I started wondering today if I could make a decent character without choosing a class. This would obviously be a very weak character, as it has none of the features, spells, or proficiencies gained when you take a class. This limits them only to racial and background based features.
The character I will make will be a level 20 sage "spellcaster" my goal is to have the highest amount of spells and the most powerful spells. to start I needed to decide on a race. If you choose the high elf, it would get a +1 bonus to intelligence and 1 wizard cantrip. That makes this race a good option. However, the tiefling has a boost of +1 to intelligence, and +2 to charisma, and they learn several spells as they gain levels. (thaumaturgy, hellish rebuke, and darkness.) this means the tiefling has the highest amount of base magic and is my choice for the spellcaster. The forest gnome is also a good option as they have a +2 to intelligence and the minor illusion cantrip. For the stats of this tiefling i will be using The standard set of ability scores (15, 14, 13, 12, 10 8) STR 8 (-1) DEX 10 (0) CON 12 (+1) INT 16 (+3) WIS 13 (+1) CHA 16 (+3) For the tieflings hit points I will be using The d8, as it is used as the hit die for most medium sized creatures. If the tiefling got the average amount of hit points per level up they would have 120 at 20th level. Next will be the ability score improvements at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level. At level 4 the tiefling will take the magic initiate feat. This grants you 2 cantrips and a single casting of a first level spell. At 8th level The tiefling will choose the ritual caster feat, allowing them to cast spells with the ritual tag. They gain 2 first level spells, and are able to add spells of a level equal to half their character level (rounded down) that have the ritual tag to a ritual book, that they receive when they take this feat. This will allow them to cast higher level spells now. (I just checked and almost none of the spells in the PHB have this tag) At 12th level The tiefling will choose the spell sniper feat and get the Eldritch blast cantrip. At 16th level they take the lucky feat, and then at level 19 they take 2 points in intelligence. This character is not perfect and definitely not the best one you could make without using classes. If you have any comments or alternative ways to go about making a classless character please post them on the thread.
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Hollow unbreakable arrows are the most OP common magic item, and my current method of coming up with insane combat shenanigans.
if you make a steel pipe with one end closed and a nozzle on the other, you can enlarge it, fill with any liquid, and then drop concentration, creating a high pressure squirt gun. (or a pipe bomb, depending if it holds)
As well as ASIs, technically gaining HP (and starting HP) is also class dependent, so you have HP that is equal to your CON mod x level (plus the starting commoner HP, if we're being generous) ;).
ASIs are class features, so your classless character wouldn't be able to use them to gain feats.
I mean technically levels are a class feature too, so the idea of a 20th level ??? is already... let's say imaginative
Even the Tasha's sidekick rules invented new "classes" for your buddies to level up in
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
ASIs are class features, so your classless character wouldn't be able to use them to gain feats.
While this is technically listed as a class feature on all classes, I don't believe it actually can be applied here strictly because ASIs aren't relevant because of CLASS levels, they are chosen by CHARACTER levels.
ASIs are class features, so your classless character wouldn't be able to use them to gain feats.
While this is technically listed as a class feature on all classes, I don't believe it actually can be applied here strictly because ASIs aren't relevant because of CLASS levels, they are chosen by CHARACTER levels.
No, they are absolutely based on class levels.
For example, every class gets an ASI at level 4 and level 8, but a level 9 character with 3 levels in 3 different classes hasn't gotten any ASIs.
Also, fighter and rogue get extra ASIs compared to other classes.
ASIs are class features, so your classless character wouldn't be able to use them to gain feats.
While this is technically listed as a class feature on all classes, I don't believe it actually can be applied here strictly because ASIs aren't relevant because of CLASS levels, they are chosen by CHARACTER levels.
No, they are absolutely based on class levels.
For example, every class gets an ASI at level 4 and level 8, but a level 9 character with 3 levels in 3 different classes hasn't gotten any ASIs.
Also, fighter and rogue get extra ASIs compared to other classes.
Sorry about that. You are correct, I was thinking about Proficiencies based on character level as opposed to class.
ASIs are class features, so your classless character wouldn't be able to use them to gain feats.
While this is technically listed as a class feature on all classes, I don't believe it actually can be applied here strictly because ASIs aren't relevant because of CLASS levels, they are chosen by CHARACTER levels.
No, they are absolutely based on class levels.
For example, every class gets an ASI at level 4 and level 8, but a level 9 character with 3 levels in 3 different classes hasn't gotten any ASIs.
Also, fighter and rogue get extra ASIs compared to other classes.
Sorry about that. You are correct, I was thinking about Proficiencies based on character level as opposed to class.
Yeah, proficiency bonus and cantrips scale by character level.
Thanks for the feedback. I completely forgot about the fact that ASIs were class features, that means the only thing that would make this character viable in any way is to choose a variant human with the ritual caster feat and a useful background. This character would still be stupidly underpowered.
