PHB classes as Prestige Classes?!

[Anime Kidd]

The reason I'm keeping the cleric and sorcerer as core classes is that the cleric represents those priests with the gift of spellcasting from their patron deity. The sorcerer are those individuals who have a knack for magic. Having a wizard as the PrC are for those who want to learn to control their magic in a more disciplined fashion.
The Druid is a cleric of a nature deity that have a strnger connection to their deity. The Ranger I have as a "holy knight of nature" type character, like how the paladin is a holy knight for good.

I don't know...maybe I'm just trying to spice up the setting a bit too much. I have some many other ideas that I want to add that I think I'm making it so different from core D&D that it might be too weird.

Doubleplusungood. PHBclass doubleplusgood. Official rules doubleplusgood. Changing core is unthought.

1984 perhaps?

 

[Bloodstone Press]

I think it’s a fine thing to do. I've seen a lot of people mention this idea in one form or another. I changed my homebrew to a system like that, but then changed it even more. Now I use d20 modern-type classes as core classes and all PHB classes are advanced classes. Malidin's Gate has published similar rules.

I find every person who wants to do something like this is seeking to alter the flavor and tone of the game, and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it is one of the best things about playing d20. It is relatively easy to make significant shifts like that without disrupting the game.

The reason I'm keeping the cleric and sorcerer as core classes is that the cleric represents those priests with the gift of spellcasting from their patron deity. The sorcerer are those individuals who have a knack for magic. Having a wizard as the PrC are for those who want to learn to control their magic in a more disciplined fashion.

That's a fine concept to add to a game. Makes sense to me.

The Ranger I have as a "holy knight of nature" type character, like how the paladin is a holy knight for good.

[shameless plug]The sentinel from Untamed Legends is like that, with a wide list of talent-tree-like options for abilities. [/shameless plug]

Naturally, I like the idea.

I don't know...maybe I'm just trying to spice up the setting a bit too much. I have some many other ideas that I want to add that I think I'm making it so different from core D&D that it might be too weird.

Absolutely not. The weirder the better. Who wants to play in a game that is just like every other game they’ve played?

 

[Darklone]

I'm using a similar approach... players start as NPC classes. But I allow the core classes after that first level already (with doubled skillpoints, same for the first NPC class level).

 

[Buttercup]

Doubleplusungood. PHBclass doubleplusgood. Official rules doubleplusgood. Changing core is unthought.

I think you dropped your tinfoil hat.

 

[AeroDm]

Orwelian antics aside-

I like the idea of the core class prc idea, but I've yet to really see it done effectively. I think the UA generic classes will make this much easier, but it will require a more extensive rehash than cutting out the first 5 levels of regular classes.

 

[eryndel]

I actually like the idea that you have here for the PrC wizard. Instead of Spellbook casting, giving the sorcerer access to spells that are in their spellbook for spontaneous casting. (as opposed to casting them like scrolls). Thus the caster is still limited to the casting rate of a sorcerer but have a greater access to spells. (like a standard wizard.)

Metamagic feats would need to be revamped (and probably placed directly into a spellbook, i.e. by spellbook had Quickened Fireball in it.) It wouldn't directly change the amount a sorcerer could cast but greatly increase the diversity of spells. Maybe have "searching" for a spell take a variable about of time determine by level. Maybe it takes a full round action to search for a spell at 1st leve, move action at 5th and free action at 10th.

I would perhaps increase the number of skill points per level. Since Wizard is now a prestige class with only one good save, you can get away with having them be more knowledgable.

Just some ideas,
Werner

 

[Anime Kidd]

Was looking over the spellbook casting ability and now see how completely unbalanced it was. Potentially, one could cast spell after spell without using a single spell slot. Don't know how I missed that and am really surprised noone else caught that either. Now I've thought of three ways to deal with it:

As eryndel mentioned;
(1) have the wizard be able to cast any spell within the book spontaneously while using up a spell slot as normal
Or
(2) allow them to cast any spell they know from the spellbook with a metamagic feat applied, but with no adjustment in its spell level. But the casting time increases [standard action becomes a full-round action and a full-round action becomes two full-round actions], and the spell still uses up the spell slot (again, did I read it right?)

Option (3) is to have them be able to learn a new spell from their spellbook in place of a currently known spell of equal level or higher. This would take about 10 minutes, or an hour, to replace one spell

Both options 1 and 3 allow for a greater spell flexibility, but still be limited by how many spells per day they can use. Option 2 adds some punch with spells, but still limits their spellcasting with the longer casting time.

 

[Li Shenron]

Anime Kidd... while your idea is perfectly acceptable, did you notice that basically ALL Sorcerers become Wizards at level 7?

In theory, a Sorcerer may choose not to have Knowledge Arcana or Spellcraft, but how many? And how many especially since there is no point in not taking your Wizard PrCl. Therefore, why don't you simply merge the prestige Wizard abilities with the normal Sorcerer progression?

edit: well, of course you may also be using OTHER PrCls beside the Wizard...