Sometimes, I see one unique or off-beat type of ability in something, and try to expand it into a class for a character (or characters)
Like, say, Panty and Stocking (from Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt) can turn their underwear into weapons. How creative is that? Make a class based on that, where you can turn your underwear (maybe an equipment slot?) into a weapon, maybe different types or brands of underwear turn into different or stronger weapons? I have NO idea what to call a class that does this. Underweaponer? Underweaponist?
In Disgaea and Soul Eater, certain characters can temporarily transform into weapons for someone else to use. Maybe, if you want a more versatile character, they can transform into any type of weapon your other characters can use. Like, say, you activate the abilty and turn into a weapon during battle! Your other characters can use swords, rods, bows, spears, and axes. So, your Weapon Former (I dunno what else to call it) has multiple skills for each type. Like say, Greatsword, Flamesword, Excalibur, Time Rod, Caduceus, Iron Bow, Artemis Bow, Silver Spear, Wing Spear, Shadow Lance, Battle Axe, Rock Cleaver...and so on. Each skill turns the Weapon Former into the respective weapon temporarily, equipped to a specific character, as a state (there's a cool script that lets you change equipment with states!) Maybe the state can be broken and the character reverts. The weapon has specific stats, but is stronger based on the Weapon Former's level and other stats (need some tricky formulas for this, but it's doable I think)
You could try a class with limited battle application, but still useful. Like say, a Blacksmith. Then again you gotta be strong to be a blacksmith I assume, and you can temper weapons during battle (well, that's not that realistic, but it's an RPG so who cares, lol). So like, a variation of a Warrior with some stat buffs! How about some kind of Merchant character? They can haggle at shops to get you deals, maybe buy extra items...But in battle, they could possibly bribe enemies for items or a truce, maybe have a Coin Toss skill like in some Final Fantasies?
I sometimes try and have characters with bizarre moves, like all kinds of weird common events. Like turning a party member into a random monster, teleporting the party to some dimensional pocket town to rest, an ability that triggers a series or random questions if answered correctly provides a boon to the party but if too many questions are wrong you get a bane instead.
I also combine class types from games to get new classes. Like a White Mage Berserker, or something.
So, I've sorta suggested, what...six classes?
-Underweaponer
-Weapon Former
-Blacksmith
-Merchant
-(unknown)
-White Mage Berserker
Well, anyway, inspiration is everywhere! Think of a real world job and how it could apply to an RPG, in battle and out. Think of characters with exotic or different abilities and find some way to apply it to a class.
