Another Core Class

[Tinker Gnome]

An official Tinker core class has yet to be made. Not the Eberron Artificer who just imbues magical enchantments on stuff, but someone who actualy makes mechanical things.

 

[RangerWickett]

An official Tinker core class has yet to be made. Not the Eberron Artificer who just imbues magical enchantments on stuff, but someone who actualy makes mechanical things.

I believe that's called a Commoner. They have Craft as a class skill.

Of course, I agree that we need some sort of way to make smart people a valid option without relying on magic, and without having to also learn to sneak attack. It's really easy to just add a few new abilities to the Expert to make him core-class level.

 

[Mercule]

There are reasons to add and reasons not to add. If there is a niche that is not filled by anything currently, then you should add. Before you do so, though, ask whether it's truly a base concept or a development concept. The Marshal (MH) is a prime example of this. I love the idea of the Marshal, I just don't see a 1st level Marshal -- it's almost a non-sequiter. The Paladin is another (touchy) base class that should be a PrC.

On the other hand, you can use the introduction of a base class to emphasize or promote a sub-archetype within one of the other classes. The Swashbuckler is an example of this in my campaign. I really like the idea of the lightly armored swordsman. The Swashbuckler class nicely accents that there is a substantive difference between the light fighter and the more dedicated Fighter. Either one is equally dangerous, but there are differences that go beyond which weapon they choose.

A core example is the Ranger. Really, most basic concepts for the Ranger class could be built from some combination of two of Barbarian, Druid, Fighter, Rogue. Having the Ranger class helps to emphasize that there is something more to the Ranger than simply cobbling together other disparate skill sets.

That said, I think it's important to not glut the system with too many classes, though. My own campaign runs with:

• Artifacer
• Barbarian
• Bard
• Druid
• Fighter
• Noble (hybrid of Star Wars and DMG Aristocrat)
• Priest (cribbed from Hong, but slightly modified)
• Ranger
• Rogue
• Spirit Shaman
• Swashbuckler
• Wizard

As far as actual core 4E PH classes, I'd probably keep the Noble and the Swashbuckler from the above list. I could see an argument for the Hexblade, too. Artifacer really doesn't fit with baseline D&D, nor does Spirit Shaman. Paladin, as I said, should be turned into a PrC. Monk fits some games, but not others; take a poll of players and run with the majority. Oh, I'd keep Sorcerer, too -- the only reason it's not on my list is that the spell point system we use really makes the gap between Sorcerer and Wizard too narrow.

 

[Scribble]

Personally I think they should remove the Paladin from the core class list and add it as a Prestige class like the Black Guard.

I a Pirate/Buccaneer class would be a cool core-class, but maybe not a needed one.

Really I think the only base classes needed as a core classes are those that serve a specific function. Cleric heals, Wizard casts arcane spells, rogue dissables traps, Fighter fights things.

The rest should probably be optional classes.

This isn't to say that other optional base classes are bad. I like new classes and options. But to play the game and have a defence or tactic against most situations there are really only a few needed.

 

[DragonLancer]

Noble also appears in the DLCS along with the Mystic (a sorcerer style divine caster).

WotC put the Mystic out as a web preview but upon looking for it to post the link here, it seems to have vanished.

SP also did a Mariner base class in the DL sourcebook, Age of Mortals.

 

[Roman]

So the consensus seems to be that there is room for more core or base classes even if they are not truly necessary. Perhaps an alchemyst class might be interesting...

 

[Sado]

I would like to see a combination fighter/arcane magic user, like the paladin but with arcane magic. All I have is the core phb, so I don't know if there is such a critter in UA or Complete Warrior. I suppose you could just make a multi-class fighter/sorcerer, though.

 

[Roman]

I would like to see a combination fighter/arcane magic user, like the paladin but with arcane magic. All I have is the core phb, so I don't know if there is such a critter in UA or Complete Warrior. I suppose you could just make a multi-class fighter/sorcerer, though.

The Hexblade in the Complete Warrior attempts to do that, but it certainly could have been done better...

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

The unfettered from AU is a really good light fighter class, the bodger from the IKCG is a tinker, and there'll be an alchemist NPC class in the IKWG. AU also has the best fighter-mage I've seen so far, the mageblade. Similar to the hexblade, but more evenly-balanced between combat and magic.

 

[Roman]

Mayhem, I have never heard of any of these - that's why I have not included them in my list...