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

[Theory of Games]

My point is that the 5th Edition fighter and rogue, especially in 2024, are too skilled and specially trained to "just become".

The fighter would take at least a year of training. And that's the minimum to learn every weapon, every armor, and how to practice every Weapon Mastery. And a fighting style.. And that's just assuming they aren't also training but not applying subclass techniques. An Eldritch Knight, Battle Master, or Rune Knight might be need extra years.

A rogue is looking at at least a few months. More likely a few years unless you are already on the path via a criminal or military background.

So there's no bridge for your 0-Level Hairdresser to suddenly become a real class. My advice: just pay hirelings to carry your torches & treasure

 

[Minigiant]

Look at DCC. Isn't that the game you're trying to play? Why do you need 5e for it?

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/101050/dungeon-crawl-classics-rpg-dcc-rpg

The question isn't about DCC.

The question is "Since the 5e Fighter isn't a bigger pile of HP and extra accuracy/attacks anymore, would you need to create a new class to play a character who isn't specially trained anymore (outside of a warlock)"

I mean

A warlock can go from adventure incompetent on Monday to adventuring competent on Tuesday via the whim of a fairy princess

 

[Micah Sweet]

Explains why I played so little of 3e. I never ran into a 6th-Level Commoner

The fact that 3e had a commoner class explains why you played so little 3e?

 

[Micah Sweet]

Look at DCC. Isn't that the game you're trying to play? Why do you need 5e for it?

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/101050/dungeon-crawl-classics-rpg-dcc-rpg

DCC is the poster child for playing the everyman. Nobody does 0-level characters like them.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The question isn't about DCC.

The question is "Since the 5e Fighter isn't a bigger pile of HP and extra accuracy/attacks anymore, would you need to create a new class to play a character who isn't specially trained anymore (outside of a warlock)"

I mean

A warlock can go from adventure incompetent on Monday to adventuring competent on Tuesday via the whim of a fairy princess

Well, setting logic usually makes that sort of instant competence not a viable option for martial characters. Take the required time, or get your fairy Great Old One on the line.

 

[MGibster]

D&D isn't a game about the everyman it's a game about Heroes with a capital H. The back of the Player's Handbook proudly proclaims, "Create Heroic Characters." It's a game where you adopt a fantasy persona such as "a mighty Fighter, a cunning Rogue, a faithful Cleric, a magical Wizard, or something else." If you want to play an everyman with humble origins, that's what backgrounds are for. Yeah, you started out as a baker, but now you're a pious Cleric battling the fiendish machinations of Iuz.

There were Kits from AD&D 2nd edition you could give classes to reflect a modest origin. Peasant Wizard and there was one in the Fighter's Handbook called Common/Peasant Hero or something like that. I think it's a fine idea for a background, but I'm not sure what purpose an everyman class would serve. Is it a martial class? Magic?

 

[Micah Sweet]

D&D isn't a game about the everyman it's a game about Heroes with a capital H. The back of the Player's Handbook proudly proclaims, "Create Heroic Characters." It's a game where you adopt a fantasy persona such as "a mighty Fighter, a cunning Rogue, a faithful Cleric, a magical Wizard, or something else." If you want to play an everyman with humble origins, that's what backgrounds are for. Yeah, you started out as a baker, but now you're a pious Cleric battling the fiendish machinations of Iuz.

There were Kits from AD&D 2nd edition you could give classes to reflect a modest origin. Peasant Wizard and there was one in the Fighter's Handbook called Common/Peasant Hero or something like that. I think it's a fine idea for a background, but I'm not sure what purpose an everyman class would serve. Is it a martial class? Magic?

5.5 certainly operates on the heroic assumption. I'm not sure you could definitely say that for the D&D galaxy as a whole.

 

[MGibster]

5.5 certainly operates on the heroic assumption. I'm not sure you could definitely say that for the D&D galaxy as a whole.

I don't mean to be harsh here, but this is a D&D 2024 thread. It says so right at the top of the page.

 

[Tonguez]

DCC is the poster child for playing the everyman. Nobody does 0-level characters like them.

Warhammer Fantasy?

 

[Micah Sweet]

I don't mean to be harsh here, but this is a D&D 2024 thread. It says so right at the top of the page.

But you were talking about 2e kits, and someone (not me, but I responded) brought up DCC.