That is really a pretty tough question for some mutants, and easier for others. For example, Storm would be a human, with spells like Control Weather, Lightning Bolt, Fly and so on. A wizard can do all three of those spells. However, rather than using a predefined class it would be easier to home-brew a class that would let you pick and choose things that are needed. If you really want to make a superhero in D&D you are going to be bending some rules regardless. You might as well as make it easier and not try to fit a square peg in a round hole.
I would work with my DM to come up with the home-brew class, and be careful to find weaknesses as well. Each superhero has to have at least one. You may not follow standard rules on progression (as you would need quite a few "powers" at the start), but the growth of your powers could be slow to offset. The rest of the gameplay should work. And who knows, maybe Wolverine plowing his way through a dungeon would fit right in.
While I see BrassZeus' point (only one question: why wouldn't Storm be a Druid? I think an Arctic Circle of the Land Druid could fit pretty well) I want to give you my ideas on what the characters you mentioned might be:
Phoenix: I think the most appropriate would be a Human Sorceror/Warlock, with the Warlock part having a homebrew Patron to signify the Phoenix force additional powers.
Nightcrawler: while race-wise the most obvious choice would be Tiefling, I think a reflavored Eladrin Variant or Half-Elf of Eladrin varian descent (for Misty Step) would work better; class-wise, I can see him as either a Swashbuckler or Assassin Rogue; in his case, also, I'd have him be of Acolyte background. The only problem would be giving him enough freedom in using Misty Step or a similar spell/power. Maybe he could be given a magic item with charges that allows him to use Misty Step as long as he has charges.
Doctor Strange: this seems the easiest to me, as I can hardly see him as anything other than Human Wizard, most probably School of Divination.
Spiderman: this one's tricky... I'd probably go for a Tabaxi Way of Shadows Monk, I think.
For me Nightcrawler feels more like a Shadow Monk than Spiderman. I would probably make Spiderman a Thief Rogue.
Webcrawling being Second-Story Work
Spidey-senses being Uncanny Dodge, Evasion and Elusive
His acrobatic abilities being a combination of Uncanny Dodge, Evasion, Elusive and Cunning Action
You could also go Arcane Trickster and have all of the spells be different flavors of "Web" uses. IE Entangle being shooting out of webs that entangle the person.
If we are not limited to player classes, I would take away the racial abilities of a Tiefling and reskin it with the Shadar-Kai Shadowdancer for Nightcrawler. Nothing else can do Misty Step enough. And sadly, we don't have the class support to really make a Shadowdancer which is where he should rightfully fall.
For me Nightcrawler feels more like a Shadow Monk than Spiderman. I would probably make Spiderman a Thief Rogue.
Webcrawling being Second-Story Work
Spidey-senses being Uncanny Dodge, Evasion and Elusive
His acrobatic abilities being a combination of Uncanny Dodge, Evasion, Elusive and Cunning Action
You could also go Arcane Trickster and have all of the spells be different flavors of "Web" uses. IE Entangle being shooting out of webs that entangle the person.
My reasoning for having Spiderman being a Monk and Nightcrawler being a Rogue is merely due to the fact that Spiderman main combat is unharmed, while there are several instances where Nightcrawler used a rapier
But your option is also a valid and appropriate one :)
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Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
For me Nightcrawler feels more like a Shadow Monk than Spiderman. I would probably make Spiderman a Thief Rogue.
Webcrawling being Second-Story Work
Spidey-senses being Uncanny Dodge, Evasion and Elusive
His acrobatic abilities being a combination of Uncanny Dodge, Evasion, Elusive and Cunning Action
You could also go Arcane Trickster and have all of the spells be different flavors of "Web" uses. IE Entangle being shooting out of webs that entangle the person.
My reasoning for having Spiderman being a Monk and Nightcrawler being a Rogue is merely due to the fact that Spiderman main combat is unharmed, while there are several instances where Nightcrawler used a rapier
But your option is also a valid and appropriate one :)
That is true. To me I "built" spiderman to be more of in the spirit of the character than a direct 1-to-1 comparison.
