Character Class Ideas

[Calin Leafshade]

Ok so anyone following the tech forum might have worked out that i'm working on a turn based RPG for a giggle.

Heres My class diagram thus far:
(It's large so i wont embed it)

http://i.imgur.com/EzGxf.png

You'll notice that the 'Lumberjack' branch is a little on the thin side. I'm trying to make a kind of rugged woodsmen type of class tree but i'm at a loss as to what else i can add to it.

Any ideas?

(Oh and the other classes might look a little unbalanced in places but i'm hoping to balance it out a little with special abilities for the classes.)

[mukk]

Looks fun.

Maybe you could split it in one offensive melee barbarian/berserker class type and the ranged/melee ranger type after woodsman.

Like Lumberjack -> Woodsman -> Ranger -> Archon of Forrests
                                                 -> Savage -> Rage of Forrests

[Hudders]

Some kind of druid maybe?

[Calin Leafshade]

Well druids already feature in the magic tree but i was thinking about having ways to jump classes from certain points (like special items or something)

[Stupot]

You could have a ballistic branch, with gunslingers and cannnoneers 

[Atelier]

Rangers would be more suited to the scout branch rather than the woodsman. Rangers typically travel light and can cross long distances quickly, although it is true they are versed in herblore (think Aragorn).

So why not scrap the lumberjack branch, merge it, or replace it for something else (ballistic is a good idea). If you're having trouble thinking of other classes it's already proving more trouble than it's worth. What you've got already is more than enough to be badass.

[Ali]

So why not scrap the lumberjack branch

But I've always wanted to be... oh forget it.

[Calin Leafshade]

What you've got already is more than enough to be badass.

I guess i should explain that the game doesnt feature a 4 man, set-in-stone party like something like Final Fantasy. Your 'squad' might have 30 people in it and you choose a battle party of 5-10 or so (depending on the size of the map) for each battle. So having a very rich class tree is important to make characters distinct and useful in their own right to avoid the situation seen in pokémon where you just level up your 5 favourite monsters.

For instance in a wooded map scouts and druids would be more useful than knights and infantry, who take a movement penalty in difficult terrain. Conversely, in an open map, scouts would be very exposed to enemy infantry, who can 'march' in open terrain and gain a movement bonus.

YOU SEE!? ITS ALL VERY COMPLICATED!

[Atelier]

Ah ok. How about putting an Outlaw in the lumberjack branch (no pun intended?), Robin Hood was the biggest tree-hugger of all time. Lumberjack goes to Woodsman or Outlaw then outlaw can go onto something else roguish (eg Exile, Pariah) while Woodsman takes the dignified route of Ranger. Other forest-themed classes I can think of are Hunters or Hermits.

I'd also recommend changing the name of pupil to apprentice. Pupil is associated more with children and apprentice implies wizardry in fantasy worlds.

[Baron]

I'm a lumberjack, and I'm ok!
I sleep all night, and I work all day!

For lumberjack weaponry there's all sorts of more interesting things than just axes: historical lumberjacks would have those boot spikes for gripping logs they jump on over the rivers and climbing trees, a peavey (kind of a speary thing for breaking up log jams), some sort of rope/cord used in tree scaling (wrapped around the trunk for grip), brush hooks, bucksaws, and almost certainly a bush knife of some sort.

Other woodland folks....  Well there's the stereotypical native.  Prospectors also spend a lot of time in the bush, as historically did hermits, huntsmen, voyageurs (canoe riding pelt traders), pilgrims and hippies.  More contemporary characters would include biologists, tourists and -my personal favourite- treeplanters.

[Crimson Wizard]

I guess i should explain that the game doesnt feature a 4 man, set-in-stone party like something like Final Fantasy. Your 'squad' might have 30 people in it and you choose a battle party of 5-10 or so (depending on the size of the map) for each battle. So having a very rich class tree is important to make characters distinct and useful in their own right to avoid the situation seen in pokémon where you just level up your 5 favourite monsters.

For instance in a wooded map scouts and druids would be more useful than knights and infantry, who take a movement penalty in difficult terrain. Conversely, in an open map, scouts would be very exposed to enemy infantry, who can 'march' in open terrain and gain a movement bonus.

Hey, this starts to look a bit like X-Com games.

Have you considered to add Shepherds with sheep subordinates and Bakers, who make healing cookies?

Also
- Forger to repair weapons and make better ones;
- Enchanter to enchant equipment;
- Builder to construct walls and shelters;
- Engineer to make siege weaponry;
- Beekeeper to breed killing bees to attack enemies;
- Brewer to increase fighting spirit;
- Paratroo... nevermind.

[Babar]

Perhaps have the "Woodsman" as the superclass to the Lumberjack (instead of the other way around)?

Like...a Woodsman would have everything to do in general with the woods, and it could be divided into Ranger and Lumberjack.

Rangers would have better stealth in woods (use the forest more effectively to hide), while lumberjacks would have better protection (use the forest and wood available more effectively to protect themselves), with them both having better movement than other classes (know the paths, or know how to traverse), and perhaps higher health regeneration (know where to get the animals or herbs and stuff).