I'm contemplating doing some major shaking up here. Maybe clerics aren't pure spellcasters at all. They seem to be at their best when they're badass at a narrow scope of abilities specific to their faith.

Here's an idea: you get a few spell spheres, based on your religion (no need to specify in the rule system itself, just pick a few that work). Each one grants "domain powers" specific to its flavor, coded into the Cleric class; these aren't powers non-Clerics have. Domain powers are serious business, and should be heavily relied upon.

You need not prepare spells; you have access to all spells in your spheres at all times. You still must spend Mana, for some portion of the power comes from your own spirit. Domain powers usually grant some non-Mana abilities, just in case the sphere didn't have good cantrips.

They have no special relationship with undead. The Healing, Light, Death, etc domains will naturally deal with that, but other domains do their own thing. Hell, some Clerics can't even heal at all, although most domains will allow healing in some form. Overwatch logic applies: support is support, even if it doesn't come in healbot form.

They can still have access to weapons, because each faith takes their own stance on that. I'm less sold on heavy armor--there's something awfully fishy about a "man of god" who claims to be divinely protected, but wears thick plate mail everywhere he goes. Still, I wouldn't want to slaughter any sacred cows, so I'll keep that option around, too (I mean, does "armor proficiency" mean anything, anyway? Shouldn't it just be self-balancing?). But I might add a "faith" bonus for those who forego heavy armor, inspiring their allies with the idea that god really is on their side--assuming you aren't just a crazy person who wears cloth to a swordfight.

Unique mechanics:

• Domain powers
• Divine intervention: long the staple of clerics, let's flesh this out and make it available at every level. Hero Points might not exist for everyone (TBD), but Clerics sure can arrange the occasional coincidence in their favor, and sometimes just straight up appeal to a higher power to break the rules.

This one is an interesting challenge, considering that the sexiest mechanics--Channeling, Summoning, Shifting, Totems, and spells--are all outside the class rules. I need to go back to ground and really meditate on this class.

Right away, my first idea is that the Druid is someone who embraces their element. They don't go to the desert and wish it was raining. They don't see the onset of winter and wish for more days of warmth. They accept the world as it is, and are empowered by their unity.

This lends itself to a powerful unique mechanic: Elements. You're always in an Element, depending on your situation. They aren't terrain types, like forest or mountain, they're primordial energies, like Life, Death, Fire, Frost, etc. Whenever you're in a given Element, you gain powers appropriate to that element, including access to spells, enhancements, free Mana, the loyalty of creatures of that type, etc.

It should be possible to draw upon magicks outside your current Element, but it's challenging and inefficient. You carry Totems, which have symbolic links to the other elements, and with application of will (read: Mana and levels), you can call upon those forces, distant as they are.

To keep things interesting, I think there are multiple axes of Element, so you're really in two at any time (or maybe more?). One way might be:

• Season: a long-running element, grants subtle powers.
• Cycle: dawn, day, dusk, night. grants slightly bolder powers, mostly meta (easy to draw upon Mana at dawn, easy to conceal yourself at night, etc)
• Element: prevailing magical energy. A forest is bound by Life, a desert by Fire, etc. Major implications on power availability.

Maneuvers throughout. Stances at low level, more advanced ones at higher level.

Key abilities: Exploits. They usually have a requirement, such as "enemy is provoking an attack of opportunity" or "enemy just parried a blow that cost Stamina". The challenge is to set up enemies for Exploits, as they are very powerful when triggered.

Capstones: mainly focused on the zen of combat. Fighters should feel like samurai (but not too eastern; monks still exist).

Has maneuvers, but less about DPS tactics and more about combat utility (mobility, debilitation, etc). Uses Focus more than Stamina.

Lots of built-in abilities around stealth, initiative, etc.

Unique mechanic: Edge. It's all about gaining the advantage in specific situations, and requires staying one step ahead of your enemies. Rewards you for things like attacking an enemy for the first time in a given encounter; penalizes you for being damaged, having attacks avoided, etc.

Capstones: improbable feats of athleticism, acrobatics, and sleight of hand. Usually Edge combo breakers.

Unsurpassed wielders of magic in its purest form, with no limitations but their own skill.

See Sorcerer.

Spellbooks and preparation are a big deal.

Going all in on wizardly orders. Being part of an order is what makes you a Wizard, as opposed to a Sorcerer.

Unique mechanics:

• Spellbook: your choice of vessel changes how you discover magic. Incorporating knowledge of other wizards is a huge boon, but not without its dangers.
• Spellcraft: personal item creation. Super useful.
• Preparation: "spell slots" are a convenience, but you can actually cast any spell you know if you pass a few checks (don't recommend failing them).
• Order: membership in a wizarding order grants many privileges, but also imposes responsibilities and limitations, depending on the type of organization (lawful good wizarding orders are very different from "might makes right" types)
• Stole: universal across all orders (for gameplay reasons), represents a specialization (not specific to magic schools) of efforts. Comes with privileges and responsibilities.

Axed:

• School specialization. Just learn the spells you want. If there are any worthwhile abilities to be found in the 5e wizard paths, the flavored ones should go into spells or paths, and the pure mechanical ones should be feats.
• Arcane Recovery: bite me.