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selection of feats, which grant them special combat abilities. Rogues, meanwhile, have more choice in their skills, and have a special ability called sneak attack which deals extra damage when they have a chance to strike an unsuspecting opponent.

If you're feeling more in the mood for someone who just whacks things, hard, until they stop moving, the barbarian is the way to go. She's all about sheer power, and is the only class in the game that gets d12 hit points per level. She's chaos, barely channeled. Her opposite is the monk, who draws his martial prowess from strict control. He has a variety of special abilities and is great at overcoming his own body's weaknesses.

The paladin is for those who want the holy warrior feel with a little more emphasis on the "warrior" part than they'd get with the cleric. She has to follow a strict code of conduct, but in return she gets a host of special abilities geared towards fighting evil and even access to some cleric spells. Similarly, the ranger has a connection to the wilderness like the druid, but is more martial and less mystical.

Aside from the specific class you enjoy, you should try to pick a class based on what the party needs; if you already have a fighter, a sorcerer, and a rogue, a divine caster is likely to be of more use than, say, a monk. But the options exist to fine-tune your character to whatever feel you like!

Learn more about this author, Carrie Schutrick.
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