My opinion on this changes monthly, and the duration of any one classes stay at the top of the list can only be prolonged by an enjoyable campaign with that class.
Presently: magus.
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Paladin, followed closely with barbarian.
I like the Paladin because it has really nice mechanics, interesting opportunities for development, and because it's a pretty archetypical hero class, which is nice sometimes. Plus, I like doing wildly varied character themes with a class that is (wrongly) maligned as being a monolithic characterization.
Barbarian is cool because it's my favorite beatstick class. It has actual class abilities rather than just a bunch of feats (though AWT and AAT have helped the fighter a bit more recently). And raging is just a fun ability to play out.
EDUT: I also really like the witch, but don't play it often.
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Based on the games I've run and player feedback: Cleric, Bard, Ranger, Sorcerer, Alchemist, and Investigator
Based on the few times I've actually played instead of GMing: Cleric and Ranger. I had a C/N lizardfolk worshipper of Azathoth that was a combo of negative energy channeler and "bad touch" that was incredibly fun to play. It was no where near optimized at anything... but definitely different and unusual at the time.
Vigilante is excellently designed and very modular and I love its archetypes.
Witch is fun and flavorful and super powerful.
Slayer allowed me to play my first ever character better. He was a chained rogue. Worse yet, my GM was a 3.5 GM and this was when the game first came out. So he mistakenly ruled that my rogue couldn't SA undead and constructs. Slayer let me play him as the assassin I imagined him to be. And Vanguard is one of my favorite archetypes. It's the smart, tactical fighter PF needs.
Rogue is my favorite general class archetype so Unchained Rogue was a godsend.
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I have had great fun with a druid, a hunter and a magus. Sadly, the campaigns in which I played the first two characters ended too early.
I have found that the class matters less than "knowing" the character. I did not much care for the first cleric I built, but I quite like playing the second one.
I ran a Zen archer monk up to level 16 once. I started getting tired of playing that class around level 12. The ZAM is really a one trick pony. It's a good trick, mind you, but eventually it gets dull.
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My top two I-need-a-character-now classes are probably witch for a back-line character and warpriest for a front-line character. The witch brings a wide enough variety of support that they'll prove useful in any group (even with another witch), and the warpriest can be used to cover pretty much any martial role while also providing some good spell backup. They also both have neat flavor that can be parlayed into a multitude of character concepts (I play mostly deifically-inclined characters anyway).
Bards and vigilantes get honorable mention - they're chassis that can be used to build literally anything. While I've never gotten a chance to play out a character of either class (the games keep folding), their sheer versatility makes me keep on trying, dang it. :)
I really, really, really like Hunters.
They are cool dudes, have access to cheat feats, animal companions, and one of the neater spell lists in the game. You can do lots of neat things with their base kit, and they are thematic as all hell.
Complicated though, between ranger tricks, animal focus, swapping around your teamwork feats, a permanent companion integral to your class, and spells you have your work cut out for you in management.
Bloodrager. In gameplay and thematic design, he is a perfect opposite to the Paladin. Both of them are 4th level casters with full BAB, but while the Paladin has martial training and the grace of the divines to help her, the Bloodrager uses his natural instincts, both in his muscles and bloodline, to help him survive.
That, and despite having the Barbarian as its parent class, Bloodragers can be lawful. Its the little things in life.
I like druids. They're really fun and versatile, so you can fight differently during each fight. Sometimes you're an archer, sometimes you're a tank, sometimes you're a spellcaster, sometimes you summon, sometimes you blast, sometimes you do battlefield control, sometimes you buff and wildshape, and you get a dog! Or a dinosaur! And you can heal in a pinch. You also get lots of fun skills.
Sorcerers, they can be powerful casters of every shade, blast, enchant, summon, SoS and control but their bloodline and spells known means they tend to build towards a theme, so they feel like they can do anything but not like every one does everything, rather different ones do different things amazingly.
I like a theme or a focus.
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Sorcerers, they can be powerful casters of every shade, blast, enchant, summon, SoS and control but their bloodline and spells known means they tend to build towards a theme, so they feel like they can do anything but not like every one does everything, rather different ones do different things amazingly.
I like a theme or a focus.
Agreed, when I play spellcasters I always try and focus on one general aspect (shadow, cold, nature, etc.). Sorcerer bloodlines and witch patrons are great for that.
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I love Clerics. I like being support in general, but you can build them in quite a number of different ways, and even if the domain powers a kinda meh, they really do change up your character, if only thematically.
