Class Design poll

[tjoneslo]

I'm coming up with a set of classes for a D20 modern/future game. OK, I'm writing up a set of D20 Modern classes for Traveller. Traveller D20 uses a few classes, but they are very generic. D20 Modern advanced classes seem (to me anyway) to be very specific. When I tried to emulate the detail oriented nature of D20M classes, I created a list of 50 classes. Is this too many or should there be more?

How do you like your D20 Modern classes designed?

 

[Turanil]

Are you writing base 20 lvl classes or advanced/prestige 10 lvl classes?

50 base 20 lvl classes seems to be too much. 20 should be enough. Then add a dozen prestige classes as well.

I suggest that you write a background description interesting and that makes sense for each of them. Then, give the classes interesting / useful special abilities. Lastly, make the classes balanced using some calculation sheet such as that created by DrSpunj (some thread in the houserule forum).

 

[Vigilance]

D20 Modern classes are designed for increasing specificity.

Base classes very broad and generic. Advanced classes should be less broad than that... while Prestige Classes should be the most specific.

An example would be tough hero (could be anything from a PI to a Loan Shark)... then Bodyguard (protects people) then Secret Service Agent (protects important government officials).

As for a number... I think that depends on how many interesting ideas you have to represent the setting.

I think the number should be... as many as you can create that are specific, playable, interesting and fun.

On Specificity, when it comes to d20 Modern books Ive written Ive taken both approaches with equal success... from the very broad (Blood and Fists) to the very specific (Blood and Guts).

Chuck

 

[Christopher Lambert]

I voted for option 1. Frankly, adding new base classes to a D20 Modern product is a good way to get me to not buy the product.

I'm a bit surprised you found the base classes overspecialized. Maybe it's just me though; compared to DnD and Spycraft I find them a lot more flexible.

 

[Krieg]

I'm a bit surprised you found the base classes overspecialized. Maybe it's just me though; compared to DnD and Spycraft I find them a lot more flexible.

Especially in comparison to the Traveller classess. Odd.

 

[Vigilance]

tj playtested T20 I believe... and has *ahem* vociferously defended that game... both its strengths and its weaknesses.

Chuck

 

[C. Baize]

Sort of a misleading poll question...

The BASE classes are fine... more Talent Trees and occupations are really all that's needed for that.

Advanced and Prestige classes, however...
Go for it.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I like not having a cap on the amount of options availabe, even if it means that some classes overlap a little.

 

[tjoneslo]

I'm using the 10 level Base classes, 10 level Advanced classes and 5 level prestige classes. To match the D20 modern style of class design. I was going to add two new base classes (based upon the two additional attributes in T20), 30 Advanced classes and 16 prestige classes. Too many, not enough, Thom is insane?

I've seen DrSpunj class worksheet, and five other documents for using point options for balancing the classes. Unfortuantly neither DrSpunj worksheet nor any of the other options support D20 modern class design except Point Buy Numbers. But yes I am planning on balancing the classes through such a system.

 

[tjoneslo]

I'm a bit surprised you found the base classes overspecialized. Maybe it's just me though; compared to DnD and Spycraft I find them a lot more flexible.

The D20 Modern base classes are very general. It is the Advanced classes which are very specialised, much more than the T20 classes. The progression (in my mind) goes:

D20 Modern Base classes -> T20 classes -> D20 Advanced classes -> D20 Prestige Classes.

If you try an shove the T20 classes down a level, you need to split them to capture the important perutations of abilities. I'm trying to decide if this is a good idea or a bad one.