Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Garnfellow" data-source="post: 2834727" data-attributes="member: 1223">I certainly want to echo a lot of sentiments already expressed in this thread. I find the proliferation of so many new base classes in WotC products worrisome on a philosophical level and rather disappointing on an implementation level.I think Psion and delericho really nailed a list of philosophical criteria for what should constitute a new base class. In general, base classes ought to be broad and readily customizable. And I think the original 3e designers shared a similar vision, but lately I see an awful lot of new “official” core classes that completely flunk this acid test. Too many of these new classes are (1) so narrowly focused (either culturally or conceptually) that they really ought to be, by definition, prestige classes, (2) based on some entirely new subsystem of rules that I have no interest in introducing to my game (like incarnates or soulmelds), or (3) exist purely to address mechanical limitations (and most often, limitations with multiclassing rules) in the game (swashbucklers, duskblades).I am probably most sympathetic to new base classes designed to address multiclassing limitations. Like many other people, I also have been frustrated by trying to build a non-magical ranger type using the existing base classes. And so forth. But I also suspect that many of these issues could be addressed by a few new feats along the lines of Practiced Spellcaster. A feat based solution would be far more versatile than a base class solution, but then again it probably wouldn’t sell as many books, either.So much for my philosophical objections. On a more specific level, I find the new base classes very hit-or-miss in terms of new game mechanics and flavor. For every scout or warlock it seems like there are four or five CW samurais. And it’s not just WotC that have a terrible batting average here -- I was equally underwhelmed by most of the new base classes in Paizo’s  Dragon Compendium.I’m not opposed to all new base classes; I love the scout and warlock. And doubtless there are many conceptual and mechanical niches that are just waiting to be filled by shiny new base classes. I just think WotC has gone a little nutty on this front and should really pull back on the new core classes.</blockquote>

Verification