Topic: "Multiclass" Fighter/Specialist

While I'm aware that a lot of people simply house-rule skill points and/or Attack Bonuses for all classes, I like the idea of a distinct Specialist but also a Fighter/Specialist hybrid.  A few days ago I whipped up two variants of the latter, the "Generalist" (half and half) and the "Hero" (both at the same time).  Here they are, for your amusement, criticism, and/or vilification.

(BTW, while I'm aware of a Ranger class presented previously, I didn't use it when designing the Generalist.)

GENERALIST
-----------

A Generalist studies both the way of battle and the skills of a Specialist.  With a foot in each world he progresses only half as fast in both.  However, parties that lack a Specialist (or Fighter) can use his expertise.

The Generalist has the following abilities:

  • A Generalist has an Attack Bonus of 1 + *level*/2, dropping all fractions.  A Generalist's maximum possible AB is +5.

  • Generalists acquire Skill Points like Specialists, albeit not as quickly.  A Level 1 Generalist has 4 Skill Points, and gains 1 Skill Point per level.

  • At Level 1 a Generalist must select four skills available to a Specialist.  The Generalist may spend his skill points *only* on those skills.  Generalists need not increase those four skills with their initial four points, but they may only increase those four at first level and beyond.

       For example, if Fred wants to make his Generalist like a "ranger", he might choose the skills Bushcraft, Climb, Search, and Stealth.  He decides to put two points in Bushcraft and two in Stealth.

  • A Level 1 Generalist may elect to switch to the Specialist class at any time at no penalty.  A Generalist may not switch to any other class, nor switch after reaching Level 2, without explicit Referee permission.  Once a Generalist switches, he or she cannot switch back.

Except as noted above, all rules that apply to other classes apply to the Generalist class.

| Level | Experience Points | Hit Points | Skill Points | Attack Bonus |
|:-----:|------------------:|:----------:|:------------:|:------------:|
|   1   |                 0 |     1d6    |      4       |     +1       |
|   2   |             2,000 |    +1d6    |     +1       |     +2       |
|   3   |             4,000 |    +1d6    |     +1       |     +2       |
|   4   |             8,000 |    +1d6    |     +1       |     +3       |
|   5   |            16,000 |    +1d6    |     +1       |     +3       |
|   6   |            32,000 |    +1d6    |     +1       |     +4       |
|   7   |            64,000 |    +1d6    |     +1       |     +4       |
|   8   |           128,000 |    +1d6    |     +1       |     +5       |
|   9   |           256,000 |    +1d6    |     +1       |     +5       |
|  10+  |    +128,000/level | +2*/level  |   +1/level   |     +5       |

* Constitution modifiers no longer apply

#### Saving Throws ####

| Levels | Paralyze | Poison | Breath Weapon | Magical Device | Magic |
|:------:|:--------:|:------:|:-------------:|:--------------:|:-----:|
|  1-3   |   14     |   14   |     15        |      13        |  14   |
|  4-6   |   11     |   12   |     13        |      11        |  12   |
|  7-9   |    9     |   10   |     11        |       9        |  10   |
| 10-12  |    7     |    8   |      9        |       7        |   8   |
|  13+   |    5     |    6   |      7        |       5        |   6   |

HERO
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A Hero (or Heroine) is a larger-than-life figure, competent in a surprising number of areas.  He or she is easily worth two men, perhaps more.

1. A Hero has the full abilities of a Fighter at the equivalent level, including an Attack Bonus.

2. A Hero also has the full abilities of a Specialist at the equivalent level.  The Hero acquires Skill Points, and may spend them on any skill.

3. Optional Rule: A Chaotic Hero can use the Read Magic spell once per day and cast a spell from a Magic-User scroll, as if he were a Magic-User of his Hero level.  However, magical effects that apply to Magic-Users also apply to the Hero, even if the Hero has never read a scroll.  Likewise a Lawful Hero can use Cleric scrolls, but magical effects that apply to Cleric also apply to the Hero, even if the Hero has never read a scroll.

Except as noted above, all rules that apply to other classes apply to the Hero class.

| Level | Experience Points | Hit Points | Skill Points | Attack Bonus |
|:-----:|------------------:|:----------:|:------------:|:------------:|
|   1   |                 0 |     1d8    |      4       |     +2       |
|   2   |             2,500 |    +1d8    |     +2       |     +3       |
|   3   |             5,000 |    +1d8    |     +2       |     +4       |
|   4   |            10,000 |    +1d8    |     +2       |     +5       |
|   5   |            20,000 |    +1d8    |     +2       |     +6       |
|   6   |            40,000 |    +1d8    |     +2       |     +7       |
|   7   |            80,000 |    +1d8    |     +2       |     +8       |
|   8   |           160,000 |    +1d8    |     +2       |     +9       |
|   9   |           320,000 |    +1d8    |     +2       |    +10       |
|  10+  |    +160,000/level |  +3*/level |   +2/level   |    +10       |

* Constitution modifiers no longer apply

#### Saving Throws ####

| Levels | Paralyze | Poison | Breath Weapon | Magical Device | Magic |
|:------:|:--------:|:------:|:-------------:|:--------------:|:-----:|
|  1-3   |   14     |   14   |     15        |      13        |  14   |
|  4-6   |   11     |   12   |     13        |      11        |  12   |
|  7-9   |    9     |   10   |     11        |       9        |  10   |
| 10-12  |    7     |    8   |      9        |       7        |   8   |
|  13+   |    5     |    6   |      7        |       5        |   6   |

Last edited by fmitchell (2013-01-29 20:20:34)

Frank Mitchell
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread." -- Anatole France

Re: "Multiclass" Fighter/Specialist

OK, I found one problem already.  I should have said that both variants have the same expanded combat options as Fighters: the better AC for Parry, Press, and Defensive.

Frank Mitchell
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread." -- Anatole France

Re: "Multiclass" Fighter/Specialist

Why not stagger the hitpoint dice? Every even level a 1d6? That way they are not so cock-sure in combat. As things are they have the hefty hitpoints of the fighter.

Re: "Multiclass" Fighter/Specialist

Justin in Oz wrote:

Why not stagger the hitpoint dice? Every even level a 1d6? That way they are not so cock-sure in combat. As things are they have the hefty hitpoints of the fighter.

Which one are you looking at?

The Generalist has 1d6 throughout, as part of the trade-off for having skill points.  The Generalist is meant to fit into an otherwise normal party that needs a spare Specialist and/or Fighter.  It resembles an ordinary Specialist at first level but gains half a Fighter's AB and half the specialist's skill points.  It also has Fighter-like Saving Throws.

The Hero has +1d8 throughout, but also requires more XP than the fighter to gain levels.  The Hero is meant to be a "gestalt" of both Fighters and Specialists for higher-powered games (where they still get eaten by immortal slime monsters).

Frank Mitchell
"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread." -- Anatole France

Re: "Multiclass" Fighter/Specialist

fmitchell wrote:

Which one are you looking at?

My apologies, I was looking at one while thinking about the other.

Re: "Multiclass" Fighter/Specialist

Here's my take on it:

http://www.lotfp.com/RPG/discussion/top … for-lotfp/