adept learns and casts spells as a sorcerer. She may select her spells known from the adept, assassin, bard, blackguard, paladin, and ranger spell lists (if you wish, adepts may also select spells from the hexblade spell list).
An adept must choose at 1st level whether to be an arcane spellcaster or a divine spellcaster. This choice has no impact on the spells that she may learn, but affects what kinds of scrolls she can use and which ability score controls her spellcasting. An arcane spellcaster may designate either Intelligence or Charisma as the ability score that determines the highest-level spell she can learn or cast, and the Difficulty Class of her spell?s saving throws. A divine spellcaster must use Wisdom to determine the highest-level spell she can learn or cast, and the DC of her spell?s saving throws.
NPC ---Spells Known---
Level 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
1st 3 1 - - - -
2nd 3 1 - - - -
3rd 4 2 - - - -
4th 4 2 1 - - -
5th 5 2 1 - - -
6th 5 2 1 - - -
7th 6 3 1 - - -
8th 6 3 2 1 - -
9th 6 3 2 1 - -
10th 6 3 2 1 - -
11th 6 3 2 1 - -
12th 6 3 3 2 1 -
13th 6 3 3 2 1 -
14th 6 3 3 2 1 -
15th 6 3 3 2 1 -
16th 6 3 3 3 2 1
17th 6 3 3 3 2 1
18th 6 3 3 3 2 1
19th 6 3 3 3 2 2
20th 6 3 3 3 3 2
Generic NPC Aristocrat:
Hit Die: d8.
Base Save Bonuses: One good save and two poor saves.
BAB Progression: As Expert generic class.
Class Skills: Choose any four skills as class skills, plus Diplomacy and Speak Language.
Skill Points: 4 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: All simple weapons; one martial weapon; light armor.
Generic NPC Commoner:
Hit Die: d4.
Base Save Bonuses: All are poor saves.
BAB Progression: As Spellcaster generic class.
Class Skills: Choose any three skills as class skills, plus Craft and Profession.
Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: One simple weapon; no armor or shields.
Generic NPC Expert (Professional):
Hit Die: d6.
Base Save Bonuses: One good save and two poor saves.
BAB Progression: As Expert generic class.
Class Skills: Choose any ten skills as class skills.
Skill Points: 6 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: All simple weapons; light armor.
Generic NPC Warrior (Soldier):
Hit Die: d8.
Base Save Bonuses: One good save and two poor saves.
BAB Progression: As Warrior generic class.
Class Skills: Choose any four skills as class skills, plus Craft.
Skill Points: 2 + Int modifier (or four times this number at 1st level).
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: All simple and martial weapons; light and medium armor; shields (but not tower shields).
At the very least, all that's really needed for use in a Generic class-based campaign is the generic Commoner class: the Generic PC classes would work just fine for characters with some degree of combat, skill, or magical ability.
However, all of the generic NPC classes listed above have less skills overall than the comparable PC classes, and less feats overall (they only get the standard feat per 3 levels, and do not gain any bonus feats from their class, unlike the PC generic classes).
Last edited:
Generic Class campaign = FEWER classes
AFGNCAAP, thank you very much for re-posting in a
non-proprietary format, I truly appreciate it.
I think the point of a 'generic class' campaign is to
drastically reduce the number of classes. The whole point
is to reduce the number of classes so much that the system
is almost classless. But if you're willing to give that up,
your work looks good at first reading.
> Generic NPC Adept:
[....]
> Spellcasting: An adept learns and casts spells as a sorcerer.
> She may select her spells known from the adept, assassin, bard,
> blackguard, paladin, and ranger spell lists (if you wish, adepts may
> also select spells from the hexblade spell list).
IIRC, the assassin spell list is so focused, it's not a
problem to put it up there. Ditto for blackguards. But
some of the paladin (lesser restoration, discern lies, heal
mount, break enchantment) and ranger (delay poison,
protection from energy, spike growth) spells are balanced
not by spell level, but by the sucky spell progression of
those classes. A few bard spells also have this problem.
An NPC class should never be better than a PC class at ANY
spell-casting except maybe if they are restricted to a VERY
limited list. Don't allow your generic NPC Adept to learn
paladin or ranger spells unless they ONLY learn paladin
spells, or ONLY ranger spells.
I'm not familiar with the hexblade list.
[....]
> At the very least, all that's really needed for use in a Generic
> class-based campaign is the generic Commoner class: the Generic PC
> classes would work just fine for characters with some degree of
> combat, skill, or magical ability.
Very true. I've never liked the whole idea of NPC classes.
My opinion has been to just give weaker NPCs fewer levels.
I like the Expert and Aristocrat classes nearly as written
only because they provide abilities the PC classes don't.
