Classes vs no classes

[logan9a]

Pros and cons.

[PotatoJedi]

Are these just ideas or can people give opinions on topics?

[logan9a]

Both and yes! I'm just spit balling ideas. Eventually, we'll get some and then organize a gamer talk with some people.

[PotatoJedi]

Classes: usually, someone really clever comes up with some interesting and unique features for your class that are specially adapted for it. A bit more restrictive, but generally the features are more fleshed out or "cool". Generally less work for the player to create a character. No need to be as imaginative. The system is also likely to be a bit more balanced as the designers don't need to worry as much about mixing and matching different skills and abilities and how they may pan out. Easier to design.

Classless: more freedom to design your character how you want, but limited by what the system can offer, as well as your own imagination. Very dependent on what system you are using and what it has available to choose from. Tends to be either oversimplified or very complex. Again – system is key. Generally feel closer to your character as you more or less designed them from the ground up. Harder to design in terms of balance.

[logan9a]

Not sure on this - I've seen classes (in D&D for example) that were wildly unbalanced with others.

[PotatoJedi]

I was speaking in general terms. Generally, systems with classes are easier to balance because the designers know what to expect and have a far smaller pool of possibilities to contend with. Classless systems generally rely on the players choosing from an array of different skills and abilities and coming up with their own unique concoction. Again, depending on the system in question, this may or may not always be the case. It varies greatly, so I'm speaking in broader terms.

Another problem with class systems is that after a while of playing the system and trying out all the different classes you can end up getting bored or frustrated due to the lack of variety or customisation. In cases such as that you often find homebrewed rules, abilities and even spells to try and add a bit more spice to an otherwise overly familiar class. Classless systems don't have that issue – they are only limited by the number of options available to the player to choose from. So I would say that the longevity of a classless system is, in theory at least, longer than a class system. On the other hand, class systems have that sense of familiarity and understanding; indeed, in my previous point this was a negative but it can also be a positive. Something to come back to and instantly know what to do and how to do it, with some tweaks or different choices here and there. I think this is why D&D is so popular. Everyone knows what a Wizard is, everyone knows what a Fighter is. All you need to figure out is how to bring life to a character in an otherwise cliche and overly used "class".

[logan9a]

We gotta get you onto the next gamer talk!