Backgrounds and Preferred Classes

[Samloyal23]

I'm planning on using background feats to allow members of certain religions and social classes to change the preferred class of their race. For example, some of the dwarves of my city Shosnar who are especially devoted to Set may change their preferred class from Fighter to Warlock to reflect their dedication. The dwarves in my city of Burghausen are obsessed with tinkering and making things explode, so they can use guild craftsman background feat to change their preferred class from Fighter to Alchemist or Artificer. The feats will have additional minor benefits. Besides taxing the number of feats a character has, are there any potential problems with this approach?

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

A feat or group of feats that allows the change of the favored class and grants a minor benefit? I don't think that's good, I think that's brilliant, much needed and I'm surprised no one has thought of it before!

I really like that idea. For people who hold the xp penalty for multiclassing (Which me and mine ignore), spending a feat to reward a player for creative race/class combos sounds really good to me.

I look forward to seeing what you write up! Some questions:
1. Would there be a separate feat for each of the base classes?
2. What kind of minor benefit would the feat grant? Stat help, skill help, boost class ability, etc?
3. Would a PC be required to take this at level 1 only?
4. could a character who already had the class as the actual racial class still take the feat for whatever minor bonus it grants?

 

[Zireael]

I second the questions, as I'm toying with a background/ancestor feat system for my own RPG...

 

[Sekhmet]

I seem to recall regional feats similar in thinking to this in the Forgotten Realms Campaign setting.

 

[Belzbet]

I like the idea for flavor purposes but I usually just let my PC's pick their favored class. If that is not your style then this is great (and the other benefits and potential RP opportunities makes this a great feat).

 

[Samloyal23]

I figure you can change racial abilities and limits if you can explain it and pay for it. I have two subraces of dwarves in my campaign that I want promote certain classes for but thought it would be a bad idea to just change the default preferred class. I think the majority of them will still be fighters. For my Obsidian Dwarves I want to show the increasing level of corruption in their society by the cult of Set, so I am giving them the option of becoming warlocks with a feat chain that promotes that. My Iron Dwarves are becoming masters of alchemy and mechanical arts because it is so hard for them to use magic. So Alchemist and Artificer with mods for using machines will be their subspecialty. Other races will have their own combos, these are just the first two I came up with.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

...I would like to point out that abolishing favored classes for races solves this problem. Or eliminating xp penalty for multiclassing.

 

[Samloyal23]

...I would like to point out that abolishing favored classes for races solves this problem. Or eliminating xp penalty for multiclassing.

True, but then why be Human? For an extra feat? The racial tendencies go toward developing the character of a race and balancing it against the flexible but bland Homo Sapiens...

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

True, but then why be Human? For an extra feat? The racial tendencies go toward developing the character of a race and balancing it against the flexible but bland Homo Sapiens...

Heck yes for the extra feat. and 20 extra skillpoints over a 20 level career. favored class flexibility takes a backseat to those two benefits in my mind.
Other people are welcome to hold a different set of priorities, however. To each their own.

 

[Samloyal23]

Shosnar Swamp Dweller
You are at home in the bogs around the city of Shosnar and skilled at hunting in this environment.
Prerequisites: 1st-level only, must be from Shosnar.
Benefits: You receive a +2 bonus on Survival checks while in marsh terrain. In addition, you can take a 5-foot step while in the bogs and undergrowth of a marsh, ignoring the usual movement penalties of the terrain for this purpose. You can switch your preferred class to Ranger. Once you choose a preferred class you cannot change it again.

Burghausen Crafter
You were raised in a craft shop and used to dealing with chemicals and mechanical devices.
Prerequisites: 1st-level only, must be born in Burghausen
Benefits: Craft (any), alchemy, and disable device are always class skills for you. You can change your preferred class to Alchemist or Artificer. Once you choose a preferred class you cannot change it again.

Witchborn of Shosnar
You come from a family tainted by the influence of dark forces.
Prerequisites: 1st-level only, must be born in Shosnar.
Benefits: scry, spellcraft, and knowledge (arcana) are always class skills for you. You may change your preferred class to Sorcerer or Warlock. Once you choose a preferred class you cannot change it again.