Starting PCs with NPC classes--would it work?
- Thread starter Buttercup
- Start date
MavrickWeirdo
First Post
Are you planning on playing 3.0 or 3.5?
in 3.5 the "class exclusive skills" (like animal empathy, and use magic device) were made into "class abilities". This prevents experts from taking those skills (one of my favorite benefits of this class.)
in 3.5 the "class exclusive skills" (like animal empathy, and use magic device) were made into "class abilities". This prevents experts from taking those skills (one of my favorite benefits of this class.)
MavrickWeirdo said:
Yeah, animal empathy was made into a class ability, but use magic device is still a skill. I just wanted to ask if your players were aware of your plans. As a player, I would probably be put off a little by having to play an NPC class for a while. The power gamer in me would probably say "I'm supposed to play an expert! An expert at what, being an orc's practice dummy?" Of course, it might be a good idea for player's to get to know their characters before they start trying to optimize them for combat. It could make them better role players, which is good for any game.
Buttercup
Princess of Florin
We're playing 3.0. But I'm not above tweaking the rules to get what I need for my game.
And no, I haven't talked to the players about this yet. We're in the middle of a campaign that won't end anytime soon, barring a TPK, of course. But none of them are power gamers. I don't anticipate any of them having a problem with the idea. I've got a party full of non-maximized characters. See, the other thing is, if one of them doesn't like it, they could always take turn at DMing. I wouldn't mind being a player for a change.
And no, I haven't talked to the players about this yet. We're in the middle of a campaign that won't end anytime soon, barring a TPK, of course. But none of them are power gamers. I don't anticipate any of them having a problem with the idea. I've got a party full of non-maximized characters. See, the other thing is, if one of them doesn't like it, they could always take turn at DMing. I wouldn't mind being a player for a change.
Lazybones
Adventurer
Here's a simple balancing feature:
Start the characters at negative XP, as 1st level NPC classes. When they get to 0, then they can start accumulating experience toward their "regular" class levels (or continue as NPC classes, if they like) which would be allocated as per the experience table in the PHB (so they'd gain their second class level at +1000xp as normal).
Aristocrat starts at -1000
Commoner starts at -500
All others start at -750
Since the players will spend an extended amount of time at 1st level, I'd integrate more RP encounters that would each grant a small amount of bonus experience (and maybe a few minor combat encounters that would emphasize teamwork and creative solutions rather than just hacking).
Of course, you could balance/increase/decrease these numbers depending on how much time you want to spend at "0" level.
Start the characters at negative XP, as 1st level NPC classes. When they get to 0, then they can start accumulating experience toward their "regular" class levels (or continue as NPC classes, if they like) which would be allocated as per the experience table in the PHB (so they'd gain their second class level at +1000xp as normal).
Aristocrat starts at -1000
Commoner starts at -500
All others start at -750
Since the players will spend an extended amount of time at 1st level, I'd integrate more RP encounters that would each grant a small amount of bonus experience (and maybe a few minor combat encounters that would emphasize teamwork and creative solutions rather than just hacking).
Of course, you could balance/increase/decrease these numbers depending on how much time you want to spend at "0" level.
Bloodsparrow
First Post
While I haven't fully explored them from first level on, I was looking into NPC classes recently and I found the Adept class to be the most interesting. (To me anyway.) If I was going to start a PC with one of the NPC classes, I'd pick Adept. They seem to me to be a great jumping off point for a number of PC classes. (Cleric, Bard, Sorc, & Wiz) At least, from an RP standpoint, I'm not much of a min/max expert.
Last edited:
nopantsyet
First Post
In my current campaign (5 sessions in), all the PCs started as lvl1 commoners. We played 3 sessions like that and they became upgraded their commoner level to a class level of their choosing.
It was very fun, albeit quite disconcerting for the players at first. It was very challenging for them to do anything, so rather than rely on the dice, they really took up the roleplaying reins and got involved in the locale.
It really helped establish what I think of as the first-level feel. They had to be careful what situations they created or got caught up in, because they couldn't fall back on combat ability. They used their limited skills to the best of their ability, but they didn't have much to work with.
Now that they've got a class level, it really feels like they advanced by working hard and getting better, not by inhaling magical xp dust.
It was very fun, albeit quite disconcerting for the players at first. It was very challenging for them to do anything, so rather than rely on the dice, they really took up the roleplaying reins and got involved in the locale.
It really helped establish what I think of as the first-level feel. They had to be careful what situations they created or got caught up in, because they couldn't fall back on combat ability. They used their limited skills to the best of their ability, but they didn't have much to work with.
Now that they've got a class level, it really feels like they advanced by working hard and getting better, not by inhaling magical xp dust.
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