Like Ironman being Critical Role Gunslinger Fighter or Hulk being a Order of the Lycan Bloodhunter (I think that fits Hulk better than a Barbarian).
For Nightcrawler, what about also a High Elf with Fey Teleportation?
For me Nightcrawler feels more like a Shadow Monk than Spiderman. I would probably make Spiderman a Thief Rogue.
Webcrawling being Second-Story Work
Spidey-senses being Uncanny Dodge, Evasion and Elusive
His acrobatic abilities being a combination of Uncanny Dodge, Evasion, Elusive and Cunning Action
You could also go Arcane Trickster and have all of the spells be different flavors of "Web" uses. IE Entangle being shooting out of webs that entangle the person.
My reasoning for having Spiderman being a Monk and Nightcrawler being a Rogue is merely due to the fact that Spiderman main combat is unharmed, while there are several instances where Nightcrawler used a rapier
But your option is also a valid and appropriate one :)
I would likely go much the same as Grizzlebub. Keep in mind monks can use short swords as monk weapons and Nightcrawler typically in combat uses unarmed and sword attacks (which fits exceptionally well with flurry of blows, while shadow step gives much of the teleportation).
While Spiderman typically uses his web powers just as much as unarmed combat (much easier to tweak for as an Arcane trickster), and expertise in Acrobatics (maybe even athletics or perception as well) fits oh so well for Spiderman.
I fully agree with Storm being more suited to a Druid than a wizard,
Storm would be a Storm Sorcerer...come on guys. Sorcerer's are basically mutants already. They are born into their powers.
Phoenix (Jean Grey) is honestly too powerful to be a PC. Best analogy I can think of would be a human level 20 Phoenix Sorcerer from the Sorcerer Unearthed Arcana as well as a level 20 Psion.
Nightcrawler would be a tiefling horizon walker ranger (this covers his martial proficiency, demonic heritage and ability to teleport).
Doctor Strange would definitely be a human level 20 divination wizard like someone said before.
Spiderman would be a monk, possibly multi classed with rogue or fighter.
For me Nightcrawler feels more like a Shadow Monk than Spiderman. I would probably make Spiderman a Thief Rogue.
Webcrawling being Second-Story Work
Spidey-senses being Uncanny Dodge, Evasion and Elusive
His acrobatic abilities being a combination of Uncanny Dodge, Evasion, Elusive and Cunning Action
You could also go Arcane Trickster and have all of the spells be different flavors of "Web" uses. IE Entangle being shooting out of webs that entangle the person.
My reasoning for having Spiderman being a Monk and Nightcrawler being a Rogue is merely due to the fact that Spiderman main combat is unharmed, while there are several instances where Nightcrawler used a rapier
But your option is also a valid and appropriate one :)
I would likely go much the same as Grizzlebub. Keep in mind monks can use short swords as monk weapons and Nightcrawler typically in combat uses unarmed and sword attacks (which fits exceptionally well with flurry of blows, while shadow step gives much of the teleportation).
While Spiderman typically uses his web powers just as much as unarmed combat (much easier to tweak for as an Arcane trickster), and expertise in Acrobatics (maybe even athletics or perception as well) fits oh so well for Spiderman.
I fully agree with Storm being more suited to a Druid than a wizard,
Storm would be a Storm Sorcerer...come guys. Sorcerer's are basically mutants already. They are born into their powers.
Nightcrawler would be a tiefling horizon walker ranger (this covers his martial proficiency, demonic heritage and ability to teleport).
On Storm: I somehow forgot about the Storm Sorcerer (not a class I know entirely well in this edition), good point.
I also had not looked enough into the Horizon Walker, most evidently, as indeed the level 11 feature REALLY makes the character basically Nightcrawler!
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Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
What D&D class would Phoenix, nightcrawer, Doctor strange, Spiderman be?
Ermer,
That is really a pretty tough question for some mutants, and easier for others. For example, Storm would be a human, with spells like Control Weather, Lightning Bolt, Fly and so on. A wizard can do all three of those spells. However, rather than using a predefined class it would be easier to home-brew a class that would let you pick and choose things that are needed. If you really want to make a superhero in D&D you are going to be bending some rules regardless. You might as well as make it easier and not try to fit a square peg in a round hole.
