Editing Variant Class

A '''Variant Class''' is a mechanic that is applied in [[RPG]]s with a distinct [[class]]-structure approach; more freeform games, such as ''[[Unknown Armies]]'', ''[[GURPS]]'', ''[[Deadlands]]'', ''[[World of Darkness]]'', etc, would have no use for it.

As the name suggests, a variant class is an alternative set of traits and features applied to an existing class for a different interpretation of the class's core concept whilst still retaining greater cohesion. Variant classes are simpler and easier to use than full-fledged alternate classes, because they "piggyback" most of their traits on the existing class. ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' has long made extensive use of this practice, from the [[Kits]] of ''[[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]'' to the openly named variant classes and (closely related but not quite the same) alternate class features of [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition|3rd Edition]] to the "Archetypes" mechanics of ''[[Pathfinder]]'' and [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition|5th Edition]].

Examples of variant classes in ''D&D'' include the [[Sidhe Scholar]] (a [[Druid]] who learns its lore from [[Fey|fae]] tutors, giving it unique traits like learning [[Alignment|Evil]] [[Cleric Domain|Domain]] spells) and the [[Paladin]]s of Freedom, Tyranny and Slaughter (Paladins who must be Chaotic Good, Lawful Evil and Chaotic Evil, respectively). Similarly, 4th Edition has the oft-maligned ''Essentials'' classes from the latter parts of the edition's lifespan (Usually from the ''Heroes of X'' classes) which attempted to simplify the progressions of classes by making overarching features that progressed as the character advanced, but often stripped the character of any choice from the parent class' powers and sticking them with leftovers.

==3.5E==

{|cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center" border="1" style="background:Ivory4";" width="100%"
|- style=background:#565656 align=center align=center 
!Base Class
!Variant
!Source
|-
! rowspan="6" | Barbarian
|-
|[[Horselord]]
|
|-
|[[Hunter]]
|
|-
|[[Implacable]]
|
|-
|[[Totem Barbarian]]
|
|-
|[[Variant Barbarian]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
! rowspan="7" | Bard
|-
|[[Bardic Sage]]
|
|-
|[[Divine Bard]]
|
|-
|[[Fey Bard]]
|
|-
|[[Harbinger]]
|
|-
|[[Savage Bard]]
|
|-
|[[Variant Bard]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
! rowspan="11" | Cleric
|-
|[[Ancestral Speaker]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 47-48
|-
|[[Arcane Disciple]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pg. 49
|-
|[[Aspirant]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 49-50
|-
|[[Benevolent]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pg. 50
|-
|[[Champion]]
|
|-
|[[Cloistered Cleric]]
|
|-
|[[Crusader]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 50-51
|-
|[[Evangelist]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 52-53
|-
|[[Rage Cleric]]
|
|-
|[[Variant Cleric]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
! rowspan="12" | Druid
|-
|[[Druidic Avenger]]
|
|-
|[[Huntsman]]
|
|-
|[[Metal Master]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 59-60
|-
|[[Sidhe Scholar]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #339 pgs. 90-91
|-
|[[Storm Druid]]
|
|-
|[[Totem Druid]]
|
|-
|[[Urban Druid]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #317 pgs. 30
|-
|[[Variant Druid]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
|[[Wild Reaper]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 55-57
|-
|[[Wind Walker]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 57-59
|-
|[[Winter Warden]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 60-62
|-
! rowspan="18" | Fighter
|-
|[[Bodyguard]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 33
|-
|[[Commander]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 33-34
|-
|[[Corsair]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 34-35
|-
|[[Dirty Fighter]]
|
|-
|[[Exoticist]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 35
|-
|[[Fencer]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 35-36
|-
|[[Horseman]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 36
|-
|[[Janissary]]
|
|-
|[[Kensai]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 36
|-
|[[Knight]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 36-37
|-
|[[Pugilist]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 37-38
|-
|[[Shield Bearer]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 38
|-
|[[Survivalist]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 38
|-
|[[Targetteer]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 38-39
|-
|[[Thane]]
|
|-
|[[Thug]]
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|-
|[[Variant Fighter]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
! rowspan="11" | Monk
|-
|[[Chaos Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #335 pg 89
|-
|[[Holy Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Hunter Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Martial Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Raging Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Sidewinder Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #331 pg.89
|-
|[[Steadfast Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Variant Monk]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
|[[Vigilant Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Wild Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310
|-
! rowspan="16" | Paladin
|-
|[[Anarch]] (CN)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 47-49
|-
|[[Anti-Paladin]] (CE)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #312 pgs. 20-22
|-
|[[Avenger]] (CG)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 49-50
|-
|[[Corrupter]] (NE)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #312 pgs. 24-26
|-
|[[Despot]] (LE)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #312 pgs. 23-24
|-
|[[Enforcer]] (LN)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 53-54
|-
|[[Incarnate]] (N)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 52-53
|-
|[[Inquisitor]]
|
|-
|[[Paladin of Freedom]]
|
|-
|[[Paladin of Slaughter]]
|
|-
|[[Paladin of Tyranny]]
|
|-
|[[Sentinel]] (NG)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 50-52
|-
|[[Variant Paladin]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
|[[Warrior Paladin]]
|
|-
|[[Wyrmslayer]]
|
|-
! rowspan="8" | Ranger
|-
|[[Mystic Ranger]]
|
|-
|[[Planewalker Ranger]]
|
|-
|[[Predator]]
|
|-
|[[Urban Ranger]]
|
|-
|[[Variant Ranger]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
|[[Warrior Ranger]]
|
|-
|[[Wild Defender]]
|
|-
! rowspan="4" | Rogue
|-
|[[Adventurer]]
|
|-
|[[Wilderness Rogue]]
|
|-
|[[Variant Paladin]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
! rowspan="4" | Sorcerer
|-
|[[Battle Sorcerer]]
|
|-
|[[Variant Paladin]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 58-59
|-
|[[Witch]]
|
|-
! rowspan="10" | Wizard
|-
|[[Anagakok]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #344 pgs. 104-105
|-
|[[Combat Wizard]]
|
|-
|[[Deathwalker]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #312 pgs. 30-32
|-
|[[Domain Wizard]]
|
|-
|[[Filidh]]
|
|-
|[[Fleshcrafter]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #312 pgs. 32-34
|-
|[[High Specialist]]
|
|-
|[[Soul Reaper]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #312 pgs. 34-36
|-
|[[Variant Paladin]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 59
|}

