Here is a list of class ideas I’ve developed for the Players’ Companion.
Possible Human Classes (6 will appear):
Barbarian
Berserker
Cultist
Druid
Loremaster
Marshal
Monk
Paladin
Priestess
Shaman
Warlock
Witch
Possible Racial Classes (6 will appear; either 3 Elf, 3 Dwarf, or 2 Elf, 2 Dwarf, 2 Special):
Centaur Ranger
Dwarven Machinist
Dwarven Spelunker
Dwarven Vagabond
Elven Scout
Elven Scoundrel
Elven Sorcerer
Orc Raider
Are there any beloved archetypes that are self-evidently absent?
Which of these seem the most interesting?
In my opinion the most interesting are:
Cultist
Loremaster
Marshal
Priestess
Shaman
Warlock
Witch - do they shapeshift ?
Dwarven Machinist
Dwarven Vagabond
Elven Scoundrel
Elven Sorcerer
Alex, could you give a sentence or sentence fragment about the idea of each class or its archetypes?
Or we could post this, like “I want to see a centaur ranger that’s like Chiron and uses herbalism to craft poison arrows”. Which is true!
Possible Human Classes (6 will appear):
Berserker
Loremaster
Marshal
Monk
Shaman
Warlock
My explanation for these choices:
Barbarian and Berzerker make me think of the same thing, but I think that a Barbarian in the truest sense can probably be easily replicated by the Fighter.
Cultist sounds like a chaotic class since we call lawful beliefs “religion” and chaotic or less accepted beliefs “cults”.
I have never liked the concept of the druid. This is probably my shameful prejudice like how Alex will never have halflings as PCs.
I thought the Cleric was great for making a Paladin. Just focus on combat or defensive proficiencies over spellcasting proficiencies.
Priestess sounds like a female Cleric. We already have one of those.
Warlock and Witch make me think of the same concept, and while the terms have some gender baggage attached, I think it’s easier to think of a female Warlock than a male Witch. Maybe it’s all the exposure to Halloween costumes.
Possible Racial Classes (6 will appear; either 3 Elf, 3 Dwarf, or 2 Elf, 2 Dwarf, 2 Special):
Centaur Ranger
Dwarven Machinist
Dwarven Spelunker
Dwarven Vagabond
Elven Scout
Elven Sorcerer
My explanation for these choices:
The Elven Scoundrel seems very similar to the Elven Nightblade, unless he’s a more talky, dashing kind of scoundrel instead of being a thief/assassin.
Aren’t orcs chaotic?
I left Dwarven Machinist in to keep it an even 6, and even though I really like the idea, how much should I be concerned about these things fitting into the Auran Empire? Or maybe I’m just working with a more refined concept of machine.
The classes I really want to see:
Loremaster
Marshal
Shaman
Centaur Ranger
Elven Sorcerer
Hope this is useful.
Here’s a little bit about what I was thinking for each class. This is not set in stone, please consider this just some behind-the-scenes musing:
Berserker - battle rage, better saves, tough, less armor
Barbarian - something like a melee-oriented explorer
Cultist - mage hp/fighting, chaotic clerical spells with improved spell progression, command undead
Druid - cleric-type with animal companion, shapeshifting instead of turning
Loremaster - loremastery, arcane dabbling, limited spellcasting; a mage for low-magic campaigns
Marshal - bard/fighter hybrid
Monk - open-hand fighting similar to PHB1e monk
Paladin - cleric/fighter hybrid
Priestess - as cultist but lawful
Shaman - similar to druid but with more primitive feel
Warlock - some sort of evil necro-mage-demonologist type, or mage-warrior
Witch - herbs and potions and light magic; counterpart to loremaster for low magic games
Centaur Ranger - tracking, archery, poison arrows (maybe?)
Dwarven Machinist - mechanically-oriented thief abilities with some unique devices
Dwarven Spelunker - explorer type, but focused on caving and underground travel
Dwarven Vagabond - dwarven thief
Elven Bard - similar to the old Bard, with spellcasting
Elven Scout - elven explorer type
Elven Scoundrel - elven bard/thief
Elven Sorcerer - elven mage, maybe Elementalist type
Orc Raider - or possibly Half-orc for broader utility
What’s driving me in selecting the above:
- We lack any “uncivilized” classes that might eschew, e.g., heavy armor or sophisticated weapons in favor of nature magic, barbarian rage, etc.
