Biggest 4E PHB complaint...

[Cryptos]

How is INT a rogue stat now?

Ah, scratch that. I got CHA and INT scrambled up for a moment.

Regardless, what I was saying still holds true regarding a 4e Ranger in the traditional D&D rogue role going back through all editions vs the 4e Rogue class. If you want a 3e-ish rogue with several social skills, CHA might be a better choice. But for a dungeon delving thief, I'd still say WIS would be the better choice, and a ranger with thievery training the better class.

Your secondary ability score for skills that help out in actual adventuring, after Dex, is also improving your encounter powers. You don't have to set up your extra damage conditions quite as much. There are better mobility options at earlier levels (for instance, as a roguish type, I'd take Hit and Run's 'you can take a full (or partial) move away from your target after attacking without provoking' over Deft Strike's 'you can shift two squares before attacking' any day.) If you're going with a ranged option, you've got a higher damage and better range weapon. You don't have to worry about your extra damage not working with some weapons. And so on. Unless you're going for some social skills, your average ranger is simply the better choice in the rogue's overall adventuring role than a rogue, at the cost of a single feat for thievery training.

 

[Zaruthustran]

My biggest complaint is that the spear--the regular, one handed spear--does not have a range increment. In other words, you can't throw it. Lame!

Caveat: you *could* throw it as an improvised ranged weapon, but you wouldn't get a proficiency bonus, and if it was magic it wouldn't automatically return.

 

[Foundry of Decay]

I have to admit that I'm driven a little loopy that the Druid was left out of the core books as well. Though admittedly not from a symmetry standpoint and more from a 'core classes first' standpoint. I also miss the Barbarian since a lot of my games have a 'tribal' bent.

 

[I'm A Banana]

My biggest complaint is that the spear--the regular, one handed spear--does not have a range increment. In other words, you can't throw it. Lame!

I'm pretty sure no one at Wizards is aware of the awesomeness that is the Atlatl, too.

 

[Miyaa]

I have two biggest complains about the Player's Handbook:

1) Never tells you how to make your own magic item, or what does the enhance magical item ritual means in terms of what can the item actually do. (Neither in the DMG. Probably will need a supplement to get that actual info.)

And similarly, what if you want to make a better flying carpet, one that can handle more weight (even at a lower flying speed). Can the magic items be tweaked to your liking or are they just stuck like that? (And to that end, will there be any chaotic magic items, like the Deck of Many Things. If you're going to have a chaotic alignment, you'll probably need something like the Deck of Many Things. I really wish there were a 4e version of the Deck of Many Things, but given how 4e is set up, I really doubt we'll see few tables that will require a d% roll, other than the DMG table for loot...which seems too formulaic.)

2) I don't like how the classes have a set number for HP. You roll up your character's stats randomly, and you don't leave your HP (at the very least the higher level HP) to random chance? It shows how cookie-cutter the classes are in detail!

 

[SSquirrel]

They said pretty early that the choice to include only 1 controller was partially a reaction to their natural old-school-thinking (not a slam, just trying to show they were trying to get into a new mindset) of "well 2 of each is what we need cuz things HAVE to come in pairs or sync up to an example". I don't have any real issue with it either, not everyone wants to be a defender, leader or controller. Being one of the folks dishing out damage has usually seemed to be the most popular option. More options for all 4 roles will come

P.S. Defender = Tank; Striker = DPS, Controller = Crowd Control, Leader = Healer. hmmmmm

Where do you think MMOs got them? They have been implied in D&D for pretty much ever. 4E just spelled them out and got flamed for ripping off MMOs

 

[ProfessorCirno]

First and foremost, I'm going to take the odd approch at saying I hate the warlord class but absolutely LOVE the new warlock. It's probably the one thing I really enjoy the most from 4e.

Also, my biggest problem with the PHB was the Great Wall of Powers. And the dread that all books will have their own Great Walls.

 

[SSquirrel]

I avoided the great wall by looking at the first say 5 levels of powers and not really worrying about any of the rest except for a quick browse, then on to the next class. In depth time would come when I was looking at creating characters, not in my initial read.

The Warlock is a nasty customer, but I think the Warlord has great potential. I have a hard time justifying playing one in our current group tho since we only have 3 players. Maybe if we start running 2 guys I would make a Warlord.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Where do you think MMOs got them? They have been implied in D&D for pretty much ever. 4E just spelled them out and got flamed for ripping off MMOs

Videogames are too D&D-y.

 

[pawsplay]

It seems likely the new psion will be a controller. The necromancer, too.

I have a hard time seeing a rogue "controller"... they can hinder individual opponents, but how are they going go hold down groups or do damage to multiple opponents?

Some kind of fusion of the dragon shaman and dragonfire adept might work here, too, a controller with some secondary leader qualities.