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The thread about "what is the point of the fighter" got me thinking that currently, the point of the fighter seems to be all weapon and armor proficiencies.  While this is a valid fantasy archetype, it is a poor focus for a class. We see this with how similar the 5e monk and rogue are to the fighter.

What if we radically changed what a class was though? What if being a fighter simply translated into any class who uses expertise dice. Instead of creating a monk, you would create an unarmed fighter. Instead of creating a rogue, you make a high Dex fighter. Your class determines how you overcome challenges, not what weapons and armor you are proficient with. To determine the proficiencies you though you would turn to backgrounds.

Backgrounds would essentially become level 0 classes.  The background you choose gives you a starting HD, afew minor traits, some bonus trained skills, and your weapon/armor proficiencies. These extra abilities are in addition to the 3 skills and a trait your background would normally grant. Here are some examples of what these backgrounds might look like:

Warrior: HD d8, bonus trained skill: athletics, all weapon and armor proficiencies.

Swashbuckler: HD d6, bonus trained skills: acrobatics and athletics, light armor proficiency, simple finesse and martial weapon proficiency.

Martial Artist: HD d6, bonus trained skills: acrobatics and athletics, unarmored defense and unarmed attack, simple weapon finesse and martial weapon proficiency.

Priest: HD d6, bonus trained skill: religion, at-will orisons: 3, simple weapon and light armor proficiency.

Scholar: HD d6, bonus trained skills: choose any 4 Int based skills, simple weapon proficiency.

Classes would no longer include weapon and armor proficiencies but would modify HD size as well as granting a number of class features including weapon and magic attack bonuses. The level 1 fighter class might have increased HD size, expertise, and maneuvers for example. 

This would also allow for greater character customization and distinction between classes. If the fighter class becomes the "expertise class" for example, the warblade class could be a martial class that uses an entirely different mechanic. The wizard might use vancian slot based casting while the sorcerer uses encounter based mana points. The monk class could be fueled by mystical Ki energy but a player would still have the option of creating a completely mundane unarmed combatant with the Martial Artist background and the Fighter class.

This allows the designers to focus more on interesting mechanics for future classes. For example the ranger class might focus on a favored terrain/enemy mechanic. Alternatively a player could simply play a fighter with the woodsman or scout background. This method also removes the encouragement of the "1 level dip" as classes no longer grant proficiencies.

IIIII like it

Nov 20, 2012 -- 8:44PM, Arithezoo wrote:

I'm not a fan.

Currently, I can make a Fighter with the Sage background without sacrificing any of my fighter features.  With your system, I would have no armor proficiency, only simple weapons, and d6 hit points.

Yeah, this. Plus, it'd make it a lot more difficult to create new Backgrounds, like if you're doing something like an all-ninja campaign (which is totally doable, in the current state of the rules).

Nov 20, 2012 -- 8:44PM, Arithezoo wrote:

I'm not a fan.

Currently, I can make a Fighter with the Sage background without sacrificing any of my fighter features.  With your system, I would have no armor proficiency, only simple weapons, and d6 hit points.

Well why should your character who spent most of his life at a university studying have full armor and weapon proficencies? He is making a trade off for these features in exchange for many more knowledge skills. If you want to make a book learned fighter you could always take the warrior background and use your extra trained skills on knowledge. 

Also in this system the Sage Fighter would have a d8 hit die as the Fighter class increases the HD. Such a character would do a great impression of Friar Tuck.