Playtesting Custom Classes

[OldCrowe]

How do you go about playtesting new classes you create? What benchmarks do you use, criteria challenges, comparisons with other classes, etc? Do any of you know what criteria WotC uses to playtest new classes and prestige classes or is it mainly a "by feel" sort of testing?

Curious,

C. Rowe

 

[Thurbane]

Speaking personally, I do most of my playtesting in my head, comparing a class to existing classes.

I think WotC use some kind of point system, assigning point to various class features. I saw a spreadsheet or PDF file someone that was a user made attempt at this.

I'm sure wizards actually do some "in game" testing of propsed new classes...I used to know a guy who did module playtesting for TSR back in the 80s, so I would assume they'd also have playtesters for most new products.

 

[guardianfallenangel]

There is a class construction guide out there somewhere. It gives you the point values of different abilities, and breaks down the ph core classes. After makeing new classes I usually just roll up a character and throw him into a game, if it works great, if not I go back and tweak it.

 

[Alceste]

Since we split the DMing load, we discuss propsed classes quite a bit. If someone has their heart set on something, we will normally give it a spin thou.