Results 61 to 69 of 69
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2021-11-16, 07:13 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2005
- Location
- Vancouver, BC, Canada
Re: Origin & Evolution of Player Classes
Good stuff here so I only have a few points to add:
The illusionist first appears in The Strategic Review (the precursor to Dragon magazine) and then got into 1st Ed with a few modifications.
The assassin was neutral at first but was evil by first edition.
While not a skill system per se, there was a “background table” in 1st Ed that one could roll on (or have the DM roll on, as it was in the DMG).
In unearthed arcana first edition the paladin changed from subclass of fighter to subclass of cavalier. In 2nd Ed they, the ranger and the fighter became part of the warrior group. In 3rd Ed and after they are classes in their own right.
Another point of interest is that with first edition, if you didn’t go bard or use the special dual class rules, multiclassing was a decision you had to make at chargen. If you we an elf you would need to decide to be a fighter/magic-user/thief at level 1/1/1 rather than start fighter, then pick up magic-user at a higher level, then pick up thief later still. Except for some “start with half a level in each of two classes” rules, the old multi-class idea was replaced with something more like dual-classing in 3rd edition.
Oh yeah there was something else in earlier editions: The zero level npc (usually, except for one adventure module I think) character! And with the cavalier you even could have the negative level pc character (a less than upper class squire that had to earn their way up to 0 experience points).
By third edition, you had npc commoners but even the lowliest was at least a level one commoner.
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2021-11-16, 07:51 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2016
- Location
- Corvallis, OR
- Gender
Re: Origin & Evolution of Player Classes
And in 5e, the idea of NPC classes as such went away entirely. Classes are for PCs and only optionally for use in constructing NPCs. 5e commoners are just commoners, no class levels at all. Even the closest MM NPCs (like the various Evoker, Archmage, etc ones) don't have all the class features and proficiencies, nor are they built exactly the same.
And there's a book coming out that will shift even most of those away even more from the class level paradigm by converting many spells/spell slots to x/day, recharge, and at will abilities (ie can cast x , y, and z 3x/day each).Dawn of Hope: a 5e setting. http://wiki.admiralbenbo.org
Rogue Equivalent Damage calculator, now prettier and more configurable!
5e Monster Data Sheet--vital statistics for all 693 MM, Volo's, and now MToF monsters: Updated!
NIH system 5e fork, very much WIP. Base github repo.
NIH System PDF Up to date main-branch build version.
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2021-11-18, 01:58 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2007
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2021-11-18, 09:39 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2015
- Location
- Texas
- Gender
Re: Origin & Evolution of Player Classes
Avatar by linklele. How Teleport Worksa. Malifice (paraphrased):
Rulings are not 'House Rules.' Rulings are a DM doing what DMs are supposed to do.
b. greenstone (paraphrased):
Agency means that they {players} control their character's actions; you control the world's reactions to the character's actions.
Second known member of the Greyview Appreciation Society
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2021-11-18, 10:42 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2016
- Location
- Corvallis, OR
- Gender
Re: Origin & Evolution of Player Classes
Dawn of Hope: a 5e setting. http://wiki.admiralbenbo.org
Rogue Equivalent Damage calculator, now prettier and more configurable!
5e Monster Data Sheet--vital statistics for all 693 MM, Volo's, and now MToF monsters: Updated!
NIH system 5e fork, very much WIP. Base github repo.
NIH System PDF Up to date main-branch build version.
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2021-11-18, 02:52 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2015
- Location
- Texas
- Gender
Re: Origin & Evolution of Player Classes
Avatar by linklele. How Teleport Worksa. Malifice (paraphrased):
Rulings are not 'House Rules.' Rulings are a DM doing what DMs are supposed to do.
b. greenstone (paraphrased):
Agency means that they {players} control their character's actions; you control the world's reactions to the character's actions.
Second known member of the Greyview Appreciation Society
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2021-11-18, 11:15 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2010
Re: Origin & Evolution of Player Classes
Before 3E, you weren't assumed to be facing opposition that was the same level as you were at all times. An orc chieftain who raises a warband to ravage the countryside has 4HD whether the PCs are 1st level or 10th. A 9th level thief wasn't expected to use backstab to duel 9th level Orc warlords. You were expected to Move Silently and Hide in Shadows to infiltrate the orc camp and one-shot that 4HD orc general so your Fighter friend and his loyal band of retainers and (somewhat) loyal platoon of hired mercenaries will have an easier time defeating the orcs on the battlefield the next day.
The Curse of the House of Rookwood: Supernatural horror and family drama.
Ash Island: Personal survival horror in the vein of Silent Hill.
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2021-11-19, 05:19 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
Re: Origin & Evolution of Player Classes
No matter where you go...there you are!
Holhokki Tapio - GitP Blood Bowl New Era Season I Champion
Togashi Ishi - Betrayal at the White Temple
Da Monsters of Da Midden - GitP Blood Bowl Manager Cup Season V-VI-VII
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2021-11-22, 12:34 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2020
- Location
- Murica
- Gender