- We lack any viable low-magic classes that could, if a Judge desires, be used in place of the standard mage
- We lack any viable non-fighting priests that could be used in place of the standard cleric
- Dwarves don’t have any thief types or any explorer types
- Elves don’t have any purely magical classes or any charisma-based or bard-like classes, and they don’t have archers as good as the human explorer
If I had to choose right now I’d probably say I’d go with the following:
Berserker
Cultist
Loremaster
Marshal
Shaman
Witch
Centaur Ranger
Dwarven Machinist
Dwarven Spelunker
Elven Bard
Elven Scout
[Half-]Orc Raider
My thoughts on each:
Barbarian
A good option for light/no armour Fighter type. Could be an interesting Fighter-Thief hybrid type. Plainsmen, Junglemen, Wild Hillmen, would all fit the mould nicely. Restrict their armour and proficiency choices and it could work well.
Berserker
To me, this is a Barbarian or a Fighter (or possibly other classes) on PCP. This could easily be a proficiency IMO, rather than a specific class.
Cultist
Sounds too Chaotic. Great if you want to play the ‘Evil’ game, but if you’re trying to round out the options for the side of Law, not so good.
Druid
If done well, could be good, but it’d be nice to give a different spin to druids. I have no inspiration for them however.
Loremaster
My perceptions about this class are coloured by Lord of the Rings Online, which is the ‘Gandalf’ class, with pets. I dislike it. However, the old WFRP game had Dwarven Loremasters, who specialised in ancient knowledge. As a toned down Wizard with more knowledge and less spells (or swap trad spells for ritual magics) this could be very interesting for low magic. But no Animal connection.
Marshal
This sounds very much like a military bard (of the new school). The military leader who inspires troops to great things. I love it, and I want it 
Monk
Please avoid the cod oriental martial artist.Even if you went with the open hand fighter concept I’d rename the class and divorce it from Kung Fu as much as possible.
Paladin
It’s a good traditional class, but it could be a Cleric build in many ways as has been said previously. On the other hand, it’s a good Domain building class in concept.
Priestess
If it’s just a mirror of the Cultist, I don’t see the appeal really.
Shaman
I want this. Clerics are the holy servants of civilisation. These guys and gals are the holy servants of uncivilised lands.
Warlock
Sounds Chaotic. Good for the ‘Evil’ game. However – as a ‘War-mage’, a Fighter-Wizard hybrid, it could work well.
Witch
Where the Loremaster specialises in knowledge, the Witch could specialise in curses and hexes. Not sure… again has Chaotic connotations.
For my top 6, I’d go with:
Barbarian
Shaman
Marshall
Loremaster
Paladin
Druid
For the Racial Classes:
I say more Dwarven and Elven the better really, so long as they are distinct from one another. The Centaur, Machinist, Spelunker, Bard and Raider are all interesting to me.
However, for ‘missing’ archetypes – if you’re putting in the possibility of Orcs, then I’d love to see Goblin classes:
Goblin Sneak – Thief type
Goblin Tinkerer – Like a Dwarven Machinist?
Goblin Champion – Fighter type
etc…
I think witches could be quite a robust low-magic class if you fold in the druidic stuff:
Witch - use forbidden lore (hedge magic) for good (lawful white witch) or ill (chaotic). Animal companion, herbs, potions (for charms, curses) - basically they use eternal means (familiar/magical component) to cast magic. Can form a Coven (wilderness hideout) to further their eldritch agenda and become a Crone/Matriarch/All-mother etc at high levels. Takes a load of witches to perform rituals.
Dwarven Vagabond - dwarven thief
Elven Bard - similar to the old Bard, with spellcasting
halfling burlgar
gnome trickster
lizardman warrior
I think I would rather see the ranger as a human class, since Aragorn is pretty much the proto-type for this in post-Tolkien fantasy. But I’m not sure how to distinguish it from a fighter or a barbarian. If a barbarian is something like a fighter thief, would it work to make a ranger a fighter/explorer type?
