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History of the Classes

Writer and game designer Brandes Stoddard explores the history of each of D&D’s classes, from OD&D to 5e.

D&D 5eHistory of the Classes

Psionics, Part Eight

Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, we have come to the eighth and, for the time being, final article of the series on the history of psionics in D&D. In this case, we’re talking about a class that is still ...
D&D 4eHistory of the Classes

Psionics, Part Seven

In last week’s article, I discussed some of the peripheral support for psionics in 3.5 D&D. This week, I’m moving on to 4e, which means we’re going to the Player’s Handbook 3 and Psionic Power. 4e nominally has four psionic ...
D&D 3.5eHistory of the Classes

Psionics, Part Six

In last week’s History of the Classes, I looked at the Psionics Handbook and the Expanded Psionics Handbook, the core psionics rules for 3.0 and 3.5, respectively. This week I’m moving on to later developments within 3.x: one official WotC ...
ColumnsD&D 3.5eHistory of the Classes

Psionics, Part Five

Welcome back to History of the Classes, after a week of ridiculous polling and a week off. We return to the history of psionics in D&D, already in progress. This article discusses psionics in Third Edition D&D. I think I ...
History of the Classes

Could YOU Be Psychic?

Welcome to the first round of Tribality’s Psi-Testing. You will be pushed to the limit of your knowledge of D&D psionics in all their bizarre glory. Now, as every schoolchild knows, there are not two, but three degrees of psychic ...
D&D 2eDark SunHistory of the Classes

Dark Sun Psionics

In today’s History of the Classes article, I’m examining Dark Sun’s use of psionics in AD&D Second Edition. As far as I know, it’s the only 2e setting – out of the glorious variety of 2e settings – that deeply ...
History of the Classes

Psionics, Part Three

Last time in History of the Classes, I talked about AD&D First Edition’s psionics, including a psionicist class introduced in Dragon. Especially from the other articles in that issue, it was clear that psionics in D&D were divisive at the ...
D&D 1eHistory of the Classes

Psionics, Part Two

Last time in History of the Classes, we looked at the first iteration of psionics rules ever to enter D&D and the themes that the Gygax and Blume were addressing. Psionics are optional rules in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (First ...
History of the Classes

Psionics, Part One

Now that Mike Mearls has broached the topic of 5e psionics, History of the Classes tackles the topic I’ve dreaded more than any other. See, I read Eldritch Wizardry once, and I know I am about to lose my damn mind ...
History of the Classes

The Warlock Class, Part Three

I can’t believe we’re already to the last article on the Warlock class. Sure, there was a two-article bit on Sha’ir as a gratuitous lead-in. Sure, I’ve also bolted on studies of the Binder class along the way. But here ...