Your favorite class(less) system

[Orud]

Not a fan of classless/skill based systems. In the classless/skill based systems, that I've come in contact with, it usually boils down to 2 varieties: systems that require you to specialize or go full hybridization.

The first usually translates into systems where you have an exponential power increase or breakpoints (skills that are so powerful, that they are mandatory). As you invest more into it skills or abilities the better they become, causing small investments to become useless as your power increases.
The second variation offers a linear power curve where all powers are equally powerful. In this scenario if you aren't a hybrid and don't choose certain skills, you will be dead in the water. Class based systems without proper penalization for multiclassing fall in the same category (see: a fight/cleric/wizard character).

Both of those outcomes usually makes me feel that I'm playing the character that the game demands me to be, rather than play the character that I really want. I've never played a game that manages to walk the road between those 2 extremes... but I'm open to suggestions.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Lady --- > whore ---> hooker ----> Brothel Bitch ---> Succubus ---> Lillith's Honey

How many non-Elder Scrolls games used a system where you could become every class? And why? I seem to recall this was becoming popular for multi-classing. Shit! Can't say I'm a fan of that. Cheapen's replay imho.

 

[Dorateen]

A system that allows for class-specific content. Whether class related quests, guilds or promotion assignments. This kind of design helps distinguish the individual characters of an adventuring party.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

But my imagination can do that too? Don't you all use those other voices in your head? Anyone?

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

I prefer classless where your character is what you use/elect. The problem with them is that they can become overly granular and wind up as a distinction without much difference. Classless systems require very well thought attribute systems that can broadly apply across many different skills and concepts. It's difficult to find such system in CRPGs. They're mostly found in PnP.

Is there a "You are what you eat" game? I feel like there was but i just can't remember.

Mostly post-apocolyptic games. Underrail is probably the best example. Someone already named Fallout. Fantasy wise, Dungeon Siege 1 was classless in this manner. It just sucked. There was exceptionally little depth. Gedonia is a more recent and far better example of classless systems in the fantasy genre. It's simple, but still has plenty of depth.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

But that Donkey and krug puppie; you ever watch them play and chase each other in the mines? I almost felt guilty killing em all.

And where the fuck was the SHREK DONKEY TALK MOD?

I looked and looked and looked and never found it.

 

[J1M]

Poll is biased. Classless should be split into 6 choices as well.

Classes allow players to more reliably execute on creating characters that fit interesting archetypes. For that reason it will always be better than classless (otherwise known as "everyone swings a sword and casts light heal because that is resource efficient").

Branching class progression has problems. Most notably with the combinatorics of scaling and the majority of the game taking place while characters are ticking off prerequisites instead of once they reach the interesting class.

There are of course issues with asking players to make the most important decisions before they have any experience with a game system. Something that is difficult to work around in most class systems.

Some options:
a) Use an existing and well known ruleset (D20), allowing you to defer the learning curve to past experience
b) Don't limit character creation to the start of the game. Allow for copious party building and/or rebuilding characters

 

[vitellus]

where would the wizardry series sit on here? you could change classes if you met the stat prerequisites, and you'd start from level 1 with all the good learned things from the previous class. priest up to say level 8 then swap to fighter, then to mage, etc. multiclassing? cuz you'd get no penalty as a fighter casting a priest spell in heavy armor, but if you went from fighter to priest you'd be tougher but unable to wield little more than a staff, dagger, or sling.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Now i forget if you can keep changing classes in wiz 1-3, 5.

Och! You just want me to fire up appleWin Eh?

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

no class, all skill.
with enough skills and different equipment you can be anything you want to be, just turn yourself into anything you think that you could ever be.

Not a fan of classless/skill based systems. In the classless/skill based systems, that I've come in contact with, it usually boils down to 2 varieties: systems that require you to specialize or go full hybridization.

this is not a matter of "rulesets". it's a matter of "*bad* rulesets".