(Pick your own set of skills for Expert; starting wealth and
prestige for Aristocrat -- and I think that can be handled
fine with a feat.)
I suppose the Commoner class is needed to represent people
who survive lots of challenging situations without ever
getting expensive training. Or you could just re-introduce
the optional 1st edition rule that if you get x10 the needed
experience without training, you get the level anyway but
lose the excess XP. Having a Commoner class is saying,
'hey, look, we have these simple farmers who can't afford
training, and they suck at almost any adventuring task, but
man, can they soak up those negative levels from wraiths'.
Just another weakness of a class/level-based system.
> However, all of the generic NPC classes listed above have less skills
> overall than the comparable PC classes, and less feats overall (they
> only get the standard feat per 3 levels, and do not gain any bonus
> feats from their class, unlike the PC generic classes).
So why not just have :
Generic NPC Warrior = Generic PC Warrior minus bonus feats,
Generic NPC Expert = Generic PC Expert minus bonus feats, and
Generic NPC Spellcaster = Generic PC Spellcaster minus bonus
feats with a little forced multi-classing to lower access to
high spell levels.
Remember, the whole point of a Generic Class campaign is to
LOWER the number of classes.
(The more I look at it, the more I like the concept. If you
want special stuff from various books, translate the
abilities into feats for the Generic Classes to take.)
--index
AFGNCAAP, thank you very much for re-posting in a
non-proprietary format, I truly appreciate it.
I think the point of a 'generic class' campaign is to
drastically reduce the number of classes. The whole point
is to reduce the number of classes so much that the system
is almost classless. But if you're willing to give that up,
your work looks good at first reading.
> Generic NPC Adept:
[....]
> Spellcasting: An adept learns and casts spells as a sorcerer.
> She may select her spells known from the adept, assassin, bard,
> blackguard, paladin, and ranger spell lists (if you wish, adepts may
> also select spells from the hexblade spell list).
IIRC, the assassin spell list is so focused, it's not a
problem to put it up there. Ditto for blackguards. But
some of the paladin (lesser restoration, discern lies, heal
mount, break enchantment) and ranger (delay poison,
protection from energy, spike growth) spells are balanced
not by spell level, but by the sucky spell progression of
those classes. A few bard spells also have this problem.
An NPC class should never be better than a PC class at ANY
spell-casting except maybe if they are restricted to a VERY
limited list. Don't allow your generic NPC Adept to learn
paladin or ranger spells unless they ONLY learn paladin
spells, or ONLY ranger spells.
I'm not familiar with the hexblade list.
[....]
> At the very least, all that's really needed for use in a Generic
> class-based campaign is the generic Commoner class: the Generic PC
> classes would work just fine for characters with some degree of
> combat, skill, or magical ability.
Very true. I've never liked the whole idea of NPC classes.
My opinion has been to just give weaker NPCs fewer levels.
I like the Expert and Aristocrat classes nearly as written
only because they provide abilities the PC classes don't.
(Pick your own set of skills for Expert; starting wealth and
prestige for Aristocrat -- and I think that can be handled
fine with a feat.)
I suppose the Commoner class is needed to represent people
who survive lots of challenging situations without ever
getting expensive training. Or you could just re-introduce
the optional 1st edition rule that if you get x10 the needed
experience without training, you get the level anyway but
lose the excess XP. Having a Commoner class is saying,
'hey, look, we have these simple farmers who can't afford
training, and they suck at almost any adventuring task, but
man, can they soak up those negative levels from wraiths'.
Just another weakness of a class/level-based system.
> However, all of the generic NPC classes listed above have less skills
> overall than the comparable PC classes, and less feats overall (they
> only get the standard feat per 3 levels, and do not gain any bonus
> feats from their class, unlike the PC generic classes).
So why not just have :
Generic NPC Warrior = Generic PC Warrior minus bonus feats,
Generic NPC Expert = Generic PC Expert minus bonus feats, and
Generic NPC Spellcaster = Generic PC Spellcaster minus bonus
feats with a little forced multi-classing to lower access to
high spell levels.
Remember, the whole point of a Generic Class campaign is to
LOWER the number of classes.
(The more I look at it, the more I like the concept. If you
want special stuff from various books, translate the
abilities into feats for the Generic Classes to take.)
--index
AFGNCAAP
First Post
No problem.
I more or less wrote up all five mainly for anyone interested, but my big goal was just to write up a generic NPC version of the Commoner class--they're pretty much the only ones who I couldn't see being covered by the current 3 generic classes.
