We've Got No Class - Optional 2.1 Upgrade Patch

I asked some cool, talented people (James Young of Ten Foot Polemic being among them) to take a look at my variation on the "classless LotFP" concept, and they suggested a possible minor revision. If you like the overall idea, but you think there's too much incentive for every character to take one level of each path and then stick to one path after that, then maybe this small change will help.

We've Got No Class v2.1

Consider everything to be exactly the same as in the last version except for the following.

Choosing Paths
Before selecting a Path, every character begins with:

• A +1 base attack bonus
• A 16 in each saving throw category
• 2 skill points to expend
• The fighter's combat options (Press, Defensive Fighting, and the +4 version of Parry)
• The fighter's firearm rules (per Rules & Magic p. 159 and 161)
• The ability to perform general magical operations (like transcribing spells, researching spells, and crafting magic items) as per Rules & Magic p. 79-83 and the front endpapers of Vaginas are Magic.

Proficiency Path

• The first level in this path grants you one free set of specialist's tools.*
• Gain 2 Skill Points to expend.
• Gain 4 HP (plus or minus your Constitution modifier if applicable).
• Gain 2 Saving Throw Points to deduct from the saving throw(s) of your choice.

Casting Path

• The first level in this path grants you one free spellbook.*
• Gain 1 Spell Slot (use the Vaginas Are Magic rules).
• Gain 1 random spell to transcribe into a spellbook once at no cost.  (You can also learn spells through adventuring and study, as usual.)**
• If a spell has an effect that varies by caster level, only count your Casting Path levels, not your total number of levels.
• Magic-User and Cleric spells are one and the same.
• Gain 4 HP (plus or minus your Constitution modifier if applicable).
• Gain 1 Saving Throw Point to deduct from the saving throw of your choice.

Fighting Path

• The first level in this path grants you one free weapon, shield, or suit of armor worth up to 50 silver pieces in value.*
• Roll once on the Fighting Path Bonus Table (see the previous post).
• Gain 8 HP (plus or minus your Constitution modifier if applicable).
• Gain 1 Saving Throw Point to deduct from the saving throw of your choice.

A Note On Casting Spells

If you have no Casting Path levels, you can still attempt to cast spells directly from a book or scroll, but you cannot memorize a spell for later use (i.e. to cast it without the text right in front of you), and you must always make a successful saving throw vs. magic or else suffer a Miscast as per Vaginas Are Magic. Such spells are cast as if by a first level magic-user. If the caster is holding the text (rather than setting it on a table in front of them, for example), they take a -1 penalty to this saving throw because they do not have both hands free to perform the appropriate gestures. Other "risky casting" penalties may apply.

Optional Hard Mode Rules

• *Financial Hard Mode: Ignore every line marked by a single asterisk.
• **Arcane Hard Mode: Ignore the line marked with double asterisks. Instead, the first Casting Path level grants 3 random spells to transcribe into a spellbook once at no cost, and subsequent Casting Path levels grant no such additional random spells.