Alchemists/Investigators are also high up there. Again, huge variety in how you can build them, but they're very efficient in their spell selection. There's no real excess fat on this class. Most discoveries are also useful, as opposed to a lot of other classes that have crappy rage powers/bloodlines/talents/etc.
Occultists. I love their variety and flexibility. I can build a new character with each their own primary school and they'll all look totally different from each other. I love it.
Runners up: Shamans and Bards. I like support characters. Bards don't have to do much and they'll still contribute, but for some reason they've never really grabbed me like the other classes have. Shamans are very tricky to play, and they're frustrating against mindless opponents, but they have cool powers and a nice spell list. They take a while to get going (their low-level spells are a bit meh), but once they do, they're great.
I love summoners. First, I like the idea of a pet class, where the character sits back and lets minions do the heavy lifting. But I also like the versatility of summoning. And last, I like the freedom of building my own creature.
Oracle is one of mine, because its incredibly customizable and can cover a variety of roles. That it comes with a built-in weakness is also fun in it's own way, as the handicap gives interesting flavors and goals.
I've loved bards since I first came into playing D&D and really liked the changes made to the class in Pathfinder.
They are a versatile class, with a lot of skill ranks, cool features, a thematic spell selection...
I love playing skilled and social characters, as well as support characters and versatile ones. To me the bard is just perfect.
Said that, I was never able to play a bard in a long term campaign. I am jinxed with them. It's something that I really want to do someday.
Playing a Witch made me fall in love with that class. I love the flavor for them (I've always loved witches in folklore) and the class is great. I love how hexes work and the thematic spell selection. They also give great roleplaying options and a wide variety of mechanic options. Again, they have great support options, and I love to play support and buffer/debuffer types.
I have another classes that I love, but these two have a special place for me.
Barbarian and Inquisitor for me.
I really, really, really like Hunters.
They are cool dudes, have access to cheat feats, animal companions, and one of the neater spell lists in the game. You can do lots of neat things with their base kit, and they are thematic as all hell.
Complicated though, between ranger tricks, animal focus, swapping around your teamwork feats, a permanent companion integral to your class, and spells you have your work cut out for you in management.
Hunter is one of my favorites, though only with the feral archetype. It eases some of those issues, and I hate companion classes.
I like the witch conceptually, but dislike the single save, low hp and low bab, and generally feel 9 level casting is too strong.
Until I joined PFS last summer, I almost always GMed more often than I played, so I've played many more classes as NPCs than I have as a PC. But I've also been playing RPGs for long enough that I've played most of the core classes in some form.
That said, I'm fond of rogues, because they combine good combat ability with broad and flexible skill use, so they're rarely left out of the action. (My primary PFS character is a rogue with a dip into cleric.)
I also like paladins, though I haven't played many. But as a full-time GM, it's a nice change of pace to get to play the honest, shiny hero type instead of the devious troublemakers.
I'm not sure if any count as favorites or not, but I'm often willing to play one of the party's primary spellcasters, because my years of GMing experience have helped hone my knowledge of the spell lists and magic rules.
Agreed, when I play spellcasters I always try and focus on one general aspect (shadow, cold, nature, etc.). Sorcerer bloodlines and witch patrons are great for that.Sorcerers, they can be powerful casters of every shade, blast, enchant, summon, SoS and control but their bloodline and spells known means they tend to build towards a theme, so they feel like they can do anything but not like every one does everything, rather different ones do different things amazingly.
I like a theme or a focus.
Yep I love Witches too but probably not as much as Oracles which run a close second to Sorcs for me xD
I like the witch conceptually, but dislike the single save, low hp and low bab, and generally feel 9 level casting is too strong.
How about a Shaman? Same crappy save, but better HP, armour, and BAB. And full casting, yeah.
Their spell lists are a bit weird, but Shaman gets prepped casting without the stupid "spells known" clause and get a lot of mileage out of their unique Hexes.
Hmmm... I'm torn between the Kineticist, the Occultist and the Vigilante...
The Kineticist is very reminescent of the Warlock, back in 3.5, but with replacing the fiendish aspect with elemental stuff. Oh yeah... and "at-will" abilities.
The Occultist is essentially a powered-up Magus, with martial training, psychic spells and item-related powers.
The Vigilante is essentially a REAL playable Aristocrat class. Come on, think about it, you have an easier time get buddy with the high society by day and still kick butts by night with this class. Oh, and the archetypes offer a LOT of diversity.
