Compiled info on upcoming classes & races

[Ondo]

The races section mentions both goliath and half-orc. Goliath seem to favor Str and Con. Half-Orcs Str and neither Con nor Cha.

Yeah, I added that in.

The link to the site is:

The one and only "Ask the Realms authors/designers thread" 4 - Page 10 - Wizards Community

The empath is referred to in the same breath as the bard.

Thanks! Yeah, in context it's clear that the empath will be a psionic leader. Added to the first post.

Also did a bit of rewriting and maintenance on the first post - specifics follow:
Removed this:

A playtest version of the Barbarian is planned for the October issue of Dragon (source).

Replaced this:

A playtest version of the Barbarian is planned for the October issue of Dragon. The final version will be in the Player's Handbook II.

with this:

The Barbarian will be a Primal Striker, and a playtest version is available here. It will be in the Player's Handbook II.

Replaced this:

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." 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)

One of the classes is a Leader class that "travels with a 'buddy' who keeps the party in tip-top shape" (source).

with this:

We also know:

• The other classes start with W, I, T, and S (source).
• Discussing the classes: "Three are completely and utterly new. The rest are either classes or old concepts revisited." (source)
• There's a new class that's "like a cleric, but a bit more on the spellcaster-y side" (source).
• There's a new class that's a Striker with a different flavor - "a guy who's a little more, maybe, deadly and dangerous kind of guy, not like a rogue, but a killer guy in a different sort of way." (source).
• One of the classes is a Leader class that "travels with a 'buddy' who keeps the party in tip-top shape" (source).

and this:

Specific Power Sources
Primal
They're using the aspects of the druid as the bedrock to build the other primal classes - they'll do things that will remind you of the druid, but in their own unique way (source).

I also removed this, because I don't think it's interesting info anymore:

Misc.

On The Tome, Andy Collins was asked about upcoming Controllers, and said they're still in the early design phase of the next wave of classes, but mentioned the Sorcerer is possible for that role, and they're thinking about a Divine Controller and some form of Psionic Controller. (It's at about 23:25 in the podcast.) He also mentioned "you're not going to see the Cleric throwing around Flame Strike type powers really frequently", but "when we get around to a Divine Controller class he will probably have more of those type of effects". (At about 27:30.)

 

[Ondo]

So I just noticed that the link to significant info on the Druid was to a Gleemax blog, and no longer works. Does anyone know of a working source of that info?

Also, I added this note to the Druid: A later interview here suggests that the hybrid version may not have made it past playtesting.

 

[fba827]

I don't have a ddi subscription so I can't point to it in the original source.
However, according to a thread discussing the recent minotaur article ( http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/244251-playing-minotaurs.html ), the article mentions the "Warden" as a class that the minotaur is suited for.

This may be the "W" class that will be in the PHB2 (and also suggests that the warden is best served by strength and or constitution abilities since those are the minotaur's racial bonuses).

Of course, this isn't hard confirmation, just conjecture based on the use of the class name, the timing, and an unknown "W" class in the PHB2.

 

[Skornn2k7]

The new Ampersand has at the bottom , the first 10 lvls of Bard class. It looks like it will be a better Arcane Controller than even the Wizard. Alot of nice controller stuff, sliding enemies for the allies to smack down. It looks pretty good, couple that with the Warlord, you have some serious battlefield control.


Sk

 

[Nikosandros]

The new Ampersand has at the bottom , the first 10 lvls of Bard class. It looks like it will be a better Arcane Controller than even the Wizard. Alot of nice controller stuff, sliding enemies for the allies to smack down. It looks pretty good, couple that with the Warlord, you have some serious battlefield control.

Well, the bard is a leader, but I agree that he has a nice splash of controller.

 

[Urizen]

Replaced this:
Gnomes are in the PHB2 (source). Others races in the PHB2 start with D, G, H, and S, and have second letters O, E, and H, and one has the final letter R (source, source). A Goliath appears on the cover, as well as what may be a Gnome or Shifter.

With this:
Gnomes, Half-Orcs, Goliaths, and Shifters will be in the PHB2 (source, source). There will also be a race that starts with a D, and a race (possibly the same one) that has a second letter of E (source, source).

Thanks for the catalog link, drothgery. I'll try and update with the rest of the info people posted soon.

Hmm.. D race:

Deurgar?

 

[Rechan]

The new Ampersand has at the bottom , the first 10 lvls of Bard class. It looks like it will be a better Arcane Controller than even the Wizard. Alot of nice controller stuff, sliding enemies for the allies to smack down. It looks pretty good, couple that with the Warlord, you have some serious battlefield control.

No real area affects. The sliding is mainly on the part of allies. So it's more like a ranged warlord.

The Artificer is more a leader/controller.

Hmm.. D race:

Deurgar?

The Forgotten Realms Players Guide talks about Daeva (Aasimar). It also mentions Half-Orcs, Goliaths, Gnomes and Shifters, all of which have been confirmed for PHBII. So my bet is Daeva.

 

[docdonuts]

There's a new article in Dragon today that outlines playing a minotaur as a PC race. It states on the first page that minotaur's make excellent fighters, barbarians and WARDENS. I think this is likely the new primal defender class being released in PHB2. It does start with the W that was hinted at in an interview. I suppose it could be a divine striker class as well. With the minotaur's stat bonuses going to STR and CON, I'm inclined to believe that the warden is a defender, but you never know.

 

[chitzk0i]

WARDENS.

Sounds like a Primal defender to me.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Sounds like a Primal defender to me.

I feel the same, it feels like a wild barbarian defender type. Maybe empowered by spirits to adi him in battle???