Turning favored class into a bonus, not a penalty

[erf_beto]

Smart Barbarians have Clerics with wands of Cure Light Wounds nearby to alleviate the woes of HP anemia.

Agreed
I often see barbarian rage as a vicious ability, since I only play spellcasters
But if you think another rage wouldnt hurt anyone (hehehe... ), go for it. What I meant earlier was that another use of an ability that you wouldn´t get until 3 or 5 levels after could overpower it ('could', not 'will' - it all depends on the players).
And Asmor, while we are still on the barbarian, I think I like McBard's idea of increasing rage's duration better.
I like your ranger extra favored enemies too, for the same reasons you do (it sucks being a vampire hunter on broad daylight :\ ), but maybe you could give the player an option: either +1 to one favored enemy, or adding another creature in the list.
As for the Cleric, if it suits your game, go with your original thought, but I would do it like the bard you first presented, with the bonus going +1 up each level, until it reached its maximum, at the Ability Modifier you see fit. Even the duration of rage or any other class features could be improved this way - and the best part is 1st level favored classes would be very similar to non favored, thus avoiding powercreeps... but getting better and better with some devotion.

Now, I realize this doesn't quite jive with the OP's ideas. However, the system the OP presents, I would have to agree is unbalanced. If you do not use any multiclass penalties and want to make Favored Class a bonus, I would follow the old K.I.S.S. rule. I would simple say that Favored Class grants you a +10% XP bonus if your Favored Class is the highest level class in your multiclass combination (Not counting PrC's).

I think you´re right too... the K.I.S.S rule should apply here as well (people say that a game is lost if you have too many houserules).
And the XP bonus is much better than the penalty anyway (my only problem with it, is that I don't keep track of XP - I usually wing it on the fly, storywise)

 

[Nadaka]

Interesting idea but it needs work.

I've never liked, or used, multiclass penalties, meaning that favored classes were totally irrelevant for me. I've long wanted a way to make them relevant again, and I've finally found something I like. If a character takes levels in their race's favored class, they gain the following benefits:

*Barbarian: The barbarian gains one additional use of rage each day.

*Bard: The bard gains additional uses of bardic music each day equal to his charisma modifier, but no more than one extra use per day per character level. For example, a level 2 bard with 18 charisma could use bardic music 4 times per day (twice per day for being level 2, plus twice per day for the favored class benefit). The same bard would be able to use bardic music 9 times per day at level 5 (five times for being level 5, plus 4 times for charisma modifier).

I would remove the character level cap, +1 bard song per day sucks compared to +1 barbarian rage at first level.

*Cleric: The cleric's wisdom modifier applies to turning checks (in addition to the charisma modifier).

*Druid: The druid adds her charisma modifier to her druid level when determining the abilities and availability of animal companions.

*Fighter: The fighter gains 2 extra HP per fighter level.

*Monk: The monk is treated as a monk of one size category larger for the purpose of determining unarmed damage.

*Paladin: The paladin gains one additional use of smite evil per day.

*Ranger: The ranger gains benefits of both the archery and two-weapon fighting combat styles, rather than having to choose one.

*Rogue: The rogue applies her dexterity modifier instead of her intelligence modifier for the purpose of determining how many skill points she gets at first level and each additional level. This only applies to levels taken as a rogue, however.

absolutely not! Intelligence is and has been the primary attibute for rogues since 3rd edition came out. It is absolutely vital to an effective rogue. Trading it for dex is rediculous. I would suggest letting them trade sneak attack damage dice for +1 to hit per die (or deal extra damage as normal). This would give them some useful functionality vs targets immune to crits or those with very high armor bonuses.

*Sorcerer: Sorcerers may apply metamagic feats to their spells without increasing the casting time. This allows the sorcerer to apply the Quicken Spell metamagic feat.

*Wizard: A specialist wizard has to choose one less prohibited school than normal. This means that a diviner doesn't need to choose any prohibited school.

Then what is the incentive to play a non-specialized wizard?

 

[Asmor]

Re: Rogues: I like that idea a lot, thanks!

And who says there needs to BE an incentive for generalist wizards?

 

[Phlebas]

I think you've just turned the diviner into the generalist wizard......

 

[eschwenke]

Here's an idea I've been toying with:

A character with one level in a Favored class is treated as having the combined benefits of two levels of the class for the purposes of meeting prerequisites for Feats and Prestige Classes. This counts for Class Level prereqs as well as BAB, Caster Level, and Class Features, but not for Bonus Feats that the character chooses; Bonus Feats that the character does not choose (such as a Ranger's Combat Style Feats after second level, as well as the Endurance Feat do count.) This bonus stacks continually as the character gains levels.

At five levels in the Favored Class, the character counts as having seven levels for prereqs. At ten levels, the character counts as having thirteen levels. At fifteen levels, the character counts as having nineteen levels. This bonus does not allow a character to count as an Epic Level character unless he truly has over twenty character levels.

 

[Asmor]

I think you've just turned the diviner into the generalist wizard......

Certainly, any wizard of a race which favors wizards would have no reason not to be a diviner...

But I really don't have a problem with them getting an extra divinitation spell per day.

 

[Bayonet_Chris]

Favored Class

In my game, I use the favored class rule out of Conan:

For a favored class (or classes) you get a bonus feat a 1st, 5th, and 10th. So if Barbarian is your only favored class, then you get it those three times. If you have two favored classes (for whatever reason), you would combine the levels of those classes for this purpose.

It's simple and straightforward, not penalizing someone from not going that path.

I actually have a restricted class mechanic too - basically you can't select it at first level (getting the extra skills, etc.).

 

[BRP2]

I think something humble would a small stat boost specific to the job.

Favored Class: Rogue?
Increase one point to one of the following: DEX, INT, or CHR

Favored Class: Barbarian?
Increase one point to one of the following: STR, DEX, or CON

Favored Class: Monk?
Increase one point to one of the following: STR, DEX, or WIS

Favored Class: Bard?
Increase one point to one of the following: INT, WIS, or CHA

Could increase to two points if you really wanted to encourage it.

 

[szilard]

How about just saying that a character who takes a level in a favored class gains one extra skill point per level (x4 at first level) in that class. This option:

1. is balanced between classes
2. encourages characters to start out with their race's favored class
3. gives them something for each level they take in that class
4. is really easy

-Stuart

 

[Asmor]

That's really not that balanced at all. For example, 1 point per level is huge to a fighter, who's probably lucky to be getting 2 points per level as it is. My last fighter had an 8 intelligence, so this would have doubled his skill points. A rogue, on the other hand, is probably getting at least 10 points per level, so 1 more is a tiny upgrade. Not balanced.

And one of the things I really don't like about all of these suggestions of just adding a flat bonus regardless of the class is that it's just not the least bit flavorful.

Why are Half-orcs better barbarians? Because they get more skill points. Oh, ok. So why are Halflings better rogues? Because they get more skill points. Oh... so then why are Elves better wizards? Because they get more skill points... Boring!

Compare: Why are half-orcs better barbarians? Because they're more savage! Why are halflings better rogues? Because they're sneakier! Why are Elves better wizards? Because they learn spells more easily!