NPC Classes upgraded to Standard Classes

I had a thought on NPC classes like Adept, Warrior, Noble, and Expert. For players who have followers or even cohorts of these classes do you think it is feasable in some cases to allow those class levels to be traded in for regular class levels. Exchanging the sub-par levels with more useful 'true' class abilities.

Ie. A Warrior(2) follower of a certain character has become more important to the PC and party in general. Instead of having sub-optimal warrior levels, and now start adding fighter levels, I plan to have the npc undergo a training period and allow him to exchange the warrior levels for actual fighter levels.

Upon thinking this out a bit, it seemed feasable to allow an Adept to train up and exchange for either Wizard or Cleric (depending on his particular flavor), or an Expert to become roguish (closest skill based class - although this is more of a stretch), Aristocrat to Fighter (or Paladin/Ranger).

Because we are dealing in npc's, obviously the DM can do anything, but I would like to have some sort of Houserule and logic in place as the campaign progresses and I try to keep some of the important NPC's in line with the PC's power level.

Any thoughts on the process?

Each warrior level is worth half a fighter level

dedicated said:

Each warrior level is worth half a fighter level

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This is probably on par equating for special abilities, however BAB, HD and the like do not equate equally (or closly). I want the npc's to be approximately the same after the cross-over, just basically adding a few abilities to their repritoir.

The expert IMO is the hardest to change over this way; I may exclude them from my ideas.

Commoners also seem hard to place. Their skills don't warrant equating with rogues, nor strong enough to make into fighters. Maybe your 2 for 1 level change can work with commoners much better, and maybe options can be rogue or fighter (or even spellcaster) upon committing to the change.

You could do it, but remember it'd change the ECL of the characters. I'd just let them choose what class they'd want to take, though. Commoner is basically worst at everything, so it doesn't really equate to anything. And what equates to Bard or Druid or Barbarian? Dont' worry about the NPC class they have, go by personality.

As for process... I've seen something similar. Stat out the starting character, level by level. As you add PC levels, take away the top NPC levels. It's pretty easy.

With a Warrior-1 follower I'd probably go with them changing to Fighter-1 after accumulating the equivalent of 1000xp at higher levels I'd do some kind of swap over say 2 levels of warrior to 1 of fighter or three levels of warrior to two of fighter, if I really saw the need.

Other classes can be more tricky - Expert or Noble I don't really see a need to swap levels for other class levels as these classes have their own benefits - I'd probably use something like extra bonus feats if I felt the need to power these up.

Adept to Cleric or Sorceror is not so straightforward due to the different spell lists, etc and would depend very much on the Adepts role and concept.

I'm playing a PC Aristocrat. Only change was we added fighter feats. So, it's a fighter with a lower HD, but more skills and a better skill selection. Seems balanced, and works well for the character (It's Vander in my sig if you want to take a peak).

Commoner evolves to expert (Yes, definetly yes)

Land Outcast said:

Commoner evolves to expert (Yes, definetly yes)

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Good Call. I can see this as happening.

But, Experts stay experts and can only add new Full Character Classes. Any other way and they are downgrading their skill points.

Anyone see any other way?

On a related note, EricNoah has shared at least the idea of a couple of other NPC Classes, and I seem to like the idea.

http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=2412952&postcount=42

I especially like the Bandit, a rural npc rogue class IMO. I am not a huge fan of Barbarians so the other one does not thrill me quite as much. His ideas lead me to think that there might be a Ranger-lite class for NPC's as well. Probably call it a Hunter or Outdoorsman.

Anyway, thanks again to EricNoah for the idea spark.

Hunter:
Skills: 4+Int
Bab: 3/4 HD
Saves: Fort&Ref Good, Will Poor
Proficiency with all simple weapons and light armor