I like the elven sorceror – I feel like elves need to have a pure caster, and an elementalist type should work well. I like the elven scoundrel much less. I suppose it would depend on how the elf was developed, but it sounds too urban to me.
I feel comfortable saying that, in terms of ACKS, Aragorn doesn’t represent a different class prototype as much as he does a pile of unexpected proficiencies for a Fighter or Explorer (Endurance, three ranks in Healing, Riding, Running, Passing Without Trace, Elven Bloodline, etc.) representing a unique upbringing and lineage. Dude is just high level, and high intelligence (He speaks Elvish!). If you throw in Faramir, I think you could basically say that (in the Tolkien ACKS supplement I’m sure is right around the corner) Explorers are able to take Elven Bloodline (“the blood of the Numenoreans runs nearly true in them!”), and they’re just called “rangers” by the people of Gondor.
I’d like to hear more about the witch and druid, if only for the variant spell lists I’d expect. I’d like to hear more about Elven scoundrels and Dwarven vagabonds, as they seem departures from type. I like the idea of the priestess/cultist, although I’m not sure how much lower you can push the experience curve on divine spellcasters.
If you’re going to go Orc, I’d make the new class a full-Orc class, and introduce an Orcish Bloodline (available to Fighters, Explorers, and Barbarians?) parallel to Elvish Bloodline.
Do want lizardman.
Only six? sigh
Berserker
Cultist
Druid
Monk
Shaman
Warlock
The Loremaster and Witch both sound cool, but as described they feel to me more like campaign options or something, rather than normal classes since they’re aimed specifically at low-magic settings.
I’m a fan of both Druids and Shamans, but I think they should have more differences than similarities. Kung-Fu monks are awesome.
Centaur Ranger
Dwarven Machinist
Dwarven Spelunker
Elven Scout
Elven Sorcerer
Orc Raider
Personally, I’d love to see some Lizardmen in there, as well as some of the other races.
It’s highly unlikely Lizardmen will appear in one of our early supplements, as in the ACKS default setting, Lizardmen are an ancient, evil race bent on human sacrifice. They are not the warm-and-fuzzy “lizardfolk” of 3E…
Other thoughts:
- Very interesting ideas about Orc Bloodline. I think I’d call it “Bestial Bloodline” so it can be any of the beastman races.
- I’d probably stat out Aragorn something like the following. You couldn’t do it using the default ACKS rules but with some minor tweaks it seems to work pretty well.
Explorer 13; STR 16, INT 18, WIS 18, DEX 14, CON 18, CHA 18.
Class Proficiencies: Alertness, Command*, Elven Bloodline*, Goblin-Slaying*, Running
General Proficiencies: Endurance, Healing 2, Leadership, Military Tactics, Riding, Tracking
Class Powers: +1 to melee*
*Changed from default ACKS rules
The fact that they’re an ancient, evil race bent on human sacrifice just makes them more appealing
I’m going to respond more individually, then give my list at the end. I think alot of these classes you’re proposing are better handled by explaining reskinning classes and class abilities (no cultist class: just allow “Cultist” clerics with a command undead ability, inverse of turn). I don’t like class-bloat, especially when ACKS handles classes and proficiencies so elegantly already. New classes should really go above and beyond and be fundamentally different from existing classes.
Berserker - battle rage, better saves, tough, less armor
Barbarian - something like a melee-oriented explorer
There definitely doesn’t need to be two of these. I really like something like a true barbarian that’s not just a berserker. The current berserkergang prof is great and should be avail to both barbarians and regular armored fighters. Barbarians would be great as a melee-oriented, light armor explorer/survivor-type. C&C has some great ideas for this kind of class. Should start with something like “stalking” or “hardiness” abilities, maybe extra saves to compensate for light armor.
Cultist - mage hp/fighting, chaotic clerical spells with improved spell progression, command undead
I don’t like this because I don’t understand what the difference between this is and a cleric. See my comment at the beginning.
