D&D General What is the right amount of Classes for Dungeons and Dragons?

[Frozen_Heart]

The same thing with Class options. Personally, I've come to a point where I hate multiclassing, I think its bad for the game, and I dont particularly like mix and match mechanics.

I like the theory of multiclassing, but the 5e multiclassing system is insanely bad. 90% chance of making a useless character which drags the party down, 10% change of creating an overpowered munchkin.

It's like they designed it on the Friday afternoon before the game shipped and didn't even give it a second glance.

However I also think that a multiclass system in 5e is needed. There are so few classes, and with martials especially there is practically no customisation or choice. For many players, multiclassing is the only choice they get to make after character creation.

 

[payn]

I like the theory of multiclassing, but the 5e multiclassing system is insanely bad. 90% chance of making a useless character which drags the party down, 10% change of creating an overpowered munchkin.

It's like they designed it on the Friday afternoon before the game shipped and didn't even give it a second glance.

However I also think that a multiclass system in 5e is needed. There are so few classes, and with martials especially there is practically no customisation or choice. For many players, multiclassing is the only choice they get to make after character creation.

IDK, this feels much like hyperbole based on 3E PTSD.

 

[Scribe]

This is why there are (or should be) multiple games for different tastes. Ideally, WotC would pick one of those tastes and run with it, allowing those who don't share it to pick a different game and feel good about it.

Meh, Wizards convincing enough people they are or can be "all things to all gamers" has worked out fine for them, there is no reason for them to change.

Its also pushed enough people into the arms of OSR gaming, or other systems that options exist.

 

[Remathilis]

that is mostly a negative not a positive.


WotC can't balance 3 classes with one another if they had a gun to their head so having open classes will not change a thing.

I would have more replayability with 200 features to pick than with 10 classes with 20 fixed features

See above

Which is why classless point buy systems are inherently superior to class systems. But D&D will remain a class/species/level system due to tradition.

 

[Horwath]

I like the theory of multiclassing, but the 5e multiclassing system is insanely bad. 90% chance of making a useless character which drags the party down, 10% change of creating an overpowered munchkin.

It's like they designed it on the Friday afternoon before the game shipped and didn't even give it a second glance.

However I also think that a multiclass system in 5e is needed. There are so few classes, and with martials especially there is practically no customisation or choice. For many players, multiclassing is the only choice they get to make after character creation.

it's because you give up high level features, so you need to "munckin" low level feature to make up for that.

ideally, multiclass character would be 50-50 split, but that character is awful in all tiers of play.

that is why I have a neat multiclass houserule:

you character is 50-50 split,
but on levels 5,8,11,14,17 and 20 you get features from both classes. Only one instance of HPs and HDs
so 20 level character is 13/13 split with HDs, HPs and proficiency bonus of 20th level character.

 

[Horwath]

Which is why classless point buy systems are inherently superior to class systems. But D&D will remain a class/species/level system due to tradition.

3.5e fighter and wizard classes were on a right track.

 

[Remathilis]

3.5e fighter and wizard classes were on a right track.

Too structured. I'm talking Mutants and Masterminds.

 

[Horwath]

Too structured. I'm talking Mutants and Masterminds.

yeah, sure, maybe there is a nice middle ground.
class gives you recognizable 1st and 2nd level abilities, extra attack(s) and spellcasting and just bunch of feat slots after.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Meh, Wizards convincing enough people they are or can be "all things to all gamers" has worked out fine for them, there is no reason for them to change.

Its also pushed enough people into the arms of OSR gaming, or other systems that options exist.

I consider the desire to make a better game and not to push so darn hard for market dominance a reason.

 

[Scribe]

I consider the desire to make a better game and not to push so darn hard for market dominance a reason.

Better game to, for, by whom? Pushing for market dominance is what every for profit company does as any dollar going to someone not you, is a dollar you dont make.

I'm sure that for the definition held by Wizards, the next 5.5 Edition is the best game they could make, and better than 5e.

By MY definition, I'll happily send my money to Shadowdark, because thats a better game to me.