Shadowdark Western Reaches Stretch Goal: New Classes

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Kelsey on the livestream seemed unsure of how to incorporate rune magic into Shadowdark, so at the moment, she doesn't seem fired up about the idea.

A 5E-style artificer seems way too high magic for her and Shadowdark, although an alchemist would probably work.

At this moment, I would bet on a Conan-style barbarian and either a necromancer or an alchemist, but I think we've gone through most of the spellcaster archetypes, given that "druid" spells are being added to neutral wizards in the River of Night issue of Cursed Scroll.

 

[WanderingMystic]

I am sorry to have missed it.

Alchemist would be a nice class you could do it like the ranger or the plague doctor where you don't have spells you just have a list of concoctions you can make.

I just don't see how a Conan style barbarian is any different that the sea wolf or the warrior class we already have. How can you make a martial character that won't step on one or both of those classes toes that is like a barbarian.

 

[WanderingMystic]

I personally wouldn't mind a pet class

 

[Sacrosanct]

If Barbarian wins, I really hope she doesn't use a "rage x times per day" mechanic. In fact I hope she minimizes combat effectiveness, and instead focuses on other 'flavors'.

I'm not Kelsey, obviously, and am not in her mind, but this is how I did a barbarian class for HORDE.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I just don't see how a Conan style barbarian is any different that the sea wolf or the warrior class we already have. How can you make a martial character that won't step on one or both of those classes toes that is like a barbarian.

A lightly armored warrior with some thief abilities. Essentially a multiclass character for people who want one.

 

[Scribe]

Yeah, I would lean into Conan, less 5e version which seems closer to Pit Fighter.

 

[VenerableBede]

If it were possible for Shadowdark to have a class that's focused around a minion—whether that be a martial "beast master" or a spellcaster "summoner"—I'm always interested in seeing how systems can handle that archetype. Pet masters and puppet masters are some of my favorite concepts, and while pet masters often feel same-y, taking minions in a magical direction wildly opens up possibilities.

Yes, it would need to be carefully handled—have two characters to control grants a lot of additional power and action economy, and infinite minions are a bad idea because that more-or-less nullifies many traps. There would need to be a tight balancing of resources.

But if pets/minions are not going to be a thing, I'm in the camp most interested in a Paladin sort of class for Martial—although, truthfully, it could be handled through an addition to the spell list of the Priest class, kind of like how Druids and Sorcerers are just wizards with additional spells added to their lists. For spell caster, I'd love to see something in a conceptual space similar to the Wyrdling but applied to spells—a super weird, kinda gross mutant psion would fit that bill (although I have no idea if it would be appreciated by the fans clamoring for a psionicist). If not a psionicist, then maybe an alienist.

 

[overgeeked]

If it were possible for Shadowdark to have a class that's focused around a minion—whether that be a martial "beast master" or a spellcaster "summoner"—I'm always interested in seeing how systems can handle that archetype. Pet masters and puppet masters are some of my favorite concepts, and while pet masters often feel same-y, taking minions in a magical direction wildly opens up possibilities.

Yes, it would need to be carefully handled—have two characters to control grants a lot of additional power and action economy, and infinite minions are a bad idea because that more-or-less nullifies many traps. There would need to be a tight balancing of resources.

But if pets/minions are not going to be a thing, I'm in the camp most interested in a Paladin sort of class for Martial—although, truthfully, it could be handled through an addition to the spell list of the Priest class, kind of like how Druids and Sorcerers are just wizards with additional spells added to their lists. For spell caster, I'd love to see something in a conceptual space similar to the Wyrdling but applied to spells—a super weird, kinda gross mutant psion would fit that bill (although I have no idea if it would be appreciated by the fans clamoring for a psionicist). If not a psionicist, then maybe an alienist.

Yeah. You very quickly run into a tug-of-war between game balance and simulation.

It would be dead simple to balance, but in balancing the class you'd have anyone interested in even faux simulation up in arms. It would be dead simple to just add a companion, but in doing so you'd have anyone interested in even faux balance up in arms.

 

[overgeeked]

Something I'd love to see is a DCC RPG style warrior in Shadowdark. Specifically Mighty Deeds. I know Goodman has that listed as product identity, so it's a no go for copy & paste, but the concept is usable. To me, the DCC RPG warrior's Mighty Deeds is the high watermark of martials in D&D-like games.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Something I'd love to see is a DCC RPG style warrior in Shadowdark. Specifically Mighty Deeds. I know Goodman has that listed as product identity, so it's a no go for copy & paste, but the concept is usable. To me, the DCC RPG warrior's Mighty Deeds is the high watermark of martials in D&D-like games.

Mighty Deeds of Arms is definitely best in class for OSR warriors.