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Assuming they're relying on other books for the Swordmage (FRPHB, we already know) and the Bard, and their minimum ideal for putting out a power source sourcebook is three classes in the source (as it is with Martial Power), I suppose they could still squeeze in Psionics. In keeping with my other thoughts above, then, we'd be looking at 3 Primal, 3 Psionic, 1 Divine and 1 Arcane. Three classes would seem to be the minimum to complete a set sufficiently for them to be willing to release a Power sourcebook. That puts us in an odd place where, although in the core books there would be three to a source for each, including all reference sources arcane would have 5 (perhaps 6 if artificer is fully fleshed out in Dragon) classes by the time PHB2 is out. That all but cements Arcane Power as the second power sourcebook.
I really don't think "I" is Illusionist. One, we've seen it before. Two, they're now going to include some illusion-based power options for Wizards to fill that gap.
Of Psionic, Telepath does seem likely.
I think the most 4e friendly psionic specialties are probably: Telepathy, Psychoportation, Psychokinesis, and Psychometabolism. They've effectively relegated ESP-like powers to rituals, and put in the "warning blurbs" for DMs that have PCs that want to attempt scrying, so I can't see them basing a whole class around Clairsentience. Summoning still doesn't appear to be in elsewhere, so it's unlikely Metacreativity would be the first. You could probably fold metabolism and teleportation powers together to make one viable defender class with a splash of striker mobility, with the flavor that their control over their bodies allows them to move in unconventional ways.
Wasn't there a short three or five level prestige class somewhere, at one point, for Psionic Nomads called the Wayfarer's Guild? Or am I imagining that? Wayfarer (or perhaps Wanderer) is a stretch, but that would be a 'W'.
Last edited by Cryptos; 14th June 2008 at 02:30 AM..
In regards to the 'W' class and psionics, the possibility of the Wilder has been mentioned by people on the various forums, as well as the War Mind transitioning from a prestige class to a full fledged class. The latter would also fit with being a new class to D&D instead of a reprint like the Wilder would be.
In regards to the 'W' class and psionics, the possibility of the Wilder has been mentioned by people on the various forums, as well as the War Mind transitioning from a prestige class to a full fledged class. The latter would also fit with being a new class to D&D instead of a reprint like the Wilder would be.
You might be right, but I'm almost afraid of that... soon, we'll have entire "War" adventuring parties: Warminds being led by Warlords helping to make sure that Warlocks don't get hit.
That statement wouldn't seem to make much sense if psionics were only slated to be released in two years.
Thanks! I've updated the first post with this info:
Scott Rouse says "The license is done but late yesterday we added a bunch of new stuff to the SRD to cover some books coming out next year (like PH2 classes, power sources, and weapons)." (source) When someone complains, he asks "So do you want Psionics now or 12 months from now?" (source)
That statement wouldn't seem to make much sense if psionics were only slated to be released in two years.
cheers
Come to think of it, that statement doesn't make much sense regardless, as "now" has never been an option on the table for Psionics. It's always been a minimum of about 12 months from now. I'm assuming that what he means is, "Do you want Psionics when we planned to release them next year, or 12 months from then?" or "Do you want them in one year or two years?"
Unless he's saying that if they include it in the license, then third parties could start releasing their own psionic material "now" (which would actually be October or November, if I understand the timeline for 3rd party materials correctly.) And wouldn't have any effect on what WotC does officially with psionics.
Unless he's saying that if they include it in the license, then third parties could start releasing their own psionic material "now" (which would actually be October or November, if I understand the timeline for 3rd party materials correctly.) And wouldn't have any effect on what WotC does officially with psionics.
I think the most 4e friendly psionic specialties are probably: Telepathy, Psychoportation, Psychokinesis, and Psychometabolism. They've effectively relegated ESP-like powers to rituals, and put in the "warning blurbs" for DMs that have PCs that want to attempt scrying, so I can't see them basing a whole class around Clairsentience.
Clairsentience had far more combat powers than the school of Divination. Many Clairsentience powers were buffing powers, with some that did damage to a single target by altering reality. It's most likely a lot of Clairsentience powers will go the "ardent" or psionic leader, and "psychic warrior" or psionic defender.
Barbarian: "class previews on D&D Insider slated for this year" along with suggestions on what to do with barbarian concepts for now which might suggest direction being taken with the class
Bard: "slated for future publication" along with suggestions on what to do with the concepts which might suggest direction being taken with the class. also spells it out as an arcane leader
Druid: While no timeline is mentioned, it does offer options from current cleric builds which might hint at directions being taken for the druid in 4e drafts
Monk: While no timeline is mentioned, it does offer options from current fighter builds which might hint at directions being taken for the monk in 4e drafts (however, it seems vague in terms of concept compared to the conversion suggestions listed for the druid)
Updated the first post with a correction to the PHB2 class initials here.
There is no R class, it is instead another B.
Probably the Bard, though that means either the Sorcerer is out or he was wrong about only 3 old classes. I'd guess Sorcerer is out, as D R B were the ones he listed first and said were obvious. However, we have been told Sorcerer will be in PHB2 a couple of times, so who knows.
Probably the Bard, though that means either the Sorcerer is out or he was wrong about only 3 old classes. I'd guess Sorcerer is out, as D R B were the ones he listed first and said were obvious. However, we have been told Sorcerer will be in PHB2 a couple of times, so who knows.
Yeah, unless they just changed the barbarian name to "Rampager" or something like that, because as you pointed " D, R and B" were the obvious ones... and honestly, R is not that obvious... at least not to me.
I just find kinda weird though, that the new PHBII will revisit old power sources.
I was thinking one of the Ss would be swordmage. i hope so, cause it sounds like a cool class but I have no interest in buying any Forgotten Realms books...
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It's hard to say what the Artificer might be, but somehow I suspect they could actually be of the Elemental power source.
We haven't been given a good idea of what Elemental power is, maybe in some ways it's partially Technology, a power source I've been wanting. After all so many magic items in Eberron are actually "Bound Elemental" items, and it could be a way of having a Technological character without bringing up the technology level of a campaign.
Then again another ideal Elemental class would be Wu Jen, they've basically been a Druid/Wizard hybrid for a while, as their spells have been Wizard and Druid spells except with an elemental theme.
So there's now the full interview with Mike Mearls from Gamer Radio Zero here.
It's a pretty good watch, if you're interested in this.
I've updated the first post with the following info, but I'd like feedback on whether this is a decent summary - anything I should add or change?
Mike Mearls discusses the PHB2 on Gamer Radio Zero here. Some highlights: "If there's stuff in the Player's Handbook that you're like, 'hey, where's this class', it's probably going to be in the Player's Handbook 2." Also new classes - a cleric that's a bit more on the spellcaster-y side, a striker that's a "deadly and dangerous" kind of guy. The druid (I think the 3.5 druid, but I'm not sure) is the main example of a primal character, and other primal classes do things that will remind you of the druid, but in their own unique way. He lists the first letters of each class in the PHB2 - D, B, B, W, I, T, S, S (after this correction). He also says "I think only three of those are classes that anyone has ever seen before. I think the other ones are all new classes, completely new to Dungeons & Dragons."
Added to the first post, just after the summary of the video of Mearls talking about the PHB2:
However, when asked on his blog how many classes are new he says "Three are completely and utterly new. The rest are either classes or old concepts revisited." (source)
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