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(sorry if this is in the wrong section)
I have been playtesting Pathfinder RPG and I have noticed how many character classes offer more options now. Such as the barbarian, a very stiff class in 3.5, now has a lot of character options with rage powers.
This is very important. Something that many people has complained about 3rd edition D&D is that two characters of the same class are mechanically the same. These options make characters different from each other and give the player a chance to choose his/her character's abilities.
However, there are some classes in Pathfinder RPG that still don't have options. It'd be a huge thing to incorporate this concept in them too. I am talking about this litte guys:
-Bard
-Druid
-Monk
-Paladin
In general, these character classes don't offer so many options as the other classes. They're still stiffy. I don't bring a lot of suggestions, but I know a lot of people can come up with very good ideas on how to include options for this classes instead of fixed abilities.
For example, I think a good option would be adding more songs to the Bard's repertoire, so that the player can choose what songs (or dances, or jokes) to learn, in lieu of the ability to cast spells.
Druids have more options than in 3.5, since they can now choose a nature bond. But still I feel it stiff compared to wizards/sorcerers and clerics, who have choices over their powers by choosing domains/specializations/bloodlines.
Monks could have different fighting styles to choose from.
Paladins, I'm not sure, but they certainly need more versatility.
That's it what do you think of this? Any better ideas to make these classes more versatile?
Paladins always have been the "stick-up-arse" class, but now they get more powers and more versatility with their lay on hands ability. They also cast spells off Charisma :D
My opinions on those classes:
Bards are a lot more interesting now. While they don't have many class abilities to choose from, they do get new ones, and others are expanded. They now have several extra musical abilities, and the fact that they can more or less use them all isn't that bad.
Also note that not all sorts of performance work with all kinds of perform. There's stuff that doesn't work with dancing, for example. So your choice of perform does customise your powers after a fashion.
Plus, spellcasters always have a lot of customisability.
Nature's bond does grant them a bit of a choice now, something they haven't had before. It's not as varied as the cleric's choice of domains (and clerics get two), but remember that druids have a lot more class abilities to begin with. And since wildshape is granted a bit earlier, and more often, and, if I recall correctly, with more options, they should be okay.
They do have more options than before: Not only have they Ki power now, which they can use for many different things, they also have a vastly expanded list of bonus feats to choose from.
This does seem like one of the classes with the least choices, but I think that is due to its nature. Paladins are paladins, after all.
Still, the choice between a mount and a holy weapon is there now, lay on hands has become more versatile, and he has gained a lot of auras he didn't have before. I'd say the paladin gained a lot of interesting stuff.
Lots of stuff
What he said. Bard is good to go, Monk feat choices are essentially fighting styles (in fact a Dragon magazine had fighting style options that simply gave different feats), Druids got a little and have a lot (I mean - all druids get wild shape, but what do they turn into?), and Paladins got a tad, but they should be stuffy and identical. :)
I am allowing paladin of freedom (Unearthed Arcana), which just swaps alignment to CG, Bluff for Diplomacy, and Aura of Resolve with Aura of Courage.