D&D (2024) Races as classes

[Marandahir]

I'd be more okay with it as feat chains, with everyone getting at least one feat at level 1. 5e isn't built in a way where disrupting the class level progression makes sense for most characters.

I think Feats are probably the better space for this too, because they CAN reflect things outside of the character's control, and play nicely with Theros' Supernatural Gifts.

 

[Blue]

I have been thinking more and more about basic d&d and the dwarf and elf classes.

With everything going on with race changes I wonder about going back to racial classes. Not as mandatory. Like as a multi class.

So at 1st level if you take wizard fighter ect...you basically would be a human variant with some fluff and maybe a single ribbon making you an elf, teifling ect.... then as you level you can take levels in your race making you more of that race.

So an elf might get some spells and some Fey traits if they take levels in elf...a dragonborn would get more and more draconian traits.

I remember 3.5 had mini prestige classes like this in a book...like 5 levels. I was thinking if we take almost everything from races would could make at least 10 level classes.

How about the other way around. Choose your race. Give them plenty of features and power, so that you can have a halfling, a half ogre, and a flying sprite in the same party and the same power level. Let people actually play all of the fantastical archetypical races that D&D often neglects.

Once you have a race, then you can learn some things on top of it.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Eek, I disagree. No reason why the Swordmage Wizard should be only for Elves or the Spiked Armor Barbarian should be only for Dwarves.

I think I was unclear -

I don't like Bladesinger being elf-only. But that's because it was (at the time) the only way to play a certain broader archetype (swordmage), and that's not something that should be restricted to one race.

But I do think you could do a decent elf-only subclass that builds on elf-specific ideas. The only way that would be categorically untrue is if there were no elf-specific tropes to build off of, but at that point why have races?

(Which is, I suppose, a fair question. But outside the scope of this thread.)

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Just curious, but isn't this the system of "Old D&D" or "proto-D&D"? That "dwarf" is it's own class, as it elf, and that only humans can have their own class like "wizard" or "warrior"?

It is something that I think is very feasible for worlds like Greyhawk (or even the Witcher) where humans are dominant and the other races marginalized, but for something like FR it doesn't really work.

 

[DnD Warlord]

Just curious, but isn't this the system of "Old D&D" or "proto-D&D"? That "dwarf" is it's own class, as it elf, and that only humans can have their own class like "wizard" or "warrior"?

It is something that I think is very feasible for worlds like Greyhawk (or even the Witcher) where humans are dominant and the other races marginalized, but for something like FR it doesn't really work.

Yes way back when it was dwarf was it's own class...I am suggestioning a modern version.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Yes way back when it was dwarf was it's own class...I am suggestioning a modern version.

I encourage you to check out Dungeon Crawl Classics, as I believe this is the system they use.

 

[Tonguez]

Okay

Player "I'm going to take a level of gnome"
GM "cool you shrink 3 feet and get a pot belly and a passion for tinkering with small engines"
Player "why do I feel like my grandpa?"

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Into the Unknown, a OSR-retro-inspired take on 5e have the core 4 classes and 3 racial classes: Dwarf, elf and Halfling. All classes go to 10th level.

Or, 5 Torches Deep is another good retro-take on 5e. In this specific case, the game has races different from class, but I personally dont like much of they implemented them. Since its also a game with 10 levels, it would be simple to create new races-as-classes for this system.

 

[Haldrik]

@DnD Warlord

If going in this direction. I would rather every level 1 character get 3 feats. Then a player who wants, can choose feats that build traits to represent ones species.

For example, to build a Sun Elf, I would use one feat to boost Charisma, an other feat to get Misty Step and a light cantrip, and an other feat to get something else depending on concept, maybe even some form of magic resistance.

To build a "High Elf"
I would boost Dex, get always on Mage Armor, and think of something else, maybe even a griffon companion.

Alternatively, a player can use these 3 feats for something else entirely, and use some or none of these feats for the species.

 

[not-so-newguy]

@DnD Warlord If you have an extra $5, you might want to check out Into the Unknown: Book 1 Characters. It combines 5e with B/X rules, including race-as-class.

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