[Poll] Fifth Edition Horror Roleplaying System Classes

I think D&D 5e class system would be good, but for good alignment use cops, priests, doctors (as mentioned above), neutral can be non-hero, non-villain characters (scientists, etc.), and evil could be horror-based characters (Freddy, Jason, Michael, for example), to allow the more devious player to wreak havoc. (I’ve got a couple of those in my games.)

I've been GMing a Pathfinder group running the Strange Aeons (lovecraftian) path and would love to see something along those lines. I'm using the Horror adventures and Occult Adventures PF rule supplements. So maybe adding on mediums and occultists, that sort of thing?

David Geary

If you want to leave the more traditional classes behind, move to a d20 Modern approach - with pseudo-classes based on stats. While I think of it, I think the upcoming Stargate 5E RPG uses the "classes only apply for the first few levels" approach, but I've not seen the ruleset yet.

Steve Cansdale

Yeah, I dig what you're saying. It's weird that 3rd edition's CoC had the single leveled class. Not sure why they didn't just try to break the class system.

DM Dave

If you truly want to create new horror classes then moving away from the traditional 5e classes makes the most sense. We will have to learn new skills and stats for these new classes but that is part of the fun of creating and exploring a new world of adventures.

I picked Other but actually I do want you to have a 5e Class system  - but purposefully VERY limited. Like maybe you can adapt the "non-magic" classes to the modern setting -Fighter, Rogue, Barbarian - so these archetypical physically skilled classes are suddenly dealing with challenges which can't be easily solved with physical skills. Or vice versa, maybe it's an 'oh shit where did these weird magical powers come from' sort of narrative and the characters are discovering that they're a Druid or a Sorcerer or a Warlock, etc. Maybe they have magic powers but they don't understand why or how they got them, or are having a hard time really comprehending what's happening to them and how to use these new powers. For me the appeal of horror is the tension and suspense that comes from seeing characters with limited resources dealing against overwhelming obstacles, either personal or external. So anything that leans into that experience is very exciting to me!

I think it's wrong to say that CoC is classless. CoC has Occupations that shape the initial Investigator build and, to a lesser extent, their ongoing development. What CoC *DOES* lack is the concept of fixed levels - once out in the field, an Investigator tends to "grow organically". By that, I mean that the adventures they play end up shaping what skills they advance. If we stay with the 5e concepts of Levels and Classes, then perhaps we say that the Class (and this would be things like Scientist, Adventurer, Noble, etc. with subclasses that add flavor, like Doctor or Surgeon for Scientist; Race Car Driver for Adventurer, etc.) shapes the skills they focus on for, say, the first three levels. At level 4, the Class no longer applies (or, perhaps, choosing skills/feats/etc. from within the Class is cheaper somehow) and everything is available for choice. How does that sound? One final thought, the concept of Levels helps when you are trying to balance encounters with enemies. In CoC, it's more than likely that any Mythos creature encountered will kill you but you might (or might not) be able to take on the cultists.

Steve Cansdale

Oh yeah, for sure

DM Dave

I chose D&D 5e system, but I hope you change the names. Cleric => Doctor or Priest (sub-types?); Fighter => Thug or Boxer; Paladin => Police Officer; etc.