Ideally, I can see NPCs being a multi-class mix between levels in the Generic commoner class, plus some levels in 1 of the 3 generic PC classes: Adepts could be Commoner/Spellcasters, NPC Warriors could be Commoner/Warriors, and NPC Experts could be Commoner/Experts. Aristocrats could start off with levels in a PC class, then later multiclass with Commoner to "dilute" them out.
I am very slowly working on translating some of the class abilities into feats for use with the generic classes. However, I've considered a few things along the way:
Anyways, these are just a few things that I've been contemplating when creating stuff for the Generic character classes.
I more or less wrote up all five mainly for anyone interested, but my big goal was just to write up a generic NPC version of the Commoner class--they're pretty much the only ones who I couldn't see being covered by the current 3 generic classes.
Ideally, I can see NPCs being a multi-class mix between levels in the Generic commoner class, plus some levels in 1 of the 3 generic PC classes: Adepts could be Commoner/Spellcasters, NPC Warriors could be Commoner/Warriors, and NPC Experts could be Commoner/Experts. Aristocrats could start off with levels in a PC class, then later multiclass with Commoner to "dilute" them out.
I am very slowly working on translating some of the class abilities into feats for use with the generic classes. However, I've considered a few things along the way:
- In some cases, class abilities should remain as class abilities--they just come off as being too powerful for use as a feat or feat chain. However, in such cases as these, I think that a specially-geared Prestige Class that uses those abilities wouldn't be out of order.
- With the current form of the Spellcaster class, specializing in spells modifies that ability's hindrance: if you can only learn/know a limited # of spells in the first place, then why even consider learning those spells (or for that matter, spells not from your school of specialization)?
- What about some relatively basic class abilities, like unlimited spell access to a spell list at the "cost" of needing to memorize spells (as with the wizard class), or prepped daily spells with limited spontaneous casting (like the druid & cleric)? Or cleric/wizard domains? Seems like another thing for a PrC.
- How well do Generic PC classes & normal PrCs mix? The PrCs still use a set class skill list, and in some cases, are built for specific core classes to take.
- What about psionics? Would it be necessary to use/create a Psychic generic character class, or would it be a variant of the existing Spellcaster class?
Anyways, these are just a few things that I've been contemplating when creating stuff for the Generic character classes.
Here's another book:
AFGNCAAP wrote:
> I more or less wrote up all five mainly for anyone interested, but my
> big goal was just to write up a generic NPC version of the Commoner
> class--they're pretty much the only ones who I couldn't see being
> covered by the current 3 generic classes.
> Ideally, I can see NPCs being a multi-class mix between levels in the
> Generic commoner class, plus some levels in 1 of the 3 generic PC
> classes: Adepts could be Commoner/Spellcasters, NPC Warriors could be
> Commoner/Warriors, and NPC Experts could be Commoner/Experts.
> Aristocrats could start off with levels in a PC class, then later
> multiclass with Commoner to "dilute" them out.
I can see that, but as I said, I have issues with the DMG
NPC Commoner class.
> I am very slowly working on translating some of the class abilities
> into feats for use with the generic classes. However, I've considered
> a few things along the way:
> In some cases, class abilities should remain as class abilities--they
> just come off as being too powerful for use as a feat or feat chain.
> However, in such cases as these, I think that a specially-geared
> Prestige Class that uses those abilities wouldn't be out of order.
I disagree. The whole point of Generic Classes is to reduce
the number of classes. Despite what the UA says about the
option of using PrCs with Generic base classes, I believe
that bringing back PrC bloat throws all the benefits of
Generic classes out the window. In my opinion, simplifying
class choices is a worthy enough goal to translate current
class abilities into feats or feat chains. You can give
them prereqs so that Generic characters have to simulate
traditional characters before taking them.
In the UA, they've already started translating special
abilities into feats -- note that they are available only as
Generic Class Bonus feats, not as ordinary feats.
> With the current form of the Spellcaster class, specializing in spells
> modifies that ability's hindrance: if you can only learn/know a
> limited # of spells in the first place, then why even consider
> learning those spells (or for that matter, spells not from your school
> of specialization)?
I don't understand what you're saying here.
(But yeah, I don't like that the Generic Spellcaster is
distinctly weaker than ordinary clerics and wizards. Why
don't they get 2nd level spells at 3rd level instead of 4th
level? Maybe this was done to make up for the lack of
arcane spell failure from armor.)
> What about some relatively basic class abilities, like unlimited spell
> access to a spell list at the "cost" of needing to memorize spells (as
> with the wizard class), or prepared daily spells with limited
> spontaneous casting (like the druid & cleric)? Or cleric/wizard
> domains? Seems like another thing for a PrC.
