D&D 5E The classes of 5e (now with 90% less speculation)

[Ainamacar]

Well, maybe only 50% less speculation.

This quote is from the DDXP seminar earlier today.

The goal at the moment is to include all the classes that we're [sic] in the first PH style book for each edition. No word on other classes yet.

As far as I know that's the most concrete info we've obtained for the expected expanse of PH content. Many classes were already known from explicit mention, of course.

If that and Wikipedia can be trusted, that means all the following will hopefully be supported in one way or another from the start (forgive some of the hazier attributions):
Assassin [1e subclass, kinda 3e (prestige class)]
Barbarian [3e]
Bard [1e, 2e, 3e]
Cleric [0e, 1e, 2e, 3e, 4e, Basic]
Druid [1e subclass, 2e, 3e, Basic]
Dwarf [Basic]
Elf [Basic]
Fighter [1e, 2e, 3e, 4e, Basic]
Fighting-Man [0e]
Halfling [Basic]
Illusionist [1e subclass, 2e subclass, 3e subclass]
Mage [2e subclass]
Magic-User [0e, 1e, Basic]
Monk [1e, 3e]
Mystic [Basic]
Paladin [1e subclass, 2e, 3e, 4e]
Priest [2e class group]
Ranger [1e, 2e, 3e, 4e]
Rogue [2e class group, 3e, 4e]
Sorcerer [3e]
Specialist wizard other than Illusionist [2e subclass, 3e subclass]
Thief [1e, 2e, Basic]
Warlock [4e]
Warlord [4e]
Warrior [2e class group, kinda 3e as an NPC class...]
Wizard [2e class group, 3e, 4e]

Obviously many of these will map to the same class in 5e (just as they did in past editions), with different packages of one sort or another. It also isn't clear whether subclasses are reckoned as classes for the purpose of their statement.

Given what we know, how would you break this down in the 5e PHB or equivalent?

 

[Sammael]

Don't forget the specifically called-out Priest class, which will be different than the Cleric. Priests were present in 2nd edition.

 

[Gryph]

You left off Ranger.

 

[Dannager]

I'm also going to guess that "Dwarf", "Elf", and "Halfling" will not make it onto the list of 5e classes.

 

[mcintma]

As a vet I love the flexibility of having all these classes, but my fear is 1) new players will be overwhelmed by this large list and 2) the 5e PHB will be HUGE

 

[avin]

Halfling? Oh God please no

I can live with that but, please, no

 

[RandomCitizenX]

And Rogue

 

[TwinBahamut]

As a vet I love the flexibility of having all these classes, but my fear is 1) new players will be overwhelmed by this large list and 2) the 5e PHB will be HUGE

I'm not sure if either of those are really problems...

For the first, I think new players find large class lists to be just as exciting as older players do. Don't underestimate new players.

For the second, I'm not sure if that will be necessary, either. It would if they wanted to make large lists of class powers like they did in 4E, but a more compressed method of class design could easily allow for large numbers of classes in a single book. I mean, in 3E classes were easily the most compact form of character choice in terms of page count. Feats and spells took up far more space.

 

[Sammael]

Well, maybe only 50% less speculation. Given what we know, how would you break this down in the 5e PHB or equivalent?

IMO, the class list is way too long as is. I am in favor of fewer classes and more specialized builds, but this is obviously not how they are approaching it. Still, I think we'll see the following:

Dwarf
Elf
Halfling

Assassin
Barbarian
Bard
Cleric
Druid
Fighter
Mage (wizard specializations will be a "further customization" option)
Monk
Paladin
Priest
Ranger
Rogue (Thief will be a specific build)
Sorcerer
Thief
Warlock
Warlord

That's 19 classes.

 

[TwinBahamut]

Reorganizing that list in the first post, and adding some of my guesses and some references, we'd come at a class list that looks something like this:

Normal Classes:

Assassin
Barbarian
Bard
Cleric
Druid
Fighter
Monk
Paladin
Priest
Ranger
Rogue
Sorcerer
Warlock
Warlord
Wizard

Racial Classes:

Dwarf
Elf
Halfling
+ Unknown Number of Others (I believe Tiefling was mentioned, at least)

Overall it is not a bad list, though I do hope they add a few more here and there.