Class Promotion in TTRPG

[Maya Conti]

So, I've been brainstorming a new TTRPG system that uses class promotion, just like in Fire Emblem games where you promote your characters from lower-tier classes to high-tier classes. Is there any TTRPG that uses class promotion system?

What I've been envisioning is how the characters start and upon reaching certain thresholds, they can promote to any class from a selection of higher-tier classes. For example, there will be basic classes like the following:

Acolyte
Journeyman
Pupil
Recruit

Upon reaching certain levels, these classes (which I dub trainee or rookie classes) can decide which direction to take.

Acolyte
-Cleric/Priest
-Monk
-Paladin/Champion

Journeyman
-Barbarian
-Fighter
-Ranger

Pupil
-Sorcerer
-Warlock
-Wizard

Recruit
-Cavalier
-Paladin/Champion
-Soldier

Keep in mind that this is just a rough outline, and you may have noticed that there's an overlap between Acolyte and Recruit, where both of them are capable of promoting into Paladin/Champion. I'm going to brainstorm more on this system, and if any of you guys have some ideas, feel free to share.

[Lemming23]

Shadow of the demon Lord, Shadow of the weird wizard, wfrp all have a similar system.

[Admin Dirk]

question from the outside, not knowing anything...

is this any different from the current system, except you are naming levels with some title (noun)? (I don't know the Fire Emblem referenced game).

[Maya Conti]

Originally Posted by Admin Dirk

question from the outside, not knowing anything...

is this any different from the current system, except you are naming levels with some title (noun)? (I don't know the Fire Emblem referenced game).

I imagine it's similar to D&D and Pathfinder, only a bit simplified. Also, in order to promote to a higher-tier class, a character needs to reach a certain level first.

For example, let's take Bob, a Journeyman. He can advance up to Level 5, and from there, he gets to choose what class he can promote to. He can become a Barbarian, a Fighter or a Ranger. He will revert back to Level 1, but as a Barbarian or Fighter or Ranger. He will retain some features that he received as a Journeyman.

Also, Level 5 is the bare minimum that qualifies a character to promote into a higher-tier class. Bob can proceed to continue until Level 10, which is the highest level a Journeyman can reach, and from there, he can promote into the more advanced class (Barbarian, Fighter or Ranger). He retains more features from being a Journeyman than those who promote at Level 5.

[orcbane]

There's also an opportunity for forking paths to give each class different middle options toward the ultimate form.

Example:

---------------------Recruit--------------------
--Warrior------Soldier------Mercenary--
-------------------Champion------------------

In this example, a Recruit would either advance to Warrior, Soldier, or Mercenary, based on the player's build wishes or character's in-game activity, before ultimately promoting into a Champion.


Fun!

[Admin Dirk]

So, if I used 3.5 or pathfinder as a frame of reference, this is similar to Prestige Classes...

You went through a base path, and gathered X skills/abilities, and then, you could join this or that Prestige class. And although you COULD become a Knight Errant or something as a magic using apprentice, it was going to take you a lot longer than if you focused on that path from the beginning, and learned to fight better (BAB), wear armor, ride a horse, etc..



Key differences: Fewer base groups in this system to pick from as a start (more like just picking martial, magic, skill, social, divine as starting paths).

3.5 Unearthed Arcana did Generic Classes, which is not quite the same, but you could take from that (expert, spellcaster, warrior), and then pop the normal classes on top at the higher level... take 4 or 5 or 6 classes as Generic, build up some powers and feats and abilities, then morph into the normal classes. I don't think it's a workable concept in play, but...

[bananabadger]

I would echo Lemming’s comments and urge you to take a look at the Shadow of the Demon Lord alternate advancement system. Very similar.

[Squeak]

It sounds to be like you are talking about the AD&D Bard (shiver)... The most worthless and underpowered class in history.

However, I would also point out that the OG (AD&D) had level "titles" similar to what you are referring to. I don't know anyone who actual referred to their PC's unless they were the highest level of Grandmaster of the Flowersmonks or Grandfather of Assassinsassassins, but they were there.

 

Clerics
Alcolyte
Adept
Priest
Curate
Cannon
Lama
Patriarch
High Priest


Rogue
Apprentice
Footpad
Cutpurse
Robber
Burglar
Filcher
Sharper
Magsman
Theif
Master Theif

Monk
Novice
Initiate
Brother
Disciple
Immaculate
Master
Superior Master
Master of the Dragons
Master of the North Wind
Master of the West Wind
Master of the South Wind
Master of the East Wind
Master of Winter
Master of Autumn
Master of Summer
Master of Spring
Grandmaster of the Flowers

[Admin Dirk]

Was the AD&D bard the one you had to have 3 levels in this class, 5 in some other class, and 2 in a third class (or some such), before you became a 1st level bard? Rogue, Fighter and Wizard or something?

It was like a prestige class for multiclass PCs...

I do remember, at a certain level of Druid (like anyone survived a Gygax dungeon long enough to get there), you had to fight the current Druid of that level, and only one could be the 12th level druid, or something. That was AD&D too?

[Squeak]

Yup. 5 in fighter and 5 in thief, but not more than 8 in either.
Had to be human or half elf with crazy high and specific stats.

It was one of the appendices.

[Admin Dirk]

Ah yeah, the stats... I remember those too, now. Back before point buy, where you either rolled crappy, or had to bribe your DM to let you reroll a hundred times. Back when you thought a nice/generous DM was one that let you roll 3d6 six times, and you could put them in ANY order.

[Maya Conti]

Having looked into Shadow of the Demon Lord, I think the system is the most similar to what I have in mind, though there will be several adjustments and stuff like that.