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Hollow unbreakable arrows are the most OP common magic item, and my current method of coming up with insane combat shenanigans.
if you make a steel pipe with one end closed and a nozzle on the other, you can enlarge it, fill with any liquid, and then drop concentration, creating a high pressure squirt gun. (or a pipe bomb, depending if it holds)
I think the closest you'd get to a viable character "without a class" would be to build the character with one of the "sidekick classes" from Tasha's Cauldron. That gives your character actual abilities and improvements, without being any of the player classes.
I think the closest you'd get to a viable character "without a class" would be to build the character with one of the "sidekick classes" from Tasha's Cauldron. That gives your character actual abilities and improvements, without being any of the player classes.
Nah. Sorcerer without spells or subclass. Sorcerers literally only get the most basic proficiencies and 3 class features (2 really).
You could make a custom subclass to be whatever you want since you get it at level 1.
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I started wondering today if I could make a decent character without choosing a class. This would obviously be a very weak character, as it has none of the features, spells, or proficiencies gained when you take a class. This limits them only to racial and background based features.
The character I will make will be a level 20 sage "spellcaster" my goal is to have the highest amount of spells and the most powerful spells.
to start I needed to decide on a race. If you choose the high elf, it would get a +1 bonus to intelligence and 1 wizard cantrip. That makes this race a good option.
However, the tiefling has a boost of +1 to intelligence, and +2 to charisma, and they learn several spells as they gain levels. (thaumaturgy, hellish rebuke, and darkness.) this means the tiefling has the highest amount of base magic and is my choice for the spellcaster. The forest gnome is also a good option as they have a +2 to intelligence and the minor illusion cantrip.
For the stats of this tiefling i will be using The standard set of ability scores (15, 14, 13, 12, 10 8)
STR 8 (-1) DEX 10 (0) CON 12 (+1) INT 16 (+3) WIS 13 (+1) CHA 16 (+3)
For the tieflings hit points I will be using The d8, as it is used as the hit die for most medium sized creatures. If the tiefling got the average amount of hit points per level up they would have 120 at 20th level.
Next will be the ability score improvements at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level.
At level 4 the tiefling will take the magic initiate feat. This grants you 2 cantrips and a single casting of a first level spell.
At 8th level The tiefling will choose the ritual caster feat, allowing them to cast spells with the ritual tag. They gain 2 first level spells, and are able to add spells of a level equal to half their character level (rounded down) that have the ritual tag to a ritual book, that they receive when they take this feat. This will allow them to cast higher level spells now. (I just checked and almost none of the spells in the PHB have this tag)
At 12th level The tiefling will choose the spell sniper feat and get the Eldritch blast cantrip. At 16th level they take the lucky feat, and then at level 19 they take 2 points in intelligence.
This character is not perfect and definitely not the best one you could make without using classes. If you have any comments or alternative ways to go about making a classless character please post them on the thread.
Hollow unbreakable arrows are the most OP common magic item, and my current method of coming up with insane combat shenanigans.
if you make a steel pipe with one end closed and a nozzle on the other, you can enlarge it, fill with any liquid, and then drop concentration, creating a high pressure squirt gun. (or a pipe bomb, depending if it holds)
ASIs are class features, so your classless character wouldn't be able to use them to gain feats.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
As well as ASIs, technically gaining HP (and starting HP) is also class dependent, so you have HP that is equal to your CON mod x level (plus the starting commoner HP, if we're being generous) ;).
So... Archmage.
You should make a homebrew monster using archmage as a template and change spells and add racial traits.
Alternatively, consider looking into sidekick "classes" in essentials kit/Tasha's (yeah, purchase necessary for this).
Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I mean technically levels are a class feature too, so the idea of a 20th level ??? is already... let's say imaginative
Even the Tasha's sidekick rules invented new "classes" for your buddies to level up in
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
While this is technically listed as a class feature on all classes, I don't believe it actually can be applied here strictly because ASIs aren't relevant because of CLASS levels, they are chosen by CHARACTER levels.
No, they are absolutely based on class levels.
For example, every class gets an ASI at level 4 and level 8, but a level 9 character with 3 levels in 3 different classes hasn't gotten any ASIs.
Also, fighter and rogue get extra ASIs compared to other classes.
Sorry about that. You are correct, I was thinking about Proficiencies based on character level as opposed to class.
Yeah, proficiency bonus and cantrips scale by character level.
Thanks for the feedback. I completely forgot about the fact that ASIs were class features, that means the only thing that would make this character viable in any way is to choose a variant human with the ritual caster feat and a useful background. This character would still be stupidly underpowered.
Hollow unbreakable arrows are the most OP common magic item, and my current method of coming up with insane combat shenanigans.
if you make a steel pipe with one end closed and a nozzle on the other, you can enlarge it, fill with any liquid, and then drop concentration, creating a high pressure squirt gun. (or a pipe bomb, depending if it holds)
I think the closest you'd get to a viable character "without a class" would be to build the character with one of the "sidekick classes" from Tasha's Cauldron. That gives your character actual abilities and improvements, without being any of the player classes.
Nah. Sorcerer without spells or subclass. Sorcerers literally only get the most basic proficiencies and 3 class features (2 really).
You could make a custom subclass to be whatever you want since you get it at level 1.