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<blockquote data-quote="hafrogman" data-source="post: 5914212" data-attributes="member: 8858">I think defined roles were an important step in the development of D&amp;D, they represent a very different way of approaching class design from previous editions.&nbsp; Up until that point classes were designed haphazardly based on a mixture of literary influences, highly specific archetypes, and occasionally the need to fill in a perceived gap.&nbsp; For the first time classes were given a functional role first, and the rest was fit around that.But that doesn't mean that they're something that needs to be a permanent addition to D&amp;D.&nbsp; They have one fundamental flaw in that nobody can agree what class should fit into what role.&nbsp; When you approach the system from one direction and pick a role and then a class to fit, it works well.&nbsp; But D&amp;D comes with a huge amount of baggage that can't be discarded without discarding the game itself.&nbsp; As a result people want to pick a class based on their history with the system, and if the assigned role doesn't match their personal notion of the class, major friction results.I think that roles still have a role to play in D&amp;D, but entirely disassociated from class.&nbsp; The 5/16 chat mentioned the idea that &quot;defender&quot; type mechanics might show up in themes.&nbsp; I think this is the best way to approach it.&nbsp; Pick a class and what you want to do with that class.&nbsp; The roles don't even need to be clearly defined, they just need to be in the designers' heads when they make themes.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="hafrogman, post: 5914212, member: 8858"] I think defined roles were an important step in the development of D&D, they represent a very different way of approaching class design from previous editions. Up until that point classes were designed haphazardly based on a mixture of literary influences, highly specific archetypes, and occasionally the need to fill in a perceived gap. For the first time classes were given a functional role first, and the rest was fit around that. But that doesn't mean that they're something that needs to be a permanent addition to D&D. They have one fundamental flaw in that nobody can agree what class should fit into what role. When you approach the system from one direction and pick a role and then a class to fit, it works well. But D&D comes with a huge amount of baggage that can't be discarded without discarding the game itself. As a result people want to pick a class based on their history with the system, and if the assigned role doesn't match their personal notion of the class, major friction results. I think that roles still have a role to play in D&D, but entirely disassociated from class. The 5/16 chat mentioned the idea that "defender" type mechanics might show up in themes. I think this is the best way to approach it. Pick a class and what you want to do with that class. The roles don't even need to be clearly defined, they just need to be in the designers' heads when they make themes. [/QUOTE]

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