True Class system

4e D&D has some pretty strong separations in the classes.

At least in the core book, shit gets overlappy in the splats more.

Legend of the 5 Rings has some pretty stark differences between the clans based on the school abilities.

File: 2e6b7ef48346ba6badfd86b682649cda.png (158KB, 537x587px) Image search: [Google]

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>>48908471
I've got a few examples that you might like.

In Fantasy Craft every class will have strong, niche-defining features, though they're permutations of the same sort of design in some cases. Classes have Core Abilities, which you only get if you start as that class, and first level features, as a rule, will also set you well apart from other classes.
Pic related, it's what the Burglar class gets. For comparison the Soldier's Core Ability lets them get a bonus action die when rolling attacks and damage--and action dice can explode. Altogether it means that even at level 1 Burglars are capable of extreme feats of dexterity and Soldiers are unparalleled fighters.

>>48908471
I'm curious what if a Ghost discovers wherever they put Sanguinius' corpse.

>>48908471
Lamentations of the Flame Princess has a good take on this.

>while everyone can make attack rolls, fighters are the only ones who get better at it (they may be the only character who can consistently hit some monsters)
>Specialists (aka rogues/thieves) are the only ones who get skills, and can get a devastating sneak attack (other classes must rely completely on player skill)
>Magic users are the only ones who get cool magic, and some deep strategy once they get enough gold to build a lab
>Clerics get healing magic and the best buffs, and are the best against undead
>Dwarves, elves, and halflings are a mixture of things

>>48908471
>My experience to RPGs is rather limited
Is that the code for "I've only played 3.PF and nothing else"?

Go to /osrg/. Plenty of games meeting your criterion there.

>>48908471
The problem with such a system is the requirement for having a wider variety of them.

Say, if rogues had exclusive right on sneaking, you'd have a problem if you didn't have one.

It is the same reason you typically see at least 1 spell caster in every game, because why not? You need it for a myriad of reasons, and just having access to it means way too much to the party.

Unique traits *should* be niche, not something big that only they can do.

>>48908471
Related: is there a game that uses completely different systems for each class? IE: The warrior has to play one way, while the mage plays another way and all that.

>>48908471
I'd second >>48911606
Although I would add my personal grip with the idea of Specialists being the "skill guys" which to me is a category that is overly broad.
Generally for skill stuff I do a combination of Attribute checks (roll under) and player description.
I keep thieves in place of specialists with the d6 system representing uncanny talents. If you haven't heard this one before: the d6 effectivly represents the chance to do something virtually impossible like climb a sheer surface unaided, hide from magical perception or in plain sight and notice treasure, traps and ambushes even when there is no indication of their presence.

>>48908471
The problem with this kid of system is that it locks out entire kinds of adventure if you don't have the specific class that does that sort of thing.

>>48908471
>Destiny was a shit
>Use buzzwords to describe character classes without real substance