Fatebreaker: Would it be better for you if NPC classes didn't exist, and classless NPCs were designed just as having a racial hit die, or maybe something like 4e where they get a few arbitrary bonuses, but still no class?

In such a scenario, actually gaining a class level would be the thing that sets the PCs apart. It's not a case of "Everyone has a class, these people just picked wrong", it's more along the lines of "Only a very rare and special few people have the talent and experience to gain a class level in the first place"


Alternatively, what if NPC classes were like 3 levels long, and were described as effectively level 0? I've seen some homebrew on these boards for something similar, where basically NPC classes represent the average person, but by the time you gain a real class level, those NPC levels are irrelevant. (Going this route people who like really low powered gritty games could play through this tier, with their characters struggling to survive to hit level 1)