Arcane, Divine, and Martial: Expanded [Rampant Speculation!]

[infax]

My impression is that we may mainly see alternate Talent Trees for well established classes. With the hole role concept, I don't expect to see new Talent Trees turning Fighters into strikers or controllers (although I would find that interesting) but I think a Mounted Combat Talent Tree for the fighter or an Illusion Talent Tree for the Wizard are likely. Also, variations on what to do out of combat, like Talent Trees for Rangers that may be more specific to woodlands or caves, turning rogues into better liars, seducers or impersonators and the like.

I still expect to see some new classes and the whole concept of having every role for every power source seem likely. But mostly I think "Talent Trees" will take the place previously held by prestige classes (and, to some extent, feats).

Anyway, that's what I'm speculating.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Races & Classes mentions

Swordmages which seem to be a better named duskblade, a sort of fighter-mage from the get go. I look forward to seeing them. Nicely replaces any one of a dozen other fighter-mage classes.

Sorcerers - I'm glad they've not completely disappeared - look like when they appear they will be perhaps more akin to wild mages (not completely controlling their magic), perhaps with an elemental focus?

p80 of Races & Classes, while talking about wizards, says "Some future classes will even be based more heavily on past schools. Don't be surprised if you see illusionist or conjurer appear as classes or paragon paths at some point". I wouldn't be surprised to see necromancer and enchanter added to that list.

 

[Sir Brennen]

Just FYI to the OP, the Bard as Arcane Leader isn't speculation. Per WotC's Michelle Carter in this thread:

Untrue. As has been stated multiple times, the bard still exists and will appear as a distinct class [from the warlord].

Oh, that's *easy.* The cleric (divine leader) doesn't look anything like the warlord (martial leader) and they'll both look, feel, and play different than the bard (arcane leader). Power source aside, there's plenty of design space to make them distinct.

 

[Alaxk Knight of Galt]

Kamikaze Midget point is well taken. In fact, I'm a little surprised that 12 core classes are not going to be presented in the PHB, one for each of the Core Roles : defender, striker, controller, and leader.

Current and Possible Future Power Sources
Martial
Arcane
Divine
Psionics
Nature
Ki
Music
Technology (ah steampunk, how I love you)
Necromancy
Illusion

Each of these power sources would be complete with 4 class, one for each Core Role and a race associated with that power.

Example:

Nature
Race: Wood Elves
Leader - Druid
Striker - Ranger
Controller - Shapeshifter
Defender - Warden

Technology
Race: Gnomes
Leader - Tinkerer
Striker - Gadgeteer Gunner
Controller - Mechanical Artificer
Defender - Steam Soldier

Designing books like this would lead to the following benefits

• Modularity: One place to find all the items needed for a given source.
• Power Creep: This also helps stop the power creep as each book is independent of past books, presenting a race, 4 new classes, and new talent trees unique to that power source.
• Rapid Design of Custom Worlds: Want to have a world based on technology versus nature, not a problem, add the Tech and Nature power source books and your ready to go.

Kodus to WotC on the good idea of Power Sources.