No, it seems like another thing for a feat:
Spell Preparation - prereq: 1st level Generic Spellcaster -
In addition to the usual spells a Generic Spellcaster learns
progressing in levels, you can also learn any wizard (if
arcane) or cleric or druid (if divine) spell through
scrolls, spell trading, or spell research, but all of your
spells, including those Generic Spellcasters usually learn,
must be written down in a spellbook and prepared from that
spellbook previous to each casting much like a wizard. The
number of spells you may cast each day maxes out at five per
spell level, not six. If you later multi-class between the
two Generic Spellcaster classes, you must decide at the 1st
level of your second Spellcaster class, whether or not this
feat also applies to the second class. If you are already
past 1st level in a Generic Spellcaster class, you may take
this feat only by taking 1st level in the other Generic
Spellcaster class and applying it to that class, or by using
a Wish, Miracle, or similar magic.
(Should this be an option instead of a feat?)
Domain of Spells - prereq: Generic Spellcaster - Pick one of
the domains of spells listed for clerics in the PH. Add
these to your spells known list without using up any of your
spells known slots. This may only be taken as one of your
bonus feats for your Generic Spellcaster class. You do not
gain any domain powers. You may take this feat twice, once
each for different domains. At character level ten (minimum
class level six), you may take this feat a third time. At
character level twenty (minimum class level eleven), you may
take this feat a fourth and final time.
Domain Power - prereq: Domain of Spells, Generic Spellcaster
- You may gain the domain power that goes along with one of
your Domain of Spells feats. You may take this feat more
than once, each time matching another Domain of Spells you
already have.
List of Spells - prereq: Generic Spellcaster - Pick up to
ten spells that all belong to a spell progression or a spell
theme. These spells can be added to your list of spells
known via spell research, found scrolls, or spell trading
without counting against your limited number of spells known.
If you are both an arcane and a divine Generic Spellcaster,
then you must chose which this feat applies to. You may
take this feat more than once, each time picking a different
list of spells or a different Generic Spellcaster class.
The first time you take this feat, it must be as a Generic
Spellcaster Bonus Feat, not an ordinary feat, but thereafter
it may be taken as an ordinary feat.
You may not pick a list with more than 45.5 spell levels,
counting 0-level spells as 1/2.
Examples of valid lists include:
Protection from Evil, Protection from Good, Protection from
Law, Protection from Chaos, Protection from Undead, Magic
Circle against Evil, Magic Circle against Good, Magic Circle
against Law, Magic Circle against Chaos, Magic Circle
against Undead.
Summon Monster I through IX. (Optionally research a
suitably weak Summon Monster 0 to round out the list.)
Summon Undead I through IX.
Summon Nature's Ally I through IX.
Lesser Planar Binding, Planar Binding, Greater Planar
Binding. (Your DM might optionally allow you to research
additional spells to fill in the lower level gaps in the
list. You may not add Binding to this list because it does
not call creatures from elsewhere.)
Dispel Magic, Greater Dispel Magic.
Fireball, Heightened Empowered Fireball, Heightened Enlarged
Fireball, Heightened Quickened Fireball, Delayed Blast
Fireball, Heightened Still Silent Fireball, Heightened
Enlarged seven times Fireball.
Fireball, Electric Burst (energy substitution version of
fireball), Acid Burst, Sonic Burst, Freezing Burst, Positive
Energy Burst (version that summons Positive Material Plane
energy to damage undead without damaging living creatures).
Alter Self, Polymorph, Polymorph Any Object.
Charm Person, Charm Monster, Mass Charm Person, Mass Charm
Monster.
Power Word Blind, Power Word Kill, Power Word Stun.
Reduce Person, Shrink Item, Mass Reduce Person.
Reduce Person, Enlarge Person, Mass Reduce Person, Mass
Enlarge Person.
Dimension Door, Teleport, Greater Teleport, Teleport Object,
Teleport Circle, Gate
Bear's Endurance, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Mass Bear's
Endurance, Mass Bull's Strength, Mass Cat's Grace
Eagle's Splendor, Fox's Cunning, Owl's Wisdom, Mass Eagle's
Splendor, Mass Fox's Cunning, Mass Owl's Wisdom
Not valid:
Bear's Endurance, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Eagle's
Splendor, Fox's Cunning, Owl's Wisdom
Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Cone of Cold. (The basics of each
spell are different.)
Symbol of Death, Symbol of Fear, Symbol of Insanity, Symbol
of Pain, Symbol of Persuasion, Symbol of Sleep, Symbol of
Stunning, Symbol of Weakness. (52 spell levels total,
otherwise this list would be valid. Remove one or two from
this list to get a valid list.)
