I like to try and pick a mix. I’ve been leaning more mage lately. Sometimes magic is super op, sometimes it’s just an interesting system. Sometimes it’s neither tho, and just clunky. So it’s really kind of a toss up on whether that’s a good decision.

Warriors are probably the best pick lots of times - just because gear systems often incentivize them. Finding a cool sword or shiny armor isn’t very exciting when you’re just hurling fireballs all the time anyway.

Warrior for first run on easy mode then rogue or mage depending on which skills I craved most as warrior.

Brewmaster Monk

This question reminds me of a cool-ass RPG called Warrior, Rogue and Mage

Mage! Great damage, cool effects, often loads of utility, and if you don’t kill your target in the first rounds you’ll die quick and can do something else instead of suffering through a drawn out fight with no mana.

Glass Cannon - the most ADHD of builds.

I always had the most success with the rouge. Sorcerer was great late game, but challenging early on.

Rogue, because stealth

Where’s my priest? How can I enjoy this dungeon without mommying the boys and kissing their booboos?

I usually pick Mage, because you can Warrior or Rogue IRL, but you can’t Mage. That makes it more interesting to me.

Is games I tend to gravitate towards a warrior, I’m a simple man, I don’t care to learn a whole lot of different spells and moves and theorycraft on how to best use them, i want to just hit things with my sword and move the plot forward.

IRL, I’m sort of roguish, I have a whole lot of random skills and knowledge, specialized tools, I’m pretty good with my hands, etc.

In my weirdest fantasies, mage, because fuck you, I cast fireball.

Spellblade if it’s an option. Why choose when you can have both.

Otherwise mage. Most rpg systems have ways for mages to do all the jobs of other roles to some extent.

Rogue for thievery and, to a lesser extent, assassination.

There are few things more fun than sneaking around places you shouldn’t be and collecting things you shouldn’t have.

I would play a warrior. I can make combat as interesting as I want. If I want, I can plan out grand tactics of pushing enemies into each other and into traps. If not, I can turn to the reliable “I stab the goblin with my sword” even if I am wielding a mace and fighting a dragon.

I cannot play mage because I am too loss averse and hate using mana/spell slots. I would never play rogue because the idea of playing a close range damage dealer that wears cloth armor is a good recipe to end up spending most of the combat on death saving throws.

I’m a simple man. If I can shoot lightning out of my fingertips, I do that.

So, generally mage is my favorite archetype for games and movies ect of the three listed.

But things get more interesting if I start asking follow up questions.

If I assume I’m getting these powers in our world, my immediate next question for mage is, what type of mage? Because one where I have to actually ‘learn’ spells is gonna be very useless in the modern world, unless I get a teacher. Furthermore what universe rules of magic do I get? Is this harry Potter magic or elden ring or dnd? using dnd is it sorcery, wizardy, warlock? How competent am I with whatever choice I make? A shitty mage is way worse than a shitty rogue.

Because in some of these cases I really would not want to be a mage. assuming I could pick my magic system, idk. Something useful in day to day life but also makes me functionally immortal? Maybe the correct answer is “The Force” but I’m not a big enough star wars nerd.

Furthermore there are some pretty interesting use cases for rogues in day to day life. I am, poor. Many rogues get invisibility/stealth of some kind. You do the math.

Warrior is a bit harder to justify unless its the type of warrior that gives mystical strength and durability. if I could pick up a car with one hand or survive a bullet to the head through sheer strength, I might pick it.

overall though I think I’d pick mage, but rogue is a close second or maybe higher depending on what type of mage.