Particle_Man
Explorer
The Knight does one of the functions that the fighter was meant to do but couldn't as easily pull off: Tie up some of the enemy with you to protect the squishier members of the party. You can step around, dimension door past, etc., the heavily armored fighter or dwarven defender. The Knight calls you to fight *him*. I could see it replacing the Fighter and Paladin (and Cleric already does the holy warrior bit anyhow).
The Warlock works on two levels: The "never runs out of things to do" caster, and the "no paperwork" caster. I could see it replacing the Sorceror.
The Scout is a nice "nature runner" class, but I don't see it being enough better to replace either the Ranger or the Rogue, although some might argue it could replace the Ranger.
The Psionic, Incarnum and Bo9S classes are different enough in type that I wouldn't see them as "Core". Not that they are not cool, just not "core".
The Oriental classes in the completes are unfortunately different in theme without being significantly different in type. I can't see them replacing any core class.
Beguiler and Duskblade make great core additions, because of the multi-class niches they fill. Beguiller in fact could replace Bard. Arguably, the Warmage might also work for those that just want a "blast em to hell!" kind of magic-user.
Spell-Thief is too specialized to be core. The Hexblade was a nice idea, but the Duskblade does his multi-class niche better, and the "I curse you" power is not really "core".
Swashbuckler would make an interesting light-armored fighter role, except that the Rogue can already pull that off. I don't see it as core. On the other hand, if we have Beguiler and Scout then we have traps covered, so maybe that gives Swashbuckler a way in.
Spirit Shaman might replace a Druid if one thinks the Druid is too powerful, but seems a bit too "niche" in theme. Favored Soul is a spontaneous divine caster but I think a little too "niche" in theme as well (wings?). I think perhaps Spirit Shaman rather than Druid if only to give one divine preparation caster (cleric) and one divine spontaneous caster (spirit shaman).
Dragon Shamans and Marshals have cool powers but are hardly core. Healers don't seem to fill any role that clerics cannot do.
Monks actually answer that theme of people that like bare-handed warrior types. Same with Barbarian - some people just want to go "Hulk SMASH!"
So that would leave:
Cleric (preparation divine)
Spirit Shaman (spontaneous divine)
Knight (meat shield)
Barbarian (meelee damage dealer)
Scout (woodsy guy/traps guy)
Wizard (preparation arcane)
Warlock (uber-simple magic)
Warmage (spontaneous arcane - blaster)
Swashbuckler (light armored warrior) (maybe soup up a bit to become a "Dashing Swordsman" type)
Monk (bare handed warrior)
Beguiler (magic-user/thief)
Duskblade (fighter/magic-user)
Puts me at 12 classes in a Particle-Man 4th ed book. I would throw in various class options though.
I imagine that others would come up with different arrangements of classes, and I don't work for Wotc, so if you disagree with my list, don't worry - you are safe.
The Warlock works on two levels: The "never runs out of things to do" caster, and the "no paperwork" caster. I could see it replacing the Sorceror.
The Scout is a nice "nature runner" class, but I don't see it being enough better to replace either the Ranger or the Rogue, although some might argue it could replace the Ranger.
The Psionic, Incarnum and Bo9S classes are different enough in type that I wouldn't see them as "Core". Not that they are not cool, just not "core".
The Oriental classes in the completes are unfortunately different in theme without being significantly different in type. I can't see them replacing any core class.
Beguiler and Duskblade make great core additions, because of the multi-class niches they fill. Beguiller in fact could replace Bard. Arguably, the Warmage might also work for those that just want a "blast em to hell!" kind of magic-user.
Spell-Thief is too specialized to be core. The Hexblade was a nice idea, but the Duskblade does his multi-class niche better, and the "I curse you" power is not really "core".
Swashbuckler would make an interesting light-armored fighter role, except that the Rogue can already pull that off. I don't see it as core. On the other hand, if we have Beguiler and Scout then we have traps covered, so maybe that gives Swashbuckler a way in.
Spirit Shaman might replace a Druid if one thinks the Druid is too powerful, but seems a bit too "niche" in theme. Favored Soul is a spontaneous divine caster but I think a little too "niche" in theme as well (wings?). I think perhaps Spirit Shaman rather than Druid if only to give one divine preparation caster (cleric) and one divine spontaneous caster (spirit shaman).
Dragon Shamans and Marshals have cool powers but are hardly core. Healers don't seem to fill any role that clerics cannot do.
Monks actually answer that theme of people that like bare-handed warrior types. Same with Barbarian - some people just want to go "Hulk SMASH!"
So that would leave:
Cleric (preparation divine)
Spirit Shaman (spontaneous divine)
Knight (meat shield)
Barbarian (meelee damage dealer)
Scout (woodsy guy/traps guy)
Wizard (preparation arcane)
Warlock (uber-simple magic)
Warmage (spontaneous arcane - blaster)
Swashbuckler (light armored warrior) (maybe soup up a bit to become a "Dashing Swordsman" type)
Monk (bare handed warrior)
Beguiler (magic-user/thief)
Duskblade (fighter/magic-user)
Puts me at 12 classes in a Particle-Man 4th ed book. I would throw in various class options though.
I imagine that others would come up with different arrangements of classes, and I don't work for Wotc, so if you disagree with my list, don't worry - you are safe.
