Best Base class from WotC books outside the Core 11?

[Aus_Snow]

Funny, I thought Scout and Warlock were not original at all (how are they different in concept from a Ranger and a Sorcerer?) but they are largely dominating this poll...

I think that the concepts for Scout and Ranger differ a fair bit actually, as does the playing out of each in terms of mechanics (well, I've found this to be so anyway). Regardless, maybe it's a 'better Ranger' in some peoples' views.

Sorcerer and Warlock? Hm, there's a similarity of concept for sure. In play though? No, quite different in fact. And in this case too, the popularity might be more down to it being the 'Sorcerer that should have been' (?)

edit --- just missed your next post there. Makes some of the above a little. . . late. Oh well. :\

 

[Gez]

It's also amazing how the gaming community which often says booo to the Sorcerer - the flavorless "one-trick-pony" - also raises kudos to a class which has the same flavor and it is even more that one-trick type

Because the sorcerer is a one-trick-pony build with a mechanism that is intended for jacks-of-all-trade. The warlock is build around a mechanism that was custom-tailored for one-trick-ponyness.

Plus, it's nice not to have to be stingy with your abilities. A low-level sorcerer will run low on spells quite fast, while a low-level warlock doesn't have to agonize over choices such as "should I go in melee against that hobgoblin guard, to save my spells for the hobgoblin's leader, or should I play safe now and then make a hasty retreat just before the final fight?" -- a warlock will blast away with abandon, and that's just what the sorcerer was supposed to do.

That said, I like the sorcerer. But please, give him more spell known, or failing that, special bloodline class features every few levels. He's weak.

 

[Pinotage]

I'm not familiar with all of those, but I like the Warlock. I'd like to see one run in one of my games one day, but alas none yet. Scout and Swashbuckler are OK, but they fit a specific niche.

Pinotage

 

[Desdichado]

Funny, I thought Scout and Warlock were not original at all (how are they different in concept from a Ranger and a Sorcerer?) but they are largely dominating this poll...

Because that's what the Ranger and Sorcerer should have been from the beginning?

 

[just__al]

I voted for Hexblade despite it being one of the weakest classes in the pole. I played a Hexblade who's backstory included being disowned for "givin' everybody the evil eye" and spent a lot of time intimidating people wherever he went because "the gods hate me" and "everybody is afraid of me, so why shouldn't I take advantage of it"

He was however fiercely loyal to his group who never judged him for giving the people the evil eye and especially the Ranger who was old enough to be his father and treated him better than his own father ever did.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I'd say none of these.

The Mercenary Ranger from AEG's Mercenaries might make the cut, as might the Unfettered from Arcana Evolved.