(Is List of Spells too powerful as written? (Would it be
too powerful for ordinary Sorcerers?) Should it be limited
to one 0-level spell, one spell of 1st level or less, one
spell of 2nd level or less, one spell of 3rd level or less,
one spell of 4th level or less, one spell of 5th level or
less, one spell of 6th level or less, one spell of 7th level
or less, one spell of 8th level or less, and one spell of
9th level or less?)
Fast Spell Progress - prereq: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level Generic
Spellcaster - You gain access to each successive spell level
one class level earlier than most Generic Spellcasters. The
price is that most of your spells don't work properly when
you wear armor. For any spell of 2nd level or higher, you
suffer spell failure in armor or bulky clothes exactly as a
standard wizard does. But because you don't bother
practicing how to cast spells with only a limited range of
motion, you learn and can cast one 2nd level spell at 3rd
class level, one 3rd level spell at 5th class level, one 4th
level spell at 7th class level, etc. These spells learned
are not in addition to your usual spells learned, you're
merely learning your normal number a little early. If you
are a multi-classed Generic Spellcaster (arcane) and Generic
Spellcaster (divine), you must chose whether this feat
applies to one class or both. If you have only one Generic
Spellcaster class but later pick up the other, you must
chose whether this feat also applies to the second. You
must make this choice before attaining 4th class level in
the second class.
(Should Fast Spell Progress be an option instead of a feat?)
Further, I suggest changing the prerequisite for Weapon
Specialization to: Weapon Focus with same weapon, +4 BAB,
Generic Warrior.
All of my original material is Open Gaming Content.
(Copyright 2004 Justin Harris, see the Open Gaming License
at http://www.wizards.com/d20/files/OGLv1.0a.rtf .)
Here's one I don't think is original, so it might not be OGC:
Practiced Spellcaster - prereq: Generic Spellcaster - Your
caster level receives a bonus of +4, with a maximum equal to
your hit dice. If you are a multi-classed Generic
Spellcaster with both Generic Spellcaster (arcane) and
Generic Spellcaster (divine), you may take this feat twice,
once for each class.
And an improved version that I think is original:
Improved Practiced Spellcaster - prereq: Practiced
Spellcaster feat, Generic Spellcaster class - You must take
this as a Generic Spellcaster Bonus feat, you may not take
this as an ordinary feat - Your caster level is equal to
your hit dice. This feat applies to either Generic
Spellcaster (arcane) or Generic Spellcaster (divine),
depending on which version of the prerequisite feat you
took. To take this feat twice so that it applies to both
Generic Spellcaster (arcane) and Generic Spellcaster
(divine), you must have the prerequisite feat twice.
(Improved Practiced Spellcaster might be too powerful, and
yet it doesn't address the main weakness of multi-classed
spellcasters: access to higher spell levels.)
> How well do Generic PC classes & normal PrCs mix? The PrCs still use a
> set class skill list, and in some cases, are built for specific core
> classes to take.
According to UA, PrCs are allowed with Generic base classes,
but the language used discourages them. I have never liked
PrCs -- they add too much complexity to the game, too much
stuff DMs and players have to know in detail to avoid nasty
surprises. I say simulate the basic abilities of PrCs with
multi-classing, and the special abilities with feats, and
the very special abilities with bonus feats.
At the least, I would build PrCs from scratch or at least
drastically simplify them. If it can be accomplished by
multi-classing within a reasonable number of character
levels, with a reasonable number of feats, do not make a PrC
for it. The point of Generic Classes is to move as much
'flavor' out of the classes and into the character. This
increases the importance of character personality, and
limited the usual straight-jacketing that classes generally
represent.
Most PrCs should be converted from classes to organizations
with entrance requirements. Want to be an Arcane Archer?
Find an organization that teaches versions of attack spells
that are targeted with missile weapons instead of having
independent ranges of their own. Prove to them that you are
worthy to join. (This includes crafting your own bow,
speaking only in elvish for the entire testing and training
time, passing several archery contests while the judges
shoot blunt arrows at you, and a demonstration of your
casting ability.) Once you've proven yourself and taken the
proper vows, the grand master of the order will put you
through a secret process that replaces the attack spells
you've learned (such as fireball) with missile-targeted
versions (such as flame burst missile). (He uses an item
based on Limited Wish.) Or, if you have the Spell
Preparation feat (arcane or divine), you are simply given
the opportunity to scribe such spells into your spell book.
Want to be a Mystic Theurge? They tend to be loners or to
operate in pairs of mentor and apprentice. Find a mentor,
demonstrate your arcane and your divine spell-casting
ability, and ask for teaching to continue your path as a
multi-classed spellcaster. Want to be a Warder of
Kramailtrof? Sorry, the elves there tend to train all the
warders they need from the youths of their own villages. If
you are a true friend of the elves, and have great renown as
a protector of the common people, slayer of undead, and
slayer of demons, then they might name you an honorary
member and maybe one of them will even invite you on patrol
around the ruins of Kramailtrof. Just don't be too quick to
judge half-fiends, a few of them have turned out not to be
innately evil. And ghosts are not necessarily evil either.
