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.x E==
{|class="wikitable" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center" border="1" width="100%"
|- align=center align=center
!Base Class
!Variant
!Source
|-
![[Adept]]
|[[Urban Adept]]
|[[Sharn: City of Towers]] pg. 167
|-
![[Artificer#3rd_Edition|Artificer]]
|[[Psionic Artificer]]
|[[Magic of Eberron]] pgs. 42-43
|-
! rowspan="7" | [[Barbarian#3rd & 3.5th Edition|Barbarian]]
|[[Horselord]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #338 pg. 88
|-
|[[Implacable]]
|
|-
|[[Totem Barbarian]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 48-49
|-
|[[Variant Barbarian]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
|[[Variant Barbarian]] (Dragon Magazine)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #349 pg. 92-93
|-
|[[Variant Barbarian]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pgs. 28-29
|-
|[[Variant Barbarian]] (Sandstorm)
|[[Sandstorm]] pg. 44-45
|-
! rowspan="6" | [[Bard#3rd Edition|Bard]]
|[[Bardic Sage]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 49
|-
|[[Divine Bard]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 50
|-
|[[Harbinger]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #337 pg. 93
|-
|[[Savage Bard]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 50
|-
|[[Variant Bard]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
|[[Variant Bard]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pgs. 29-30
|-
! rowspan="13" | [[Cleric#Third Edition|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
|-
|[[Cloistered Cleric]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 50-51
|-
|[[Crusader]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 50-51
|-
|[[Evangelist]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 52-53
|-
|[[Lost One]]<!--IDK this one mentions like 3 different classes?-->
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #347 pgs. 90-91
|-
|[[Rage Cleric]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #333 pg. 86
|-
|[[Sacred Enforcer]]	
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #346 pgs. 90-91
|-
|[[Variant Cleric]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pgs. 30-31
|-
|[[Variant Cleric]] (Sandstorm)
|[[Sandstorm]] pg. 45-47
|-
|[[Variant Cleric]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
! rowspan="12" | [[Druid#Druids in 3e & PF|Druid]]
|[[Druidic Avenger]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 51
|-
|[[Metal Master]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #311 pgs. 59-60
|-
|[[Sidhe Scholar]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #339 pgs. 90-91
|-
|[[Storm Druid]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #328 pg. 87
|-
|[[Totem Druid]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #335 pg. 87
|-
|[[Urban Druid]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #317 pgs. 30
|-
|[[Variant Druid]] (Sandstorm)
|[[Sandstorm]] pgs. 47-48
|-
|[[Variant Druid]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pgs. 31-32
|-
|[[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="17" | [[Fighter#3rd edition|Fighter]]
|[[Bodyguard]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 33
|-
|[[Commander]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 33-34
|-
|[[Corsair]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 34-35
|-
|[[Exoticist]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 35
|-
|[[Fencer]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 35-36
|-
|[[Horseman]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 36
|-
|[[Janissary]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #334 pgs. 88
|-
|[[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]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #323 pg. 96
|-
|[[Thug]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 51
|-
|[[Variant Fighter]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pg. 32
|-
|[[Variant Fighter]] (UA)
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
! rowspan="17" | [[Monk#Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition|Monk]]
|[[Buddhist Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #358 pg. 84
|-
|[[Chaos Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #335 pg. 89
|-
|[[Clockwork Disciple]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #351 pg. 92-93
|-
|[[Franciscan Friar]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #358 pgs. 84-85
|-
|[[Holy Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Hunter Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Illuminated Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #340 pg. 47
|-
|[[Knight Hospitaller]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #358 pg. 85
|-
|[[Martial Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Raging Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Shinto Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #358 pg. 85
|-
|[[Sidewinder Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #331 pg. 89
|-
|[[Steadfast Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Variant Monk]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pgs. 32-33
|-
|[[Variant Monk]] (UA)
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
|[[Vigilant Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pg. 45
|-
|[[Wild Monk]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #324 pg. 97
|-
![[Ninja#3rd Edition|Ninja]]
|[[Variant Ninja]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #354 pgs. 86-87
|-
! rowspan="19" | [[Paladin#3rd Edition|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
|-
|[[Paladin of Freedom]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 53-55
|-
|[[Paladin of Light]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #340 pg. 47
|-
|[[Paladin of Slaughter]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 53-55
|-
|[[Paladin of Tyranny]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 53-55
|-
|[[Sentinel]] (NG)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #310 pgs. 50-52
|-
|[[Solstice Knight]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #338 pg. 94
|-
|[[Variant Paladin]] (CW)
|[[Complete Book Series|Complete Warrior]] pg. 13
|-
|[[Variant Paladin]] (Dragon Magazine)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #349 pg. 93
|-
|[[Variant Paladin]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pgs. 33-34
|-
|[[Variant Paladin]] (Sandstorm)
|[[Sandstorm]] pg. 48
|-
|[[Variant Paladin]] (UA)
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
|[[Wyrmslayer]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #332 pg. 90
|-
![[Psion]]
|[[Erudite]]
|[[Complete Book Series|Complete Psionics]] pgs. 153-156
|-
! rowspan="9" | [[Ranger#3rd Edition|Ranger]]
|[[Moon-Warded Ranger]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #340 pg. 55
|-
|[[Mystic Ranger]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #336 pg. 105
|-
|[[Planar Ranger]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 55 
|-
|[[Urban Ranger]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 55-56
|-
|[[Variant Ranger]] (CW)
|[[Complete Book Series|Complete Warrior]] pg. 13
|-
|[[Variant Ranger]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pg. 34
|-
|[[Variant Ranger]] (Sandstorm)
|[[Sandstorm]] pg. 48-49
|-
|[[Variant Ranger]] (UA)
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
|[[Wild Defender]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #324 pg. 95
|-
! rowspan="4" | [[Rogue#Rogues in 3rd Edition|Rogue]]
|[[Lunar Rogue]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #340 pgs. 55-56
|-
|[[Wilderness Rogue]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 56
|-
|[[Variant Rogue]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pgs. 34-36
|-
|[[Variant Rogue]] (UA)
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 58
|-
! rowspan="5" | [[Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)#Comparison to Third Edition Wizards|Sorcerer]]
|[[Battle Sorcerer]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 56-57
|-
|[[Variant Sorcerer]] (Dragon Magazine)
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #348 pg. 88-89
|-
|[[Variant Sorcerer]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pgs. 35-36
|-
|[[Variant Sorcerer]] (Sandstorm)
|[[Sandstorm]] pg. 49
|-
|[[Variant Sorcerer]] (UA)
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 58-59
|-
! rowspan="19" | [[Wizard#In 3rd Edition|Wizard]]
|[[Abjurer]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 59-60
|-
|[[Anagakok]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #344 pgs. 104-105
|-
|[[Combat Wizard]]
|
|-
|[[Conjurer]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 60
|-
|[[Deathwalker]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #312 pgs. 30-32
|-
|[[Diviner]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 60
|-
|[[Domain Wizard]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 57-58
|-
|[[Enchanter]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 60-62
|-
|[[Conjurer]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 62-63
|-
|[[Filidh]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #324 pg. 90
|-
|[[Fleshcrafter]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #312 pgs. 32-34
|-
|[[High Specialist]]
|
|-
|[[Illusionist]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 63
|-
|[[Necromancer]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 63
|-
|[[Soul Reaper]]
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #312 pgs. 34-36
|-
|[[Transmuter]]
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pgs. 63-64
|-
|[[Variant Wizard]] (Planar)
|[[Planar Handbook]] pgs. 36-37
|-
|[[Variant Wizard]] (Sandstorm)
|[[Sandstorm]] pg. 49
|-
|[[Variant Wizard]] (UA)
|[[Unearthed Arcana]] pg. 59
|}

