Modern Character Optimization

[JoelF]

As for melee/ranged, a lot also depends on if the PCs are "regular people" or police/military/spies/mercenaries, etc. If they're regular people, then melee will come up a lot more often, both because they simply won't have the firearms as often, and they'll be looking to avoid repercussions of firing guns and getting the cops involved, as well as avoiding killing people.

However, I played a D20 Modern game based on a zombie plague, and while we all started as "regular people" we quickly acquired guns and other more deadly weapons, but still had a LOT of melee, since guns and ammo weren't easy to find. I eventually made a new character who joined the group after my first one left, and he was a soldier cut off from his base, and was Strong 3/soldier build, specializing with an M16, and he was very effective in combat. I wouldn't play him though in a game where the modern world hadn't fallen apart.

Also, don't neglect your WIS based characters for EMTs/doctors, etc. Throw in a level of strong or tough if you want to be more like Jack from Lost.

 

[Stormborn]

All but the Strong hero start with +0 BAB. Are you saying that if you start with a particular class, you should stick with it for a while and delay dipping into another +0 class?

Mustrum pretty much answered that question. If you plan on being in combat you need to make sure you get at least to 3rd or 4th before you dip. In all honesty, w/o making some houserules, I have found that its best to start d20 M at at least 3rd if not 5th, but thats up to the GM not the players.