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<blockquote data-quote="Terraism" data-source="post: 1665348" data-attributes="member: 278"><p>I've been looking through my collection of books - and I've got a lot - and thinking about core classes. As a rough estimate, I'd say I've got near a hundred different core classes, aside from those in the <em>Player's Handbook</em>. While trying to compile a list of what'd be useful for my game, I started wondering - what bases should I be trying to cover? What are the archetypes of the fantasy medium?</p><p> </p><p> The <em>Player's Handbook</em> seems to set the average, with eleven core classes. <em>Unearthed Arcana</em>, on the other hand, has three - bare minimum, I think, for a class-based system. What do people think the various archetypes are? Try laying it out this way - name a specific "feel" for a game - classic, high magic, arthurian, etc... - and list what different archetypes are appropriate for that setting (and, if you're feeling ambitious, what classes could cover them.) I'll start, just covering the <em>Player's Handbook</em>.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Fighting Classes</strong></p><p> </p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Skilled, highly-trained combatant with the ability to fight in any circumstances. (Fighter, paladin) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A beastial warrior who uses power instead of technique. (Barbarian.) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Unarmed combatant. (Monk.) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Stealthy fighter. (Ranger, rogue.) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Noble warrior who leads his fellows into victory. (Paladin.) </li> </ul><p><strong>Magical Classes</strong></p><p> </p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Divine spellcaster, who calls power from the gods/nature. (Cleric, druid.) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Arcane caster, who's power comes from within. (Sorcerer, wizard.) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Caster who harnesses raw magic - of life, of song, of <em>something</em>. (Bard, sorcerer.) </li> </ul><p><strong>Skill-based Classes</strong></p><p> <strong></strong> </p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A diplomatic fellow who excels at getting his way. (Bard.) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Expert at "goods acquisition." (Rogue.) </li> </ul><p>Now, other classes can certainly cover a lot of those bases, and you could make claims for different places and archetypes that core D&D is covering. Who wants to try a different one feel? (Or even this one, from a different perspective.) <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Terraism, post: 1665348, member: 278"] I've been looking through my collection of books - and I've got a lot - and thinking about core classes. As a rough estimate, I'd say I've got near a hundred different core classes, aside from those in the [i]Player's Handbook[/i]. While trying to compile a list of what'd be useful for my game, I started wondering - what bases should I be trying to cover? What are the archetypes of the fantasy medium? The [i]Player's Handbook[/i] seems to set the average, with eleven core classes. [i]Unearthed Arcana[/i], on the other hand, has three - bare minimum, I think, for a class-based system. What do people think the various archetypes are? Try laying it out this way - name a specific "feel" for a game - classic, high magic, arthurian, etc... - and list what different archetypes are appropriate for that setting (and, if you're feeling ambitious, what classes could cover them.) I'll start, just covering the [i]Player's Handbook[/i]. [b]Fighting Classes[/b] [list] [*]Skilled, highly-trained combatant with the ability to fight in any circumstances. (Fighter, paladin) [*]A beastial warrior who uses power instead of technique. (Barbarian.) [*]Unarmed combatant. (Monk.) [*]Stealthy fighter. (Ranger, rogue.) [*]Noble warrior who leads his fellows into victory. (Paladin.) [/list] [b]Magical Classes[/b] [list] [*]Divine spellcaster, who calls power from the gods/nature. (Cleric, druid.) [*]Arcane caster, who's power comes from within. (Sorcerer, wizard.) [*]Caster who harnesses raw magic - of life, of song, of [i]something[/i]. (Bard, sorcerer.) [/list] [b]Skill-based Classes [/b] [list] [*]A diplomatic fellow who excels at getting his way. (Bard.) [*]Expert at "goods acquisition." (Rogue.) [/list] Now, other classes can certainly cover a lot of those bases, and you could make claims for different places and archetypes that core D&D is covering. Who wants to try a different one feel? (Or even this one, from a different perspective.) :) [/QUOTE]
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