For my next campaign I wanted something like AD&D style subclasses with less of the hassle. So I'm calling the result Bonus Classes. A Bonus Class is a very simple layer over an existing class, with an additional stat prerequisite. So unlike AD&D subclasses, you don't hassle with their own rules anywhere else. No custom spell lists or experience point charts, for example. So here's a first draft at a Bonus Class for each of the canonical seven BX classes. Note: no attempt has been made to balance this stuff.
Blaster Knight (Fighter Bonus Class), Prerequisite: Cha 13+, you get a random blaster gun (chart forthcoming) and all the social perks of being a knight
Psi Lord (MU Bonus Class), Prerequisite: Wis 13+, you may use the psionic rules from pages 19-21 of the LotFP version of Geoffrey McKinney's Carcosa. Also, you have a big bald head.
Ninja (Thief Bonus Class), Prerequisite: Str 13+, you get access to the list of cool ninja gear (forthcoming) and whenever attacking from surprise you get d4 additional attack rolls
Adept (Cleric Bonus Class), Prerequisite: Int 13+, each level starting at first you get one random MU spell added to your cleric spell list, this means you actually get a spell at first level
Malformed (Dwarf Bonus Class), Prerequisite: Cha 9-, you may roll d4 mutations/defects
Gray Elf (Elf Bonus Class), Prerequisite: Con 18+, each level you gain a random MU or Cleric spell (you choose which list to roll on) as a daily power
Psycho (Halfling Bonus Class), Prerequisite: Int 9- and Wis 9-, may flip out like a maniac in combat for d6 rounds, during which Psycho gets 2 attacks/round at +2 to hit (melee only), but must fight for the entire period rolled even if that means attacking allies
Space Frontier
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Among other things, we playtested a game of space western.
While the obvious secret ingredient is "playing with good and fun people",
there are also so...
This. This I like :). Nice, simple, slightly insane and with bald heads.
ReplyDeleteI like it! It reminds me a lot of Kits from 2nd ed (I'm an admitted fan of kits) only simpler.
ReplyDeleteI think I shall steel this idea.
Ability score max for psycho and malformed, love it!
ReplyDeleteDang. I'm probably going to have to steal this idea for my Labyrinth Critical game. It will be a LOT easier to simply assign a bonus class under a base class than to try to design all the new classes I was working on...
ReplyDeleteAs usual, schooled in the Old School by Jeff... :)
I just found my Revolt on Antares counter mix. Not sure it's all there, though . . . but that game was very inspiring for our space games.
ReplyDeleteThat's very cool !
ReplyDeleteI dig
ReplyDeleteNot only do I like these classes but the core concept, the variant upgrades for characters with high scores in typically non-central stats, is excellent beyond the goodness of these classes. Credit to you as always. I'm....not NOT stealing this idea.
ReplyDeleteHeh. Man we've missed you.
Psycho halfling. LOL. I would totally play him flipping out like Joe Pesci in Goodfellas -- "I'm funny how? I mean funny, like I'm a clown? I amuse you? I make you laugh? I'm here to f**kin' amuse you? Whattya you mean funny? Funny how? How am I funny?"
ReplyDeleteI'm likin' this "extra layer" over classes. Still struggling with some tailor-made class options myself.
ReplyDelete