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Both 3E and 4E used class names as prerequisites for several rules elements, from feats to prestige classes and paragon paths. Why not formally define the concept of "mage" so that future modules can use "Prerequisite: Mage" instead of "Prerequisite: Wizard" and be compatible with the Warlock...

I tend to agree, but here's why they won't do it. If you rename Rogue to Thief and Trickster to Rogue, then the class now called Thief is broader than its name. The problem is that "Thief" was never a good name in the first place.

I also love the term "jack", and I think Numenera benefits from its clean slate and having just the three classes: glaive (warrior), nano (mage), and jack (trickster). And sure, I'll throw some more trickster alternatives into the ring: Opportunist Troubleshooter Fixer

I think we can all agree that labels/keywords such as "mage" could be abused or misused to create poor rules. My main point is that they could also have some value. The difference between "is a Mage" and "can cast Magic Missile" is more about granularity than anything else. An Arcane Student...

Isn't this discussion of what classes can use what items mostly orthogonal to class groups? The rule doesn't have to be "Wands of Magic Missile can only be used by Mages." Maybe it'll be "Activate the Wand of Magic Missile with a DC 12 Intelligence (Arcana) check. Mages succeed automatically."...

For me, the monk is a rendering of heroes from wuxia, such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. They can use weapons, but don't use armor or shields. It's hard to jump over a building or skip across water in chain mail. At higher levels, their powers are clearly supernatural, although usually just...

Actually, Mearls mentioned several goals of class groups in his article, but only one has received much attention. Personally, I find the last goal the most compelling. The archetypical party is a cleric, fighter, rogue, and wizard. Yes, skilled players and a skilled DM could make a party of...

FWIW, I think clerics do have it rough in 4E skill challenges. They typically have armor penalties compounding mediocre Str and Dex scores. The only class skills that build upon their Wis are Heal and Insight, and they don't get Endurance to build upon their Con. Half their class skills...

Sounds like you have a nicely balanced core party: monk, warpriest, knight, sha'ir. Should be fun! I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes.

How about some kind of divine artifact, a sacred relic of Kord, that can summon a fierce warrior some number of times per day? Perhaps some kind of war horn that summons valkyrie-like warrior maidens. The summoned warrior can become more powerful as the PCs level up and their concordance with...

Yes, exactly. I know not every table suffers from this problem, but too often I have seen players spend combat encounters looking through their power cards, then spending skill challenges looking through their skill bonuses.

Your characterization of skill challenges sounds great in theory, but in my experience, too many skill challenges devolve into, for example, a player asking, "Can I use Athletics?" Yes, I know, I must be a horrible DM who's doing it all wrong. Maybe it's just because most of my experience lately...

Here's another nomination for Arcana Unearthed, which is a wonderful demonstration of how to bond the d20 mechanics to a wonderfully evocative setting. Honestly, I like everything I've seen Monte Cook touch, from 3E to AU to Numenera. Heck, I'll even give him credit for some unknown portion of...

I'm all for D&D Next having a kingdom-building module, in much the same way we're getting mechanics for exploration and for interaction. I'm wary of any attempt to create a one-minigame-fits-all framework to handle all challenges of skill. That's not to say that such a framework is intrinsically...

FWIW, we know that WotC is working on mechanics that may be used for social challenges such as the one outlined in the OP. What they've shown us here seems to be a promising start: https://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ll/20130520 Note that they've explicitly stated that their goal is...

I was a big fan of skill challenges at first, but now I would not be sorry to see them omitted from the D&D Next core. Too often, especially in organized play, I have seen skill challenges devolve into players just wanting to spam the skill button with the highest number on their character...

I agree that the "mage" umbrella seems way too large. The problem is that different varieties of arcane magic are not clearly enough defined. If a player new to D&D wants to raise the dead and repel vampires with her holy symbol, we can set her on the path of the cleric. Someone who wants to...

I think this notion of "class" is a pretty good compromise between the legacy classes and the stated desire to have classes be defined by story. Each class defines what power source or sources a character has. Fighter: weaponry Cleric: prayer Mage: (arcane) magic Rogue: skill Druid: nature...

Sounds like fun! I'm looking forward to hearing how the first session went. I have a soft spot in my heart both for Eberron and for D&D with small parties.

So even after D&D Next launches, should WotC continue releasing adventures in the manner of Murder at Baldur's Gate: system-neutral books with system-specific game material as a free download?