rgrnwood:
I noticed that 5e D&D starting setting up relative values for different parts of the system (1 feat = 2 Attribute points = 3 skill proficiencies = some class features that are also feats, etc.) This got me thinking: What if 5e was a classless, point-buy system? What if you could build your own class as you went by spending XP r each class feature?
For example: you could purchase the extra attack of a fighter and the Eldritch Blast cantrip, but you would have no armor proficiency unless you purchased that later on. You could be a cleric with the mechanics of a warlock, or a wizard with the spell slots of a sorcerer.
Thoughts?
I think that character classes are
so deeply ingrained in D&D, that if you remove classes, the resulting game isn't really D&D any more. As an analogy: Tennis isn't tennis if you don't have a net in the middle of the court, right?
If you're not worried about losing the "D&D-ness" of D&D, then sure—
why not go for point-buy mechanics? You could do worse than look at existing fantasy RPGs with point-buy mechanics; Fantasy Hero (the fantasy-flavored version of Hero System) is the one which first occurs to me, and there's any number of others, as well.