One Progression to Rule Them All....

[SteveC]

I think they will take a page from Saga here, where characters progressions come from the best bonus from their classes + 1/2 level + ability bonus.

The best part becomes that basic classes have a bonus between 0-2 while prestige classes range from 0 to 4, so as a character levels up and qualifies for a prestige class, he receives a specific benefit that makes him statistically better than someone who only has base classes. A fighter might have a fort bonus of +2, while a dwarven defender might have +4, while a Super-special-ultra-tough-guy-legend might have +6.

So let's say we tie prestige classes to the different tiers of the game, and we have base classes for levels 1-10, prestige classes for 11-20 and, say legendary classes (or something along those lines) for levels 21+ we have a natural bump in defenses and other abilities based on the tier a character has in the game. Nice, isn't it?

--Steve

 

[Plane Sailing]

Of the various ideas I've seen here, the one that I like best is that BAB might be treated like Saga style defences

e.g. Fighter
martial +3
Arcane +0
Divine +0
Fort +2
Ref +1
Will +0

e.g. Wizard
Martial +0
Arcane +3
Divine +0
Fort +0
Ref +0
Will +3

e.g. Paladin
Martial +2
Arcane +0
Divine +1
Fort +2
Ref +0
Will +1

In each case the total bonus is Base + half level + ability bonus. Attacks add this to 1d20, defences add this to 10.

The big advantage is that the relative difference in ability between different classes remains constant through all levels, both in attack and defence (which means that you don't get the situations in 20th level 3e where the fighter autohits stuff that the wizard or rogue can't touch, say).

In Saga style, if you multiclass you take the best bonus of each of your classes; I imagine that would work OK in this system too.

Caveat: I imagine that the actual 4e system is likely to be more detailed than this. However, I'd be very happy to see something along these lines, for sure.

Cheers

 

[A'koss]

Further, since WotC has said they want to smooth out the power curve some, I wouldn't be at all surprised at an attack bonus progression of 1/2 level for all classes (+ 1st level class bonus + stat + misc.).

 

[Plane Sailing]

Didn't OD&D have only one hit dice?

Only until Supplement 1 (Greyhawk) appeared, which introduced Thieves, Paladins and d8 hp for fighters/paladins, d4 for magic users.

 

[Sadrik]

I think that would be brilliant!
No need for BAB or save progressions anymore!

Read my posts above. Epiphanies are only cool when they are not duplicated in the same thread.