Alternative Favoured Classes [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternative Favoured Classes [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
kelvinaw273
05-26-06, 11:36 PM Something has been bothering me a little since I started collecting some of the Complete series, and that is, with the proliferation of new classes, having a Favoured Class has become more and more of a restriction. Further, some of the FCs make less sense in the fullness of time than they used to, given the new classes and their nature.

In my upcoming campaign I am thinking about adjusting the favoured classes of races to reflect the great variety of classes available. An alternate Favoured class shoudl be just that - and alternative. Races will not get both classes as favoured classes, just the one that they choose. The second point I would address is that the alternative FC should not be a Core class, but one of the alternates.

For example, if Warlocks are the result of pacts between infernal powers and mortals, it surely makes it the ideal FC for Tieflings. Hence, a Tiefling PC should be able to select either Warlock or Rogue as their FC.

Aasamar, being closer to the gods, would not always be paladins but would be touched by the divine (what if they are not Lawful Good?) so perhaps Favoured Soul woulf be more appropriate to them in some circumstances.

Kalashtar are very spiritual as well as psychic beings, perhaps some might function better as Ardents/Divine Minds than Psions? Or as Monks is psionics is unavailable.

What about the core races:

Elf favoured class might be Wizard or Scout.
Half-Orc favoured class might be Barbarian or ?
Dwarf favoured class might be Fighter or Samurai.
Halfling favoured class might be Rogue or Spellthief.
Gnome favoured class might be Bard or ?

What do people think?
Veggiesama
05-26-06, 11:52 PM I personally don't like the idea of favored classes to begin with. They encourage stereotypes.

But if you want to keep them in there as a mechanism to prevent excessive multiclassing, just allow the favored class to be the first class that a character chooses, along with a suitable RP reason for doing so. Problem solved.
pheonixfrostmourn
05-26-06, 11:55 PM I think that giving each race a choice of 2 - 3 set favored classes is fine, especially if your campaign uses all of the optional new classes + a few custom ones. (my last DM had over 35 available classes to choose from).

If ,however, you only use the PHB classes, giving each race more than 1 favored class is probally a bad idea.
kelvinaw273
05-27-06, 12:16 AM I personally don't like the idea of favored classes to begin with. They encourage stereotypes.

But if you want to keep them in there as a mechanism to prevent excessive multiclassing, just allow the favored class to be the first class that a character chooses, along with a suitable RP reason for doing so. Problem solved.

Only problem with this is that it takes away one of the human advantages and about the only good one half-elves get, unless you compensate them in some other way.
RGard
05-27-06, 01:36 PM Something has been bothering me a little since I started collecting some of the Complete series, and that is, with the proliferation of new classes, having a Favoured Class has become more and more of a restriction. Further, some of the FCs make less sense in the fullness of time than they used to, given the new classes and their nature.

In my upcoming campaign I am thinking about adjusting the favoured classes of races to reflect the great variety of classes available. An alternate Favoured class shoudl be just that - and alternative. Races will not get both classes as favoured classes, just the one that they choose. The second point I would address is that the alternative FC should not be a Core class, but one of the alternates.

For example, if Warlocks are the result of pacts between infernal powers and mortals, it surely makes it the ideal FC for Tieflings. Hence, a Tiefling PC should be able to select either Warlock or Rogue as their FC.

Aasamar, being closer to the gods, would not always be paladins but would be touched by the divine (what if they are not Lawful Good?) so perhaps Favoured Soul woulf be more appropriate to them in some circumstances.

Kalashtar are very spiritual as well as psychic beings, perhaps some might function better as Ardents/Divine Minds than Psions? Or as Monks is psionics is unavailable.

What about the core races:

Elf favoured class might be Wizard or Scout.
Half-Orc favoured class might be Barbarian or ?
Dwarf favoured class might be Fighter or Samurai.
Halfling favoured class might be Rogue or Spellthief.
Gnome favoured class might be Bard or ?

What do people think?

I would add Duskblade (PHB2) to favoured classes for Elf.
Darkwulf
05-27-06, 02:03 PM In the game I'm currently running, I went through all the new "base" classes and decided on the total list of core and base classes I wanted to allow. Then, I picked three classes for each race (one core and two base, just to give a good, even spread), and gave those as the race's favored classes.

I decided to make it a "pick one at first level" option (like some of the more powerful option-feats, and to keep it in tune with the original "one favored class that's always there" rule), but I *was* tempted to leave it open-ended and have it lock to the first of those classes taken, whenever they were taken.

- EDIT -

"picked three classes for each race" - except for human and half-elf, of course. And in a side-note, someone mentioned above that the idea of just making your first class the favored class takes away from those races; don't forget that their favored class is their highest-level class, not necessarily their first one. It's entirely possible to change directions mid-stream, or shuffle classes around to do things in a different order, and this racial ability would still favor them in these cases.
HalasterAteMyHamster
05-27-06, 03:18 PM I went with 3 favoured classes because I was having quite a bit of difficulty with a few races.

