Where do you get the idea that CT didn't have classes? It clearly did--if you used the standard character generation system for CT, you used classes. What else do you think the service paths were?
A "class" is nothing more than a template that represents a standard experience path for the PC. It can reflect both backstory and future advancement, or one and not the other. I presume what you mean is that you disapprove of how AD&D classes traditionally functioned.
CT was far more restrictive of player creativity. Your background was randomly generated, not chosen. Your character could even DIE before ever getting played, which I never found very logical, myself. And there was no clear character upgrade path.
The D20 system allows you to create any kind of classes that are suited to the game system. The benefits and restrictions of the classes may be logical or illogical, balanced or unbalanced, suited to the game concept or unsuited, but that is a function of how well the game designer designs the classes. And I fail to see why people make so much gas over a "leveling" system--it is a simple game mechanic for providing a goal point at which certain advances in character development may take place, nothing more. Systems without "levels" tend to have far more problems with munchkin/power-gaming and poor attention to a consistent PC development path, because there is often no limitation on stacking points in one exclusive area to the detriment of others, creating imbalances. (An example is WEG Star Wars, where no matter what template everyone started with, the characters all started to look alike after a while, with high Dodge dice, etc.)
As for restrictions, you might as well complain that an Army character ought to be able to get Navigation as a skill, or at least shouldn't have the "restriction" of not being able to get it in his initial generation in CT, etc. CT, like most RPG game systems,
does force you to make choices when you choose a template for your character. As a matter of fact, I can't imagine why any CT player would ever suggest that any system could be more restrictive of or less attentive to player character conceptions than old CT, given its original PC generation system.
More free-form roleplaying systems, like White Wolf, may not. If you don't like D20, fine, but at least be fair in your criticism.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Myscha the sled dog:
Classes are un-necessary.
I have never liked classes, they are categorical, limit player creativity, and often times have rather illogical restrictions (oh you can't use a shield, or oh your class can't use that piece of technology)
The fact that CT was NOT class based is the beauty of it. The infinite possibilities for unique characters with skill based character development over time is extremely liberating.
Especially in a world where we are already plagued with crap games with such powerleveling motivators as hit points, levels, and magic items.
Just my opinion.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
