95 PATHFINDER Classes?

Chris Zank has compiled a list of Pathfinder RPG classes. As he notes, "I am sure I forgot some too. 95 classes. With the standard races from the Core Rulebook only, and no archetype choices this equals 665 race and class choices."

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[Mika]

I think it was more a list of classes the author owns, rather than every class in existence (with third-party publishers that would be a much longer list). Still, it's interesting!

Except that he has an incomplete list of classes from the Advanced Class Guide -- missing classes include the Brawler and the Skald. Also, he included the Samurai but left out the Antipaladin and Ninja, so he is not even consistent in his treatment of alternate classes.

 

[barasawa]

Including 3rd party stuff can get you into a of a dilemma. Better to stick with official 1st party stuff, though having supplemental lists for specific 3rd party sources would be reasonable if properly labeled, otherwise you are likely to end up with massive bloat, duplication, and more than a few WTFs. After all, the internet is nothing if not loaded with tons of gamers all wanting to post their own special versions.

 

[Kramodlog]

How many did 3.5 and 2e have?

For 3.5 we have:

11 PHB

4 psionic handbook

12 for the complete X books (3 per book 4 books, can't remember how many from the complete psionic handbook)

4 PHB2

1 city scape

1 dragon magic

2 from the horror book, can't remember the name

2 miniature handbook (Marshal and Healer the rest were redone I believe)

At least 37 so far.

 

[trancejeremy]

2e had 8 in the PHB, then later the Complete books added Psionicist, Necromancer, and Ninja. Then Al-Qadim had the Sha'ir. I think another book added the Monk back.

Sages & Specialists added 10 (NPC classes, basically)

Masque of the Red Death added 4 (Soldier, Adept, Mystic, Tradesmen)

 

[gamerprinter]

2e had 8 in the PHB, then later the Complete books added Psionicist, Necromancer, and Ninja. Then Al-Qadim had the Sha'ir. I think another book added the Monk back.

Sages & Specialists added 10 (NPC classes, basically)

Masque of the Red Death added 4 (Soldier, Adept, Mystic, Tradesmen)

Technically speaking 2e had Oriental Adventures, so samurai, ninja, sohei, wujin and more (?).

3x had Oriental Adventures Rokugan as well.

 

[Morrus]

I might try to put together a list at some point!

 

[Dire Bare]

Technically speaking 2e had Oriental Adventures, so samurai, ninja, sohei, wujin and more (?).

3x had Oriental Adventures Rokugan as well.

2E had more than that, while I don't remember the full extent, I do remember new priestly classes in the FR gods series of sourcebooks. And I don't mean specialty priests either.

"Class bloat" I suppose isn't all that different from bloat from kits, prestige classes, archetypes, backgrounds, feat chains . . . . basically, codified character concepts regardless of what you call them or specifically how the rules work. Options are good, but there comes a tipping point where it gets silly. I'm not a Pathfinder player, but 38 classes plus more from 3rd parties seems to be approaching that tipping point.

In 5E, I'm hoping to see very few new classes. But I'm sure it won't be too long before we start seeing tons of "archetypes" (sub-classes) for the game.

 

[gamerprinter]

2E had more than that, while I don't remember the full extent, I do remember new priestly classes in the FR gods series of sourcebooks. And I don't mean specialty priests either.

"Class bloat" I suppose isn't all that different from bloat from kits, prestige classes, archetypes, backgrounds, feat chains . . . . basically, codified character concepts regardless of what you call them or specifically how the rules work. Options are good, but there comes a tipping point where it gets silly. I'm not a Pathfinder player, but 38 classes plus more from 3rd parties seems to be approaching that tipping point.

In 5E, I'm hoping to see very few new classes. But I'm sure it won't be too long before we start seeing tons of "archetypes" (sub-classes) for the game.

I don't have a problem with "class bloat", in fact quite the opposite, but then I never play a game where all 38, 95, whatever in game. I pick and choose a stable of available classes to fit the specific setting I plan to run a campaign to about a dozen. Not only don't I have a problem with the many, many options available, I often can't find one that fits my niche, so I create a new class or archetype to fit the bill. I like options, if I can't find the right one, I create new options myself.

I've published the Kaidan setting of Japanese horror and helped create new classes for specific races featured in the setting - kappa, hengeyokai and tengu. In a guide for samurai, Way of the Samurai, I included 4 archetypes for samurai class, but wanted more samurai based niches to fill, so I helped create a feudal Japan/samurai based paladin (yamabushi), ranger (yojimbo), bard (mosa), wizard (onmyoji). I needed them, but such weren't available with the existing classes and archetypes.

As long as you limit what the options are, no matter how many options you have to choose from, I say the more the merrier.

 

[Morrus]

I don't see a problem with a thousand classes existing. More options is good; you can exclude easier than you can create.

 

[Kramodlog]

Forgot to add Tome of Magic (3), Tome of Battle (3) and Magic of Incarnum (3). Plus Complete Psionic had 4 classes.

So 3.5 had 50 classes. 3pp aren't included.