Dead Classes

[CPBailey74]

Was wondering, what ever happened to some of the older classes from 1st & 2nd edition? I pretty much stopped playing (pen & paper version) shortly after 2nd edition came out since all my books grew legs.
They had some cool classes like:
Thief-Acrobat
Psionic
Ninja (though more of an oriental blend, was still cool)
The Sammy (again see above)
Bokudo (was like an oriental mage I believe, a spear weilder usually)
Those are the only ones that I can think off offhand, but was still interesting having them in the mix.

[Gairun]

Most of those that you listed were never classes but were instead 'Kits'. Kits eventually morphed into what we now have in 3rd editon onwards I.E. Prestige Classes. Most of the oriental classes were used only in Kara-tua, the far eastern lands of the Forgotten Realms.

[Jaeram]

I also liked the oriental classes and wish that Obsidian would have included some of them, the closest thing would be like... monk...

[sharringtonm]

The thief-acrobat was renamed Rogue so that people could play an good alignment and not be considered a bad guy.

Samurai still exists as a Base Class.

Ninja is a PRC if I remember rightly.

Bokudo? Tha like the endless Shaman Base Classes you can find in every single manual ever published? ((Seriously there are a lot of shaman base classes out there))

Psionics? Well most DMs (not all) realized just how quickly psionics ruined their campaigns and banned it. WOTC has faithfully published Psionics Manuals for 3.0 and 3.5 but it really has a small following except by players. Most DMs fear psionics.

[Mighty_Draco]

Thief Acrobat: Prestige class in complete adventurer

Samurai: Check Complete warrior, it's a base class

Ninja: Complete adventurer, also a base class

Psionics have their own book

The Sammy and Bukodo, not familiar with those, probably in Oriental Adventures

[sharringtonm]

Complete Adventurer? DAMN! I'm missing a book!

[Jaeram]

Samurai still exists as a Base Class.

Ninja is a PRC if I remember rightly.

You must be talking about regular D&D . Yeah, I love those classes, I really wish Obsidian would have implemented them, or at least implemented kits like BG2 had. I think there are a lot of classes that could have been really really easily implemented by them if they just would have done it. Like kensai, all you have to do is throw in a kit that says extra bonuses with x picked weapons, extra ac based on x, extra monk like abilities, and then no armor. I think kits were really great, along with PRC's I think both of them could have existed better together than removing one system and implementing another. I always saw kits as a way to better customize your character to what you wanted him to be like, not necessarily some sort of elite status or level of application which I see the PRC's as. Kits were more of a I'm gonna take some of this but I'm gonna give up an equal amount of this, where as PRC's are like I have specialized in specific skills x or have reached a certain level of strength and due to that I can choose to specialize this certain way due to my experience's or whatever.

[Jaeram]

Yeah I think complete adventurer has the most PRC's and other classes than any other single book, it's got like 36 or something like that.

[CPBailey74]

Yeah, I like the Monk, but I do not think on here would be much benefit to an extent (at least to monsters requiring to be hit with a magical weapon) since I do not think their hands are considered a magical weapon until around 18-20 (I think?). I think at 10 they are considered to be equal to Iron and 15 is like Admantine (or something like that). They are great to play though.
The Psionic I thought was a base class? At least I am pretty sure it was. I know the orientals were more along the line of kits. I think it was probably along the line that they did not feel like doing the extra work to add in the extra spells. Too bad, I think it would be real cool. Think to standards now would be kind of like a cross between a Monk and a Sorc (well, at least to the inate ability to cast).

[Jaeram]

Monk weapons are considered magical for reasons of beating resistances at a lower level than 18-20 heheh, I think it's actually level 4 or 6 if I'm not mistaken (I don't have my book with me) But it goes, Magical (and then all the following stack on to as he progresses) then cold iron, then umm... either there's one more and then adamantine or it goes straight to adamantine after that. I'm about 90% sure magical is the first one though.

[nickbeat]

Psionics are a totally different system, and it really screws things up if you try to pit a psionic character vs an arcane one for instance. They just WIN all the time. Not bad if you are plying psionics only, but managing both is a major hassle.

I could go on with a list of why Psionics is so unbalanced.

Complete Adventurer is great! Leap Attack is a fun feat, and they have a ton of nifty PrCs that could inspire characters.

[Gairun]

Yeah kits were great, I use to love the paladin kit 'Cavalier'. It was kind of a throw back to the DnD 1.5 book 'Unearthed Arcana'. I myself also loved my Dual classed Mage/Kensai from years ago. . . he was great. Bring back kits!

Monks by the way are the third most powerful solo class out there.

[CPBailey74]

Okay, I was not really sure. I usually go with unarmed with a monk, only use throwing for distance attacks or to lure them. Could not remember =-P

I don't have the actual books, but I have a few of the PDF's if you want em Share, not sure which you did not have. I have:
Psionics Handbook
3rd Edition Demons & Devils
Forgotten Realms Speciality Priests
3rd Ed. The Dead of Winter
3rd Ed. Bonus Insert
3rd Ed. Char sheets
3rd Ed Highlanders and Immortals
Dragonlance Source Book
Forgotten Realms Hero's Lore Book
Complete Thief's Handbook
Thief's Challenge 2 - Beacon Point
Complete Guide to Arms & Equipment
The Slayers Guide to Gnolls
3rd Ed. Defenders of the Faith
3rd Ed. Monsters of Faerun
3rd Ed. Atlas of Faerun
3rd Ed Book of Eldrich Magic
3rd Ed Accessory - Hero's Guidebook
Dragonlance Monster Compodium 2
Dungeon Masters Design Kit Book 1
3rd Net Book of Magical Treasures
3rd Ed Players Handbook
3rd Ed Sword & Fist
D&D Advanced Handbook
Complete Ninja's Handbook
D&D 2nd Ed Legends
Monsters & Legends
Demihuman Deities
2nd Edition Handbook

[Jaeram]

Ooooh... complete Ninja's Handbook, that one sounds interesting and I don't have that one, I might have to look for it when I get home.

[Kangleton]

Psionics are easy to deal with if you follow the advice given in one of the books. It says that anything that has the word "Psionic" or "Magic" can be interchanged, in most cases. Dispel Magic would thusly Dispel Psionics, and Spell Resistance would count as Psion Resistance, too. Stuff like that made it a bit more balancing. Psionics are too cool to just be forsaken.