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Of the original base classes, Cleric, and then perhaps Druid or Ranger. I'm a big fan of pet classes, for the latter two, but for the Cleric, I just love how versatile it is, thanks to how very different the various gods are. A Cleric of Erastil or Wee Jas is going to be a very different creature than one of Tymora or Madriel, for instance, and makes for a very different role-playing experience.
Pick Erastil, and the Animal domain and the Natural Bond feat, and you've even got a Cleric with an Animal Companion equal to a druid, who can use a longbow, too boot!
Of the APG classes, Summoner, all the way. Again, with the pet classes, and the versatility provided by the summon monster SLA is amazing. Whatever I need for an encounter, there's probably a creature for it. Once you can summon mephits, for example, there's a lot of potential spell like abilities to choose from.
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I'd have to go with Rogue, followed by rogue-like classes and archetypes. Decent in combat (especially if you use smart tactics), lots of skills (great out of combat utility), Trapfinding (In the right scenario it can literally be the difference between life and death for the party).
The Unchained Rogue was a godsend, finally removed the feat tax for being a dex oriented class. Now, if they would only make an official PFS legal Unchained Ninja (and maybe some Ninja archetypes that allow you to swap out the poison use for something more useful)
Just finished playing an Investivator in a friends campaign. I love the Investigator class, especially the Empiricist Archetype. So much fun. Good in combat, a massive amount of skill points, and solid spell selection.
Wizard. No other class has such power to shape and change the narrative. In a game that is about narrative, there's nothing more powerful than that.
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The Cleric as it is the most versatile. After that is Wizard as their ability to fundamentally effect everything is truly awesome. A PC that knows D&D well and is playing a Wizard for keeps is an awesome thing to witness as a DM.
I've had most fun with an alchemist (surgeon)...
but I'd really love to try long term play with the wizard and arcanist, and possibly the sorcerer and oracle...
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Cleric; I like being a character that makes others better at what they do, but still has a place they shine on their own. I have never played a bard, but I think I would enjoy it also.
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Cleric; I like being a character that makes others better at what they do, but still has a place they shine on their own. I have never played a bard, but I think I would enjoy it also.
Same reason for what I love bards and witches. Clerics are one of my all time favorite too for that reason. Also, I like the variety to the flavor that the different deities bring to the game.
Bard whats not to love about the versatile jack of all trades. With some of the more intetesting archetypes such as Arcane Duelist.
Ranger because I do not like Fighters in Pathfinder and as a class do the job better.
Alchemist because I always wanted to play a "Bomb Voyage" clone from the Incredibles. As well a very versatile class like the Bard.
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I favor Universalitst Wizard. Very versatile, and by far the easiest class for me to get into when I first started playing in PFS, and it doesn't require me to buy 15 splatbooks to make it effective.
I think I'd like to play an Investigator at some point.
In an evil campaign, I'd definitely pick a Cleric.
I like Shaman and Druids because they are thematic in a way that covers a lot of the System's thematic failings.
Yep I love Witches too but probably not as much as Oracles which run a close second to Sorcs for me xDAgreed, when I play spellcasters I always try and focus on one general aspect (shadow, cold, nature, etc.). Sorcerer bloodlines and witch patrons are great for that.Sorcerers, they can be powerful casters of every shade, blast, enchant, summon, SoS and control but their bloodline and spells known means they tend to build towards a theme, so they feel like they can do anything but not like every one does everything, rather different ones do different things amazingly.
I like a theme or a focus.
Just finished designing a major NPC for our campaign - a homebrew hybrid, essentially an Oracle that switches out Mysteries for Hexes... it was a lot of fun designing, I can only imagine how much fun he'll be to play.
Magus. I love melee spellcasters. There's a surprising amount of things you can do with the class depending on what weapon you utilize. I'm always thinking of new fun character concepts with the number of spells, weapons, and archetypes available.
Sorcerers because I am sexy and I know it.
On the catwalk, yeah the catwalk
I shake my little tush on the catwalk.
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My favorite classes are, in no particular order:
Monk (either variety): I love unarmed characters, and Monk is the cream of the crop.
Fighter: I love how versatile they are.
Occultist: Probably the best written class Paizo has ever put together, imo.
Kineticist: Pew Pew in all the flavors of the painbow!
Vigilante: Because Divination magic is OP. No, seriously.
Sorcerers because I am sexy and I know it.Agreed, when I play spellcasters I always try and focus on one general aspect (shadow, cold, nature, etc.). Sorcerer bloodlines and witch patrons are great for that.Sorcerers, they can be powerful casters of every shade, blast, enchant, summon, SoS and control but their bloodline and spells known means they tend to build towards a theme, so they feel like they can do anything but not like every one does everything, rather different ones do different things amazingly.
