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Message: <blockquote data-quote="I'm A Banana" data-source="post: 2094445" data-attributes="member: 2067">Aye, I'd agree in theory, but in practice, it just doesn't work that way. What's broad about the Paladin? Pretty much one archetype, and variations on that theme, right there. Or the Wizard? No, you're a book-mage, and you will be for 20 levels....In theory, all the bases can be covered with four big ones:Tank, for soaking up damageStealth, for sneaking around and crowd controlBlaster, for dealing massive damageHealer, for fixing up afterwardsVoila! You've basically got the Generic Classes from UA! (actually +1, but that's just because I made the blaster and the healer different) Every concept you want can be imagined as an expression of one of those four, maybe plus a template for flavor. A Druid is just a blaster/tank with a nature theme; a Ranger is just a Stealth/Tank with a nature theme; A Wizard and a Sorcerer are two different themes for blasters, etc., etc.But people want more complexity. They want their class title to reflect who they are from level 1. If "Assassin" exists as a PrC, nearly every player who wants their character to be known as an assassin will feel compelled, ne, REQUIRED, to take that PrC, even if it doesn't really fit the mold they're looking for. This has been "The Ninja Problem," as well...a special title and ability set didn't exist at first for those looking to define their characters as Ninja.  There's a certain power associated with the title of what mostly defines you for your 20 levels that requires that the title go hand-in-hand with how you see your character's role in the world. It doesn't matter if you can call your 20th level Rogue an "assassin," it's not written on his character sheet!So what makes a base class? Easy: what you think people should be defined as in your campaign setting. As such, I welcome a base class as eagerly as I welcome a new monster, or a new Prestige Class. They're all ways to diversify the setting, more menu options to choose from. If I'm having a strongly Fey-influenced world, maybe I can pick and choose from the menu of classes to have only some: no Fighters, just Hexblades; no Clerics, just Druids; no Wizards, just Sorcerers; no Rogues, just Spelltheives. Of course, my DM menu should be limited, too....since it's a Fey-influenced world, more animals, more plants, more Fey....probably fewer tentacle demons and hard-shelled constructs will threaten the party. Since I don't have clerics in the campaign, Undead won't be a trouble (instead, just make "Unseelie Fey").I'm under no complusion to use every class out there...I'd really be content with the three generics in UA. But then, if I want some Spaghetti Western setting, it's good to know I can have CW's Samurai to get my back. And otherwise, he's over there doing nothing and doesn't need to be a concern.</blockquote>

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