Frum said:
I worry a little about the balance of advanced classes, considering that there are many different ways to enter such classes.
Me too.
Frum said:
For example, the warrior is best able to enter the archer class, and perhaps could do so after 5th level (or whatever). If a thief were to do the same thing, will it simply be a suboptimal choice because the level requirement (effectively) is greater for the thief than it is for the warrior? Is that your intention?
The archer probably isn't a great example. The archer class is an advanced class of warrior, which means that in order to become an archer you need to have at least a few levels in warrior. A thief will have a harder time becoming an archer because advanced classes are going to have actual level requirements, not normal prestige class requirements. The difference is as such:
An advanced class has actual "Level' reqs. To become a black wizard, you must meet the requirement of [level 10 black mage]. To become a true knight or archer, you must meet the requirement of [level 3 warrior]. Though I'm positive about the above requirement for the wizard, the archer/knight might have a level 4, 5, or even 7 requisite. Probably 3-5 though.
Prestige classes have skills, abilities, and other special requirements. You might need "Sneak Attack +3d6" to become an assassin, let's say. Well, probably sneak attack will also be a feat in this system (with requisits like +4 base attack bonus for +1d6, base attack +7 for +2d6, base attack +13 for +3d6, base attack +17 for +4d6). A ninja or thief is going to have some innate ability to get into the assassin class faster than a warrior, but an extremely high level warrior can become an assassin without being forced into the thief/ninja classes. In another example, either a red mage or a black mage can advance into the summoner prestige class, it's just easier for the black mage because their casting increases into summoner fairly quickly. The Red Mage is going to have to suffer through a slightly longer wait to become a true summoner.
This stuff will all come out in mechanics when I start working on the manuscript length project (if 20 short classes took me 40 pages to write, 42 classes in full depth with iconics will take 126-168 pages BEFORE feats, spells, magic, and other fundamentals excluding optional ideas like equipment).
Frug said:
It could certainly work that way, I am just trying to gauge just how open a progression through classes you are trying to achieve. It seems that for some appropriate class progressions (like thief to archer) would simply be bad choices, mechanics-wise, in your system. That may be a limitation of the class system in general.
Well, a thief in this system can become a hunter and skip the archer class if they want. Using a bow and arrow as a thief and calling yourself an archer is also an option. However, I'm going to be somewhat strict that advanced classes have specific level requirements [warrior 3]. That's going to be the key difference between advanced and prestige classes. Advanced classes are more strict paths of other classes, prestige classes are totally new.
Frug said:
Now I'm rambling; but I am interested in what you think. Also, will you be creating a unique set of spells for the spellcasters? I am assuming so for the later blue mage types (gau and strago type classes especially).
There will be a seperate Black Magic list, White Magic list, Red Magic list, Summon list, Time Magic list, etc.
Now, some of these are not going to have spells of 0th-2nd level or some such number. For instance, the lowest level summons will probably start at 3rd level or higher. These progressions will "template" over your normal black magic/white magic/red magic spell list after a certain level as a summoner. This is a while away from real construction, but it will be rather lengthy to complete. So, while every class has their own spell lists, there will be some obvious overlap (like between the red mages list and a white or black mage).
Now, if your asking about custom spells, obviously there will be lots. However, I will be borrowing every DnD spell that fits the FFT stuff, like your traditional evocations and curing spells.
And another thing, I think summoners will combine dnd summoning with the optional "summon unique creatures" variant and some will act as regular instantaneous effects. Summoning a lightning god like Ramuh wouldn't actually summon it, but would rather summon "aspect of Ramuh" that would create an area of effect lightning spell. But summoning a "wind element" would work in the DnD fashion. Best of both worlds...
