Mearls New Campaign

[BobTheNob]

Yea, but I want to play an elven cleric!

 

[grimslade]

Yea, but I want to play an elven cleric!

Simple, his dedication to Corellon Larethian has left him a debilitated elf. He has an elfin appearance but has left him in all other respects human. So great is his focus on his god, he can advance farther than any other elf, but must rest every night, and can not see secret and concealed doors.

 

[ExploderWizard]

I don't think this has much to do with 5E development. B/X is a fast running game thats easy to prep and play. It is not a game that is well suited to earn gobs of revenue due to a lack of supplement bloat.

In other words, the kinds of games that designers like to play are not always the ones they work on for their day job.

 

[Weregrognard]

Yea, but I want to play an elven cleric!

Class: Cleric

Appearance: Slender, pointy ears, etc.

or...

Class: Elf

Background: Raised/trained in a temple. Technically what humans would call (in their limited understanding) an ordained priest.

 

[Harlander]

Race as class is too basic for my blood, and "Want to play an elf cleric? Then play a human who looks like an elf" is no real solution IMO.

This "start with basic and bolt stuff on as you go" idea seems like it could be an enlightening exercise, though.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

I'm recalling an earlier comment from Umbran on an unrelated issue with parallel developments in cynicism from the fan base. I think my cynicism tank must be rather low right now, as I'm not seeing the downside that seems to be the prevailing opinion.

 

[WheresMyD20]

Yea, but I want to play an elven cleric!

Check out Basic Fantasy RPG. It's a free clone of 1981 B/X with two changes:

1. Ascending armor class and base attack bonus
2. Races separate from classes - you can play an elven cleric, dwarven thief, etc.

 

[Scribble]

Race as class is too basic for my blood, and "Want to play an elf cleric? Then play a human who looks like an elf" is no real solution IMO.

This "start with basic and bolt stuff on as you go" idea seems like it could be an enlightening exercise, though.

Does it really matter if you start from the assumption that "This is what an Elven Mage would look like?"

Start the game really simple, pick a class (which includes race) roll stats, hp, but stuff. go.

Next layer, separate race from class.

Next layer start adding things like skills and feats.

Keep going.

 

[WheresMyD20]

Does it really matter if you start from the assumption that "This is what an Elven Mage would look like?"

Start the game really simple, pick a class (which includes race) roll stats, hp, but stuff. go.

Next layer, separate race from class.

Next layer start adding things like skills and feats.

Keep going.

You could even eliminate race as an option and assume everyone is human in the base game. Races get added in the next layer of complexity.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

You could even eliminate race as an option and assume everyone is human in the base game. Races get added in the next layer of complexity.

Or races are mostly fluff and/or background/social related rather than affecting the primary class functions.

For a really wacky variant, everyone starts genetically human, but the class you take can change you. Elves aren't elves because they are born that way. Elves are humans that mixed fighting and spellcasting. You'd need to come up with parallel rationales for dwarves and halflings. (If you run around in bare feet, you wear out a lot of your height? If you drink a lot of beer and let your beard grow out, you get stocky?) But at least then we wouldn't need to come up with a good name for the fighter/magic user hybrid.