> What about psionics? Would it be necessary to use/create a Psychic
> generic character class, or would it be a variant of the existing
> Spellcaster class?
I don't know enough about 3e and 3.5e psionics to tell. The
only time I've gamed with much psionics was a 2e Athas
(Darksun) game.
Is there anything that can be done psionically that can't be
done by having a Generic Spellcaster research new spells?
I hate to say it, but perhaps we need Generic Spellcaster
(psi) as an addition to Generic Spellcaster (arcane) and
Generic Spellcaster (divine)?
> Anyways, these are just a few things that I've been contemplating when
> creating stuff for the Generic character classes.
I like that someone else seems to be a fan of the Generic
Classes. I just think the system needs to be KEPT simple,
at least as far as classes go. Keeping the classes simple
gives more room for feats and skills, and character
personality, to shine.
--index
AFGNCAAP wrote:
> I more or less wrote up all five mainly for anyone interested, but my
> big goal was just to write up a generic NPC version of the Commoner
> class--they're pretty much the only ones who I couldn't see being
> covered by the current 3 generic classes.
> Ideally, I can see NPCs being a multi-class mix between levels in the
> Generic commoner class, plus some levels in 1 of the 3 generic PC
> classes: Adepts could be Commoner/Spellcasters, NPC Warriors could be
> Commoner/Warriors, and NPC Experts could be Commoner/Experts.
> Aristocrats could start off with levels in a PC class, then later
> multiclass with Commoner to "dilute" them out.
I can see that, but as I said, I have issues with the DMG
NPC Commoner class.
> I am very slowly working on translating some of the class abilities
> into feats for use with the generic classes. However, I've considered
> a few things along the way:
> In some cases, class abilities should remain as class abilities--they
> just come off as being too powerful for use as a feat or feat chain.
> However, in such cases as these, I think that a specially-geared
> Prestige Class that uses those abilities wouldn't be out of order.
I disagree. The whole point of Generic Classes is to reduce
the number of classes. Despite what the UA says about the
option of using PrCs with Generic base classes, I believe
that bringing back PrC bloat throws all the benefits of
Generic classes out the window. In my opinion, simplifying
class choices is a worthy enough goal to translate current
class abilities into feats or feat chains. You can give
them prereqs so that Generic characters have to simulate
traditional characters before taking them.
In the UA, they've already started translating special
abilities into feats -- note that they are available only as
Generic Class Bonus feats, not as ordinary feats.
> With the current form of the Spellcaster class, specializing in spells
> modifies that ability's hindrance: if you can only learn/know a
> limited # of spells in the first place, then why even consider
> learning those spells (or for that matter, spells not from your school
> of specialization)?
I don't understand what you're saying here.
(But yeah, I don't like that the Generic Spellcaster is
distinctly weaker than ordinary clerics and wizards. Why
don't they get 2nd level spells at 3rd level instead of 4th
level? Maybe this was done to make up for the lack of
arcane spell failure from armor.)
> What about some relatively basic class abilities, like unlimited spell
> access to a spell list at the "cost" of needing to memorize spells (as
> with the wizard class), or prepared daily spells with limited
> spontaneous casting (like the druid & cleric)? Or cleric/wizard
> domains? Seems like another thing for a PrC.
No, it seems like another thing for a feat:
Spell Preparation - prereq: 1st level Generic Spellcaster -
In addition to the usual spells a Generic Spellcaster learns
progressing in levels, you can also learn any wizard (if
arcane) or cleric or druid (if divine) spell through
scrolls, spell trading, or spell research, but all of your
spells, including those Generic Spellcasters usually learn,
must be written down in a spellbook and prepared from that
spellbook previous to each casting much like a wizard. The
number of spells you may cast each day maxes out at five per
spell level, not six. If you later multi-class between the
two Generic Spellcaster classes, you must decide at the 1st
level of your second Spellcaster class, whether or not this
feat also applies to the second class. If you are already
past 1st level in a Generic Spellcaster class, you may take
this feat only by taking 1st level in the other Generic
Spellcaster class and applying it to that class, or by using
a Wish, Miracle, or similar magic.
(Should this be an option instead of a feat?)
Domain of Spells - prereq: Generic Spellcaster - Pick one of
the domains of spells listed for clerics in the PH. Add
these to your spells known list without using up any of your
spells known slots. This may only be taken as one of your
bonus feats for your Generic Spellcaster class. You do not
gain any domain powers. You may take this feat twice, once
each for different domains. At character level ten (minimum
class level six), you may take this feat a third time. At
character level twenty (minimum class level eleven), you may
take this feat a fourth and final time.