{{D&D3-Classes}}

== 4E ==
As mentioned above, all the variant classes for 4th Edition weren't using the AEDU system that most classes up until that point were using. Being the creation of ''Essentials'', which tried to simplify the creation and play process for 4E, but to...less than stellar results.

*'''[[Blackguard]]''' - Variant [[Paladin]] with powers drawn from vices.
*'''[[Berserker]]''' - Variant [[Barbarian]] focused on a striking anyone who gets too close.
*'''Binder''' - Variant [[Warlock]] with less curses.
*'''Bladesinger''' - Variant [[Wizard]] who casts spells through a sword. Loses out on a lot of the supplementary spells from stuff like Arcane Power.
*'''[[Cavalier]]''' - Variant [[Paladin]] that's focused more on offense at the cost of healing potential.
*'''[[Elementalist]]''' - Variant [[Sorcerer]] powered by the elements.
*'''[[Executioner]]''' - Variant Assassin who exchanges dailies for crafting poisons and sacrifices encounter powers for a lone encounter power that adds extra damage.
*'''Hexblade''' - Variant [[Warlock]] who wields a special pact weapon and summons monsters.
*'''Hunter''' - Variant [[Ranger]] that's focused on archery and stances.
*'''[[Knight]]''' - Variant [[Fighter]] focused more on defensive auras and stances.
*'''Protector''' - Variant [[Druid]] with an AoE attack instead of Wildshape. Sacrifices dailies for a multi-use power to summon creatures.
*'''Mage''' - Variant [[Wizard]] focused more on a particular school of magic.
*'''[[Scout]]''' - Variant [[Ranger]] more focused on dual-wielding.
*'''Sentinel''' - Variant [[Druid]] with an animal companion.
*'''[[Sha'ir]]''' - Variant [[Wizard]] who controls a Gen like a familiar.
*'''[[Skald]]''' - Variant [[Bard]] with an aura that lets others gain extra HP when they spend a recovery.
*'''[[Slayer]]''' - Variant [[Fighter]] more focused on offense.
*'''Thief''' - Variant [[Rogue]] that's more of a skill monkey and has a special encounter power for a meaner sneak attack.
*'''[[Witch]]''' - Variant [[Wizard]] with a familiar and fortune-telling.
{{D&D4-Classes}}

==Pathfinder==
While the Archetype system helped cut down on the extreme amount of variant classes as seen above, this game wasn't exactly immune to the phenomenon.

The first of the lot are the "Unchained" classes (of which there are for the [[Barbarian]], [[Monk]], [[Rogue]], and [[Summoner]]). These weren't too different from their base classes aside from rewordings to avoid abuse cases - which were extremely common in the case of the Summoner. In most cases, these were treated as little more than sidegrades with an RAW issue of blocking off all archetypes not explicitly written with them in mind.

The second are the actual variant classes:
*'''[[Ninja]]''' - Variant [[Rogue]] with a ki pool from the Monk and capable of lifting other tricks as well.
*'''[[Samurai]]''' - Variant [[Cavalier]] who loses Teamwork feats but becomes tougher to take down by sheer stubbornness.

[[Category: Roleplaying]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons Classes]] [[Category: Game Mechanics]]