Class-less Characters?

[bor3]

I've been working on a table top RPG for a while and have been trying to put something together that would use a players skill and ability choices to define his class. The character would not choose a class like a fighter and wizard but would instead choose skills and abilities that reflect what he wants his character to be.


I would rather play a character based of skills than a specific class but I want to know what other people think of using something like this.


Here is a link to what I have for skills and abilities so far

 

[Nifft]

There's been a number of these, and as you can tell from their lack of fame, they haven't been particularly compelling. One of the nice things D&D has over systems like Storyteller is the level system -- the idea that one number between 1 and 20 (or 30 or ...) can give a quick measure of a character's general power level.

The trouble with class-free systems is usually apparent when you start designing opponents and opposed check DCs which are neither trivial (for a specialist) nor impossible (for everyone else).

Cheers, -- N

 

[bor3]

I think you can still use a level system without classes and just give the characters skill points and ability points each level. They could then use these points to choose their skills or abiliities.

 

[QuaziquestGM]

Just use d20 modern. When they get to a point where they want to specialize in a fantasy thorpe, let them talke D&D levels.

This may throw the CR system out of wack a bit. A d20mod class level is about 5/8ths the power of a D&D class level.

 

[TeutonicBerserker]

I've worked up an extensive ruleset based on the Storyteller system if you're intrested.

 

[jmucchiello]

Just let them spend xp directly on in game abilities: Buy The Numbers

 

[eric mcloins]

You might want to take a look at Savage Worlds and/or Mutants & Masterminds

 

[Chris Tavares]

Or GURPS, or Hero, or Runequest/BRP, or basically any RPG other than D&D and immediate derivatives.

Classless games have been around since the 70s.

 

[Crothian]

Just let them spend xp directly on in game abilities: Buy The Numbers

While those other game systems do it just fine, if you want it in D&D you want this book.

 

[Jekolmy]

You might try BESM d20 and use the classless ruleset(toward the end of the book) if you want to stick with d20. (It works equally well if you want to mix Modern and D&D they stat out how many points each "class" is. You might be able to find the SRD for it online, though I haven't had luck with it for a while.