Please enlighten on "favoured class"

Guinness · 10-09-2002, 02:42 AM

I know what the manual says and all that.... but i really don't see why they included this for 3rd Edition rules.

Previously, with all the race modifiers it was already producing very steriotypical characters. Nearly everyone was creating halfing thieves and gnome illusionist/thieves.

Now with favoured class..... I can see an entire legion of h/orc barbarians and assimar paladins (as can be seen in those parties posted in the thread somewhere here.....).

Looks like RP is gone and rather, lets just make the biggest and baddest of everything. SAD.

Mr. Mopery · 10-09-2002, 04:50 AM

I know what you mean, and I agree to a point. But I can also see the logic in having a favoured class. I mean, from a RP perspective (and a logical one), you're not likely to have a half-orc necromancer capable of casting 9th level spells. Physically and mentally, the half-orc is suited to being a barbarian or a fighter.

By having the favoured class, it just means that if a race chooses a non-favoured class, then it's second class is likely to be favoured. Kind of like being born into a family of carpenters. If you become lawyer, you're still likely to know some things about carpentry. I don't necessarily agree that barbarian should be the best and only favoured class for half-orcs, but what the hell.

Anyway, I'm no expert on D&D, but how many Aasimar are you expected to run into? I mean, how often are celestial beings going to think "Hey, I'd like to shag that human"? And how often will you get a Ghostwise Halfling Paladin in a party with half-orcs, dwarves and elves?

Role-play is important IMHO--I've got a female dwarven Druid in my party that I absolutely love--but I also think that some degree racial stereotyping makes sense in D&D and doesn't really hurt the overall game.

Nightowl2 · 10-09-2002, 11:34 AM

Well, "favored class" tends to follow the older rules. Most people would take a Dwarf for a fighter in 1st/2nd ed. However, FC only really matters if you plan on multiclassing.

As to why the lid came off in 3rd ed, I'm not sure. After all, how much of the rules any "real world" campaign follows has always been up to the DM.

Nightowl2

Rhea · 10-09-2002, 11:55 AM

From a RPing perspective, favored classes make sense to me. You wouldn't make an Elf a barbarian, and most of us use Elves for casters anyway. A Half-Orc doesn't make anything much but a tank. What the favored class DOES let you do is pick up levels in other classes without a penalty, instead of having to watch to make sure you don't get dinged for taking 4 levels in one class and one in another. You're not married to the favored classes.

I'm really enjoying it. Your mileage may vary.

[ 10-09-2002, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: Rhea ]

10-09-2002, 02:42 AM	#1
Guinness The Magister Join Date: September 27, 2002 Location: Earth (most of the time) Age: 50 Posts: 132	I know what the manual says and all that.... but i really don't see why they included this for 3rd Edition rules. Previously, with all the race modifiers it was already producing very steriotypical characters. Nearly everyone was creating halfing thieves and gnome illusionist/thieves. Now with favoured class..... I can see an entire legion of h/orc barbarians and assimar paladins (as can be seen in those parties posted in the thread somewhere here.....). Looks like RP is gone and rather, lets just make the biggest and baddest of everything. SAD. __________________ Absolute Power without Absolute Control is Absolutely USELESS

10-09-2002, 04:50 AM	#2
Mr. Mopery Zhentarim Guard Join Date: December 13, 2001 Location: Warsaw Age: 48 Posts: 328	I know what you mean, and I agree to a point. But I can also see the logic in having a favoured class. I mean, from a RP perspective (and a logical one), you're not likely to have a half-orc necromancer capable of casting 9th level spells. Physically and mentally, the half-orc is suited to being a barbarian or a fighter. By having the favoured class, it just means that if a race chooses a non-favoured class, then it's second class is likely to be favoured. Kind of like being born into a family of carpenters. If you become lawyer, you're still likely to know some things about carpentry. I don't necessarily agree that barbarian should be the best and only favoured class for half-orcs, but what the hell. Anyway, I'm no expert on D&D, but how many Aasimar are you expected to run into? I mean, how often are celestial beings going to think "Hey, I'd like to shag that human"? And how often will you get a Ghostwise Halfling Paladin in a party with half-orcs, dwarves and elves? Role-play is important IMHO--I've got a female dwarven Druid in my party that I absolutely love--but I also think that some degree racial stereotyping makes sense in D&D and doesn't really hurt the overall game. __________________ Never argue with a woman who\'s holding your schmeckle...

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10-09-2002, 11:34 AM	#3
Nightowl2 Galvatron Join Date: December 11, 2001 Location: Plateau of Leng Age: 46 Posts: 2,190	Well, "favored class" tends to follow the older rules. Most people would take a Dwarf for a fighter in 1st/2nd ed. However, FC only really matters if you plan on multiclassing. As to why the lid came off in 3rd ed, I'm not sure. After all, how much of the rules any "real world" campaign follows has always been up to the DM. Nightowl2

10-09-2002, 11:55 AM	#4
Rhea Drow Warrior Join Date: October 2, 2001 Location: California Age: 72 Posts: 266	From a RPing perspective, favored classes make sense to me. You wouldn't make an Elf a barbarian, and most of us use Elves for casters anyway. A Half-Orc doesn't make anything much but a tank. What the favored class DOES let you do is pick up levels in other classes without a penalty, instead of having to watch to make sure you don't get dinged for taking 4 levels in one class and one in another. You're not married to the favored classes. I'm really enjoying it. Your mileage may vary. [ 10-09-2002, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: Rhea ]

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