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<blockquote data-quote="pickin_grinnin" data-source="post: 6550361" data-attributes="member: 6697674">Getting back to the original post...Roles don't necessarily have to grow out of classes.&nbsp; They often do, and some things (like healing ability) are strongly tied to certain classes, but characters don't have to be played in that way.I have always preferred (as a player and a DM) to focus more on characters as characters, and let their roles grow naturally out of their interactions with an adventuring group.&nbsp; In fact, a given character may function in multiple roles within the same party, or different roles according to the social situations in which they find themselves.&nbsp; In instances where their skills and stats don't facilitate a particular role, it's interesting to see the creative things that players do to bypass those limitations.When I DM, I tell newbie players to ignore the classes and stats.&nbsp; First come up with a fun character idea, THEN look at classes and stats to see how closely you can model the technical sides of things, with the understanding that you can use multi-classing and such to inch those things closer to the character concept.&nbsp; The real test of the character will lie in playing him/her in a way that fits the characterization.&nbsp; There may be many different paths to achieving that.&nbsp; Don't start out thinking &quot;I'm going to make a ranger.&quot;&nbsp; Come up with a character idea first, then let the class choice support the characterization.&nbsp; If you go the other way, you will often end up with a fairly boring, stereotypical character.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="pickin_grinnin, post: 6550361, member: 6697674"] Getting back to the original post... Roles don't necessarily have to grow out of classes. They often do, and some things (like healing ability) are strongly tied to certain classes, but characters don't have to be played in that way. I have always preferred (as a player and a DM) to focus more on characters as characters, and let their roles grow naturally out of their interactions with an adventuring group. In fact, a given character may function in multiple roles within the same party, or different roles according to the social situations in which they find themselves. In instances where their skills and stats don't facilitate a particular role, it's interesting to see the creative things that players do to bypass those limitations. When I DM, I tell newbie players to ignore the classes and stats. First come up with a fun character idea, THEN look at classes and stats to see how closely you can model the technical sides of things, with the understanding that you can use multi-classing and such to inch those things closer to the character concept. The real test of the character will lie in playing him/her in a way that fits the characterization. There may be many different paths to achieving that. Don't start out thinking "I'm going to make a ranger." Come up with a character idea first, then let the class choice support the characterization. If you go the other way, you will often end up with a fairly boring, stereotypical character. [/QUOTE]

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