Combining NPC classes from DMG

[dvvega]

Interested in balance issues of combining the best of two NPC classes.

In particular the Adept and the Aristocrat.

Would this become a class comparable in ability/power to a normal PHB class? Or would it be stronger? Weaker?

Essentially I'm looking for a pre-game class to represent upbringing that a 1st level character has undergone which involves a Wizard father and a Priestly mother.

D

 

[Crothian]

Still weak. The classes don't gain anything when gaining levels aside from spells and the normal stuff.

What about a cleric with the domains of magic and knowledge? Ar a wizard with a high knowledge relegion?

 

[Jdvn1]

A gestalt NPC class? Hilarious.

Yeah, I think still weak.

 

[Gnome]

I can't remember the name at the moment, but there's a feat that allows arcane spellcasters to choose a cleric domain, provided they choose a domain of a diety they worship, and are of the same alignment. Spells from that domain may then be learned/cast like any other arcane spell, except that Wisdom is still used to determine save DC and max spell level.

 

[Terath Ninir]

Arcane devotee is the feat you're thinking of.

Hmm. For an aristocrat/adept, you might add in enchantment spells from the bard list (that don't directly involve music). Influencing people would be a prime ability of the class. Hmm. Throw in some Cha-based abilities, too. Maybe bonus feats related to Cha, though those are few and far between in the Core rules. Maybe a free Leadership feat at 5th level -- getting it one level early could matter a lot. Bonuses on the Leadership score could be good, too.

Even with all that, it still might be too weak for a PC class.

 

[dvvega]

Okay let me go a bit further ... the campaign I'm starting is not supposed to be uber-powerful, and players "create" their characters by giving me descriptions of 3 phases of their lives.

I fit those descriptions to classes.

Now, one of them is the son of a diplomatic adviser and a priestess of a nature god(dess). He has stated that this character followed his mother's side more than his father's but learnt some of his father's art to make him happy.

However he also wants all the diplomatic skills that go with his upbringing. So instead of giving him 1 level of aristocrat, I thought of combining two NPC classes. The Aristocrat covers the skills, the adept the dabbling in magic, and also has some divine spells. Then he could focus on being a cleric or druid or what have you. He start out as a cleric at 1st level ... he's just leaving the protective home of his parents and the world of diplomacy.

When you say the combination would be weak ... what if I allowed all the feats a normal character would get? What else is it lacking? The combination would give decent saving throws as far as I can see, and decent hps too.

D

 

[Nifft]

Diplomat? Arcane caster? Some healing? Do I hear the clarion call of the Bard? Why yes, that's it precisely!

-- N

 

[dvvega]

That is what I thought at first, Bard. He even had some "adventures" as a teenager with other kids in the diploatic compound that could be termed illegal.

How he has not yet become that character. He finds himself about to leave home. He has sided with his mother most of the time, and she was a priestess, which means that he certainly is a religous person, divine spellcasting even.

He learnt some rudimentary magic to please his father.

But yes, I originally thought bard until he threw in the "following in my mother's footsteps".

If he left home as a priest then it would be a different story.

D

 

[Terath Ninir]

Hmm. If everything was just one big spell list, this would be a lot easier to do properly. I'm actually leaning towards aristocrat 1 (with a bonus feat thrown in for balance)/cleric 1, with him following in mom's footsteps by taking more cleric levels. I guess it really depends on what you and he want the character to be as it develops.

 

[Nifft]

If he left home as a priest then it would be a different story.

How about a Cloistered Cleric with the Magic and Travel Domains (plus Knowlege, which comes for free with Cloistered Cleric).

That, or a Divine Bard.

Both are from Unearthed Arcana, and are OGL, so they can be posted here if you ask really nicely.

-- N