A while back there was a thread called "What Would Your Perfect 50th PHB Class List Be?"
It had an interesting exchange in it:
To the challenge then!
Can you come up with a list of 6 mega-classes that elegantly contain the essentials of every existing PHB class? (bonus points for including artificers too)
How would you collapse classes? What are the essential parts of each class? What do you do with the existing subclasses that are very thematically strong (beast master ranger) versus thematically thin (hunter ranger)?
Be as opinionated about the PHB classes as you like (read bard-hating), but make sure to get all of them in. And remember, the challenge is to get down to 6 classes not to the "core four"--that's what makes it a challenge.
Also, apologies to @Remathilis and @Mind of tempest for quoting you both out of context, I hope you don't mind.
It had an interesting exchange in it:
[...] Class reorganization tends towards two extremes: a large collection of micro-classes (very specific classes that hold to a single concept, often split off of current classes) or very broad overclasses that can absorb multiple current classes into them, differentiated by openly flexible class features. There is a group of people who prefer the system as is (plus or minus a few classes) but most pipe-dreaming ends up on either end of the scale. [...]
why does no one go with five or six then?
Lots of people stop at different points. [...] My point is that any attempt to pair down class lists based on anything other than personal like/dislike of a class ends up with a clear path towards a customizable classless system. Once you try to combine classes into mega classes that have multiple choice points and can replicate dozens of archetypes you're on your way. The broader the mega-class, the closer you are. [...]
To the challenge then!
Can you come up with a list of 6 mega-classes that elegantly contain the essentials of every existing PHB class? (bonus points for including artificers too)
How would you collapse classes? What are the essential parts of each class? What do you do with the existing subclasses that are very thematically strong (beast master ranger) versus thematically thin (hunter ranger)?
Be as opinionated about the PHB classes as you like (read bard-hating), but make sure to get all of them in. And remember, the challenge is to get down to 6 classes not to the "core four"--that's what makes it a challenge.
Also, apologies to @Remathilis and @Mind of tempest for quoting you both out of context, I hope you don't mind.