Xeviat
Hero
I cracked open my 4E PHB and my Heroes of the Fallen Lands and looked over the class design in 4th, and I'm reminded that the power structure of everything kind of bored me. I didn't sit and read the PHB front to back like I did in 3E or 5E (minus the spells), since most of the class entries were basically spell lists.
But, that withstanding, damn did I love 4E in play.
Using 4E Essentials as a map, some extra class abilities could be thrown onto 4E classes to make them feel more unique. Utility powers could be turned more into class abilities in the class table, and utility spells and powers could be folded into the attack powers so characters don't feel so focused on combat.
For instance, if the fighter has an "Action Surge" minor action encounter power that let's them make an attack or take a standard or move action, this would get used in combat and exploration challenges (and possibly social challenges too). This would be their base encounter power. Casters could have pools of spells, so their encounter and dailies aren't just attacks.
Aside from rounding out the math in some places (requiring an overhaul of the feat system), and some discussion of multiclassing, I don't think this is an impossible task.
I may go back to a project of rewriting the 5E monster manual to be more like 4E, though.
But, that withstanding, damn did I love 4E in play.
Using 4E Essentials as a map, some extra class abilities could be thrown onto 4E classes to make them feel more unique. Utility powers could be turned more into class abilities in the class table, and utility spells and powers could be folded into the attack powers so characters don't feel so focused on combat.
For instance, if the fighter has an "Action Surge" minor action encounter power that let's them make an attack or take a standard or move action, this would get used in combat and exploration challenges (and possibly social challenges too). This would be their base encounter power. Casters could have pools of spells, so their encounter and dailies aren't just attacks.
Aside from rounding out the math in some places (requiring an overhaul of the feat system), and some discussion of multiclassing, I don't think this is an impossible task.
I may go back to a project of rewriting the 5E monster manual to be more like 4E, though.