Domain Power - prereq: Domain of Spells, Generic Spellcaster
- You may gain the domain power that goes along with one of
your Domain of Spells feats. You may take this feat more
than once, each time matching another Domain of Spells you
already have.
List of Spells - prereq: Generic Spellcaster - Pick up to
ten spells that all belong to a spell progression or a spell
theme. These spells can be added to your list of spells
known via spell research, found scrolls, or spell trading
without counting against your limited number of spells known.
If you are both an arcane and a divine Generic Spellcaster,
then you must chose which this feat applies to. You may
take this feat more than once, each time picking a different
list of spells or a different Generic Spellcaster class.
The first time you take this feat, it must be as a Generic
Spellcaster Bonus Feat, not an ordinary feat, but thereafter
it may be taken as an ordinary feat.
You may not pick a list with more than 45.5 spell levels,
counting 0-level spells as 1/2.
Examples of valid lists include:
Protection from Evil, Protection from Good, Protection from
Law, Protection from Chaos, Protection from Undead, Magic
Circle against Evil, Magic Circle against Good, Magic Circle
against Law, Magic Circle against Chaos, Magic Circle
against Undead.
Summon Monster I through IX. (Optionally research a
suitably weak Summon Monster 0 to round out the list.)
Summon Undead I through IX.
Summon Nature's Ally I through IX.
Lesser Planar Binding, Planar Binding, Greater Planar
Binding. (Your DM might optionally allow you to research
additional spells to fill in the lower level gaps in the
list. You may not add Binding to this list because it does
not call creatures from elsewhere.)
Dispel Magic, Greater Dispel Magic.
Fireball, Heightened Empowered Fireball, Heightened Enlarged
Fireball, Heightened Quickened Fireball, Delayed Blast
Fireball, Heightened Still Silent Fireball, Heightened
Enlarged seven times Fireball.
Fireball, Electric Burst (energy substitution version of
fireball), Acid Burst, Sonic Burst, Freezing Burst, Positive
Energy Burst (version that summons Positive Material Plane
energy to damage undead without damaging living creatures).
Alter Self, Polymorph, Polymorph Any Object.
Charm Person, Charm Monster, Mass Charm Person, Mass Charm
Monster.
Power Word Blind, Power Word Kill, Power Word Stun.
Reduce Person, Shrink Item, Mass Reduce Person.
Reduce Person, Enlarge Person, Mass Reduce Person, Mass
Enlarge Person.
Dimension Door, Teleport, Greater Teleport, Teleport Object,
Teleport Circle, Gate
Bear's Endurance, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Mass Bear's
Endurance, Mass Bull's Strength, Mass Cat's Grace
Eagle's Splendor, Fox's Cunning, Owl's Wisdom, Mass Eagle's
Splendor, Mass Fox's Cunning, Mass Owl's Wisdom
Not valid:
Bear's Endurance, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Eagle's
Splendor, Fox's Cunning, Owl's Wisdom
Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Cone of Cold. (The basics of each
spell are different.)
Symbol of Death, Symbol of Fear, Symbol of Insanity, Symbol
of Pain, Symbol of Persuasion, Symbol of Sleep, Symbol of
Stunning, Symbol of Weakness. (52 spell levels total,
otherwise this list would be valid. Remove one or two from
this list to get a valid list.)
(Is List of Spells too powerful as written? (Would it be
too powerful for ordinary Sorcerers?) Should it be limited
to one 0-level spell, one spell of 1st level or less, one
spell of 2nd level or less, one spell of 3rd level or less,
one spell of 4th level or less, one spell of 5th level or
less, one spell of 6th level or less, one spell of 7th level
or less, one spell of 8th level or less, and one spell of
9th level or less?)
Fast Spell Progress - prereq: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level Generic
Spellcaster - You gain access to each successive spell level
one class level earlier than most Generic Spellcasters. The
price is that most of your spells don't work properly when
you wear armor. For any spell of 2nd level or higher, you
suffer spell failure in armor or bulky clothes exactly as a
standard wizard does. But because you don't bother
practicing how to cast spells with only a limited range of
motion, you learn and can cast one 2nd level spell at 3rd
class level, one 3rd level spell at 5th class level, one 4th
level spell at 7th class level, etc. These spells learned
are not in addition to your usual spells learned, you're
merely learning your normal number a little early. If you
are a multi-classed Generic Spellcaster (arcane) and Generic
Spellcaster (divine), you must chose whether this feat
applies to one class or both. If you have only one Generic
Spellcaster class but later pick up the other, you must
chose whether this feat also applies to the second. You
must make this choice before attaining 4th class level in
the second class.
