Izmir Stinger
2009-02-26, 04:38 PM
Inspired by an argument over the value of classes in 4E in a current edition war thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104981), here is a new "class" for 4E based on disdain for the restrictions of playing a class. Enjoy:
Classless
Why should I have to pick a class? You're not the boss of me!
CLASS TRAITS
Role: Player Character. You are a character in a D&D 4th edition campaign.
Power Source: Published source material. You draw your power from books of rules for 4th edition D&D.
Key Abilities: Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma.
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth*
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, simple ranged*
Implement: None*
Bonus to Defense: None*
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10* + Constitution score
Hit Points per Level Gained: 4*
Healing Surges per Day: 6* + Constitution modifier
Trained Skills: From the class skills list below, choose three* trained skills at 1st level:
Acrobatics(Dex), Arcana(Int), Athletics(Str), Bluff(Cha), Diplomacy(Cha), Dungeoneering(Wis), Endurance(Con), Heal(Wis), History(Int), Insight(Wis), Intimidate(Cha), Perception(Wis), Religion(Int), Stealth(Dex), Streetwise(Cha), Thievery(Dex)
Build Options: Cheese Seeker, Master of Optimization, Jack of all Classes
Class Features: Versatility, Distinction
*See "class" feature description for Versitility
The classless have no class. Most have no class because they view classes as an arbitrary restriction imposed by the gods to bring balance to the world, a restriction they refused in an act of defiance. Some have no class because they think all classes are the same and "don't like being labeled." Some just have no class and make no excuse.
Creating a Classless
The classless select their powers and class features from any source they please. When it is unclear whether a particular creation option should be allowed, they tend to take a "better to ask forgiveness than permission" approach with the DM. It is also not important to write a character background or description as these can also be limiting. If something in your background would be advantageous, it can be written retroactively.
Cheese Seeker
A cheese seeking classless wants to find a combination of features, abilities and stats that maximize effectiveness at a particular element of gameplay at the detriment of other players' enjoyment and any semblance of realism. Cheese Seekers measure their success by the number of people that roll their eyes when their turn comes up in the initiative order. A Cheese Seeker should select powers that have ambiguous wording that can be interpreted in their favor, completely ignoring the spirit of the rules.
Master of Optimization
A Master of Optimization seeks the best mathematical probability of success. Roleplaying is anathema to the MOO, as flavorful and entertaining actions are frequently not ideal on paper. MOOs should start out with one ability score at 20+, or 2 at 18+, as this usually gives the highest probability of success with certain actions in combat, and any activity you have not optimized for is one you don't care about.
Jack of all Classes
Almost the polar opposite of a Master of Optimization, the Jack of all Classes avoids the maximal and seeks the adequate. A Jack of all Classes will never be caught off guard, but may struggle with effectiveness when caught "on guard." The Jack of all Classes is marginally prepared for anything the DM might throw at him. You should not have any high abilities as this implies you also have low abilities. When selecting powers, look for ones that are not anything like the ones you already have. Make full use of retraining, as most DMs will avoid challenging you with the same obstacle twice; once you have faced something and survived you can safely discard the powers and feats that let you survive as you are less likely to need them in the future and they are taking up valuable slots that could be used for something new that will make you even less unique.
The Classless Features
Versatility
You may augment your character with additional starting proficiencies, hit points, hit points per level, healing surges and class features by spending versatility points on them. You start with 30 versatility points (Note to MOO Classless: as you have probably already determined, this amount is insufficient to equal the power level of other classes, and you should be able to prove to your DM that it should be houseruled to a higher number:smallwink:) Spend your 30 points on any of the following and annotate them on your character sheet:
Armor Proficiency: 1 point each
You must buy them in order: Leather, Hide, Chainmail, Scalemail, Platemail
Shield Proficiency: 1 point each
You must buy light shield proficiency before you can buy heavy shield. If you bought armor proficiency up to Scalemail, you may purchase both light and heavy shield proficiency for 1 point.
Weapon Proficiency: 2 points per non-superior weapon.
