Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Class Struggles: The New* Basic Classes

2019 was the start of my Back to Basics theme here at the Other Side.  I have covered a LOT of Basic-era/BX/BECMI/RC type products.  It got me thinking. In addition to the the base four human classes and three demi-human classes how many classes have been added to Basic D&D?

Answer. 113*
This includes at least four kinds of Barbarians, Bards and Paladins.  Three types of Rangers and Gnomes and duplicates of many others such as necromancers and illusionists.
*There are likely even more.

I am not sure if all of these are needed, but I am glad they are here.  Variety is the spice of life after all and these classes are all about variety.

The trick now is, can they all be played in same world? OR maybe a better question.  Is anything missing?

Basic Classes
Cleric, Fighter, Magic-user, Thief, Dwarf, Elf, Halfling

ACKS Player's Companion
Anti-paladin, Barbarian, Dwarven Delver, Dwarven Fury, Dwarven Machinist, Elven Courtier, Elven Enchanter, Elven Ranger, Gnomish Trickster, Mystic, Nobiran Wonderworker, Paladin, Priestess, Shaman, Thrassian Gladiator, Venturer, Warlock, Witch, and Zaharan Ruinguard.

Advanced Labyrinth Lord
Assassin, Druid, Illusionist, Monk, Paladin, Ranger

OSE (Advanced)
Acrobat, Assassin, Barbarian, Bard, Drow, Druid, Duergar, Gnome, Half-elf, Illusionist, Knight, Paladin, Ranger, Svirfneblin

BX RPG
Druid, Gnome, Half-elf, Monk, Necromancer, Paladin, Ranger

Mazes & Perils Deluxe Edition
Enchanter, Shaman

Psionics Handbook
Monk, Mystic

Class Compendium
Acrobat, Alienist, Angel, Automation, Bandit, Barbarian, Bard, Berserker, Bounty Hunter, Burglar, Commander, Cultist, Damphir, Dark Elf, Death Knight, Dragon, Dragon Slayer, Eidolon, Explorer, Fairy, Familiar, Feast Master, Fortune Teller, Friar, Gladiator, Goblin, Greensinger, Half-Elf, Half-Ogre, Half-Orc, Huckster, Inquisitor, Investigator, Knight, Lost Boy, Lucky Fool, Metaphysician, Pirate, Raging Slayer, Rune-Smith, Samurai, Shootist, Sword Master, Sylvan Elf, Tavern Singer, Thopian Gnome, Treant, Undead Slayer, Wanderer, Warchanter, Watchman, Wild Wizard (That's 52 classes!)

The Complete B/X Adventurer
Acrobat, Archer, Barbarian, Bard, Beastmaster, Bounty Hunter, Centaur, Duelist, Gnome, Mountebank, Mystic, Ogre-Kin, Scout, Summoner, Tattoo Mage, Witch, Witch Hunter.

Magical Theorems & Dark Pacts
Cleric, Wizard, Elven Swordmage, Elven Warder, Enchanter, Fleshcrafter, Healer, Inquisitor, Merchant Prince, Necromancer, Pact-Bound, Theurge, the Unseen.

Odysseys & Overlords 
Bard

Theorems & Thaumaturgy Revised Edition
Elementalist, Necromancer, Vivimancer

Class Catalog for B/X Essentials
Aasimar, Dragonborn, Dwarven Priest, Dwarven Thief, Elven Rogue, Gnome, Halfling Burglar, Half-Orc, Pixie, Tiefling

11 comments:

Dyson Logos said...

And this isn't counting the huge number of classes added in BECMI D&D for various demihuman and humanoid races.

pugbuddy said...

ACKS also has the Elven Spellsword and Nightblade, just off the top of my head....

Nathan Irving said...

I'm sure there's missing stuff, but I'd have to chart it out to see what. And it'd be all "IMO", so...of dubious value.

Thomas Denmark said...

I'd like to see a really good adventuring quality Alchemist.

Timothy S. Brannan said...

@Thomas Denmark. Me as well! The Alchemist is an upcoming Class Struggles.

Thomas Denmark said...

@Timothy S. Brannan interesting, I started work on one. Got as far as an outline and then made a pretty cool piece of art for it. Let me know if you'd be interested in collaborating.

Zudrak (Michael G.) said...

Excellent list! The OCD in me now wants to make a spreadsheet of these.

Eldrad Wolfsbane said...

Why? Because FLAILSNAILS!

JB said...


This is counting all the proposed B/X classes on folks' blogs: I've had more than a few of those myself (that aren't in my publications), the halfling juggernaut, wood elf, tiefling sorcerer, and a (WFRP inspired) dwarf troll-slayer. Other bloggers have put out dozens or

How many more are needed? I'm not sure B/X even needs THIS many. But they're fun to write!

Dyson Logos said...

Is there a particular reason (besides my irrelevance to the OSR) that just about all the books but mine get a link?

Timothy S. Brannan said...

@Dyson, cause I am an airhead. ;) Fixed now.