D&D General Which of these should be core classes for D&D?

[Scribe]

we can't really make orcs as pure evil monsters any more

Of course you can.

 

[Lanefan]

so broadly it should mostly be relevant outside of clearly defined areas such as diplomacy and those two-hour shopping sessions some people have.

Depends on concept. For some characters, the player's concept might be at its most relevant during diplomacy events and shopping trips.

And we are talking mechanics here, not personality. A character's personality is (one hopes!) front and centre whenever it's in play, and doesn't need mechanical backup. If I'm playing dark-and-broody guy it doesn't matter what class he is or what the specific adventure involves; same if I'm playing a bubble-headed goofball who lives life on a whim.

But mechanically, some characters aren't good fits for some situations. A Fighter may not relish a diplomacy mission. An Illusionist or Psion isn't going to have much fun in an adventure where all the foes are mindless. An old-school Thief isn't often of much use in a straight-up open-field punchfest. And so on. And it's this sometimes-lack-of-fit that I'm saying is not only acceptable, but also somewhat realistic.

 

[Reynard]

Of course you can.

WotC won't, and for good reason, but what you do at your table belongs to.your table.

D&D, as a hobby and community, would be much healthier and better off if it realized that what WotC does or doesn't do has next to no impact on your dedicated home game. At this point, you don't need to ever buy a WotC book again even if you want to continue to play 5E into perpetuity. Don't worry about it.

 

[Scribe]

WotC won't, and for good reason, but what you do at your table belongs to.your table.

D&D, as a hobby and community, would be much healthier and better off if it realized that what WotC does or doesn't do has next to no impact on your dedicated home game. At this point, you don't need to ever buy a WotC book again even if you want to continue to play 5E into perpetuity. Don't worry about it.

Oh sure, WoTC wont, but thats on them. For people to suggest the rest of the world cannot have evil orcs?

That just doesnt work.

 

[Reynard]

Oh sure, WoTC wont, but thats on them. For people to suggest the rest of the world cannot have evil orcs?

That just doesnt work.

I concur, just to be clear. Evil "orcs" (meaning any number of such categories of being) are great.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

As soon as they let orcs be player characters, the 'always evil' was never going to work.

If they want some violent and low intelligence species that raids and eats human/elf/dwarf settlements using primitive weapons, it cannot be a playable species.

 

[Reynard]

As soon as they let orcs be player characters, the 'always evil' was never going to work.

If they want some violent and low intelligence species that raids and eats human/elf/dwarf settlements using primitive weapons, it cannot be a playable species.

The point is there is a difference between "they" and "you." WotC cannot stop you from continuing to use orcs (or whatever) as stock killable enemies, and probably doesn't care to try. If you want evil orcs, use evil orcs.

 

[Micah Sweet]

As soon as they let orcs be player characters, the 'always evil' was never going to work.

If they want some violent and low intelligence species that raids and eats human/elf/dwarf settlements using primitive weapons, it cannot be a playable species.

Not for current day WotC anyway.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I concur, just to be clear. Evil "orcs" (meaning any number of such categories of being) are great.

Not really, no.

Having goals and desires and motivation instead of just being evil because the writer is unmotivated is great.

 

[Vaalingrade]

And it's this sometimes-lack-of-fit that I'm saying is not only acceptable, but also somewhat realistic.

But I'm playing a fantasy game telling a story. 'Realistic' is set dressing at best; reserved for when I'm out of floating islands and glowing crystals with horse sized housecats roaming around as mobile sofas-slash-mousers for a wombats that infest the place.