Druid - cleric-type with animal companion, shapeshifting instead of turning
I know there is a large group of players who like this nature-master druid. Of course, druids were really much more like gandalf or a wizard than the D&D druid. I suppose you should bow to common parlance and still call this class druid, but I say it’s a great class that should be called a beastmaster or something. Y’all renamed the Ranger, what about renaming the Druid as well. Otherwise its a total niche not covered: animal shapeshifting, nature spells, focus on animal companion is all good stuff. It could be the barbarian-cleric (even Shaman would be better than druid). I’d suggest spells/abilities conveying the idea of summoning animal spirits/totems.
Loremaster - loremastery, arcane dabbling, limited spellcasting; a mage for low-magic campaigns
Great idea, perhaps a spell list that includes some charisma-mimicking evens (spells like Command) would be great. I’m seeing this as in INT-based bard in terms of stats, and I’m liking what I see.
Marshal - bard/fighter hybrid
I don’t understand this. Why isn’t this just a fighter with high charisma and a focus on leadership proficiencies? ACKS classes are pretty customizable, this should just be a new Template, not a new class. Perhaps a template for bards as well, but nonetheless, not worthy of a new class.
Monk - open-hand fighting similar to PHB1e monk
Please see Dunyain, Kellhus for doing monks in a western context.
Paladin - cleric/fighter hybrid
I can see these being a new class if we drop many of the fighter abilities like extra damage in favor of detect evils. Although this is a minor and easy switch for the fighter class rules, it would be a shift to the class rules so I can see it justifying a new class.
Priestess - as cultist but lawful
Shaman - similar to druid but with more primitive feel
Warlock - some sort of evil necro-mage-demonologist type, or mage-warrior
Witch - herbs and potions and light magic; counterpart to loremaster for low magic games
I don’t think any of these are needed, with the possible exception of a demonologist/elric type. All of these should just be suggested interpretations/reskins of other classes, whether loremaster, wizard or druid. I mean, what are the real differences here that y’all are imagining these classes for me (dare I say it, what’s the value-add)?
That said, there is room I think for a Demon-summoning, sword-wielding wizard type. Rather than numerous spells, he/she would make blood pacts or something. This would be really different from current/core classes, and very cool.
Centaur Ranger - tracking, archery, poison arrows (maybe?)
Dwarven Machinist - mechanically-oriented thief abilities with some unique devices
Dwarven Spelunker - explorer type, but focused on caving and underground travel
Dwarven Vagabond - dwarven thief
Elven Bard - similar to the old Bard, with spellcasting
Elven Scout - elven explorer type
Elven Scoundrel - elven bard/thief
Elven Sorcerer - elven mage, maybe Elementalist type
Orc Raider - or possibly Half-orc for broader utility
Many of the same objections here. A centaur class would rock my face off, it’d be unique and have weird properties. I’m not seeing any differences between the rest of these classes and what we have already. E.g. elven scout/scoundrel = nightblade; sorcerer/bard=spellsword, just with different proficiency choices. I could see a dwarf thief-type/artificer, as long as it provides a more unique experience from a vaultguard, craftpriest or thief, rather than just being a thief with the word dwarf stuck in front of it (this is acceptable for dwarf-fighters only because they’re the basic archetype).
Ok, so the list:
Barbarian
Druid
Loremaster
Paladin
Warlock/Demonologist
Centaur Hunter
(Half-orc Barbarian/Warrior?)
Berserker seems redundant. Also I never got the whole “berserkers have light armor” thing. I never got why barbarians had to have light armor either, Conan certainly didn’t and I’m sure any barbarian with cash and a life of dungeon crawling would use as heavy armor as he could.
About the Witch/Druid/Cultist/Loremaster thing I would love anything with an alternate/expanded spell list.
wilmer - About the Witch/Druid/Cultist/Loremaster thing I would love anything with an alternate/expanded spell list.
me - yeah, this is the biggest thing I would want out of a “splatbook” - an expanded spell list for both new classes and old. It’d also be nice to have whatever new spells there are combined with old spells for wizards and clerics on a single Wizard spells/cleric spells list.
Also, I don’t know if this was clear from my earlier comments, but I’m assuming there’d be a number of new templates to expand the beginning player’s imagination about what the already extant classes can be (e.g. Wizard - Necromancer template with Black Lore of Zahar).