D&D General Greek heroes as D&D characters

[Morrus]

There's a new movie from Christopher Nolan coming this year based on Homer's Odyssey. I can't wait.

But, the movie aside, how would you portray Greek mythological figures in D&D?

So -- what we're looking for here is class(es), level(s), and why? Defend your choice! (or don't, I'm not your dad, but this isn't the thread for you, so feel free to move on).

I can't not promote the book we made a few years ago as it's 3000 to the power of forty% relevant. Sue me. But post in the thread anyway.

Mythological Figures & Maleficent Monsters

Achilles. Lancelot. Robin Hood. Thor. Heroes, all. The world is full of myths and legends which inspired those in our modern fiction and games. Iconic warriors and wizards, vampires and things from the deep, epic figures from history, these legends are universally known. Mythological Figures &...

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[BookTenTiger]

Hercules is definitely a barbarian! He is defined by his incredible strength, endless fortitude, and blind rage in which he (checks notes) kills his whole family

 

[MGibster]

We're going to have a hard time deciding what class Achilles should be.

I'll nominate Diomedes as a Paladin. If you're unfamiliar with my man Diomedes, Athena was sweet on him and caused flames to shoot out his helmet while battling those no good Trojans. It was also Athena who guided his spear as he struck Ares below the girdle, driving him from the field of battle. Tell me that wasn't a Smite!

 

[Morrus]

Hercules is definitely a barbarian! He is defined by his incredible strength, endless fortitude, and blind rage in which he (checks notes) kills his whole family

Absolutely! This was our version of him!

 

[Morrus]

We're going to have a hard time deciding what class Achilles should be.

For sure. We went fighter, but I can see why his famous rage would steer people towards barbarian!

 

[Tonguez]

So would Odysseus be a Rogue Mastermind or a Bard? He's more Tactician than Warrior

I'd think most come down to being Fighter or Paladin. Maybe Ranger for Theseus?
What of Andromeda - Bard? Cassandra a Lore Bard or Divination Wizard?

 

[Morrus]

So would Odysseus be a Rogue Mastermind or a Bard? He's more Tactician than Warrior

I think they're probably all multiclassed. Homer wasn't writing with D&D rules in mind!

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Hercules killed two giant poisonous serpents unarmed as a baby. That is 22 points of damage from two unarmed strikes. Herc is basically as strong as he needs to be. Any class that assumes you get more strength as you level up doesn't really work. Hercules does have a progression (at least in the 12 labors); he gets smarter about fighting monsters as he goes on. If there was spell-less ranger that specialized in hunting monstrosities, that would fit. Don't forget, his most famous weapon is a bow (a strength bow that no one after him but Odysseus could draw, but still a bow).

 

[MGibster]

Hercules killed two giant poisonous serpents unarmed as a baby. That is 22 points of damage from two unarmed strikes. Herc is basically as strong as he needs to be. Any class that assumes you get more strength as you level up doesn't really work. Hercules does have a progression (at least in the 12 labors);

During the battle, Diomedes picks up a rock and throws it at a Trojan so hard his eyes pop out of his head. The narrator describes the rock as being so large that it would take two men, weak as they are today, to even lift it. "Today" being around the 8th century BC I suppose. I think most of the Homeric heroes would have what amounts to strength equal to a giant in D&D terms.

I think Hercules is described as strangling those two snakes Hera sent to gank him as a babe. It may have taken a few rounds for Hercules to do the job.

 

[MGibster]

I think they're probably all multiclassed. Homer wasn't writing with D&D rules in mind!

Ultimately that's pretty much it. If we're going with the folks from the Iliad, they're pretty much all warriors of one stripe or another. Multi-class would be the best to fit quite a few of them in. Spellcasters are a bit difficult because nobody really demonstrate many D&D spellcasting abilities.

Trying to figure out what class a fictional character would be in D&D is a time honored tradition. It's just good, clean fun as long as nobody takes it too seriously.