D&D Mod?

So, I've been thinking about messing with the D&D classes (as I believe I've mentioned before), and I thought I'd share some of my ideas with ya'll. Keep in mind that these changes would be considered a "variant" if we played, and in no way would they replace the classes in my games without first warning everyone before we start.

That being said, here's some ideas!

Overall
What I basically want to do is make some of the classes more viable. It's no big secret that after 10th level in D&D, the game becomes ridiculously imbalanced. If you aren't a caster, you're nothing. Long story short, that sucks.

Also, there are several classes in the game that just plain suck (paladins and bards, in particular) in comparison with others. I want to give these more of a role.

I also realized that I want to make all of the classes more fun to play, and make you really look forward to leveling up. Also, I want to make it so that you have a reason to remain a core class, and make it so that picking up a prestige class is a way to specialize your character rather than making them a necessity for survival.

That being said, I had an idea for core class character advancement that may give them several different paths (3 per class) that they may persue. I dunno. I'll think about it some more.

I don't know how successful I'll be in any of these attempts, but I have some neat ideas for many of them.

Paladins
I'll start with the pallys first, since they're the reason I started this whole thing.

As I see it now, paladins are great...until level 6, in which case they don't get anything worthwhile ever again. You could pick up a prestige class, but there are very few prestige classes worth snagging. If you continue in Paladin you get a spell list with some decent spells, but nothing that your friendly neighborhood cleric can't do better and with less effort.

Basically, once you get your mount, there's nothing to go back to. And that sucks.

I want to make the paladin more of what it is supposed to be...a warrior blessed by the gods to combat the forces of darkness. There is a prestige class called Knight of the Pale that allows you to choose blessings at the start of your day that will grant you special powers, and I really dig on this idea. I've also been toying around with the idea of auras that grant buffs to your party members. One other idea is to sort of combine the monk and paladin classes together, giving paladins a bunch of cool special abilities as the level (SR, things like that). Perhaps these three ideas would be three different career paths that you could choose once you hit a certain level (10, perhaps?).

Bard
The poor bard. So underestimated. So...well, let's be honest. The bard is weaksauce. Yeah yeah yeah, jack of many trades, bladda bladda bladda. They suck. Bardic knowledge is pretty freaking awesome, but is subject to DM whim, making it useless most of the time. The conversation usually goes a little something like this:

DM: This is the most mysterious mystery to ever mystify you!
BARD: I rolled a 37 on my Bardic Knowledge check. According to the book, that means I know how many hairs a complete stranger on the other side of the world has in his nose. I'm pretty uch omniscient at this point. What do I know about this mysterious mystery?
DM: *angry glare* Nothing. You didn't roll high enough.
BARD: ...but, but the book...
DM: Rocks fall, you die.

Outside of that, the bard acts as a +1 bot and ranged support (assuming you snag the right feats). This is going to change. I want the bard to be desired in a group. I want their buffs to be meaningful. I was also thinking about giving them debuffs as well. Their spell list is pretty good, so I don't know how much I'd screw with that.

Fighter
The Book of Nine Swords did some awesome stuff for the Fighter types out there. I might just say "Use the Warblade" and be done with it, since the stuff they did in that book was largely what I was thinking about doing (namely, fighting styles and stances). Good job, WotC!

Perhaps make the Barbarian a Fighter class career path?

Ranger
Basically, less Drizzt, more sneaky hunter type. I never really understood the whole Two-Weapon Ranger thing, and their spell list is (like his Paladin brother) kinda crap.

Wizards
I was thinking about giving wizards something similar to Clerical Domains, except with spell schools. This would eliminate School Specializing, which right now is kinda lame (give up a whole spell branch for one more casting per spell level? I don't think so, holmes!).

Also, more skill points per level (either 4+ or 6+). Perhaps merge Wizards and Sorcerors together? Or perhaps just eliminate Sorcerors?

Clerics & Druids
To be honest, I think these classes are just fine the way they are, since they both have plenty of reason to continue on as their base class. Perhaps look into giving the Cleric more "goodies", but honestly these two are on the bottom of the priority list.


Anyway, those are some of the ideas I've been kicking around. If you have any, then please leave me a comment. It will give me something to read when I'm working on it, and I need notes. Otherwise, I'll forget!

Peace!