D&D 4E 4E: Talent trees, class features or both?

[RigaMortus2]

Taking Saga into account, do you think (other than 1st level) 4E classes will no longer get class features (Divine Grace, Sneak Attack damage, Wildshaping, etc.) in lieu of Talent Trees, or do you think they will have both? Meaning, not only will you get a Talent/Bonus feat every level, but you will still get class features specific to your class?

Personally, I think they will be removing class features and then folding them into Talent Trees. I don't know that I like that idea, because that means one 'class feature' (disguised as a talent) every other level. Whereas in 3E, while you may not have gotten a class feature every level, some levels you got multiple ones.

Thoughts?

 

[Pygon]

I like the idea of putting class features into talent trees. It allows for a lot more combinations.

At that point I assume the PHB will give suggestions on how to build the core classes from 3e using the talent trees from 4e. Of course, you might instead want a raging archer...

 

[Merlion]

I am assuming and hoping that class abilities will remain, since certain D&D classes are strongly expected to have certain abilities.

I hope "talent trees" will be an option, not an integral part of every character.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Personally, I'm hoping for both-- using the talent trees for more "variable" class features that didn't fit as many concepts as the ones that stay class features.

 

[breschau]

I'm hoping beyond hope that talent trees instead of fixed class features is one thing they port over whole cloth. It's so much smoother and better than every x-level rogue has the same abilities. Ditto for same level characters in other classes.

Talent trees are the bees knees. (Yes, I am that old. Not all old people fear change.)

 

[FadedC]

There should always be some class features, and I'm pretty sure that will be the case in 4E as it is in the other games with talent trees that they are modeling it on. Some class abilities are very flavorful even if they aren't always useful, and players should not have to give up other abilities in order to have them.

 

[Alnag]

I hope for talent trees. That would compensate the missing classes better and it will also somehow limit the possibility of adding lots and lots and lots of classes like 3e does.

 

[Gundark]

I'm thinking they'll do talent trees in lieu of class features. They might have a few class features, but not many.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

I think there will be talent trees AND core dependable abilities.

Like Talents Versus trained abilities in WoW.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I think they'll have both.

I hope the flavor-drenched class aspects (generally something flavor-drenched can be very good flavor for one person and very bad flavor for another person) goes into talents. Things like a monk's immunity to disease and poison, for instance, should go into talent trees, as lots of supernatural unarmed fighters (like Li Mu Bai) were not immune to poison.