I would work with my DM to come up with the home-brew class, and be careful to find weaknesses as well. Each superhero has to have at least one. You may not follow standard rules on progression (as you would need quite a few "powers" at the start), but the growth of your powers could be slow to offset. The rest of the gameplay should work. And who knows, maybe Wolverine plowing his way through a dungeon would fit right in.
Hopefully that helps answer your question...
While I see BrassZeus' point (only one question: why wouldn't Storm be a Druid? I think an Arctic Circle of the Land Druid could fit pretty well) I want to give you my ideas on what the characters you mentioned might be:
Phoenix: I think the most appropriate would be a Human Sorceror/Warlock, with the Warlock part having a homebrew Patron to signify the Phoenix force additional powers.
Nightcrawler: while race-wise the most obvious choice would be Tiefling, I think a reflavored Eladrin Variant or Half-Elf of Eladrin varian descent (for Misty Step) would work better; class-wise, I can see him as either a Swashbuckler or Assassin Rogue; in his case, also, I'd have him be of Acolyte background.
The only problem would be giving him enough freedom in using Misty Step or a similar spell/power. Maybe he could be given a magic item with charges that allows him to use Misty Step as long as he has charges.
Doctor Strange: this seems the easiest to me, as I can hardly see him as anything other than Human Wizard, most probably School of Divination.
Spiderman: this one's tricky... I'd probably go for a Tabaxi Way of Shadows Monk, I think.
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
Thanks, tha answwers my question
For me Nightcrawler feels more like a Shadow Monk than Spiderman. I would probably make Spiderman a Thief Rogue.
You could also go Arcane Trickster and have all of the spells be different flavors of "Web" uses. IE Entangle being shooting out of webs that entangle the person.
If we are not limited to player classes, I would take away the racial abilities of a Tiefling and reskin it with the Shadar-Kai Shadowdancer for Nightcrawler. Nothing else can do Misty Step enough. And sadly, we don't have the class support to really make a Shadowdancer which is where he should rightfully fall.
My reasoning for having Spiderman being a Monk and Nightcrawler being a Rogue is merely due to the fact that Spiderman main combat is unharmed, while there are several instances where Nightcrawler used a rapier
But your option is also a valid and appropriate one :)
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
That is true. To me I "built" spiderman to be more of in the spirit of the character than a direct 1-to-1 comparison.
Like Ironman being Critical Role Gunslinger Fighter or Hulk being a Order of the Lycan Bloodhunter (I think that fits Hulk better than a Barbarian).
For Nightcrawler, what about also a High Elf with Fey Teleportation?
I would likely go much the same as Grizzlebub. Keep in mind monks can use short swords as monk weapons and Nightcrawler typically in combat uses unarmed and sword attacks (which fits exceptionally well with flurry of blows, while shadow step gives much of the teleportation).
While Spiderman typically uses his web powers just as much as unarmed combat (much easier to tweak for as an Arcane trickster), and expertise in Acrobatics (maybe even athletics or perception as well) fits oh so well for Spiderman.
I fully agree with Storm being more suited to a Druid than a wizard,
- Loswaith
Storm would be a Storm Sorcerer...come on guys. Sorcerer's are basically mutants already. They are born into their powers.
Phoenix (Jean Grey) is honestly too powerful to be a PC. Best analogy I can think of would be a human level 20 Phoenix Sorcerer from the Sorcerer Unearthed Arcana as well as a level 20 Psion.
Nightcrawler would be a tiefling horizon walker ranger (this covers his martial proficiency, demonic heritage and ability to teleport).
Doctor Strange would definitely be a human level 20 divination wizard like someone said before.
Spiderman would be a monk, possibly multi classed with rogue or fighter.
Good point, I like your versions :)
On Storm: I somehow forgot about the Storm Sorcerer (not a class I know entirely well in this edition), good point.
I also had not looked enough into the Horizon Walker, most evidently, as indeed the level 11 feature REALLY makes the character basically Nightcrawler!
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
The Eladrin subrace of Elf comes with the spell Misty Step which would be good for Nightcrawler.