How many class options are the minimum it takes to make a fantasy RPG interesting for you as a player? Does that number change if race is a class? If race is separate from class? If a game has a skill system to allow players to individualize their PCs?
What do you mean by class options?
ReplyDeleteGood point, that's not entirely clear is it? So is it enough to have, say only 3 classes -- e.g. fighter, magic-user, thief (with no "sub-classes" or "variants" of those classes)? Or do there need to be more, say 8 classes -- e.g. fighter, ranger, magic-user, illusionist, thief, assassin, cleric, druid (again treating each of those as its own class with no "sub-classes" or "variants")? In other words, in the first instance, there are 3 options for the player to choose from; in the second there are 8; what's the minimum in your opinion for a viable game (assuming long-term play -- and let's define that as the PCs adventuring long enough to advance at least 5 levels)?
DeletePowers of 3.
ReplyDeleteProblem solving strategies (fighter, magic-user, thief, if you will), then for each a (possibly race-based) inflection as physical, mental, or social, followed finally by a skill list layer of about 27.
Interesting. I like the "powers of three" principle. It's got a tight mathematical quality that I am rather fond of.
DeleteI'd say two classes was enough for me the warrior and the magician, throw in "race as class" and 3 is good enough. There's a good mix in force, intellect, and instinct. The rule of three seems to do the trick.
DeleteI like options. I like playing with different aspects of culture within a game to see what kind of 'class' comes out of it. While there are fighters in every land of the world, they are very different in the philosophies, armor and weapons used and fighting styles. Instead of being a generic fighter, I prefer, Axe of the Northmen, Hunter of the 2nd Circle and so on. And race as class, always hated that concept. When I see racial classes it reminds me of a crappy novel where everyone of that race are cookie cutter silhouettes.
ReplyDeleteA lot of it depends on who flexible the system is. If it only has three classes and they are very rigidly defined and every member of that class has identical abilities, I would probably only find it fun for oneshot play. On the other hand, two classes with a fair amount of customization might be fine.
ReplyDeleteI think a single class would be interesting, assuming a creative GM and good players.
ReplyDelete"Could" not "would"
DeleteI don't know because I don't play but I still wanted to say howdy.
ReplyDeleteHowdy.