D&D 5E Speculation on the Barbarian DD Next Class

[malcolm_n]

As we have now heard announced by WotC, the Barbarian will be the class revealed at Winterfest. Thank you.

--original message--
Is anybody else as excited as I am to see what the new class is that WotC will be showing us at Winter Fantasy?

I'm crossing my fingers for Druid, but I could also see them showing off the Ranger. Really, the latter would probably be more likely as it still falls into the design scheme of the other classes they already have. Maybe they'll give us the paladin?

Barbarian: A metaphorical variant of the fighter; light armor, swings big weapons, roars a lot. Like the paladin (see below), not something I would expect for a big reveal, but I could get behind it. Yes, I'm biased for barbs vs. pallies.

Bard: A new spellcaster class that would differ from the Wizard and have no tie to the (current) sorcerer as we've seen it. Could be a fun addition and another healer so we could have a choice of healers again.

Druid: Potentially vastly different from anything we've seen so far.

Paladin: A cross between cleric and fighter. IMhO, not a big enough deal for a reveal at a convention, but maybe they're still playing it safe by mixing up the mechanics they already have established.

Ranger: Similar in concept to a fighter, with a little bit of spellcaster mixed in (if they go that route). Just different enough to warrant a big reveal like this.

Warlord: I know they said that classes a'la the warlord could potentially just become themes (I'm a warlord fighter), but maybe they'll take this back to its 3.5 roots and make it like the marshal. Auras and interesting mechanics to heal with that aren't magical in nature. Could be fun and, like the bard, a new healer to toy with beyond the cleric.

Anyway, I just wanted to start some speculation on what we could see by 1/27. What are your thoughts/wishes?

 

[YRUSirius]

I'll vote for the "dragonmage" for the Never-Before-Seen-In-D&D-Class.

The Never-Before-Seen-In-Next-Class? No idea. Ranger or paladin I think.

-YRUSirius

 

[gyor]

I'm 90% percent certain that unless the Paladin is revealed tomorrow, it'll be the Paladin. They'd had way more focus on the Paladin in LL and Blog posts, I believe they're further along in developing the class then others outside the core 4, monk, and Warlock, and Sorc. I'd say 5% chance Bard if they're getting hung up on weather to do spells or not, or a different magical effect like Bard Song only. 4 percent Ranger because of the popularity of the class. 1 percent chance for something really out there like Assassin, possibly renamed ninja, or,Psion.

 

[jadrax]

I am expecting some sort of Fighter/Mage hybrid as the "never before seen in D&D Class".

The next class i would like to see playtest wise is either the Druid or Bard, it strikes me that they are the two that are probably most in the need player feedback.

 

[Mon]

I also speculate that it will be some kind of warrior/mage class, roughly analogous to a B/X elf, AD&D Fighter/Magic-User, 3e duskblade or swordsage, and 4E swordmage.

Traditionally, it has been difficult to think of a name for such a character without resorting to portmanteaus. Something like "Channeler" might work, with some kind of arcane channelling into weapon attacks and so forth (and possibly armour too?) with a bit of ritual/martial-rite out-of-combat magic on the side or something.

 

[Stalker0]

I am expecting some sort of Fighter/Mage hybrid as the "never before seen in D&D Class".

This one I could definitely see, its such a common archetype request.

 

[the Jester]

I'm hoping that the never-before-in-D&D class is a class focused on shapeshifting.

 

[GX.Sigma]

They mentioned that they wanted to re-tool the playtest Sorcerer mechanic (spell points; get cool stuff when you use up all your spell points) into a new fightery-magey class. So I'm betting on that.

No idea why they're making a new class, since they want to include all the PHB1 classes (and we know how people will react if they put in a new class instead of an old class)...

 

[Li Shenron]

Given my luck, after the Warlock and the Monk it'll probably be the Warlord. It seems gamers nowadays really want what I dislike most.

 

[Li Shenron]

I am expecting some sort of Fighter/Mage hybrid as the "never before seen in D&D Class".

Maybe it was never seen in core, but it was definitely seen in D&D.

Is there such a thing as "never before seen in D&D class" at all?

Did they really announce something like that?