Hello!

I’ve been thinking about making a Tabaxi with a genetic defect that makes it so he can only speak in “meows”, but am undecided on what class he would be. What classes do you think would work for this? Although I think he would make a wonderful Paladin, a nonverbal spellcaster would be hard. What do you think?

I think you'd be able to make a nonverbal spellcaster. If you look at the text describing verbal components:

Most spells require the chanting of mystic words. The words themselves aren't the source of the spell's power; rather, the particular combination of sounds, with specific pitch and resonance, sets the threads of magic in motion.

As long as your character can say "meow" with the right pitch and resonance, it should work?

Oh that’s a good point! 

Remember, you'll need to find a way to communicate with the other characters, or everyone will get bored with your meows pretty quickly. Try a class that can cast Minor Illusion, so you can create illusory "words" on a scroll so others know what you're saying.

Or cast message and speak to them in their own heads

Bards are basically non-verbal spell-casters, i mean, they use their music to cast the spells

There's always the Awakened Mind of the GOO Warlock - even if it's just 1 level to get it. You're still non-verbal physically - but you now have telepathy.

Quote from IrelliaRavenshot >>

Hello!

I’ve been thinking about making a Tabaxi with a genetic defect that makes it so he can only speak in “meows”, but am undecided on what class he would be. What classes do you think would work for this? Although I think he would make a wonderful Paladin, a nonverbal spellcaster would be hard. What do you think?

 Before I even read the post, I thought, DRUID. The Wild Shape feature would be awesome for a non-verbal character, and the spell "speak with animals" would be a nice way to get communication across to *somebody* when the time was needed. 

I’m imagining this character casting spells as “Meow meow meow meow meow"

Haha, exactly!

Couldn't you just say that they only speak Tabaxi language, so they can't communicate with humans who only speak Common? But they would be able to cast spells in Tabaxi and communicate with other Tabaxi.

At the risk of sounding obvious, I would recommend rogue. I mean, tabaxi already have great racial stats that align really well with the rogue class. And rogues don't need to worry about verbal spellcasting components. And rogues are already accustomed to operating quietly. 

Plus, I just love the idea of the bad guy standing there thinking everything is okay, then he hears a soft purring sound right next to his ear just as his throat is cut. Imagine that being the last thing you hear! 

I mean, that's better that the first thing that came into my head: " owo hwokus pwokus AWAKAZAM"

i hate my brain sometimes lol

purely from a roleplay standpoint: bard, a character that doesn't speak but uses music has potential, but this could be hard with spells so maybe talk to your dm about that first.

from a rules standpoint: a character that doesn't have spells, something like fighter, barbarian, rogue or monk. for tabaxi wonk would work best.

Barbarian could be hilarious, the idea of this muscle-bound rage machine who can only meow.

Woah thanks guys, a lot of nice new suggestions. I ended up not using this for the short campaign I was going to use it for as I wasn’t able to go, but I’m thinking about trying it out for a one shot to see if it can work well. I think I would just need to make sure the group and DM what ever group I’d play it with is ok with it so the role play smoothly. Now I just need to find a oneshot.. (forever DM). Thanks everyone, these are hilarious

This is actually happening in a campaign i'm playing in... Tabaxi ranger/monk passing as a 40lb housecat, who has not spoken to anybody for the entire fifteen months we've been playing,  apart from once or twice to a PC he is companioned with, and with a number of cats via Speak with Animals. If you are creative in your catlike cues ("Mittens looks him dead in the eye and pees on the rug" "Mittens is going to purr and walk in figure 8's around the crimelord's legs" "Mittens is going to yowl repeatedly and run up and down the hallway of the inn over and over, and he's going to make sure to slam into the wall on the turns" "Mittens takes his paw and pushes the dwarf's glass off the table. And then the one next to it.") you can get a REALLY long way in expressing yourself without needing anything verbal. And, it's hysterical when done well.

Quote from AnzioFaro >>

At the risk of sounding obvious, I would recommend rogue. I mean, tabaxi already have great racial stats that align really well with the rogue class. And rogues don't need to worry about verbal spellcasting components. And rogues are already accustomed to operating quietly. 

Plus, I just love the idea of the bad guy standing there thinking everything is okay, then he hears a soft purring sound right next to his ear just as his throat is cut. Imagine that being the last thing you hear! 

 Permission to steal this idea? I know I can find fun uses for it.

It's all yours!