West Of Loathing: Class Guide - Beanslinger, Cow Puncher…

West of Loathing might not be the most sophisticated RPG in existence, but there are a lot of clever doings a-transpirin' behind those simple stick figures. Players can choose a class and place their talent and skill points in the appropriate slots to customize their character, and other details include gear, weapons, and abilities like potion-making and cooking.

One of three classes doesn't sound like a tough choice, but the type of humor, along with the old-timey cowboy jargon, makes the process a bit confusing at first. Not all folks are wise in the ways of Loathing. For those greenhorns who might be new to the game, or even for hardened veteran cowpokes who have been in the fight since the Cows Came Home, here's a quick look at the Beanslinger, the Cow Puncher, and the Snake Oiler.

Choosing A Class

char class selection screen west of loathing

There are three classes to choose from in West of Loathing, and they follow the basic melee fighter or magic user template that most RPGs also use. This hearkens back to the early days of TTRPGs when the only classes that existed were the warrior, the thief, and the magic user.

There are three main stats in the game, and each class focuses on a different one. Any class can learn basic abilities like Lockpickin' or Safecrackin', but some skills are only available to certain classes.

Muscle. The main stat for Cow Punchers. It determines how much melee damage the character does and also how much they take.
Moxie. Snake Oilers are smooth-talking varmints with a high Moxie, which ensures their ranged attacks do more damage.
Mysticality. The higher this stat, the more damage magical attacks have, which is why it's the most important stat for Beanslingers.

Beanslinger

The magic users of the game, the Beanslinger, primarily relies on their Mysticality, but they also have several other inherent skills unique to their class. The powers of the Beanslinger are heavily bean-based, and every Beanslinger gets an Endless Can of Beans before leaving the homestead.

Class Skills

Outfoxin'. This is the skill a character can use to sweet-talk an NPC or trick them somehow. This can be an alternative to fighting or as a way to complete an Errand.
Master Cookery. This class can cook the greatest of beans, which means they can craft buff foods instead of buying or finding them.
Wary. This class is more vigilant than others and has a better chance of seeing random encounters in advance and avoiding them if need be.

Core Combat Abilities

Beanshield. With a lower HP than other classes, build one of these to guard against melee attacks.
Bean Golem. Summon a giant bean as a temporary fighting companion. This is in addition to the Pardner already present.
Bloodbeans. The Beanslinger has a higher bean-blood quotient and generates HP faster.
Lava Fava. Hurl a giant, burning bean at enemies. At later levels, this sets the target on fire for damage over time.
Great Northern Blizzard. An AoE spell that summons a storm of Great Northern Beans and does freezing damage to multiple enemies.

The Great Garbanzo's Bean Hideout

interior great garbanzo's bean hideout west of loathing

Only Beanslingers find this hidden cave on the west side of the mountains, just south of the train tracks. The main draw here is the training books, supplies, and the cooking equipment. Use the Master Cookery skill at this location to make weapons out of Bean Iron or a variety of food items to buff the character for the rest of the day.

Cow Puncher

The Cow Puncher is the melee fighting class of the game and uses their Muscle to get the job done. When the Cow Puncher decides to go out west, Dad gives them the gift that keeps on giving, grandma's brass knuckles. This might be something that runs in the family.

Class Skills

Leartherworkery. Cow Punchers are the only class that can craft their own gear. Use the leather from fallen Hellcows to craft gear out of regular, smoldering, or infernal leather.
Intimidatin'. Big strong people can verbally bully to get their way, and the Cow Puncher can stare down opponents instead of fighting.
Tough Customer. This is the most resilient class and has the thick skin to prove it.

Core Combat Abilities

Gore. Defeat the Hellcows by using their skills against them. This damages a full row of enemies.
Menacing Moo. Weakens the Muscle stat of every opponent.
Haymaker. A nice, old-fashioned sucker punch that also disables the enemy for one or two rounds, depending on the level.
First Aid. This takes up a turn but it heals the target for 30 HP.
Beef Up. This raises the Cow Punchers' most valuable stat, Muscle, for a limited amount of time during battle.

Helstrom Ranch

The class-specific location for Cow Punchers is the Helstrom Ranch. Any class can find the ranch, but only Cow Punchers find an intact building that contains information and equipment that makes their Leartherworkery skill possible. Other classes find a burned-out shell that can't be used for anything.

Snake Oiler

The typical carnival barker or the traveling carpetbagger were also familiar Old West archetypes. The Snake Oiler is the class for rogues, tricksters, and salespeople in West of Loathing, and they get a standard briefcase full of snakes when it's time to head west.

Class Skills

Hornswogglin'. Use that Moxie to grift your friends and enemies out of just about anything.
Potionology. Brew elixirs, poisons, and potions with the resources found in the wilderness, including materials that this class can take from snakes.
Big Spleen. This class has a higher rate of tolerance when it comes to the amount of food and beverages the character can consume.

Core Combat Abilities

Deadeye. This is a ranged class, and this gives the character a bonus on pistol attack damage.
Quick on the Draw. Get a boost on combat speed and get the first shot.
Snakewhip. Whip opponents with an actual snake to deal both physical damage and a poison.
Deploy Snake. This summons a companion snake to fight for the player in addition to their regular Pardner.
Shootenanny. Something like an AoE attack but hits several random enemies instead of all of them.

The Old Medicine Show

This is a location that only Snake Oilers can find. It's in the same location as the Great Garbanzo's Bean Hut, but it's for those folks that are into chemistrizin'. Like the Hut, it also has class-specific training books and equipment for plying the Snake Oiler's trade of Potionology.