I meant to say that fighters were feared melee fighters.
. . .still not seeing it.
I still think that the classes lack something unique, perhaps I could call them unique mechanics, as opposed to unique powers based on the same mechanic. Different mechanics that will make each class shine, really shine, in some aspects of the game.
I don't think any 4e fas has a problem wiht this idea, and in truth, there are mechanics like that in 4e- they don't always work though, and the psionic classes are a clear example of this.
The problem people have is when people act as if the kind of design we saw in previous editions was not only positive, but lucid. There was nothing lucid about how fighters, rogues, and full progression spellcasters related to each other in previous editions. It was just garbage design.
Adding balance was a very good thing 4e did. The classes are not perfectly balanced, in fac tmore balance is needed for some neglected class builds like whirling slayers and some of the v shaped classes, but the status quo is still vastly superior to the rtap-laden, caster-dominated design of other editions.
Contrary to what the haters may claim, the powers systme is a good thing, and rejecting it is not good design. It allows both players and desginers to better compare and understand classes, and that means people get better pick and build the class they want, instead of being trickedby bad design, or forced to adopt some wierd spiked chain build to make their class as fun to play as the other classes at the table.
Wotc has tried to mod the class system several times, with varying success. Essentials does this, as does psionics- the verdict is stil out on both of these, but i think the problem wiht the classes is less their balance, which is ok, and more their inability to be juged by the same standards another classes, by a potential player.
I certainly think that strong, unique mechanics would be a good thing for classes and power sources to have. But they have to exist within the context or a strong, reliable, and legible class system, in order for them to be well balanced, and easy for a player to understand and compare to other classes.
If anything, a 'strong core mechanic' mandate would enhance the strengths of 4e design. It kinda exists at present, but it needs to be more dominant, so that you can look at say, a defender, look at their challenge power, and understand how they operate in their role, without having to look over all their powers to see how thngs actually pan out in play. OTOH, this frees up powers to be more fun at being powers, rather than doing double duty backing up the core class mechanic.
I can also imagine similar mechanics by power source would be a great and characterful way to give each class a 'seconday role'. If each divine character has the same 'use this to heal a dude or turn undead' power, and each primal character has a 'get some temp hp' power, and so on, then players can easily what their pcs does, b comparing those effects, and each poer source has the kind of clear thementic qualities that 4e was flirting with, but needs to implement more clearly.
