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<blockquote data-quote="NotAYakk" data-source="post: 7924243" data-attributes="member: 72555"><p>Class as big tent is plausible in 4e. It even worked with retrofitting the Slayer.</p><p></p><p>If the "Fighter" is a big-tent class, you will have subclasses that have the defender mechanics in them. And you'll have some powers that are defender subclass only.</p><p></p><p>What I see is wrong headed here is that, in practice, you'll be making a game for a few people to play, and not a game for millions to play.</p><p></p><p>Which means you don't <em>need</em> 18 powers to pick between at level X for a fighter. That character-building minigame isn't something you are going to deliver (it takes a LOT of work to make up that many powers and give them fun fluff and make them vaguely balanced -- I've tried) practically.</p><p></p><p>So don't deliver it. Deliver narrow, essentials style classes (well, vampire-essentials; with mostly pre-determined power picks). Have customization along the lines of "you can pick a power from another subclass at this level".</p><p></p><p>As part of the thing for big-tent classes, make the classes <strong>more distinct</strong>.</p><p></p><p>If you are going to have Str vs AC, 2[W]+Str+Slow powers on two classes, consider that your classes aren't distinct enough yet, in either theme or mechanics.</p><p></p><p>---</p><p></p><p>Imagine if the Fighter has a pile of power strikes powers you apply after you hit.</p><p></p><p>The Rogue has movement powers that produce riders on foes you move next to.</p><p></p><p>The Ranger has stances that it flows in between, dealing an effect when leaving a style and when entering one, and a passive off-turn benefit.</p><p></p><p>The Wizard has spells that take 2 rounds to cast, but hit hard.</p><p></p><p>The Sorcerer manifests their bloodline as they use their powers.</p><p></p><p>The Warlock's magic creates symbols over the battlefield, executing clauses of its contract.</p><p></p><p>The Paladin turns damage dealt and prevented into an aura.</p><p></p><p>etc.</p><p></p><p>All of these can fit in the 4e damage budget mechanics <strong>without</strong> having powers that are at all like each other.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="NotAYakk, post: 7924243, member: 72555"] Class as big tent is plausible in 4e. It even worked with retrofitting the Slayer. If the "Fighter" is a big-tent class, you will have subclasses that have the defender mechanics in them. And you'll have some powers that are defender subclass only. What I see is wrong headed here is that, in practice, you'll be making a game for a few people to play, and not a game for millions to play. Which means you don't [I]need[/I] 18 powers to pick between at level X for a fighter. That character-building minigame isn't something you are going to deliver (it takes a LOT of work to make up that many powers and give them fun fluff and make them vaguely balanced -- I've tried) practically. So don't deliver it. Deliver narrow, essentials style classes (well, vampire-essentials; with mostly pre-determined power picks). Have customization along the lines of "you can pick a power from another subclass at this level". As part of the thing for big-tent classes, make the classes [b]more distinct[/b]. If you are going to have Str vs AC, 2[W]+Str+Slow powers on two classes, consider that your classes aren't distinct enough yet, in either theme or mechanics. --- Imagine if the Fighter has a pile of power strikes powers you apply after you hit. The Rogue has movement powers that produce riders on foes you move next to. The Ranger has stances that it flows in between, dealing an effect when leaving a style and when entering one, and a passive off-turn benefit. The Wizard has spells that take 2 rounds to cast, but hit hard. The Sorcerer manifests their bloodline as they use their powers. The Warlock's magic creates symbols over the battlefield, executing clauses of its contract. The Paladin turns damage dealt and prevented into an aura. etc. All of these can fit in the 4e damage budget mechanics [b]without[/b] having powers that are at all like each other. [/QUOTE]
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