Custom Character Classes

[Light Knight]

There were a couple of good design systems out there for designing and balancing classes both base and new classes.

Look for instance, you could pick the Hitdice, and it would be a certain value, and you could pick each save category...and that would be a certain cost.

Has anyone put together a system for pathfinder like this?

 

[SteelDraco]

Lots of Pathfinder classes are built around a menu of class abilities (rogue talents, barbarian rage powers, alchemist discoveries, etc) that make such a system less helpful. Still, I think you could generally use the 3.5 version of such a system and increase the target value to get an approximation. PF classes are typically more powerful than 3.5 classes. Try building the PF classes as they are to get a rough target number.

 

[Walker N. Waistz]

Has anyone put together a system for pathfinder like this?

If you take these two books for 3.5/d20 Modern, and put them together, you could do this pretty easily: The Versatile Hero - POSTMODERN: The Versatile Hero - Big Finger Games | RPGNow.com
Fantastic Classes - POSTMODERN: Fantastic Classes - Big Finger Games | RPGNow.com

These two books are made to work together (both by the same author). The first isn't really an alternate class, it is an alternate character creation system where you build your own class. Basically, you get a limited number of points to get your HD, attack bonus, saves, etc. The number of points is kept really small (6 or 8, if I recall), which is what keeps it from being Min/Max-able, or taking forever like most point-buy systems.

Since the first book, Versatile Hero, is for D20 Modern, the second book is the bridge that lets you use it for D&D 3.5/Pathfinder. Spellcasting, turning undead, etc. all become talents you apply to your character.

 

[gamerprinter]

I'm having a blast designing alternate classes, class archetypes, new traits, new feats, new spells, new equipment, for homebrews, and for my Kaidan: a Japanese Ghost Story setting for PFRPG.

I use the CRB, APG, UM, UC and GMG, and my own ideas as well as the experience I've gained working with Rite Publishing, Jonathan McAnulty, Will Cardill, Trevor H Gulliver in the creation of my Kaidan setting for publication - I've learned a lot from these people.

I don't think Pathfinder needs some kind of add-on system to do this. The basic game is made to be customizeable and I've been creating custom classes since PF first came out. I find it easier to design new classes and class mechanics than even 3.5 - Pathfinder is better for customization.

First I started playing with archetypes with Ranger which seemed an easily customized class. Afterward I've since tried to build archetypes for every single class - even one's I didn't care to run in the beginning, now I've touched upon every single class. I've become fans of classes I never were in the beginning with the values of customization.

I don't need an add-on system, the existing system works fine right now.

 

[1Mac]

You're possibly thinking of Greg Korynta's Class Construction system. I've found it can be imperfectly adapted to Pathfinder by keeping classes at around 250 points, instead of the default 215.

 

[Light Knight]

You're possibly thinking of Greg Korynta's Class Construction system. I've found it can be imperfectly adapted to Pathfinder by keeping classes at around 250 points, instead of the default 215.

Yah, thats the one I used for D&D....And have since adjusted it for PF..Each class has alot of addons...