If this is 'lots of classes' and not 'lots of build options' then chalk me up for 'lots of classes'.My favorite approach is 3E/PF. I do think there is a ton of work to do to make it more balanced and functional, but I love the endless possibilities. I like multiclassing, prestige classing, and especially archetypes. So, I guess this puts me in the lots of class bucket?
What would your ideal Wizard class look like?Wizard is certainly one of the worst class designs in 5E. It almost feels like something from another edition, or a poorly-conceived fanwork.
Not that it's not powerful. It just doesn't fit well with the other classes, particularly the approach it takes to subclasses is not good.
I liked that 4e separated the 'Robes and Holy Lazer' Cleric into the Invoker and kept the Cleric more focused on the 'Smash the Undead with a mace" guy. I feel like the 5e Cleric is really really boring because of how generic and wide it is. All the best options are good all the time so you have this pressure to always end up with the same spell list and the melee options are pretty terrible.Snowflake unicorn. I want about 20 classes- each with subclases, several with customizable feature, and further optional customization via feats and skill points
edit: Regardig fullcasters, for starters, imo, the Cleric needs a much smaller general base list (and split into two or three classes) and wizards need to be broken down into more thematic classes or have more thematic spell lists based upon school/specialization
What even is a 'Build'? In any case, you would prefer narrower classes without choices, then? Like, you would just pick your aesthetic and then have very few things to decide as you level up. Including spell lists. You'd "I want to play a great archer" and then BOOM, pick the Archer class. "I want to be a ninja" BOOM! Ninja class! "I want to use magic to heal people" and then BOOM there's a class for that. Then any choices are minor (think Totem Barbarian totem choice in term of complexity here).I really dislike the notion of ”builds”. So neither. Roll stats, pick a race and class, then start playing inside of 5-10 minutes. You decide what gear to buy and what magic items to keep.
Think of it as a design goal, do you want to lower the number of classes as much as possible, or simplify the number of choices needed to obtain a specific aesthetic. Do you want a generic spell caster where you CAN build a Pyromancer, or would you like to have 'Pyromancer' as a pre-buildt kit with a few decision points you can just pick out and go.Depends on what "few" means. How few we talking? I'm leaning toward the few with broad build options, but my "few" may be a little bit north of 10.
Then what's the point of classes? Why not just a fantasy Mutants & Mastermind?Few classes, a TON of choices, and ZERO niche protection. To the point where we should just not have wizards because they're were so much demand for niche protection comes from.
When I see build, I think ofWhat even is a 'Build'?