==Racial Substitution Levels==
It's like a variant class, but you have a race requirement too.

{|class="wikitable" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center" border="1" width="100%"
|- align=center align=center
!Variant
!Source
|-
|Changeling egoist
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Changeling rogue
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Changeling wizard
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Dwarf cleric
|[[Races of Stone]] pg. 146
|-
|Dwarf fighter
|[[Races of Stone]] pgs. 146-147
|-
|Dwarf rogue
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #338 pg. 96
|-
|Dwarf sorcerer
|[[Races of Stone]] pg. 147
|-
|Elf paladin
|[[Races of the Wild]] pg. 155
|-
|Elf ranger
|[[Races of the Wild]] pgs. 155-157
|-
|Elf wizard
|[[Races of the Wild]] pg. 157
|-
|Gnome bard
|[[Races of Stone]] pgs. 147-148
|-
|Gnome illusionist
|[[Races of Stone]] pgs. 148-149
|-
|Gnome ranger
|[[Races of Stone]] pgs. 149-150
|-
|Goliath barbarian
|[[Races of Stone]] pgs. 150-151
|-
|Goliath druid
|[[Races of Stone]] pgs. 151-152
|-
|Goliath rogue
|[[Races of Stone]] pg. 152
|-
|Half-elf bard
|[[Races of Destiny]] pg. 157
|-
|Half-elf fighter
|[[Races of Destiny]] pgs. 157-158
|-
|Half-elf ranger
|[[Races of Destiny]] pgs. 158-159
|-
|Half-orc barbarian
|[[Races of Destiny]] pg. 159
|-
|Half-orc druid
|[[Races of Destiny]] pgs. 159-160
|-
|Half-orc paladin
|[[Races of Destiny]] pg. 160
|-
|Halfling barbarian
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #342 pgs. 90-91
|-
|Halfling druid
|[[Races of the Wild]] pgs. 157-158
|-
|Halfling monk
|[[Races of the Wild]] pgs. 158-159
|-
|Halfling rogue
|[[Races of the Wild]] pgs. 159-160
|-
|Halfling wizard
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #337 pg. 102
|-
|Kalashtar monk
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Kalashtar soulknife
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Kalashtar telepath
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Raptoran cleric
|[[Races of the Wild]] pg. 160-161
|-
|Raptoran fighter
|[[Races of the Wild]] pg. 161-162
|-
|Raptoran sorcerer
|[[Races of the Wild]] pg. 162
|-
|Shadow soulknife
|[[Dragon Magazine]] #330 pg. 46-47
|-
|Shifter druid
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Shifter ranger
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Shifter wilder
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Warforged artificer
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Warforged fighter
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|Warforged paladin
|[[Races of Eberron]]
|-
|}

{{D&D3e-Variant 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. Loses out on a lot of the perks that Warlocks got from books like Arcane Power.
*'''[[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.
*'''[[Warpriest]]''' - Variant [[Cleric]] with domains baked into the class progression at the cost of everything else.
*'''[[Witch]]''' - Variant [[Wizard]] with a familiar and fortune-telling.
{{D&D4e-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 a RAW issue of blocking off all archetypes not explicitly written with them in mind.

The second are the actual variant classes:
*'''[[Antipaladin]]''' - Variant [[Paladin]] to cover the spectrum of evil, being able to smite good and their Lay on Hands inflicting damage and debuffs.
*'''[[Ninja]]''' - Variant [[Rogue]] with a ki pool from the Monk and capable of lifting other tricks as well. Replaces Trap Sense with more of a stealth focus.
*'''[[Samurai]]''' - Variant [[Cavalier]] who loses Teamwork feats but becomes tougher to take down by sheer stubbornness.

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