3 points: all military melee or ranged
5 points: all military melee AND ranged
Implement: 5 points per implement
Defense Bonus, select one option from:
2pt: +1 to one
3pt: +2 to one or +1 to two
5pts: +1 to all
HP at first level:
Increase by two for 1 point each up to sixteen HP
HP per level:
Increase to five for 2 points or six for 5 points
Healing Surges per day:
Increase by one for 4 points each up to 10
Trained Skills:
Buy additional trained skills for 4 points each up to six starting trained skills.
Class features:
You may buy other classes features. The first costs 5 points, and each additional feature beyond the first costs an additional 2 points (7 for the second, 9 for the third, etc.) If a class feature forces you to make a choice between multiple options, you may take that feature more than once to select multiple options. For example, a classless can select the Wizard's Arcane Implement Mastery (PHB: pg157) twice for 12 points to select both Orb of Imposition and Staff of Defense.
Count as having a class: 2 points each
You may count as a class for purposes of meeting prerequisites for 2 points per desired class. You must still buy class features if they are mentioned in the prerequisites.
Paragon Versatility:
You can forgo selecting a paragon path and instead gain powers at the same levels as the rules for Paragon Multiclassing, except that they are in addition to your normal limit on number of powers, rather than being swapped for them.
Malleable Destiny:
You can forgo selecting an Epic Destiny in exchange for 15 more versatility points at level 21 and a bonus feat (that you do not need to meet the prerequisites for) at level 25.
Distinction
You start with a free bonus feat. You need not meet the prerequisites. In fact, it is recommended you do not. (Note to Cheese Seekers: The author is only implying that it must be a heroic tier feat, not explicitly stating it :smallwink:)
Classless Powers
Classless select their powers from same level powers on any playable class's power list. Note: Multiclassing beyond initiate level does not make sense for classless as they are essentially a Paragon Multiclassing from level 1.
CLASSLESS OVERVIEW
Characteristics: You can select any class feature or power you want. Your versatility is unrivaled.
Religion: A Classless worships all deities if they selected the Channel Divinity class feature, otherwise they worship none.
Races: Humans additional versatility options make them the obvious choice for classless, especially Jack of all Classes. Masters of Optimization may need to select another race in order to get the highest possible ability scores, while Seekers of Cheese may need to take a non-human class to exploit ambiguity in racial powers or feats (races in the back of the Monster Manual are particularly useful for this).
Classless
Why should I have to pick a class? You're not the boss of me!
CLASS TRAITS
Role: Player Character. You are a character in a D&D 4th edition campaign.
Power Source: Published source material. You draw your power from books of rules for 4th edition D&D.
Key Abilities: Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma.
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth*
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, simple ranged*
Implement: None*
Bonus to Defense: None*
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10* + Constitution score
Hit Points per Level Gained: 4*
Healing Surges per Day: 6* + Constitution modifier
Trained Skills: From the class skills list below, choose three* trained skills at 1st level:
Acrobatics(Dex), Arcana(Int), Athletics(Str), Bluff(Cha), Diplomacy(Cha), Dungeoneering(Wis), Endurance(Con), Heal(Wis), History(Int), Insight(Wis), Intimidate(Cha), Perception(Wis), Religion(Int), Stealth(Dex), Streetwise(Cha), Thievery(Dex)
Build Options: Cheese Seeker, Master of Optimization, Jack of all Classes
Class Features: Versatility, Distinction
*See "class" feature description for Versitility
The classless have no class. Most have no class because they view classes as an arbitrary restriction imposed by the gods to bring balance to the world, a restriction they refused in an act of defiance. Some have no class because they think all classes are the same and "don't like being labeled." Some just have no class and make no excuse.
Creating a Classless
The classless select their powers and class features from any source they please. When it is unclear whether a particular creation option should be allowed, they tend to take a "better to ask forgiveness than permission" approach with the DM. It is also not important to write a character background or description as these can also be limiting. If something in your background would be advantageous, it can be written retroactively.
Cheese Seeker
A cheese seeking classless wants to find a combination of features, abilities and stats that maximize effectiveness at a particular element of gameplay at the detriment of other players' enjoyment and any semblance of realism. Cheese Seekers measure their success by the number of people that roll their eyes when their turn comes up in the initiative order. A Cheese Seeker should select powers that have ambiguous wording that can be interpreted in their favor, completely ignoring the spirit of the rules.
