Appropriate classes for a pirate game

[scourger]

Are you saying people would randomly be assigned a character class?

I'm not sure most players in most groups would go for that, especially long-term.

It requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief and roleplaying to have class randomly assigned. I dislike the standard ability generation method that lets players cherry-pick their statistics (giving rise to charisma most often being the "dump stat"). Plus, if there are only five classes available, then not everyone can be the same thing. I wouldn't even want two characters of the same class, under the circumstances. The game would allow for different social standing based on class, too.

 

[MarkB]

Oh yes, lots of flying monky goodness.

MONKISH goodness.

Monkish goodness.

Hmmm. Hadozee monk...

"I swoop down from the crow's nest and kick him in the head!"

 

[Arrgh! Mark!]

Man of Will is ridiculous.

I allowed it once for a woman who broke out of the social mold she was forced in to - the game stopped shortly after that, but not because of that class. It is an awesome beyond words class.

Jeez!

What you may allow, if you have Swashbuckling Adventures anyway is a feat that gives bonus AC at every three levels. The advanced ones make things weird (+20 AC at 20th level) but it is a game where there is less magical full plate around.

It basically allows people to have half decent AC at the cost of a feat.

 

[RichGreen]

Yeah, Swashbuckler's a'ight. It's a bit bland, the AC doesn't progress as fast or well as you'd expect IMO. I like the Unfettered from AU/AE more for the same role, but that requires a bit of tinkering to fit into the rules.

I also prefer the Unfettered to the Swashbuckler. It's worth checking out Skull & Bones for the Sea Dog and Buccanneer.

Cheers


Richard

 

[Holy Bovine]

Going with classes from the PHB 1&2 and Complete series I would choose these

Barbarian
Rogue
Ranger
Fighter
Bard (yeah they have spellcasting but it is severely limited imo)
Monk
Scout
Dragon Shaman (maybe just call it a Shaman to make it less 'magical' in appearance - I'd keep the abilites though especially without a cleric/healer the fast healing aura is invaluable)
Warlock
Hexblade
Ninja (seriously - ignore the pseudo japanese flavour and its a workable class)

Also look into the alternate class abilites from Complete Mage, Champion and the PHB 2. They could add some variety to 'bland' classes like the fighter.

 

[Asmor]

Oh yes, lots of flying monky goodness.

MONKISH goodness.

Monkish goodness.

Thanks to a former player of a monk who doesn't fully enunciate, one of our recurring jokes is that you can hide anything under a monkey (monk gi).

 

[Andor]

In Eberron a Dragon Shaman makes sense, if he comes from Argonessen. Be aware that some of them can grant mass waterbreathing at 13th level. "Boys... Take a walk."

Binder would make for a nice voodoo-ish character.

Incarnate has some useful seafaring binds.

Totemist rocks. I'd say Eldeen reaches or Xendrik for an origin.

A seafaring campaign is almost the ideal place for a Monk to shine.

Swashbuckler... Color me unimpressed, I'll join the ranks of the Unfettered fans.

If you're using Unfettered then Oathsworn make an interesting alternative to the Monk.

Fighters. I like the fighter myself, especially with the PHB 2.

Marshal could make a nice marine captain.

A healer might be a good stand-in for the banished Cleric. Probably as an NPC ships doctor.

And if you're playing pirates from the Lahzaar provinces, remember the words of House Kraken from the Song of Fire and Ice. "We do not sow."

 

[Calico_Jack73]

I'd look at the Freeport book for some ideas. I personally love Green Ronin's Skull & Bones supplement. You could use several of the classes and PRC's from that book. The powers of the Mystic Navigator PRC would seem awesome even by Eberron standards.

 

[Aus_Snow]

I think the Bruiser would be just about perfect here.

Not too bad: the Thug, Ape Totem Barbarian, and a couple of the other variants found here, and [originally] in Unearthed Arcana, if WotC sources are desirable/preferred.

Plenty of other good suggestions so far, which I won't bother echoing.

I prefer my own Swashbuckler class, for uh, swashbuckling. But hey, the Unfettered's OK-ish, if mediocre and ultra-bland. Note: mine's not posted at EN World yet, sorry. I'll get onto that soon, hopefully.

 

[Darklone]

My pirategroup that started yesterday:

Captain: Human Swash3/Rog3/Dread Pirate1, Daring Outlaw!
Archer: Hobgoblin Rgr2/Sco4, Swift Hunter!
Healer: Gnome Rog1/Clr4/Shadowbane1 ... Cha 22, cleric of trickery and luck, disguised as peg-legged human pirate captain with parrot. *HAW!*
Thing: Human Dragonfire adept6.

Arrr, Matey! Spoiler ahead:

Spoiler

The adventure is the Fall of Liaven from Kenzer and this group is going to have a lot of fun with the zombie outbreak variant of the adventure. We're having a blast enjoying an adventure with pirate flair AND "Shaun of the Dead" undead with contagious bites! If anyone likes zombies who can "spawn" other zombies by biting them in the best Resident Evil manner, get this adventure!

Spoiler end.