Guessing - Most and least played classes

[abirdcall]

It has been said that the Ranger is the 4th least played class. What are your guesses for the ranking in popularity among the 15 million+ players in NA?

I am most curious about what people think are the 3 least played classes. I think all of the classes are fairly close to each other. I think even the least played one has adequate representation.

From most played to least:

1. Rogue
2. Fighter
3. Cleric

4. Barbarian
5. Sorcerer
6. Paladin

7. Bard
8. Warlock
9. Ranger

10. Druid
11. Monk
12. Wizard

I think the biggest divide is between the top 6 to the bottom 6. I believe the "arcane" casters are less individually represented because there are so many of them.

#12 -Wizard because they are about spell options rather than power. This makes for more bookkeeping and complication. More importantly they are the most 'vanilla' of the casters for theme. Also people like Charisma more than Intelligence because they have more input in the Social Interaction pillar.

#11 - Monk is complicated, doesn't have direct power, and a niche theme.

#10 - Druid because when people want a nature oriented character they think of survival and tracking skills like the Ranger for theme. They still do like being a bear though.

 

[Ashrym]

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-your-dd-character-rare/

Fighter
Rogue
Wizard

Barbarian
Cleric
Ranger

Paladin
Warlock
Monk

Bard
Sorcerer
Druid

 

[abirdcall]

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-your-dd-character-rare/

Is D&D beyond reliable information for this?

It lists Ranger as #6 but we know Ranger is #9.

 

[Ashrym]

[MENTION=6748898]ad_hoc[/MENTION] It looks like a good sampling. What is the statistic data for Ranger at 9th?

 

[StormbringerAUS]

Since I have been running 5e campaigns this is the breakdown of characters to have played (it is a Homebrew campaign - there have been 3 different groups - 6 players and only 3 multi classes

Fighter 6 (2 Eldritch Knights, 2 Battlemaster, Cavalier, Champion)
Bard 3 (Lore, Glamour, Valor)
Cleric 3 (Light multiclassed with Eldritch Knight, Trickster, Forge)
Rogue 3 (2 Arcane Trickster - one multi classed to wizard, 1 assassin multiclassed with Monk)
Wizard 2 (War, Illusionist - multiclassed with rogue).
Barbarian 2 (path of the bear, zealot)
Sorcerer 2 (Divine , Wild multiclassed with Ranger)
Monk 2 (Way of the Hand, Shadow - multiclassed with Assassin)
Warlock 1 (Celestial)
Druid 1 (Dream)
Ranger 1 (Horizon Walker - multiclassed with Wild Sorcerer)
Paladin 0

I don't think any of them have played a Paladin as they get stuck in stereo typical LG AD&D version. Most any player has had is 4 characters and only player to repeat is the Eldritch Knight. Seems like none really want a straight wizard (well 1) preferring other casting types with a more other skills (at least perceived ones)

 

[abirdcall]

[MENTION=6748898]ad_hoc[/MENTION] It looks like a good sampling. What is the statistic data for Ranger at 9th?

It was a tweet. Rereading the tweet by Jeremy Crawford. I actually got it wrong. It just states that Ranger isn't one of the bottom 3. Though if it was top half then that probably would have been mentioned. He states that the Ranger isn't in the bottom third. So probably #7-9.

Yeah, it is a sampling for sure. The only thing is that the players who use D&D Beyond may be very different than the sorts of players in the player base as a whole.

At any rate looks like I am way off about the Wizard.

 

[Rabulias]

EDIT: Nevermind... it's the same data as linked earlier. Nothing to see here...

 

[Ashrym]

[MENTION=6748898]ad_hoc[/MENTION] IIRC the WOTC survey way had rangers at 7th spot. I cannot find that old link but http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/dd-survey-results-summary shows:

Fighter
Cleric
Rogue
Wizard
Paladin
Warlock

with druid also in last. What I linked earlier is per 100000 and more recent, however.

In any case, rangers don't top popularity or end in the bottom.

 

[abirdcall]

[MENTION=6748898]ad_hoc[/MENTION] IIRC the WOTC survey way had rangers at 7th spot. I cannot find that old link but http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/dd-survey-results-summary shows:

Fighter
Cleric
Rogue
Wizard
Paladin
Warlock

with druid also in last. What I linked earlier is per 100000 and more recent, however.

In any case, rangers don't top popularity or end in the bottom.

Oh for sure about the Rangers. That was brought up in a point in another thread which got me thinking about where the other classes are. A key thing discussed in that thread is how much the player base has changed since 2014. As WotC old stance was that people weren't satisfied with the Ranger but now they are.

The conclusion of this discussion might just be that it doesn't really matter who is on the bottom as they are all close enough together.

In that D&D Beyond data you posted the Druid is still 50% of the first place Fighter. It is also nice to see that the core 4 take 4 of the top 5 spots. Only the Cleric is edged out by the Barbarian.

That being said it is a year old. And that is a character creation tool only right? So is it possible that a few people are making a bunch of characters in various ways to see how they will work? I don't know much about D&D Beyond.

I wonder if there are any outliers

 

[Cyan Wisp]

Just for a different, unbidden, perspective, I've been running multiple games for years at school (I'm a teacher).

We have played 5e since 2015 . Children tend to go for things that trigger their imaginations and are largely ignorant of the mechanics of class powers or weaknesses, so...

Most played to least played by 7-10 year olds (about equally male or female):

#1: Moon Druids. By far.

#2: Rogues (usually assassins). Blame Assassin's Creed, probably
#3: Monks. It's the kung fu, Avatar thing.
#4: Sorcerers. Could be the artwork.
#5: Barbarians, especially Eagle totem.
#6: Rangers.
#7: Wizards.
#8: Paladins.
#9: Bards.
#10: Fighters.
#11: Warlocks. Eyes glaze over at the description.
#12: Clerics. No takers.