Subclasses in Dungeons & Dragons

[ripx187]

I am going to try something different with my campaign. I know that subclasses like Ranger, Paladin, Druid, and Bard are very popular, but I am going to change them. These classes must be earned and the skills that they possess must be learned. An X level Fighting Man must find a Ranger in order to become a First Level Ranger, or maybe the fighter finds a magic item which tests and then bestows the honor of Paladin upon them? Has anybody tried this? Do you see any pitfalls? 

[Deleted]

I tried something similar, once. Lawful fighting-men were, if they conducted themselves properly, raised to Paladin status over time. Their swords became holy and their horses became the paladin’s feared war horse. It worked very well in the campaign. I should also say this group loved role-playing and we met weekly.

[mao]

Jun 28, 2019 13:32:45 GMT -5 ripx187 said:

I am going to try something different with my campaign. I know that subclasses like Ranger, Paladin, Druid, and Bard are very popular, but I am going to change them. These classes must be earned and the skills that they possess must be learned. An X level Fighting Man must find a Ranger in order to become a First Level Ranger, or maybe the fighter finds a magic item which tests and then bestows the honor of Paladin upon them? Has anybody tried this? Do you see any pitfalls? 

3.5 had a similar idea. Prestige Classes are things you enter once you meet the prerequisits. For example in order to go into"Mystic THuerge" you had to be ables to cast L2 spells from 2 diff classes, once you fulfilled this you advanced in the spells of both classes at once

[El Borak]

Didn't PD post something a year or two ago about his Paladins?  It seems like a good idea to me, and it also gives a window into commitment of the player to wanting to do it. I don't see any pitfalls beyond the "I want it now" viewpoint.  Seems like having something that you are chosen for from on high because of your characters moral fiber is pretty cool.