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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 4eHistory of the Classes

The Monk Class, Part Five

We come now to the monk of Fourth Edition D&D, which as I have been hinting for a long time is a very unusual presentation of the class. In the source-role jargon of the edition, it is the only Psionic ...
D&D 3.5eHistory of the ClassesPathfinder RPG

The Monk Class, Part Four

After a hiatus of more than two months, welcome back to the History of the Monk Class. Last time, I covered 2e, which has an awkward and widely varied approach to the class. I think that for a lot of ...
D&D 2eHistory of the Classes

The Monk Class, Part Three

As we have another week without Unearthing any Arcana, I can at last return to our discussion of the monk class in D&D. Today I’m looking at AD&D, Second Edition, and like all even-numbered editions, the monk is not a ...
D&D 1eHistory of the ClassesWuxia / Oriental Adventures

The Monk Class, Part Two

Another Monday without a UA article, so another Thursday with a new History of the Classes article: to every cloud, its silver lining. (Just a few hours late; I have a pretty unforgiving head cold.) Today I’m tackling one of ...
History of the Classes

The Monk Class, Part One

It’s been, um, a little while now since the History of the Classes column covered character classes rather than social classes. Other than the Warlock, Part Zero, back in October, I haven’t covered classes since February of last year. Thanks ...
D&D 5eHistory of the ClassesUnearthed Arcana

Unearthed Arcana: Ranger & Rogue Breakdown

This week in Unearthed Arcana we have three new subclasses: two for the ranger, one for the rogue, and one for the little boy who lives down the lane. They’ve drawn themes from a 3.5e prestige class, a 2e kit, ...
History of the Classes

Domain Rulership, Part Thirteen

There I was, confidently announcing the end of the Domain Rulership series, when one of my readers reminded me that not only were there products I had agreed to examine in this series, but I had a copy sitting around ...
D&D 5eHistory of the Classes

Domain Rulership, Part Twelve

It’s been a good while – longer than intended, but you can blame Unearthed Arcana for that – since I last wrote about domain rulership systems. Today, I’m correcting that, and you are instructed to rejoice. I only know of ...
D&D 5eGM ResourcesHistory of the ClassesUnearthed Arcana

Unearthed Arcana: Sacred Oaths Breakdown

For this week’s Unearthed Arcana, I’d like to start us out with a quote. Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my ...
D&D 2eHistory of the Classes

The Warlock Class, Part Zero

So, funny story, I was digging through boxes and boxes of books and Fantasy & Science Fiction magazines at my parents’ house the other day, when I found my old copy of Player’s Option: Spells & Magic. In case you’re ...