Saturday, December 5, 2020

5e & 4 + 3

Last month, James over at Grognardia reflected on how the "4+3" structure of how B/X presents classes is simple, sturdy, flexible, and helps build a world that feels real

While 5e is not my preferred rule-set (I would play 0e, Holmes, or B/X before I play any other edition), I think it is by far the best of the "new school" editions and (depending on the day) I might even admit that I would rather play it than 1e ADnD. 

One of the reasons I am not enthusiastic about 5e is precisely the reason that it so radically departs from the 4+3 presentation of classes. If one looks merely at the core rules, there are 9 races each with at least two variants and 12 classes with at least two variants each. All told, there are thousands of different mechanical ways to represent a character. Add in the various splat books and this number goes up exponentially. In other words, the only descriptor that can still be applied to both BX and 5e is "flexible," though I probably prefer the word "chaotic" in the case of 5e.

As one might infer from reading my blog the over years, I take great delight in building worlds based on what can be inferred from the rules and mechanics of the game. BX is a fantastic vehicle for this approach. 5e makes such a project virtually nigh impossible due to information overload; however, one of the things I do like about 5e is that it does present all this information as optional. It empowers the DM to put limits on which rules get used and which do not. 

Thus, it invites me to apply the "4+3" paradigm to the races and classes of 5e. What follows is, I hope, inspiring because what I consider to be the "core classes" is, in some cases, not what one might expect. 

Note:  I do have access to a pair of the splat books and am taking advantage of them due to some thematic elements found therein.

 

World One 

Core Classes 

Cleric

Paladin (Oath of Vengeance), Variant Human with Heavy Armor Master Feat 

Fighter

Barbarian (Path of the Zealot), Variant Human with Durable Feat 

Magic-user

Rogue (Arcane Trickster Archetype), Variant Human with Ritual Caster Feat 

Thief

Monk (Way of the Shadow), Normal Human 

Race-as-Class 

Dwarf 

Barbarian (Path of the Berserker), Mountain Dwarf 

Elf 

Fighter (Eldritch Knight Archetype), High Elf 

Halfling

Rogue (Assassin Archetype), Stout Halfling

 

World Two

Core Classes 

Cleric

Sorcerer (Divine Soul Origin), Variant Human with Fey Touched or Shadow Touched Feat 

Fighter

Fighter (Rune Knight Archetype), Variant Human with Fey Touched or Shadow Touched Feat

Magic-user

Warlock (Archfey Patron), Variant Human with Fey Touched Feat 

Thief

Rogue (Phantom Archetype), Variant Human with Shadow Touched Feat

Race-as-Class 

Dwarf 

Ranger (Fey Wanderer), Half-elf

Elf 

Wizard (Blade Singing), High Elf

Halfling

Wizard (School of Illusion), Forest Gnome

 

World Three

Core Classes 

Cleric

Cleric (Tempest Domain), Normal Human

Fighter

Barbarian (Path of the Storm), Normal Human

Magic-user

Sorcerer (Storm Sorcery), Normal Human

Thief

Rogue (Swashbuckler Archetype), Normal Human

Race-as-Class 

Dwarf 

Warlock (Genie Patron), Dragonborn

Elf 

Wizard (Blade Singing), High Elf

Halfling

Warlock (The Fathomless Patron), Half-elf

 

World Four

Core Classes 

Cleric

Monk (Way of Mercy), Variant Human with Healer Feat

Fighter

Monk (Path of the Kensei), Variant Human with Weapon Master Feat

Magic-user

Bard (College of Swords), Variant Human with Ritual Caster Feat

Thief

Rogue (Swashbuckler Archetype), Variant Human with Dual Wielder Feat

Race-as-Class 

Dwarf 

Rogue (Assassin Archetype), Half-orc

Elf 

Bard (College of Whispers), High Elf

Halfling

Rogue (Mastermind Archetype), Half-elf

 

What I love about this approach is that each world has a distinct feel, grounded in the mechanics of the classes themselves. One can start imagining reasons why each class has the mechanics they do. Speaking of the mechanics, since that is all they are, we are free to re-skin everything within a class to better explain them in context of the world in which they appear.

So, which world would you like to run or adventure in?

6 comments:

Nathan Irving said...

I just skimmed through the post on Grognardia, but I'm missing something entry level in your examples. What does Magic-User: Bard (College of Swords), Variant Human with Ritual Caster feat -mean-? The magic-user is a college of swords bard that can only be a variant human with the ritual caster feat? Or all Elves are High Elven College of Whispers bards?

FrDave said...

It means that the Core Class that normally would be the Magic-user in the BX 4+3 class structure is taken up by a Bard who will follow the College of Swords variant in 5e. The Variant Human in 5e allows for a Feat at 1st level (in this case Ritual Caster).

Yes, all "Magic-users" in this case are Bards of the College of Swords with the Ritual Caster Feat and all "Elves" are High Elves that are Bards of the College of Whispers.

My intent here is to take one option of the overwhelming number of choices for classes in 5e and use it as one of the "4+3" classes one might find in an alternate 5e version of BX. Since BX is such a wonderful vehicle for world-building, I thought 5e could be as well given the same "limitations." Given these four examples, I think it can be.

Nathan Irving said...

Yup, that works. I've done something similar as a concept exercise, and while I don't limit races to (human plus) three, I keep a cap on them and swap in and out as it pleases me.

Ifryt said...

There could be also a bit different approach, where players make any characters they wish, but then the GM builds the world based on their choices. It would make players participate in the world-building.

FrDave said...

Yes!
I ran a test of this concept with my family. They chose the following characters:
1. Human Ranger (Beast Master)
2. Dragonborn Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline)
3. Dragonborn Bard (College of Swords)
4. Monk (Sun Soul)

Given the above, I tried to fill in the blanks:

CORE CLASSES
Cleric:
Bard (College of Creation)
Fighter:
Ranger (Beast Master)
Magic-user:
Sorcerer (Clockwork Origin)
Thief:
Monk (Sun Soul)
RACE-AS-CLASS
Dwarf:
Ranger (Gloom Stalker) Lizardfolk
Elf:
Sorcerer (Dragonic bloodline) Dragonborn (Chromatic)
Halfling:
Bard (College of Swords) Dragonborn (Metallic)

This paints a really interesting picture, no?

PabloNada said...

very cool!