Korro Zal has updated his post on Gleemax message boards with new info on classes:
Link: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=963596
Now on to the classes-five are detailed in length in the book. Presumably, these are the classes that will definitely make the first Player’s Handbook:
Cleric: One major change the cleric has undergone is that in addition to spells he or she will also possess rituals and healing prayers, which will encompass most of the healing spells the cleric possessed in 3E. (Presumably, these will be at-will, per-encounter or per-day abilities.) Consequently, cleric spells will now mostly involve buffs and combat spells (and a great many brand-new spells have been created for the cleric). Also, all classes will possess the ability to heal themselves to some degree (possibly the SW Saga Ed. second wind?), and Leaders are able to grant an increase to this ability. In sum, clerics will no longer be called upon to heal as much as they used to, and will be able to participate in battles more. It is also stated that clerics will not be as powerful vis-à-vis the other classes as they were in 3E, and that summoning spells have been removed from their spell lists (likely to appear in a later volume).
Fighter: In addition to receiving powers akin to the maneuvers in Tome of Battle, they will have a number of other abilities to increase their hardiness, “stickiness” (meaning the difficulty foes encounter in getting past/around them) and armor proficiency (they will have the exclusive ability to retain a greater amount of their Dex bonus than other classes while wearing heavy armor). Feats and fighter powers will allow a sword & shield fighter to accumulate greater AC bonuses and the ability to defend others.
Rogue: Not too much has changed—sneak attack will still be vital for this class, but it will be even easier to set up. Virtually all monsters can be sneak attacked now, even golems and such. Rogues will still be the most skill-based characters, but the skill list has been streamlined and cut in half as it was in SW Saga Ed. (Hide and Sneak are one skill, etc.).
Warlocks: In 4E, these are arcane Strikers, able to do a great deal of damage to one or two foes at a time. They can align themselves with fey spirits, devils, demons or the “stars and the darkness between them.” Their abilities will include transportation effects, invocations, curses and a powerful melee attack called Soul Ruin. They also have the ability to use Pacts, meaning that it looks like they absorbed the Binder, and each Pact will grant per-encounter curses.
Wizards: Schools of magic are gone, replaced by foci (orb, staff, wand, with more to come in later books possibly). The orb foci involves terrain control and retributive and perception effects, staves ranged blasting, and wands long distance control and defense. In addition to spells, wizards will also possess rituals that deal with item creation. Metamagic feats are gone, though spells can still be boosted by Wizard powers and other feats. In addition, since characters can buy any kind of feats they want, it is mentioned that you could turn a Wizard into a 3E-style Warmage or Duskblade by buying weapon, armor and melee attack feats, as 4E Wizards no longer suffer from arcane spell failure in armor.
Following this, there is a section on “Other Classes,” with a few short notes about the other classes which were not so developed at the time the book was finished:
Barbarians: The 4E Barbarian will be all about the rage, with many different rage effects to choose from. They will also be more feral—one cited barbarian ability involves him biting his opponent after his melee attack.
Paladins: Their powers are being completely redone, as the designers felt they were lacking in 3E (notably the Smite ability). Unsurprisingly, they will possess several different kinds of smiting abilities.
Bards: Drawing their powers from “otherworldly patrons,” Bards will possess many abilities related to illusion and mental trickery. They will retain their inspirational and lore knowledge abilities.
Druids: The 4E Druid will heavily emphasize sharp-changing abilities, and will possess a spell list with ranged firepower and utility effects.
Monk: Not much has changed-will probably be designed as a Striker.
Rangers: Also seem little unchanged.
Sorcerers: It is stated that Sorcerers will barely be in control of their magical abilities, but whether or not this means they’ll function somewhat like wild mages is unclear. It does mention that a Sorcerer who casts a cold spell might have a protective aura of freezing cold around him afterwards for a short while.
Swordmage: Arcane Defenders who use magical protection as opposed to armor. They are designed as melee specialists with few ranged attack powers.
Warlord: Much as described before, but they also mention an example of a Warlord power called “Feather Me Yon Oaf!” (they often use humorous titles as stand-ins until they come up with the real one). When the Warlord uses this ability, his allies get an immediate action to draw a missile weapon and shoot the Warlord’s designated target.
Link: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=963596
