D&D 5E Sometimes Less Is More...or am I the only one who thinks so?

[Tales and Chronicles]

I recently noticed that I was spending a lot of time homebrewing new archetypes in a vacuum, trying to add to the already extensive list of archetypes given by WotC an ever increasing number of subclasses to fill any niche a player would like to play with an eventual/theoretical future character. I concluded that it would be easier for me to just remove all archetypes, wait for the ''archetype first level'' for each player and ask her/him to tell me how does she/he imagine her character moving forward, and homebrewing a specific archetype for her/him.

 

[Umbran]

So, I think there are a few too many sub-classes in what I think of the core D&D rules (which to me consist of the three core rulebooks plus the trilogy of Mordenkainen's, Volo's, and Xanathar's).

Well, that's your problem right there. There are several supplements in that list. If you are going to willfully expand the core, you can't really complain about how big the core list is, now can you?

 

[Ancalagon]

Or you could just abandon the concept of class entirely. The background is the class. you aren't a fighter who used to be a peasant, you are a peasant (or were until last week when your farm was burned down or somesuch). You're a rat catcher, a venturesome academic, etc.

 

[FrogReaver]

Less is more. Though I would go in the direction of eliminating multiclassing and adding in more classes/subclasses to fill those conceptual gaps.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Or you could just abandon the concept of class entirely. The background is the class. you aren't a fighter who used to be a peasant, you are a peasant (or were until last week when your farm was burned down or somesuch). You're a rat catcher, a venturesome academic, etc.

This is also a nice idea. I like the idea of your character is built around your background, not your class, and you develop the character by using points or something to improve and purchased features, etc.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Less is more. Though I would go in the direction of eliminating multiclassing and adding in more classes/subclasses to fill those conceptual gaps.

Or go the other route and allow multiclassing to fill the gaps for subclasses, etc. Want an Edlritch Knight? Play a Fighter/Wizard, etc.

 

[Ancalagon]

This is also a nice idea. I like the idea of your character is built around your background, not your class, and you develop the character by using points or something to improve and purchased features, etc.

both Warhammer and Troika! did this very well.

In both cases, you don't choose your career/background though. In warhammer (2e) you roll twice and pick one (or, under some variant, you pick a broad category (like say, "criminals") and roll once). In Troika you roll once. As a GM I would make reroll anyone who got the same background as someone else.

They are, in a way, point buy systems, but without letting the players buy the points. That way it cuts down on the power gaming and the "generic best built adventurer" sameness..

 

[FrogReaver]

Or go the other route and allow multiclassing to fill the gaps for subclasses, etc. Want an Edlritch Knight? Play a Fighter/Wizard, etc.

You could. In other game systems that works very well. In 5e it doesn't because there's some pretty large breakpoints at level 5, 11 etc. IMO

It also leaves out abilities that let those multiclassed characters work well together out of the picture.

 

[ParanoydStyle]

I was just going to propose that but I guess I was scooped.

Oh you motherflumpher....oh no you DI'INT just go there. You DID NOT just make that pun. Gods damn you!

We got some pushback with A Touch of Class and A Touch More Class, but I'll stand by them. Sure, you can mimic anything with a subclass, but only lightly. A full class lets you access far more depth into that concept.

Yeah, some pushback along with SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS (more accurately I think tens of thousands of dollars?). : P

The demand for "more is more" style design is quite clear and present.

That said, I do appreciate the number of people in this thread that said they're with me. I don't think that my approach is the right way or the one true way or anything like that, but it's nice to know that I'm not completely alone in my thinking, y'know?

 

[Tony Vargas]

Think of 5e as a salad bar.

Think less is more? Artfully arrange those three soy beans and that slice of pickled beet on your romaine lettuce leaf and Zen out.

Think more is more? Take a little of everything and top with bacon.


Either way, don't begrudge anyone else their selections.