I like a theme or a focus.
I'm a big sorcerer fanboy too. I've probably played sorcerers as many times as I've played all the other classes combined (so, 50/50 sorcerer/something else).
Part of it is the theme/focus bit for sure, but I also like that the powers are totally innate, and can't really be taken away.
With Eschew Materials, Silent Spell, and Still Spell, you pretty much will always have your magic available to you. Cause problems and they can't even throw you in prison. Your enemies pretty much have to just kill you because of how dangerous you are.
I also enjoy "lots of power in a small package" concept, so a little gnome or halfling (or other small race) who can totally wreck someone's day because they happen to be a big time sorcerer is LOADS of fun!
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Great question, no matter how many times its asked - I always love to read the responses, and I'm always pleasantly surprised at some of the answers.
Big Sorcerer fan here as well. I just can't STAND to play prepared casters and with the Human Favored Class Bonus you can really build on a concept without feeling limited at all.
Since I GM almost exclusively I get to build tons and tons of different characters and play each one a little bit. In the rare instances that I get to play, I'd say my favorite options, just barely beating out many others, would be either:
Human Sorcerer (Wildblooded Sylvan) with the FCB that grants additional spells known and the full Eldritch Heritage feat tree (Arcane Bloodline) to eventually gain an Improved Familiar (Faerie Dragon) and an Animal Companion as well as the additional bonus spells known.
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Half-Elven Summoner (Master Summoner).
Since both options are pet/summons heavy, I have to pick and choose the rare chances I get to play them, considering whether they would be table-appropriate. Failing that, the runner-ups who round out my personal top 10 would be (in no particular order):
Human Bard (Dawnflower Dervish)
Tiefling Paladin (Oath of Vengeance, Oath Against Fiends)
Elven Magus (Hexcrafter)
Half-Elven Oracle (Desna, Ancient Lorekeeper w/Heavens Mystery)
Halfing Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade) with a dip into Halfling Opportunist
Human Barbarian (Invulnerable Rager, Urban Barbarian) with a dip into Unbreakable Fighter
Human Ranger (Guide, Divine Tracker)
Dwarven Cleric (Azathoth, Evangelist with Madness domain)
Naturally each have their own quirks, their own lush and detailed backgrounds which I'm certain is of interest only to me, but... the truth is, I often end up 'loaning' these builds out to fellow players, so the characters themselves actually see much more time at the table than I do, mores the pity.
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My favorite classes are, in no particular order:
Monk (either variety): I love unarmed characters, and Monk is the cream of the crop
I haven't played the UMonk yet, so I can't comment on that, but I really like the concept of the monk, unfortunately it's one of the classes that particularly starts to drag for me unless massive homebrewing is involved. One that really worked for me was one I allowed in a RotRL campaign I was running that basically spliced Master of Many Styles onto the monk for free
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Alchemist specifically, but all the 6-level casters more broadly.
Alchemist takes the cake for being so wildly customizable.
Seriously, you can create so many characters out of that one kit, it's staggering.
A calm zen master that brews teas that enhance his abilities? A classic Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde? A Dr. Frankenstein/super-scientist? A bartender that brews alcohol-infused extracts and has a special brew that turns him into a mean, fightin' drunk? A "Green Arrow/Hawkeye"-type with an alchemical arrow for every occasion?
I'm currently playing my third back-to-back alchemist, and none of the three are anything like each other (neither mechanically nor story-wise); they're each so different that they might as well belong to different classes.
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I love summoners. First, I like the idea of a pet class, where the character sits back and lets minions do the heavy lifting. But I also like the versatility of summoning. And last, I like the freedom of building my own creature.
I feel the same way for similar reasons. Especially the roleplay potential for your duo. From just my PFS roster, I have:
- An oathbreaker devil who had his name and power stripped away, and now performs services for his parole officer, a mortal who comes from a long line of diabolists.
- A thrill seeking former slave halfling who rides his arachnid Demon mount into battle.
- A spoiled merchant's son from Cheliax who combines his magical talents with the evolved skills of his lovely extraplanar assistant to gain greater fortune and power. Brother and rival to the devil binder.
- A loving couple that indulge in a fun little game: the fat, opulent fire elemental acts as the master to his half elven summoner. The caster gladly plays the part of eye candy while he acts in secret as the brains of their black market operation.
And I have a couple more in the queue. These pairs are just so fun to make! Even if I'm still a little salty about the Unchained changes...