Maybe. So far the new classes don't looks more powerful. However, they FEEL more like a 2e class than the rest of the classes in 4e so far. They feel slightly more flavorful(Wizards who specialize in Evocation as opposed to "I use a wand"). Given their complete compatibility with old powers, the new Wizard certainly seems like the one I'd play if given the choice.
They also appear to get Encounter powers as well as Dailies in their spell books, 3 at-will powers at first level(given, one of them HAS to be magic missile), and a class feature we don't know what it does. It also gains new class features as it goes up levels which the old Wizard doesn't.
It does seem better.
I wouldn't be surprised if, when Essentials hits, there is Errata giving all Wizards Magic Missile for free. We also haven't seen exactly how the Spellbook is working for them, either.
And I don't think we'll be seeing any new class features beyond first level.
I know, I know - it shows it right there in the preview! But I suspect that those later abilities of Expert Mage, Master Mage, etc... are going to be the equivalent of rituals.
Note, the Essentials Cleric and Wizard don't get Ritual Caster. Instead, I think they'll get appropriate equivalent abilities designed for their class or speciality. The Warpriest gets the equivalent of Remove Affliction and Raise Dead. The Mage will get Illusions or Enchantment or Evocation themed rituals or equivalent abilities.
Their level 1 specialty or domain abilities? I expect those will be the equivalent of most level 1 unique class features. So instead of Staff Mastery, we get Enchantment Mastery.
And they could in fact make it so the ability gets stronger at later levels - Arcane Implement Mastery does so automatically by being tied to stats. If the speciality powers aren't tied to stats, they could instead have more powerful versions at later levels without throwing off the class balance.
Overall, I think the Essentials classes will be strong, but I don't think they'll be outright better than ones that have come before them.
I could absolutely be wrong, of course. Apprentice Mage, Expert Mage, Master Mage - each of those could be an ability as potent as Arcane Implement Mastery, and the Mage thus outright more powerful than the standard Wizard.
But I'd be very surprised if that is the case.
Once again, I'm not saying that Essentials is going to make the new classes mandatory. However, I do think that after they come out, there might be a couple "Why would you take the Great Weapon Fighter? The Scourge gets the same bonus at first level and gets another bonus to hit at 11 and 21. And it still gets all the same power choices as the Great Weapon Fighter." conversations.
Yeah, I certainly don't think we'll see anything like that.
I think people will have the choice of playing a Great Weapon Fighter that gets +1 to hit with all two-handed weapons... vs playing a Scourge who instead gets some different benefits with, I don't know, a special school of weapons or the like. The chances of them just getting the same bonuses only bigger? Not gonna happen.
Maybe. So far the new classes don't looks more powerful. However, they FEEL more like a 2e class than the rest of the classes in 4e so far. They feel slightly more flavorful(Wizards who specialize in Evocation as opposed to "I use a wand"). Given their complete compatibility with old powers, the new Wizard certainly seems like the one I'd play if given the choice.
They also appear to get Encounter powers as well as Dailies in their spell books, 3 at-will powers at first level(given, one of them HAS to be magic missile), and a class feature we don't know what it does. It also gains new class features as it goes up levels which the old Wizard doesn't.
It does seem better.
I wouldn't be surprised if, when Essentials hits, there is Errata giving all Wizards Magic Missile for free. We also haven't seen exactly how the Spellbook is working for them, either.
And I don't think we'll be seeing any new class features beyond first level.
I know, I know - it shows it right there in the preview! But I suspect that those later abilities of Expert Mage, Master Mage, etc... are going to be the equivalent of rituals.
Note, the Essentials Cleric and Wizard don't get Ritual Caster. Instead, I think they'll get appropriate equivalent abilities designed for their class or speciality. The Warpriest gets the equivalent of Remove Affliction and Raise Dead. The Mage will get Illusions or Enchantment or Evocation themed rituals or equivalent abilities.
Their level 1 specialty or domain abilities? I expect those will be the equivalent of most level 1 unique class features. So instead of Staff Mastery, we get Enchantment Mastery.
And they could in fact make it so the ability gets stronger at later levels - Arcane Implement Mastery does so automatically by being tied to stats. If the speciality powers aren't tied to stats, they could instead have more powerful versions at later levels without throwing off the class balance.
Overall, I think the Essentials classes will be strong, but I don't think they'll be outright better than ones that have come before them.
Once again, I'm not saying that Essentials is going to make the new classes mandatory. However, I do think that after they come out, there might be a couple "Why would you take the Great Weapon Fighter? The Scourge gets the same bonus at first level and gets another bonus to hit at 11 and 21. And it still gets all the same power choices as the Great Weapon Fighter." conversations.
Yeah, I don't think we'll see anything like that.
I think people will have the choice of playing a Great Weapon Fighter that gets +1 to hit with all two-handed weapons... vs playing a Scourge who instead gets some different benefits with, I don't know, a special school of weapons or the like. The chances of them just getting the same bonuses only bigger? Not gonna happen.
At most, I think we'll instead see debates like the ones we have seen in the past - that the Scourge's unique benefits are better than just +1 to hit. Which some have said about the Battlerager, and so forth. Whether that will be true? No idea. But I very much doubt we'll see anything that is simply numerically superior to the existent content.