7 basic "Class" Sources

[cybrim]

I have found that there are 7 different aspects that could be further divided.

Magic (Sorcerer/Wizard/Magician)
Psionics (Psychic)
Blessed (Cleric/Palladin/Exorcist)
Rage (Berserker/Barbarian/Gladiator)
Nature Imbued (Elementalist/Druid/Shaman)
Life Student (Scholar/Monk/Diplomat)
Tech User (Engineer/Scientist/Mechanic)

I haven't been on in a while but I think that these would be excellent to mix and mash like in TQ. The "()" represent possible skill trees within said Class.
The only 2 I think need explanation are the Tech User and the Life Student:
Life Student:
Scholars could learn how to kill enemies from studying them (kill so many learn their weaknesses) after investing in a specific school. Monks could also practice discipline and self control to better handle combat situations through fine tuning themselves with the study of self improvement. Diplomats could convince enemies to join their cause through influence, bribery or intimidation.
Tech User:
Engineers could build devices that serve them in various ways, hack ATMs and other electronic devices as well as upgrade equipment. Scientists can use chemistry to create potions and poisons as well as discover enemy weaknesses through study (as a piece of equipment a "lab rat" cage or test tube collectible from enemy drops). Mechanics can repair equipment, breakdown traps (for later reuse), disable machines/computers.

[i.n.s.a.n.e]

Originally Posted by cybrim

Psionics (Psychic)

Yes, please! =)

[matthewfarmery]

Originally Posted by i.n.s.a.n.e

Yes, please! =)

that would be cool, maybe for one of the expansions, but that gets my vote too

[hooby]

How did you come up with that 7 "aspects"?
How do you define "aspect" and what does define each of your 7 aspects?

For example what you call "Magic" is something that I'd rather call "Artillery" - the typical glass canon, heavy (area) damage on a distance, but fragile.

What you call "blessed" mostly seems a mixture of two aspects to me: healing and support.

You are missing some aspects, like stealth and defense (the typical front-line grunt/fighter) and the typical ranged aspect.

So I'm really not sure how your classification system works...

[yerkyerk]

I wonder how you "found" it too, as there seems to be a lot missing from any perspective.

Is it another description of archetypical RPG classes?

[eisprinzessin]

I'd pool Magic, Psionics, Blessed and Nature Imbued into Supernatural. It's tempting to devise such a system, but does it help in any way?

[hooby]

Originally Posted by eisprinzessin

I'd pool Magic, Psionics, Blessed and Nature Imbued into Supernatural. It's tempting to devise such a system, but does it help in any way?

I don't think it helps to define groups by their flavour text. I mean if healing abilities come from being blessed by the gods, or from magic, or from being an expert in the use of healing plants is purely descriptive text / explanation.

This only seems useful if you want to do some analyses on common mainstream high fantasy stereotypes, but is not of meaning in any other context.

If you want a system that really does help (when designing a game) you need to classify by gameplay aspects. Gameplay aspects would any class mechanics that do have influence on how a class plays.

I'd say a list of those would look somewhat like this:

armor protection
evasion
block
resistance
melee
ranged
point damage
area damage
damage over time
fast weak attacks
slow heavy attacks
armor penetration
physical damage
elemental damage
healing
strengthening buffs
protecting buffs
weakening debuffs
reducing protection debuffs
pets
stealth
traps
...

and so on and so forth...

Most classes would then be a (balanced) combination of multiple of those aspects.

Also which aspects are covered and how they are represented in detail (and how important/strong they are) can differ very much, from game to game.

[cybrim]

PLEASE READ THIS... IT EXPLAINS IT ALL IF YOU READ IT ALL...

Hey babes, these are "SOURCES OF POWER" (not ***ki** "classes"), a Divine source is a "blessing", Magic isn't "artillery" it is what ever it is trained to be, Techies are Engineers, mechanics and scientists... as far as stealth and defense go they are NOT "SOURCES OF POWER" but instead ways POWERS CAN BE USED...
You can use your powers as you see fit...
Take "invisibility" it is a magical technique or cloaking technology used for stealth... even technology requires a source for it's power... because even thieves and rogues in a post apocalypse are still visible until they use technology or powers to become invisible, sure they are sneakier but they are NOT invisible for no freaking reason hence the "SOURCE OF POWER" idea.
I actually thought of reasons for certain things to have certain abilities.
Defenders take a lot of damage... they NEED RAGE/or technology/or some source to give them the ability to take the damage for the group and return it 999,999,999 fold... (overkill much? FATALITY!).
Using this method people can build the characters the way they want to and expand further by reaching across several sources!

Titan Quest "Class" equivalent sources: Warfare & Defense= Rage, Dream= Psychic, Nature Earth & Storm= Force of Nature, Spirit= Magic(/Blessing If for good... unless there is an evil God?), Rogue & Hunting= Technology

[cybrim]

Originally Posted by eisprinzessin

I'd pool Magic, Psionics, Blessed and Nature Imbued into Supernatural. It's tempting to devise such a system, but does it help in any way?

Look I love you as a friend but you are coming on a bit strong... oh wait wrong reply...
Titan Quest separated their control of "NATURE" into EARTH, NATURE and STORM... they have different ideals behind them, my idea separates into broader categories for REAL differences in how the powers are manifested!
Not all psychics can shoot lightning... and not all mages are telepathic... VERY DIFFERENT! Oh and a blessing could be invisibility! Or Psychic suggestion could be "you don't sense anything over in this direction" thus enemies can't harm you unless they are strong enough to resist the suggestion because they wouldn't know you are there! OMG! A mage has to chant... a psychic focuses upon it for a little longer and even without the ability to speak can manifest his/her powers!

[cybrim]

To Hooby:

Thank you, but even you agree that each of those ideas you posted may be manifested by different methodologies, whether by technology, psychic manipulation, magic, Divine blessing or harmony with the force of nature different methods can create similar results...
Rage is "physical" but it is also a state of mind... a blinding state of mind that may be strong enough to help you resist psionic effects... or you may be angry that you can't say a word and a fire ball appears... but you can tear down many things... attack faster, harder and more precisely!
Being a student of life (I love MONKS!)
by studying new and different things you can find ways around obstacles, Tacticians, Lawyers, Rogues, Politicians, Merchants... these are a group of people that studied something for quite a while and know how their expertise works, as for the Monk he/she tries to find a balance and there can be none with conflict afoot and there can't be peace with conflict!
The Aspect is the Method!