AD&D Unearthed: The Ultimist Class
Back in 1985, Polyhedron Magazine #23 introduced a strange new class from Gary Gygax himself… the Ultimist. He even called it “the nadir of new classes.”
The Ultimist is a blend of cleric, magic-user, and fighter. They roll d6 for hit points but add bonus HP as they level. They attack like fighters and cast spells like a watered-down cleric or MU. They even get monk-like saves and some limited thieving abilities. On paper, it looks like someone tried to cram three classes into one and hoped it would stick.
In flavor, they tie back to the “Everdark Order of Ultimate Evil,” a militant cult trained in fortress-monasteries to spread oppression and fear. They’re built to be the anti-paladin’s cousin, a force of cruelty and ultimate devotion to power.
Would I allow this as a player class? Maybe, but with caution. It’s clunky and clearly experimental. The progression is slower than a cleric or magic-user, and the spell failure chances make them unreliable. But as NPCs, they shine. A squad of Ultimists serving a dark lord makes for a nasty surprise. They’re versatile enough to keep players guessing and flavorful enough to stand out.
The Ultimist is a reminder that even Gary liked to tinker and experiment. It might not be the most balanced addition to AD&D, but it’s one of the more interesting “what ifs” from the old magazines.
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