Humans - Any
Dwarves - Fighter, Knight, Marshal
Elves - Wizard, Truenamer, Scout
Gnomes - Bard, Artificier, Warmage
Half-Elves - Any
Half-Orcs - Barbarian, Dragon Shaman, [honestly not sure]
Halflings - Rogue, Spellthief, Swashbuckler
Aasimar - Paladin, Knight, Favored Soul (possibly Soulborn instead depending on how you run divine connections for planetouched)
Tiefling - Rogue, Warlock, Favored Soul (possibly Hexblade instead depending on how you run divine connections for planetouched)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kelvinaw273 05-26-06, 11:36 PM	Something has been bothering me a little since I started collecting some of the Complete series, and that is, with the proliferation of new classes, having a Favoured Class has become more and more of a restriction. Further, some of the FCs make less sense in the fullness of time than they used to, given the new classes and their nature. In my upcoming campaign I am thinking about adjusting the favoured classes of races to reflect the great variety of classes available. An alternate Favoured class shoudl be just that - and alternative. Races will not get both classes as favoured classes, just the one that they choose. The second point I would address is that the alternative FC should not be a Core class, but one of the alternates. For example, if Warlocks are the result of pacts between infernal powers and mortals, it surely makes it the ideal FC for Tieflings. Hence, a Tiefling PC should be able to select either Warlock or Rogue as their FC. Aasamar, being closer to the gods, would not always be paladins but would be touched by the divine (what if they are not Lawful Good?) so perhaps Favoured Soul woulf be more appropriate to them in some circumstances. Kalashtar are very spiritual as well as psychic beings, perhaps some might function better as Ardents/Divine Minds than Psions? Or as Monks is psionics is unavailable. What about the core races: Elf favoured class might be Wizard or Scout. Half-Orc favoured class might be Barbarian or ? Dwarf favoured class might be Fighter or Samurai. Halfling favoured class might be Rogue or Spellthief. Gnome favoured class might be Bard or ? What do people think?
Veggiesama 05-26-06, 11:52 PM	I personally don't like the idea of favored classes to begin with. They encourage stereotypes. But if you want to keep them in there as a mechanism to prevent excessive multiclassing, just allow the favored class to be the first class that a character chooses, along with a suitable RP reason for doing so. Problem solved.
pheonixfrostmourn 05-26-06, 11:55 PM	I think that giving each race a choice of 2 - 3 set favored classes is fine, especially if your campaign uses all of the optional new classes + a few custom ones. (my last DM had over 35 available classes to choose from). If ,however, you only use the PHB classes, giving each race more than 1 favored class is probally a bad idea.
kelvinaw273 05-27-06, 12:16 AM	I personally don't like the idea of favored classes to begin with. They encourage stereotypes. But if you want to keep them in there as a mechanism to prevent excessive multiclassing, just allow the favored class to be the first class that a character chooses, along with a suitable RP reason for doing so. Problem solved. Only problem with this is that it takes away one of the human advantages and about the only good one half-elves get, unless you compensate them in some other way.
RGard 05-27-06, 01:36 PM	Something has been bothering me a little since I started collecting some of the Complete series, and that is, with the proliferation of new classes, having a Favoured Class has become more and more of a restriction. Further, some of the FCs make less sense in the fullness of time than they used to, given the new classes and their nature. In my upcoming campaign I am thinking about adjusting the favoured classes of races to reflect the great variety of classes available. An alternate Favoured class shoudl be just that - and alternative. Races will not get both classes as favoured classes, just the one that they choose. The second point I would address is that the alternative FC should not be a Core class, but one of the alternates. For example, if Warlocks are the result of pacts between infernal powers and mortals, it surely makes it the ideal FC for Tieflings. Hence, a Tiefling PC should be able to select either Warlock or Rogue as their FC. Aasamar, being closer to the gods, would not always be paladins but would be touched by the divine (what if they are not Lawful Good?) so perhaps Favoured Soul woulf be more appropriate to them in some circumstances. Kalashtar are very spiritual as well as psychic beings, perhaps some might function better as Ardents/Divine Minds than Psions? Or as Monks is psionics is unavailable. What about the core races: Elf favoured class might be Wizard or Scout. Half-Orc favoured class might be Barbarian or ? Dwarf favoured class might be Fighter or Samurai. Halfling favoured class might be Rogue or Spellthief. Gnome favoured class might be Bard or ? What do people think? I would add Duskblade (PHB2) to favoured classes for Elf.
Darkwulf 05-27-06, 02:03 PM	In the game I'm currently running, I went through all the new "base" classes and decided on the total list of core and base classes I wanted to allow. Then, I picked three classes for each race (one core and two base, just to give a good, even spread), and gave those as the race's favored classes. I decided to make it a "pick one at first level" option (like some of the more powerful option-feats, and to keep it in tune with the original "one favored class that's always there" rule), but I was tempted to leave it open-ended and have it lock to the first of those classes taken, whenever they were taken. - EDIT - "picked three classes for each race" - except for human and half-elf, of course. And in a side-note, someone mentioned above that the idea of just making your first class the favored class takes away from those races; don't forget that their favored class is their highest-level class, not necessarily their first one. It's entirely possible to change directions mid-stream, or shuffle classes around to do things in a different order, and this racial ability would still favor them in these cases.
HalasterAteMyHamster 05-27-06, 03:18 PM	I went with 3 favoured classes because I was having quite a bit of difficulty with a few races. Humans - Any Dwarves - Fighter, Knight, Marshal Elves - Wizard, Truenamer, Scout Gnomes - Bard, Artificier, Warmage Half-Elves - Any Half-Orcs - Barbarian, Dragon Shaman, [honestly not sure] Halflings - Rogue, Spellthief, Swashbuckler Aasimar - Paladin, Knight, Favored Soul (possibly Soulborn instead depending on how you run divine connections for planetouched) Tiefling - Rogue, Warlock, Favored Soul (possibly Hexblade instead depending on how you run divine connections for planetouched)