D&D (2024) Should a general Adventurer class be created to represent the Everyman?

[Remathilis]

In some RPGs, like Break! and Outgunned: Adventure, there's a character "class" that's more of a supportive everyman type (a Sam Gamgee).

It would be interesting if 5e had such a class with "heart" and an almost stubborn loyalty. Lots of practical skills (cooking, mending, socializing etc.) to the point of almost being magical but not blatantly being so.

Abilities like:

• Once per rest can pull out a useful albeit mundane item out of their backpack for free to help overcome a challenge or obstacle
• Can essentially become "invisible" during a combat scene because they're deemed totally unthreatening to the opposition (until they make an attack roll with a frying pan or rolling pin)
• Has improved proficiency with Improvised weapons (said frying pan, wrench or rolling pin)
• bonuses to social encounters with "everyday" folk, kind of like the old Folk Hero Background trait
• can Help as a bonus action in combat (eg shouts "look out!" to the Fighter)

Stuff like that. Could be fun!

That's kinda what I meant by "plot armor". A hobbit gardner who can wield a skillet like a Warhammer (1d8 bludgeoning), gain evasion against AOE attacks, always has a mundane tool for the job, can lower the DC for tasks he performs, etc. The trick is such "mundane magic" has to match the power level of what a rogue, fighter, sorcerer, or bard is doing or it's just an inferior option. I don't know how well that works.

 

[GrimCo]

It works ok. We have one sidekick class PC in our campaign. He is multiclassed dwarf Expert3/Spellcaster(healer)2 ( yes, sidekicks technically can't multiclass by RAW). It's dead simple character for our friend who can join in on occasion.
2 cantrips (druidcraft and shillelagh), 2 1st level spells (cure and guiding bolt), proficiency in light armor and simple weapons. Helpful - bonus action to use Help action, Cunning action - same as rogue ( good for getting out of harm way), expertise in 2 skills.

Concept is small village priest/healer/wise man. He can do some minor miracles (hence spellcasting), is decent in some skills, has some limited combat ability (including helping and running away). I would say, it's as close as "ordinary" everyman as PC can be.

 

[Bae'zel]

That's kinda what I meant by "plot armor". A hobbit gardner who can wield a skillet like a Warhammer (1d8 bludgeoning), gain evasion against AOE attacks, always has a mundane tool for the job, can lower the DC for tasks he performs, etc. The trick is such "mundane magic" has to match the power level of what a rogue, fighter, sorcerer, or bard is doing or it's just an inferior option. I don't know how well that works.

Yeah you explained it all much more succinctly than I did. This is the kind of concept that I had in mind.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I'll argue it never really worked. Really, the only way such a character could work (barring narrative tricks and meta-currency) is a skill-based system and a game where combat isn't a priority.

Eg Traveller.

 

[Minigiant]

The "Dragonlance PC fan" wing of the community has been the driver of sales of splat books, settings, and adventure paths for 40+ years. They are the reason 2e invested heavily in kits and a multitude of settings. The dungeon crasher/sandbox side never needed (nor wanted) much more than random tables, dungeons and DIY tools. The desire for narrative fulfilling characters is why D&D evolved at all.

Dragonlance PC fans sold books. That's why they have steered the community.

I didn't say they weren't buyers.

My point is there are benefits and drawbacks of your main purchases and designers being "Dragonlance PCs" fans who like overpowered special but stereotypical PCs .

We will see how things change as the "Critical Role PCs" fans replace them with their weak despite background unusual race/class combos and cute monster PCs.

A ex-farmer of a devasted farm village who crashes out on some bandits fits CR or BG3 than base 5e

 

[Yaarel]

For a more applicable term for 'Everyman', I have been using both Everyfolk and Everyone.

'Everyfolks' is starting to grow for me. It sounds charming, and distinctive enough to refer to a specific genre. In comparison 'Everyones' is a bit too generic and all encompassing.

 

[James Gasik]

That's kinda what I meant by "plot armor". A hobbit gardner who can wield a skillet like a Warhammer (1d8 bludgeoning), gain evasion against AOE attacks, always has a mundane tool for the job, can lower the DC for tasks he performs, etc. The trick is such "mundane magic" has to match the power level of what a rogue, fighter, sorcerer, or bard is doing or it's just an inferior option. I don't know how well that works.

That reminds me of Tifa Wayland's early stat block in the Dragonlance adventures. They gave her a heavy frying pan for a weapon that did 1d8 (!) damage.

 

[Minigiant]

The "Dragonlance PC fan" wing of the community has been the driver of sales of splat books, settings, and adventure paths for 40+ years. They are the reason 2e invested heavily in kits and a multitude of settings. The dungeon crasher/sandbox side never needed (nor wanted) much more than random tables, dungeons and DIY tools. The desire for narrative fulfilling characters is why D&D evolved at all.

Dragonlance PC fans sold books. That's why they have steered the community.

I didn't say they weren't buyers.

My point is there are benefits and drawbacks of your main purchasers and designers being "Dragonlance PCs" fans who like overpowered special but stereotypical PCs .

We will see how things change as the "Critical Role PCs" fans replace them with their cute but monstrous, unusual race//class PCs base.