"New" class balance [Archive] - Wizards Community

"New" class balance [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Saion2014
12-02-06, 06:32 PM I'd just like your opinions of the balance of a small houserule that I plan to ask my DM for.

In order to make a nautical, reasonably civil tough guy, I'd like to exchange Survival and Ride on the barbarian skill list for Profession and Use Rope, and call the resulting class the "Pirate" or "Berserker" or something.
Grizzled Gryphon
12-02-06, 06:43 PM As a DM? I can't see any reason why not. That seems perfectly reasonable, as it doesn't really change the class much. Heck, I would probably just let you add those skills, for flavor reasons, but that is just me.

Also, it kind of fits, too. I have always imagined the Barbarian as being viking like, so haveing profession sailing and use rope make sense. Yes, I know that there were plenty of different types of barbaric people that never did any sailing, but that is just what I think of when anyone says "barbarian".
Saion2014
12-02-06, 09:22 PM Thanks a lot for your opinion. It's nice to know that an unaffected DM sees it as balanced. Hopefully, mine will see it the same way.:)
Grizzled Gryphon
12-02-06, 09:30 PM Hey, glad you like my opinion.

Things to remember when it comes to balance. Mostly, the number one thing for any balance issue is feats. If the number of feats is changed, you have changed the balance.

The Number of Skill Points. Not what skills, per se, but how many you get. Granted, changing a fighter to have Spot, Listen, Hide, Move Silently, and skills like that instead of what it usually has, would be certainly different. But would it change the Balance? No, not really. The only problem you have with skill changes like that are what kinds of PRC's you can get into, sooner. As I don't think any of those skills are prereq's for any PRCI can think of, it doesn't really matter. Well, it might help you get into the Dread Pirate PRC sooner, but really, what difference does it make? It DOES fit in with your character concept, so it actually works out better, anyway.

In essence, what I am getting at here is game balance only really is changed when the amount of any given class aspect is changed, but not very much when the content of the aspect is changed.

Just tell your DM all of this, and he really shouldn't have any problem with it.
mkill
12-03-06, 09:52 AM Very true. Exchanging class skills is the easiest way to adjust a given class to a new archetype. Seafaring barbarian (Viking?), desert nomad ranger, street magician sorcerer, tribal shaman druid... there is a lot you can tweak just looking at the core rules.
A good DM that rewards player creativity should have no problem allowing this.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Saion2014 12-02-06, 06:32 PM	I'd just like your opinions of the balance of a small houserule that I plan to ask my DM for. In order to make a nautical, reasonably civil tough guy, I'd like to exchange Survival and Ride on the barbarian skill list for Profession and Use Rope, and call the resulting class the "Pirate" or "Berserker" or something.
Grizzled Gryphon 12-02-06, 06:43 PM	As a DM? I can't see any reason why not. That seems perfectly reasonable, as it doesn't really change the class much. Heck, I would probably just let you add those skills, for flavor reasons, but that is just me. Also, it kind of fits, too. I have always imagined the Barbarian as being viking like, so haveing profession sailing and use rope make sense. Yes, I know that there were plenty of different types of barbaric people that never did any sailing, but that is just what I think of when anyone says "barbarian".
Saion2014 12-02-06, 09:22 PM	Thanks a lot for your opinion. It's nice to know that an unaffected DM sees it as balanced. Hopefully, mine will see it the same way.:)
Grizzled Gryphon 12-02-06, 09:30 PM	Hey, glad you like my opinion. Things to remember when it comes to balance. Mostly, the number one thing for any balance issue is feats. If the number of feats is changed, you have changed the balance. The Number of Skill Points. Not what skills, per se, but how many you get. Granted, changing a fighter to have Spot, Listen, Hide, Move Silently, and skills like that instead of what it usually has, would be certainly different. But would it change the Balance? No, not really. The only problem you have with skill changes like that are what kinds of PRC's you can get into, sooner. As I don't think any of those skills are prereq's for any PRCI can think of, it doesn't really matter. Well, it might help you get into the Dread Pirate PRC sooner, but really, what difference does it make? It DOES fit in with your character concept, so it actually works out better, anyway. In essence, what I am getting at here is game balance only really is changed when the amount of any given class aspect is changed, but not very much when the content of the aspect is changed. Just tell your DM all of this, and he really shouldn't have any problem with it.
mkill 12-03-06, 09:52 AM	Very true. Exchanging class skills is the easiest way to adjust a given class to a new archetype. Seafaring barbarian (Viking?), desert nomad ranger, street magician sorcerer, tribal shaman druid... there is a lot you can tweak just looking at the core rules. A good DM that rewards player creativity should have no problem allowing this.