Master of Optimization
A Master of Optimization seeks the best mathematical probability of success. Roleplaying is anathema to the MOO, as flavorful and entertaining actions are frequently not ideal on paper. MOOs should start out with one ability score at 20+, or 2 at 18+, as this usually gives the highest probability of success with certain actions in combat, and any activity you have not optimized for is one you don't care about.
Jack of all Classes
Almost the polar opposite of a Master of Optimization, the Jack of all Classes avoids the maximal and seeks the adequate. A Jack of all Classes will never be caught off guard, but may struggle with effectiveness when caught "on guard." The Jack of all Classes is marginally prepared for anything the DM might throw at him. You should not have any high abilities as this implies you also have low abilities. When selecting powers, look for ones that are not anything like the ones you already have. Make full use of retraining, as most DMs will avoid challenging you with the same obstacle twice; once you have faced something and survived you can safely discard the powers and feats that let you survive as you are less likely to need them in the future and they are taking up valuable slots that could be used for something new that will make you even less unique.
The Classless Features
Versatility
You may augment your character with additional starting proficiencies, hit points, hit points per level, healing surges and class features by spending versatility points on them. You start with 30 versatility points (Note to MOO Classless: as you have probably already determined, this amount is insufficient to equal the power level of other classes, and you should be able to prove to your DM that it should be houseruled to a higher number:smallwink:) Spend your 30 points on any of the following and annotate them on your character sheet:
Armor Proficiency: 1 point each
You must buy them in order: Leather, Hide, Chainmail, Scalemail, Platemail
Shield Proficiency: 1 point each
You must buy light shield proficiency before you can buy heavy shield. If you bought armor proficiency up to Scalemail, you may purchase both light and heavy shield proficiency for 1 point.
Weapon Proficiency: 2 points per non-superior weapon.
3 points: all military melee or ranged
5 points: all military melee AND ranged
Implement: 5 points per implement
Defense Bonus, select one option from:
2pt: +1 to one
3pt: +2 to one or +1 to two
5pts: +1 to all
HP at first level:
Increase by two for 1 point each up to sixteen HP
HP per level:
Increase to five for 2 points or six for 5 points
Healing Surges per day:
Increase by one for 4 points each up to 10
Trained Skills:
Buy additional trained skills for 4 points each up to six starting trained skills.
Class features:
You may buy other classes features. The first costs 5 points, and each additional feature beyond the first costs an additional 2 points (7 for the second, 9 for the third, etc.) If a class feature forces you to make a choice between multiple options, you may take that feature more than once to select multiple options. For example, a classless can select the Wizard's Arcane Implement Mastery (PHB: pg157) twice for 12 points to select both Orb of Imposition and Staff of Defense.
Count as having a class: 2 points each
You may count as a class for purposes of meeting prerequisites for 2 points per desired class. You must still buy class features if they are mentioned in the prerequisites.
Paragon Versatility:
You can forgo selecting a paragon path and instead gain powers at the same levels as the rules for Paragon Multiclassing, except that they are in addition to your normal limit on number of powers, rather than being swapped for them.
Malleable Destiny:
You can forgo selecting an Epic Destiny in exchange for 15 more versatility points at level 21 and a bonus feat (that you do not need to meet the prerequisites for) at level 25.
Distinction
You start with a free bonus feat. You need not meet the prerequisites. In fact, it is recommended you do not. (Note to Cheese Seekers: The author is only implying that it must be a heroic tier feat, not explicitly stating it :smallwink:)
Classless Powers
Classless select their powers from same level powers on any playable class's power list. Note: Multiclassing beyond initiate level does not make sense for classless as they are essentially a Paragon Multiclassing from level 1.
CLASSLESS OVERVIEW
Characteristics: You can select any class feature or power you want. Your versatility is unrivaled.
Religion: A Classless worships all deities if they selected the Channel Divinity class feature, otherwise they worship none.
Races: Humans additional versatility options make them the obvious choice for classless, especially Jack of all Classes. Masters of Optimization may need to select another race in order to get the highest possible ability scores, while Seekers of Cheese may need to take a non-human class to exploit ambiguity in racial powers or feats (races in the back of the Monster Manual are particularly useful for this).