My take on "Barbarians": Fighters, Thieves, Druids, Bards, Witches

[Niccodaemus]

Shatterworld: Behind the Scenes: "Barbarian" Classes: Fighter, Thief, Druid, Bard, Witch

In addition to some "racial" details (which include limited shapeshifting and some thief-like abilities), I include:


Fighters
Fighters are limited to medium or light armor (nothing more than 40 pounds of armor).

Thieves
Thieves can not pick pockets or locks, but perform other thieving abilities as a thieves 2 levels higher

Druids
Each clan has a resident Druid. However, Druids are respected equally among all clans. Druids are the arbiters of the clans, and a ruling by a Druid is respected equally among all clans. A Druid can demand the cessation of combat between two clans for up to three days, but such cessation can not be demanded again for one year by any Druid.

Bards
Bards are identical to Druids, with the following exceptions:
They must use a chosen instrument to cast their spells.
Casting spells takes two full turns
They do not have the Druid armor or weapon limitation (but do have the clan armor limitation)
They get Charisma bonus to casting spells (targets must subtract Bards charisma bonus from saving throws)

Witches
"Witches"are anomalies in their clan. They are considered "touched" by the gods, and typically live apart from the clan.

They can create "fetishes", potions, and charms. These items can be used one single time. They can be used by the Witch, or given away. They are only effective as intended if they are given freely by the witch, as in most cases they must be made specifically for the recipient and the target. If taken against the will of the witch, use of the items can have unpredictable results. These items can match the effects of any Druid, Cleric, or Magic user spell of level equal to the Witch.

Witches are zero level for fighting purposes.

 

[Sekhmet]

You could just remove Rogue/Thief altogether and make them the Scout class.
Seems to be what you're going for, anyway.

 

[Niccodaemus]

You could just remove Rogue/Thief altogether and make them the Scout class.
Seems to be what you're going for, anyway.

I'm a AD&D/LL + AEC kind of guy. No scouts there. But sure... if that works for you.

 

[Sekhmet]

Oh, I see. Perhaps Ranger, then? You do sort of miss that backstab multiplier, though.

 

[Niccodaemus]

Oh, I see. Perhaps Ranger, then? You do sort of miss that backstab multiplier, though.

I see rangers as being highly trained in the killing of goblinoids, rather than just a wilderness warrior. I like the thief skills in general, but pick pockets and pick locks just don't make sense. I figure it the entire culture has "thief-like" abilities, then an actual thief class in that culture would just be better at it.

 

[Sekhmet]

I just figured if you remove the pick locks and pick pockets, the only things the thief really has is the hiding/sneaking that the ranger has (albeit better than their ranger counterparts). They pretty much just give up a better weapon selection and favored enemies for backstab multipliers.