(Should Fast Spell Progress be an option instead of a feat?)
Further, I suggest changing the prerequisite for Weapon
Specialization to: Weapon Focus with same weapon, +4 BAB,
Generic Warrior.
All of my original material is Open Gaming Content.
(Copyright 2004 Justin Harris, see the Open Gaming License
at http://www.wizards.com/d20/files/OGLv1.0a.rtf .)
Here's one I don't think is original, so it might not be OGC:
Practiced Spellcaster - prereq: Generic Spellcaster - Your
caster level receives a bonus of +4, with a maximum equal to
your hit dice. If you are a multi-classed Generic
Spellcaster with both Generic Spellcaster (arcane) and
Generic Spellcaster (divine), you may take this feat twice,
once for each class.
And an improved version that I think is original:
Improved Practiced Spellcaster - prereq: Practiced
Spellcaster feat, Generic Spellcaster class - You must take
this as a Generic Spellcaster Bonus feat, you may not take
this as an ordinary feat - Your caster level is equal to
your hit dice. This feat applies to either Generic
Spellcaster (arcane) or Generic Spellcaster (divine),
depending on which version of the prerequisite feat you
took. To take this feat twice so that it applies to both
Generic Spellcaster (arcane) and Generic Spellcaster
(divine), you must have the prerequisite feat twice.
(Improved Practiced Spellcaster might be too powerful, and
yet it doesn't address the main weakness of multi-classed
spellcasters: access to higher spell levels.)
> How well do Generic PC classes & normal PrCs mix? The PrCs still use a
> set class skill list, and in some cases, are built for specific core
> classes to take.
According to UA, PrCs are allowed with Generic base classes,
but the language used discourages them. I have never liked
PrCs -- they add too much complexity to the game, too much
stuff DMs and players have to know in detail to avoid nasty
surprises. I say simulate the basic abilities of PrCs with
multi-classing, and the special abilities with feats, and
the very special abilities with bonus feats.
At the least, I would build PrCs from scratch or at least
drastically simplify them. If it can be accomplished by
multi-classing within a reasonable number of character
levels, with a reasonable number of feats, do not make a PrC
for it. The point of Generic Classes is to move as much
'flavor' out of the classes and into the character. This
increases the importance of character personality, and
limited the usual straight-jacketing that classes generally
represent.
Most PrCs should be converted from classes to organizations
with entrance requirements. Want to be an Arcane Archer?
Find an organization that teaches versions of attack spells
that are targeted with missile weapons instead of having
independent ranges of their own. Prove to them that you are
worthy to join. (This includes crafting your own bow,
speaking only in elvish for the entire testing and training
time, passing several archery contests while the judges
shoot blunt arrows at you, and a demonstration of your
casting ability.) Once you've proven yourself and taken the
proper vows, the grand master of the order will put you
through a secret process that replaces the attack spells
you've learned (such as fireball) with missile-targeted
versions (such as flame burst missile). (He uses an item
based on Limited Wish.) Or, if you have the Spell
Preparation feat (arcane or divine), you are simply given
the opportunity to scribe such spells into your spell book.
Want to be a Mystic Theurge? They tend to be loners or to
operate in pairs of mentor and apprentice. Find a mentor,
demonstrate your arcane and your divine spell-casting
ability, and ask for teaching to continue your path as a
multi-classed spellcaster. Want to be a Warder of
Kramailtrof? Sorry, the elves there tend to train all the
warders they need from the youths of their own villages. If
you are a true friend of the elves, and have great renown as
a protector of the common people, slayer of undead, and
slayer of demons, then they might name you an honorary
member and maybe one of them will even invite you on patrol
around the ruins of Kramailtrof. Just don't be too quick to
judge half-fiends, a few of them have turned out not to be
innately evil. And ghosts are not necessarily evil either.
> What about psionics? Would it be necessary to use/create a Psychic
> generic character class, or would it be a variant of the existing
> Spellcaster class?
I don't know enough about 3e and 3.5e psionics to tell. The
only time I've gamed with much psionics was a 2e Athas
(Darksun) game.
Is there anything that can be done psionically that can't be
done by having a Generic Spellcaster research new spells?
I hate to say it, but perhaps we need Generic Spellcaster
(psi) as an addition to Generic Spellcaster (arcane) and
Generic Spellcaster (divine)?
> Anyways, these are just a few things that I've been contemplating when
> creating stuff for the Generic character classes.
I like that someone else seems to be a fan of the Generic
Classes. I just think the system needs to be KEPT simple,
at least as far as classes go. Keeping the classes simple
gives more room for feats and skills, and character
personality, to shine.
--index
