[Spoiler Alert: I’m a giant nerd. I’ve been running a Pathfinder campaign for the past two years, and I’m starting to work on the next one. All of my new players are relative neophytes to the game, and I put together this rough breakdown to guide them through choosing a proper character class for their style. One of my players really liked it, and suggested I put it up on my blog for use by nerds throughout the land — and since I’m lazy, and going to be away for a week — WISH GRANTED, Mr. Yellow Devil.
Any other tabletop nerds out there? I’d love any feedback or suggestions you have on this chart.]
Here’s a rough break-down of the nineteen character classes available. Think of this as a very rough overview, to give you some idea for further discussion with me and the other players. I’ve also included links to further descriptions of each class — it’s very technical, but there’s a good overview of each through the link, enough to give you more idea of what each class can do.
| Arcane | Divine | Martial | Skilled | Natural | Synthesis |
| Wizard Sorcerer Summoner |
Cleric Paladin Oracle |
Fighter Barbarian Cavalier |
Rogue Bard Ranger |
Druid Monk Witch |
Magus Inquisitor Gunslinger Alchemist |
Nineteen Ways To Die
| CLASS | Description | Best at… | Examples |
| Alchemist | “I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensaring the senses … I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death..” S.Snape | Making themselves more powerful; influencing enemies and the battlefield in unexpected ways. | Severus Snape Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde |
| Barbarian | Fueled by rage, they destroy all who oppose them. | Doing lots of damage. | Conan Khal Drogo |
| Bard | Their songs are magical, their wit and knowledge deadly. | Making the party more effective. Gathering information |
Kvothe* Tom o’Sevens Alan-a-dale |
| Cavalier | Noble knights, they ride into battle leading the way to victory. | Mounted combat. Unique Ability: Tactics |
Jaime Lannister Sturm Brightblade Barristan Selmy |
| Cleric | True servant of their faith, they shield the world from evil. | Healing. Making the party more effective. |
Sazed Sephrenia Melisandre Thoros of Myr |
| Druid | The raw forces of nature are theirs to command. | Elemental magic. Shapechanging. |
Tim the Druid Beast Boy Allanon Cold Hands |
| Fighter | In the press of battle, there are none more rightfully feared. | Doing damage. Most adaptable class. |
Boromir Garet Jax Bronn |
| Gunslinger | The smell of gunsmoke and black powder, hard-knuckle death dealers. | Doing a lot of damage. Unique ability: Grit |
Roland Deschain Matthew Quigley Chow Yun Fat |
| Inquisitor | Their god commands them to bring the unfaithful to judgement. | Weakening enemies. Unique ability: Judgement |
Simon Belmont Inquisitor Glokta |
| Magus | Pure magical energy, channeled into the sharp edge of a blade. | Doing a lot of damage. Wizard/Fighter |
[I honestly can’t think of an example — the cast spells through their weapons, it’s ridiculous.] |
| Monk | A combatant armed only with wisdom. | Mobility, and damage. | Tempi Drunken Master Son Goku Wong Fei Hung |
| Oracle | Their power is a mystery, even to themselves. | Healing. Unique Ability: Mystery |
Calypso Cassandra |
| Paladin | A divine warrior, they bring hope and courage to all. | Healing/Combat Hybrid. Diplomacy. |
Obi-Wan Kenobi Paksenarrion |
| Ranger | A fierce combatant, a skilled traveller of the wilderness. | Ranged Combat. Tracking, Wilderness Survival. |
Aragorn, son of Arathorn |
| Rogue | A thief, a trickster, cunning wanderer of the night. | Stealth, Trapfinding and Lockpicking. Sneak Attack damage. |
Locke Lamora Arya Stark Tasselhoff Burrfoot |
| Sorcerer | Magic flows in their blood, and bends to their will. | Spellcasting. Knowing less spells than a Wizard, but can cast more often. |
Kelsier the Survivor Belgarath |
| Summoner | They create a powerful beast, the Eidolon from pure thought and desire. | Well, summoning. Perfect if you really want to play a Monster. |
The Incredible Hulk Lyra Silvertongue |
| Witch | Their power flows from spirits unknown. | Spellcasting. Freaking people out. Unique ablity: Hexes |
Elphaba Baba Yaga |
| Wizard | Their mastery of magic comes from long study and mental excellence. | Spellcasting. Most varied, and adaptable spellcasters. |
Gandalf Harry Dresden Albus Dumbledore |
Simple Complicated
Barbarian Fighter Ranger Monk Cleric Wizard
Rogue
Paladin Oracle Witch Summoner
Bard
Gunslinger Inquisitor Sorcerer
Cavalier Druid Alchemist
If you want to do damage: Barbarian, Magus, Monk, Gunslinger
If you want to hurt things with magic: Wizard, Sorcerer, Magus, Witch
If you want to heal things: Cleric, Oracle
If you want to be a leader: Cavalier, Paladin, Cleric, Bard
Sneaky, stabby type: Rogue, Ranger, Inquisitor
*It’s tough to pin Kvothe down to one class. Bard/Assassin/Wizard/Fighter/Rogue would just about cover it.
spell-sword.com 
Oh now this is just magical. Yes I will be using this for my own pathfinder campaign. I did notice you left out Raistlin Majere for Wizard. Also his brother Caramon Majere. I did chuckle a bit when I saw Tasslehoff and Sturm on there.
Oh this is just great.
Great post.
Cheers.
Thanks! I had to leave off a lot of the classics, because the reference would have been lost on my new players.
Got it. They were both made in 2nd Edition D&D so I guess its understandable. Still Great list.
This will really help when it comes to teaching new players at the college club about pathfinder classes.
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