WOTC recently released the second version of the hybrid character playtest on D&D insider [review]. A hybrid is basically a character with two special, weaker classes combined, making her “whole”, for example a hybrid fighter + cleric.
That sent me thinking. What about using these weak classes for something else? In D&D you start out as a hero on level 1. What if you started out as a wannabe hero, or hero to be? I think that would be awesome! This can be the basis for many a exciting campaign, where the players start out as underdogs and progress quickly. Now, the players shouldn’t stay at level 0 for long, that might be boring. I’d say one or two game sessions at level 0 is about right. As a bonus, this also makes it easier for new players to try D&D, as there won’t be that many options to understand and consider.
On to the mechanics!
This is beautifully simple – choose one hybrid class and one “at-will” and “encounter” power. That’s basically it!
Round fractions up, so that 7.5 hit points become 8. Also, all your stats are at -1 (choose ability points like normal, then subtract 1 from each of them).
Suggested starting money: 50 gold. After 500 XP you level up and turn into a proper level 1 character of the same class, meaning your ability scores, hit points, healing surges, class features, powers, etc. all improve. You could also level up as a hybrid.
The example
Meet Jogeir, the level 0 human fighter:
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, leather, hide, chainmail, scale; light shield, heavy shield
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, military melee, simple ranged, military ranged
Bonus to Defense: +1 Fortitude
Hit Points: 9
Healing Surges per Day: 5
Trained Skills: Athletics, Heal, Streetwise
Class Features: Combat Challenge (hybrid)
Ability scores: 17,15,12,11,10,9
At-will: Cleave
Encounter power: Passing attack
Feat: Human perseverance
Less is more, want more?
A humorous twist might be to let the level 0 characters have 1 hitpoint, like minions do. Then you could go all the way, letting them play normal people – peasants, clerks and so, with only improvised weapons and no training at all 
Tags: 4th edition, Rules
June 19th, 2009 at 00:03
I really like using the hybrid idea for support of a neophyte tier. However I think something closer to a whole tier of 10 levels would be cool even if all of 10 levels of neophytism is to much.
Maybe that 0 level without even a hybrid. Then the hybrid stuff, then they get powers, then the other half, then the rest of their powers. Thats, like, 5 levels right there. I’d give em a fifth of their hit points and an equivalent negative modifier to their rolls. So a -5th level would have a -2 to all attempts.
June 19th, 2009 at 00:48
0-level characters can be a lot of fun. Goodman Games has a great adventure where six 0-level characters go up against an ogre. It’s a lot of fun to play and requires a lot of creativity. I’ve run it for a few groups and everyone loved it.
http://www.goodman-games.com/5100preview.html