Talk:Boy Scout (3.5e Class)

Whack! You've been slapped around a bit with a large trout. Don't take this too seriously. Someone just wants to let you know you did something silly.

Hit Dice

I like the idea, it's really funny, and something not many people would think of. Mostly well done class. I think I'd play one. My only change as of yet, would be to reduce the hit dice to a d8. The high hit dice doesn't really make sense for a class that doesn't go into combat much, but obviously you want the idea to be that the Boy Scout is a hardy character. So a d8 works much better.--Janwulf 19:33, 27 August 2008 (MDT)

Concept

At first I saw the name and said "Dear God, no...", but I kept reading, and I realized that nobody's ever done this kind of wilderness-oriented skillmonkey. I know, the CA's scout comes close, but still... -- Mythos 19:02, 30 June 2009 (MDT)

Rating

Power - 0/5 That's right, zero! At first glance, this class looks great. You see it loaded with class features, all of which are useful. I even went so far as to play one. At the first encounter, I realized the fatal flaw: this class has no class features that make it useful in combat. None. Improvised weapon proficiency is not useful when you can simply use a normal weapon. The only thing that can be used offensively in combat is the If I Were Not a Boy Scout feature, and that comes at a very late level. All of its non-defensive features are very conditional, and will rarely come up in the game (and will never come up in combat). --Daniel Draco 19:21, 30 June 2009 (MDT)

Wording - 5/5 No complaints here, it's quite clear. --Daniel Draco 19:21, 30 June 2009 (MDT)

Formatting - 5/5 Formatted very well. --Daniel Draco 19:21, 30 June 2009 (MDT)

Flavor - 4/5 It's not the most original or unique thing, but it's passably flavorful. --Daniel Draco 19:21, 30 June 2009 (MDT)

Combat

God forbid a class should not have a combat-oriented class feature... You know, not every class has to be in combat all the time. There are plenty of things to do in D&D besides just combat. Or did it all just become "kick in the door" play style from here on out? -- Mythos 10:27, 2 July 2009 (MDT)

Wait, you mean that's not how you're supposed to play? All kidding aside, combat is an integral part of DnD. The fact that the Boy Scout receives no armor or shield proficiencies seriously hurts him in the combat department. He can attack all right (and you could make a case for him getting full BAB and still being perfectly balanced) and has okay hit dice, but no armor is a serious pain in the ass. It more or less relegates him to ranged support, and honestly, in that capacity he's not worth having over other options, maybe even a bard, which is saying a lot. -- Jota 11:07, 2 July 2009 (MDT)

Except that his other abilities ALSO tend to be pretty much worthless. Notice that at level 19, he can spend some limited-use abilities to get the ability to auto-pass a DC 20 skill check in a skill he specializes in. How often do you think he was failing that in the first place? Dragon Child 13:38, 2 July 2009 (MDT)

Certainly it doesn't have to be all combat all the time. However, it IS combat a lot of the time, and the boy scout should be able to do SOMETHING during that time. --Daniel Draco 22:57, 2 July 2009 (MDT)

You could always add a feature or two to that end. Assuming Dude Bob agrees. Or you could just complain. -- Mythos 12:41, 3 July 2009 (MDT)

It's not the end that needs it, it's the entire thing. In fact, I'd say it needs a complete rewrite, especially looking at some of the later class features. But it's not "complaining" - it's being honest, and saying what's wrong with the class. Usually, it's more polite to critique the class than just go rewriting it alltogether, which a lot of people don't like. Dragon Child 13:26, 3 July 2009 (MDT)

Way ahead of you (sort of). Given all the criticism this class took recently, I decided to try to cook up a more combat-capable (while still being mostly faithful to this class and its inspiration - the BSA). Given what scouting is, more or less, the idea was to give a few core abilities and then free-form it in terms of offering a selection of merit badges that function either as spheres (Tome material) or feats (again, Tome material). Now, given that you want people to have options, I am nowhere near done (eight merit badges complete, figure I need at least 20 or so depending on how many the class offers - haven't worked that out yet). Anyway, I was working on something else with Cid, although this may take precedence as I seem to be on a roll. -- Jota 13:41, 3 July 2009 (MDT)

I'm a Boy Scout, and I have done just fine without armour or weapon proficiencies; although I have, admitably, never had to nor wanted to slay any sort of monster.

Rating

Power - 3/5 I give this class a 3 out of 5 because it can certainly be a combatant, just wish I could use armor. --Eonir777 00:15, 3 July 2009 (MDT)

Explain how it could EVER be a combatant. How can a level 5 boyscout fight and kill a CR 5 monster? Level 20 boyscout can kill a CR 20 balor? Doubt it. I bet a level X of these can't even beat an equal-level FIGHTER. In other words... prove your statement, because it seems to be BS. Dragon Child 00:18, 3 July 2009 (MDT)

Wording - 5/5 I give this class a 5 out of 5 because the class was perfectly fine to read. --Eonir777 00:15, 3 July 2009 (MDT)

Formatting - 2/5 I give this class a 2 out of 5 because once I got down into the meat of the class abilities it got kind of hard to concentrate. There were words everywhere. Some blank space would be nice. --Eonir777 00:15, 3 July 2009 (MDT)

Flavor - 5/5 I give this class a 5 out of 5 because I think its funny and original. And actually playable. Great job dude! --Eonir777 00:15, 3 July 2009 (MDT)

Just a small thing

In the interest of being true to reality here, I'd suggest that in addition to the requirement that the character be male, the character must also worship a god, as the BSA believes that no one can be truly moral without believing in a creator god. Doesn't matter which one, really, as along as the character worships one.

The class looks great otherwise.

Rating

Power - 2/5 I give this class a 2 out of 5 because <<<It's kind of even more of a "talky generalist" than the Bard!>>> --173.88.186.173 08:09, 28 August 2009 (MDT)

Wording - <<<5>>>/5 I give this class a 5 out of 5 because It's dang, dang funny. And my brother is already level 14 or 15. --173.88.186.173 08:09, 28 August 2009 (MDT)

Formatting - 3/5 I give this class a 3 out of 5 because needs a little work on the history and etc. --173.88.186.173 08:09, 28 August 2009 (MDT)

Flavor - <<<5>>>/5 I give this class a 5 out of 5 because It's dang, dang funny. And my brother is already level 14 or 15. --173.88.186.173 08:09, 28 August 2009 (MDT)

Badges

Could you treat the badges as bonus feats? --Redrum 17:15, 4 January 2017 (MST)

Concept

As a rank beginner to D&D, the only thing I can suggest is a reconsideration of the restriction on alignment. Speaking as a Scoutmaster, I can assure you that Boy Scouts can fit the chaotic alignment all too well...