Replacing the background-based rookies, or level 0 characters, these are class-based rookies. These level 0 characters function exactly the same as regular rookies. The only difference is that they gain a minor class feature. This is not compatible with the variant of starting cantrips, as the spellcasting classes gain access to some spells. The table below lists the important class information you will need to create your character:
| Class | Hit Points | Hit Die | Armor | Weapons | Class Features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artificer | 5 + CON Mod | 1d6 | Light, Medium | Simple Melee, Martial Ranged | One 1st level Artificer Ritual | |
| Barbarian | 7 + CON Mod | 1d10 | Light, Medium | All Melee | One Rage per Long Rest | |
| Bard | 5 + CON Mod | 1d6 | Light | Simple | 1 Expertise, 1 Bard Cantrip | |
| Cleric | 5 + CON Mod | 1d6 | Light, Medium | Simple | Healing Word once per long rest, 1 Cleric Cantrip | |
| Druid | 5 + CON Mod | 1d6 | Light | Simple | Druidcraft, one 1st level Druid spell and spell slot | |
| Fighter | 6 + CON Mod | 1d8 | All Armor | All Weapons | Second Wind (1d6) | |
| Monk | 5 + CON Mod | 1d6 | Light | Simple | Martial Arts | |
| Paladin | 6 + CON Mod | 1d8 | Light, Medium | All Weapons | One 1st level 'smite' spell and spell slot | |
| Ranger | 6 + CON Mod | 1d8 | Light, Medium | All Weapons | Hunter's Mark once per long rest | |
| Rogue | 5 + CON Mod | 1d6 | Light | Simple | 1d4 Sneak Attack | |
| Sorcerer | 4 + CON Mod | 1d4 | None | Daggers | 2 Sorcerer Cantrips | |
| Warlock | 5 + CON Mod | 1d6 | Light | Simple | One 1st level Warlock spell and spell slot, refreshes on short rest | |
| Wizard | 4 + CON Mod | 1d4 | None | Daggers | 1 Wizard cantrip, two 1st level Wizard spells and one spell slot | |
For spell save DCs and to-hit bonuses of spells, refer to the class' feature.
Variant: Beyond Level 0
When you first level up, do not replace your HP and hit dice with the 1st level stats. Instead, treat 1st level like a ‘level after the first’ in determining extra HP, and simply add a new hit die of the separate size. As well, you keep your level 0 feature, adding it to your 1st level features, with some minor changes and accommodations for 1st level. Interpret this as the following:
- Artificer: The same ritual spell, does not count against spells known. You may cast it as either a ritual or use a spell slot as normal.
- Barbarian: 1 additional Rage.
- Bard: Same expertise and cantrip, cantrip does not count against cantrips known.
- Cleric: 1 use of Healing Word per long rest, and the same cantrip which does not count against cantrips known.
- Druid: 1 additional spell slot, and Druidcraft does not count against cantrips known.
- Fighter: An additional use of Second Wind, except the other use is 1d6.
- Monk: Gains the Ki feature 1 level early with 1 Ki.
- Paladin: The ‘smite’ spell does not count against spells known and you gain the spellcasting feature with 1 spell slot.
- Ranger: Can cast Hunter’s Mark once per long rest without expending a spell slot.
- Rogue: Sneak Attack does 1d4 extra damage.
- Sorcerer: The two same cantrips do not count against cantrips known.
- Warlock: One 1st level spell slot which does not scale with other spell slots, and the warlock spell does not count against spells known.
- Wizard: The cantrip and two wizard spells do not count against spells/cantrips known, and you have one additional spell slot of 1st level.
Variant: Class Compendium Warlock
While you could have a separate spell that refreshes on short rests, you could also use this variant of the Warlock Level 0 Class Feature:
- Warlock: Gain one 1st level Warlock spell and spell slot. You can refresh this spell by spending a hit die of any type.
If you use this, you can also use this ‘Beyond Level 0’ feature:
- Warlock: One 1st level spell slot which does not scale with other spell slots, and the warlock spell does not count against spells known. You can only refresh this spell by spending a hit die of any type.
