I need help with a base class concept. "The Hero". Has it been done?

[341gerbig]

Note: I run a very high power game. The classes I use in my game are about 150% "stronger" than the base classes in the PHB. The enemies and monsters have been given a boost as well to keep difficulty stable etc. So keep that in mind when I speak of this class concept.

I feel that there is a space for a super-hero like class in my games. Instead of battle skill like the fighter, spells like the mage etc, this class would be based off of one factor: Obscenely high ability scores.

I am picturing a mechanic where the class could go a number of directions, you pick an array of ability scores dependent on what kind of hero you want to be, a strong hero, smart hero etc. If you pick strong hero, you may be allowed to begin with 30 strength, and have a 20, 10, 10, 10, 10 array for the rest. Perhaps some mechanic where you get ability score additions more often then every four levels.


The classes power would come from doing things most classes arent able to, survive more things, resist more things, grapple ridiculous monsters, stuff a hero could do.

I know this sounds like a powergamers dream, but I am really just trying to fit the concept of superheros into my 3.5 fantasy world, and I feel like there is room for mutation, magical mistakes, bloodline awakening accounting for someone being born with obscene strength, intelligence, constitution etc.

Anyways, I think ive laid out the concept enough. Does anyone have any constructive feedback?

Has something like this been done?

[EternalZiggurat]

nothin like it has been done that i know of. You wont get much feedback till you show something. give it a shot and you'll likely find plenty of feedback, but we need something to work with. I think it sounds cool in concept.

[nikkoli]

You can always go grab the mythos classes. In what you said as 150% stronger than phb material go with everything made by xefas, the creator of the subsystem. There is the bellator for fighters, terramach for barbarians, anakitos for paladinsish, the oletherofex for necromancers, the kathados for the one with nature monks, the jaganatha for the anti paladins, and the syntrophos if you want to be a living thinking magicaly non magic weapon. Your idea of " the hero" fits into what the mythos stuff does. Each class is meant to be the pinical of its idealism, the bellator is the pinical of martial prowess, the terramach is the truest sense of rage a creature could bring into the world, the oletherofex is death incarnate whether that be hordes of minions or becoming Charon, and so on.
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?335295-Mythos-Compendium&highlight=mythos+compendium

[Atarax]

A character with the standard array IS ALREADY A SUPERHERO. 18 strength is already super elite according to the rules. But if all epic heroes start with an 18 strength, they become "regular" heroes. Why don't we inflate the weapons too? +8 greataxe anyone? What about 30 becoming the new "regular"? If all the heroes have max stats around 30, are they really elite? We'll have to crank it up to 40 to be elite.

I'm sorry. Whenever I hear of inflating PC stats, but also inflating monster stats to keep up with it...I figure the only thing that's changed is the numbers getting bigger. A lot of thought went into the rules and stats we already have. If the strongest human hero alive is only 2/3 as strong as you need, just use a titan from the MM.

Lest an 18 no longer mean a thing

[qazzquimby]

That would mess with balance without adding anything interesting. It would just blow up numbers without giving new options or strategy. If the monsters are scaled up too (good luck maintaining previous balance) then it does literally nothing but increase the numbers you're working with. If they're not scaled up then it's just easy mode.

[sengmeng]

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?478917-The-Empowered-(Class-in-10-minutes-PEACH)&highlight=Jormengand

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?477086-The-Martial-Artist-(Class-in-30-minutes-PEACH)&highlight=Jormengand

Jormengand made these in a total of 40 minutes. Neither is exactly what you want, but the idea is pretty much there.

Read the criticisms.

[341gerbig]

Yea, this idea may be a bad fit for the 3.5 ruleset. Shame too. I was imagining a class where they didn't have stances or maneuvers or spells, but just brute strength, speed etc. I was picturing a superhuman hulk like being who may be the only class capable of say, grappling a giant monster etc.

Thanks for the feedback guys. Guess its back to the drawing board.

[Amechra]

You could give my old Monk rewrite (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?275306-This-Is-Not-a-Monk-Fix-It-is-a-Rewrite-3-5-Base-Class-PEACH) a try. There would be a few tweaks necessary:

• Replace School of Hard Knocks with a +1 Inherent bonus to any ability score at every even level.
• Just hand out Kung-Fu Genius or Hot-Blooded Sifu as bonus feats to anyone who wants them.
• Use the Mind Over Matter ACF.

There. You're super-strong, super-fast, and super-tough in a way that doesn't break the system. Go be a rockstar.

Or there's the old Destined Hero (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?248161-The-Destined-Hero-3-5-Base-Class-PEACH) class. It gets high ability scores as a matter of course.

[qazzquimby]

Something more productive, I think mutants and masterminds handles this flavour of OP well. I think Grod has a 3.5 conversion, but I can't find it right now.

[Amechra]

You mean this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?279503-D-amp-D-in-M-amp-M-a-new-approach-to-rebalancing-3-5-PF)?

I think that's the wrong way around for the OP, though.