A Different Take on Roles

[B.T.]

A role by any other name smells as meta.

 

[Walker N. Waistz]

Though I doubt 5E will explicitly function on roles beyond class and theme (I think it is an element of what some 4E backlash has focused on), I do think they are useful in game design, behind the scenes. And I also hope that the current design team is doing what Dausuul has done here, which is looking at roles inspired by D&D's traditional class archetypes, instead of the roles created in MMOs when fantasy characters were reduced to being mere engines for mathematical advantage.

 

[Steely_Dan]

If you have ever said "who is playing the cleric" then you have asked who is our healer/leader role.

I'm glad I've never heard this, in all the campaigns I've DMed or played in, no class was ever expected in the party (2 rogues and a monk, fine).

 

[Stalker0]

Stalker.

I am incredibly flattered to be nominated as a Dnd Character Role, but I just don't have the campaign financing to make a good run, so I will respectively drop out of the race

 

[ForeverSlayer]

The only take I have on roles is the "away" part.

 

[Steely_Dan]

The only take I have on roles is the "away" part.

Looks like Power Sources as they are in 4th Ed will be going bye-bye too.

 

[underfoot007ct]

I'm glad I've never heard this, in all the campaigns I've DMed or played in, no class was ever expected in the party (2 rogues and a monk, fine).

No where did I use the term "expected", not sure how you have "never" heard of such things.

 

[underfoot007ct]

A role by any other name smells as meta.

A role by any other name, would still exist, same as it ever was.

 

[Steely_Dan]

No where did I use the term "expected", not sure how you have "never" heard of such things.

I've never heard anyone at any D&D table say "Who's gonna play the X class?".

My players can play what they like, within the campaign setting at hand.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

good idea. As long as there is no unified mechanic for any role... and roles are not explicitely called out.

Why not have a pretext:

"a rogue is no great fighter. Unable to stand its own in a fair fight. But he is able to strike from the shadows and kill an unaware foe with a single blow" And then anywhere a guidelinde with examples of "balanced groups".