Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 16 May 2011 to 17 May 2011 (#2011-43) From: MYSTARA-L automatic digest system Date: 18/05/2011, 17:00 To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 2 messages totalling 71 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Too Many Classes, Too Much Fun or Too Complex (2) ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 01:33:36 -0700 From: Joaquin Menchaca Subject: Too Many Classes, Too Much Fun or Too Complex I was thinking about the design goals about WoTC DnD 3e vs. Paizo's PFRPG (DnD 3.75e). I think there's a lot of material that expands the number of classes, which is exciting, and then there's DnD's aim to restrict the classes, but offer custom tailorization through prestige classes. I am mixed about this. I think that classes should be limited, because if there are too many, it's overwhelming, and you don't want to scare off new comers to the game with too many rules. But however, I think like Inquisitor, Witch, Alchemist, etc. really are a nice fit into Karameikos. If I could have my cake and eat it too, I wish (omg, wishes :), there were: - Boxed sets w/ sub-set of full rules (not Hasbro DnD 4e) - new set of Gazetteers w/ Paizo's Pathfinder (DnD 3.75e) - some new classes (or prestige) that custom for each Gazetteer. Alchemist and Artificer are perfect fits for Highforge, Inquisitor sounds good for The Church of Karameikos, as do gypsy like Witches for nomadic Traladarans. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 11:40:28 +0200 From: Giampaolo Agosta Subject: Re: Too Many Classes, Too Much Fun or Too Complex On 17 May 2011 10:33, Joaquin Menchaca wrote: > > > > I am mixed about this. =A0I think that classes should be limited, because= if there are too many, it's overwhelming, and you don't want to scare off = new comers to the game with too many rules. I think a good solution is to have a limited number of classes, rather broad in scope, but with some degree of customization available, which can then be linked to more specialized roles. The problem with Prestige classes is that they limit specialization to high level character. To stay within the d20 camp, an example of such an evolution is the Star Wars game: the SWd20, after the revision, ended up with the following lineup: Jedi Guardian, Jedi Consular, Force Adept, Noble, Soldier, Scout, Scoundrel, Fringer and Tech Specialist (plus prestige classes). The subsequent Star Wars Saga Edition (SWSE) restricted the classes to Jedi, Noble, Soldier, Scout and Scoundrel. However, "talent trees" were introduced that allow Jedi PCs to specialize as Guardian or Consular, Scouts to specialize as Fringers and Scoundrels to specialize as Tech Specialist. All classes are remarkably more customizable than the original versions, to the point that they can cover up for the missing Force Adept. In a D&D context, this would mean going back to the 4 base classes, then allow the Fighter to specialize as, say, Ranger or Barbarian, the Cleric as Inquisitor, the Wizard as Alchemist, etc. GP ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 16 May 2011 to 17 May 2011 (#2011-43) ***************************************************************