Which Second World War ships best match Dungeons & Dragons character classes such as barbarian, bard, cleric, fighter, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, warlock, and wizard?
Short answerThe playful matches turn on real reputations and roles: Enterprise becomes a stealthy ranger, Unicorn a support-minded cleric, Hood a charismatic bard, Baltimore a general fighter, and Des Moines a rapid-firing warlock.
NotesDungeons & Dragons classes provide playful comparisons with warships' roles and reputations. USS Enterprise becomes a Gloom Stalker ranger because the 'Gray Ghost' kept surviving and appearing where the enemy did not expect it. HMS Unicorn is a cleric, combining support with an ability to hit back. HMS Hood is first proposed as a paladin, then recast as a bard for her public presence, striking power, and the 'glass jaw' invoked in the joke. Black Swan-class sloops become warlocks able to see in darkness, with an escort carrier as their patron. Aircraft carriers suggest druids summoning companions, while US Pacific repair ships are artificers. Baltimore-class cruisers are flexible fighters, and Des Moines represents repeated rapid attacks. These are analogies about service and design traits, with several competing choices and corrections to the game terminology.