The Obojima Podcast the Blog | Episode 19: Designing Fighter Subclasses and Spirit Mechanics

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Heck yeah—martial arts fighting, strongman farming, and spirit-powered weapons that'll peel your cap back! This is possibly the most gangsta episode ever of the Obojima Podcast!   

This podcast dives into the creative process of building Obojima: Tales from the Tall Grass. In episode 19, the team wrestles with one of the last big design tasks before the book’s release: finalizing Obojima’s unique fighter subclass. 

Design Goals and Inspirations

The designers set out to create a fighter subclass that captures Obojima’s whimsical and celebratory tone without losing the martial grit of the class. Early concepts drew on festivals, rhythmic dance, and capoeira-style combat, leading to mechanics that might track beats per round (4, 8, 16, 32) or reward rhythmic play.

At the same time, balance was critical: the subclass had to remain firmly a fighter, not drift into bard territory, and still work seamlessly with core fighter features like fighting styles and weapon specializations.

Rejected Ideas and Honorable Mentions

Fan-submitted ideas such as the Firecracker Fighter and Way of the Dragon Shepard Monk were discussed, but ultimately set aside. While fun, they didn’t quite align with the design goals or tone of the book.

Spirit-Infused Fighter Concepts

Another avenue of exploration was a spirit-powered fighter. Instead of channeling magic like a warlock, this subclass would temporarily imbue weapons or objects with spirit energy, granting unique abilities. Discussions covered whether spirits should interact with any object or only first-age technology, and how to balance temporary item animation, exhaustion mechanics, or environmental “domains” without overlapping with paladin or warlock designs.

Mundane Options Still Matter

The team emphasized the importance of keeping mundane fighters alive and well in Obojima. While magical options add flavor, simple archetypes like the Champion or Battlemaster remain essential for new players or those who prefer grounded, martial play.

Farmer Backgrounds and Tavern Brawlers

The team also considered lighter archetypes: farmer fighters wielding agricultural tools with raw strength, or tavern brawlers leaning into rowdy group combat. While the farmer idea was charming, it risked lacking the fantasy appeal necessary to stand on its own as a full subclass.

Key Takeaways

• The final subclass must celebrate Obojima’s tone while staying true to the fighter identity.

• Spirit-infused mechanics show promise but must remain distinct from other classes.

• Both mundane and magical fighter builds will coexist, ensuring player choice.

• The book is nearing completion, but decisions on these mechanics will shape how players experience Obojima’s unique fighter archetypes.

• Obojiman farmers are straight up gangsta. 

Closing Thoughts

Episode 19 showcases just how much thought goes into balancing creativity, mechanics, and tone in game design. The team’s discussions around celebration, spirit fusion, and player accessibility highlight Obojima’s distinct approach: a whimsical yet grounded world where even fighters dance to the beat of something new. What a feeling!

Check out the full episode here: https://youtu.be/GWL9MCQC1tw?feature=shared