D&D base classes, tier list

Using the 3e/3.5/Pathfinder 1e list, because that's a good one to start with. Actually, I believe the 5e list is the same except for the addition of the Warlock. But I'm not super familiar with the Warlock, and it's changed a bit from edition to edition. I'm also not sure that the warlock that I'm more familiar with (later 3e era—came out in Complete Arcane I believe?) is really all that similar to the 4e and 5e warlock. So I'll tier-rank the 3.5 base classes, of which there are eleven. Let me list them first in alphabetical order:

• Barbarian
• Bard
• Cleric
• Druid
• Fighter
• Monk
• Paladin
• Ranger
• Rogue
• Sorcerer
• Wizard

Sorcerer was a new class to 3e. Bard used to be something like a prestige class. Barbarian was a 1e Unearthed Arcana class, which is unusual given that Conan the Barbarian is often cited as one of the most foundational works of literature to the D&D milieu. Assassin is the only one missing from earlier D&D (Blackmoor supplement for OD&D, and 1e AD&D PHB), but it was a prestige class in the DMG. Freeport had a 1-20 level Assassin class, and Complete Scoundrel and Rokugan had complete 1-20 Ninja classes, so they kind of got in on the game. Pathfinder 1e also has a Ninja class. So, there's options for it, but not in the basic PHB.

My tier list is not based on how powerful they are, by the way, because CoDzilla is definitely a thing in d20 games. Rather, it's based on how likely I am to want to use the class, based on my own tastes. 

S-Tier:

I tend to start most characters, if I start with a core base class, as either Barbarian, Ranger or Rogue. I don't necessarily think that they're the most interesting classes on their own, but that's how I start them, giving them a normal, swashbuckling action-hero vibe.

A-Tier:

Although admittedly a little boring, Fighter is another one that I often give characters at least a few levels in. 

B-Tier:

While I'm not really a fan of spellcasters, if I were to play one, the sorcerer would fit here, as a relatively easy to use spellcaster. I'd probably also put Druid and Paladin here; although I don't necessarily play them, this is about where I would play them. 

C-Tier: These are the classes that I wouldn't necessarily avoid at all cost, but I also wouldn't be very interested in playing them. Here's where I think that I'd fit monk and wizard. I could create more tiers and get a finer gradation, but I think I'll add Cleric here too. In reality, Cleric is kind of at the bottom of this tier, maybe on the line between this one and the next.

D-Tier: My lowest tier: Bard. I've never liked bards. I think its a ridiculous class, and most people who like playing bards tend to be cringey. Can I imagine a scenario in which I'd be happy to have a bard supporting character in a party? I'm honestly not sure. I can at least imagine a scenario in which it wouldn't overly bother me, but I'd be plenty happy if the bard simply didn't exist as a class at all.

Maybe I should do a tier list of the base core 3.5 races too. Honestly, though... one of the things about 3.5, especially late in the era, was that we had so many options that the basic ones felt a little... tired, maybe. It was fun to do something else other than the basic stuff after a while. ChatGPT also always seems to want to add a half-orc and a tiefling when I just ask for a D&D party. I have to specify the races if I want a more "old school" classic feel. There are seven core races in the 3e/3.5 PHBs: human, dwarf, elf, half-elf, half-orc, halfling, gnome.