The Essence of a Class

[Oedipussy Rex]

What is that one thing that, if removed, makes you say, "That character is no longer X." For instance, if the ability to cast spells is removed, a Magic-user is no longer a Magic-user, and a Thief without thief skills that improve with level is just a poor 0ed Fighting Man.

So, what about Druids, Rangers, Bards, Barbarians, and such? What do you think is the essence of each? 

[Kersus]

Druids are not druids without weird rituals. Polymorphs, charms, etc. Although they'd be okay as Geourgists.

Rangers need wilderness survival skills and a broken sword.

Bards require many years of study as Fighters and Thiefs. Otherwise we're talking about wandering entertainers which seem like ridiculous characters to me unless it's a cover. Any class - especially Assassin could be a Minstrel.

Barbarian is a race.

[Oedipussy Rex]

Barbarian is a race.

So it's a Barbarian Fighter, much like a Dwarven Fighter, not a Human Barbarian?

What about where race is a class?

[Kersus]

I think where Race is Class it falls natural to have Dwarf, Elf/Ilf, Midget, Kobold, Barbarian, and then Human whatevers.  Barbarian might be to Human what Dwarf is to Gnome? Similar concepts and maybe cousins. I just can't get my head around how someone trains in an academy to be barbaric. Growing up in Aquilonia thinking, I just want to go train with the primitives about peeing in a bush.

Barbarians really would be a race of Rangers I guess that perhaps distrust anything they can't barter or beat. Wilderness skills, strength, and maybe even Beserker tendencies?

Ilf = Fighter/Magic-User
Dwarf = Fighter
Gnome = Illusionist
Midget = Thief
Barbarian = Ranger (or Fighter/Thief)
Kobold = Magic-User/Thief

As rather politically incorrect as it is, I would make Human's a class and break them into three. I would probably then add some race that are Clerics.