In Unearthed Arcana, one class variant is the "Generic Classes", or GCs. The writers point out that one shouldn't use GCs with the standard classes, or SCs, in the same campaign.
Well, while driving to work, it dawned on me that DMs could use the GCs to create their own unique NPCs. Need to create a magic-user with an unsavory past as an assasin? Several levels of Spell-caster (either arcane or divine) and Expert with the appropriate skills and "bonus feats" from the Rogue class should do the trick. Want a champion of good who only uses his/her body as a weapon (and don't want all that healing, alignment, mount, etc. garbage)? Use Warrior as the base GC, then add as many "bonus feats" as necessary to get what you want. Like the abilities of the duskblade and want to add it to a diviner? Select Spell-caster (divine) and simply add the duskblade's class abilities as the NPCs bonus feats.
The advantage that I can see is that GCs would be easier to write up than fiddling with an wizard/rogue/assassin (and all their associated BABs, Hit Dice, Class and Cross-class skills, etc.) or other such weird permutation. Feats, followed by skills, would differentiate the NPCs.
What do you think of the idea? Will the GC NPCs be too weak? Too strong?
Well, while driving to work, it dawned on me that DMs could use the GCs to create their own unique NPCs. Need to create a magic-user with an unsavory past as an assasin? Several levels of Spell-caster (either arcane or divine) and Expert with the appropriate skills and "bonus feats" from the Rogue class should do the trick. Want a champion of good who only uses his/her body as a weapon (and don't want all that healing, alignment, mount, etc. garbage)? Use Warrior as the base GC, then add as many "bonus feats" as necessary to get what you want. Like the abilities of the duskblade and want to add it to a diviner? Select Spell-caster (divine) and simply add the duskblade's class abilities as the NPCs bonus feats.
The advantage that I can see is that GCs would be easier to write up than fiddling with an wizard/rogue/assassin (and all their associated BABs, Hit Dice, Class and Cross-class skills, etc.) or other such weird permutation. Feats, followed by skills, would differentiate the NPCs.
What do you think of the idea? Will the GC NPCs be too weak? Too strong?
