Rough numeric comparison 1e-4e

[Truename]

Edit: Included fixes mentioned down-thread, added skills & feats

I had too much time on my hands, so I went through all of my old Player's Handbooks and made some rough numeric comparisons. I'm not sure what this tells us, if anything, but I put in the effort and might as well post it here.

RACES
1e: 7 races; 4 pages
2e: 6 races; 5 pages
3.5e: 7 races; 10 pages
4e: 8 races; 18 pages

CLASSES
1e: 5 classes, 5 subclasses, 1 in appendix; 26 pages (inc. 2 in appendix)
2e: 9 classes grouped into 4 categories; 16 pages
3.5e: 11 classes; 37 pages
4e: 8 classes; 31 pages (excluding powers, paragon paths, and epic destinies)

SPELLS & POWERS
1e: 453 spells (76 cleric, 78 druid, 194 magic-users, 65 illusionist, 40 psionic); used by 7 classes (64%) (psionics usable by 100%); 67 pages (inc. 7 psionics)
2e: 487 spells (313 wizard, 174 priest); used by 7 classes (78%); 126 pages
3.5e: 602 spells (shared); used by 7 classes (64%); 123 pages
4e: ~788 powers & rituals (5 racial, ~90 per class, 3 epic, 11 feat, 49 rituals); used by 8 classes (100%); 115 pages (95 class pages, 20 ritual pages)

SKILLS & NON-WEAPON PROFICIENCIES
1e: not included
2e: 82 (29 general, 12 priest, 16 rogue, 15 warrior, 10 wizard); 11 pages
3.5e: 45 (35 misc, 10 knowledge); 26 pages
4e: 17; 14 pages

FEATS & WEAPON PROFICIENCIES
1e: 1 (weapon proficiency); less than 1 page
2e: 2 (weapon proficiency, weapon specialization); 2 pages
3.5e: 109 (92 general, 8 item creation, 9 metamagic); 16 pages
4e: 172 (82 heroic, 62 paragon, 17 epic, 11 multiclass); 20 pages

 

[jdrakeh]

Interesting! Thanks for the comparison (And welcome to ENWorld)

 

[justanobody]

I must have failed my passive perception roll... Which 2e book are you looking at?

 

[delericho]

I must have failed my passive perception roll... Which 2e book are you looking at?

That would be the Player's Handbook. I can't tell from the numbers whether he's using the original version or the "black cover" versions that were released later. (The content of the two versions is the same, but the black covers are more spread out, so would have higher page counts in each case.)

 

[justanobody]

Yes it states the PHB was the source, but I was wondering if original or revised as all others only have a single printing with the exception of 1st that had a cover change.

 

[JDJblatherings]

CLASSES
1e: 5 classes, 5 subclasses; 24 pages

There are 11 classes in the 1e PHB.

 

[Mircoles]

There are 11 classes in the 1e PHB.

He missed the bard, which was an optional class that was in the appendices....which is also where the psionics rules were. Anyone could have psionics then, if your gm allowed it. None of mine did though. None of them would allow the bard either.

 

[Rolflyn]

1e: 413 spells (76 cleric, 78 druid, 194 magic-users, 65 illusionist); used by 4 classes (40%); 60 pages

6 classes (cleric, druid, magic-user, illusionist, paladin, ranger) for 60%

2e: 487 spells (313 wizard, 174 priest); used by 4 classes (44%); 126 pages

Not all that up on 2e, but at least 5 classes (bard, ranger, wizard, cleric, paladin) for 56% if not more.

 

[delericho]

Yes it states the PHB was the source, but I was wondering if original or revised

Okay, I've now checked the 2nd Ed PHB, and these numbers appear to be from the original print.

Not all that up on 2e, but at least 5 classes (bard, ranger, wizard, cleric, paladin) for 56% if not more.

7 of 9: Ranger, Paladin, Mage, Illusionist (or specialist), Cleric, Druid, Bard. Basically, everyone except the Fighter and Thief. So, about 78%.

 

[C_M2008]

Okay, I've now checked the 2nd Ed PHB, and these numbers appear to be from the original print.



7 of 9: Ranger, Paladin, Mage, Illusionist (or specialist), Cleric, Druid, Bard. Basically, everyone except the Fighter and Thief. So, about 78%.

To be fair wizard and specialist are hardly much different in spell selection. I think he's only including full casters here though not dabblers like the ranger + paladin.