D&D 4E Directly from a quote- 8 classes in 4e! (well, now subject to much debate)

[Odysseus]

What I think, and this is just my 2 cents...

I think each of the core classes is going to have "Specialist" Classes like the wizard. You don't call a Illisionist a Wizard, he's an Illisionist. So you don't call the Warlord a Fighter he is a Warlord.

Fighter
-Warlord (Marshel Talent Tree)
-Monk (Unarmed Tree)
-Barbarian (Rage Tree)
-Paladin (Holy Warrior Tree)
-Duelist (Mix Monk and Fighter talant trees and you have what everyone wants, I think )

Cleric
-Druid (Nature Tree, Shape Shifter: Specific type like Wolves)

Rogue
-Ranger (Not sure I want to put this here, maybe under fighter, maybe here, but I have this feeling he belongs here )

Wizard
-Specialist Wizards
-Sorcerer

I also expect to see an example character in the Players that is multiclassed and named Gimble and Devis

Edit: Ah Spelling you are my enemy! Thanks Caudor.

They striker role was described as being mobile and doing lots of damage. While the tank role was described as they guy in front defending the wizard. Which sounds a bit like the barbarian fits more with striker. Plus the controller role, is a wide title. not just arcane caster could be in there.
My guesses
Tank
Fighter tree
Paladin tree
Healer
Cleric tree
Druid tree
Striker
Rogue tree
Barbarian tree
Ranger tree
Controller
Wizard tree
Sorcerer tree
Warlord tree

 

[GreatLemur]

I would like to see this setup....

>>>>The Typical D&D experience has been ~10 classes (barring OD&D and BD&D) so I can't see less than 9, personally.

My guesses:
Fighter (kills knight & warblade, takes his stuff)
Cleric (kills healer, THS)
Wizard
Rogue (kills swashbuckler & spellthief, THS)
Sorcerer (kills warlock, THS)
Ranger (kills scout, THS)
Barbarian
Warlord (kills bard and marshal, THS)
Shaman (kills dragon shaman and druid, THS)

Prestige Classes: Paladin/Blackguard, Monk, Bard, Assassin
__________________<<<<

Are you kidding? I could do D&D with two classes. But four would be better.

• Pure Warrior (subsumes basically everything with a full BAB)
• Pure Caster (arcane, divine, psionic, misc.; it's all just different talent tree choices)
• Caster-Warrior Hybrid (half-BAB supernatural types, including the traditional Cleric)
• Skill Guy (half-BAB skill monkeys, including any ability that is neither martial nor supernatural)

 

[Plane Sailing]

I find myself wondering a different thing about Warlord.

You see, the image it conjures up for me is a charismatic leader of warriors.

Hmmm. Charismatic fighter?

We also know that paladins could be champions of alignments other than LG

Maybe Warlord could be the generic paladin-esque title, where paladins are the LG variant, blackguards are the CE variant etc. etc.?

i.e. focussing on the charismatic fighting leader idea?

Just a thought

 

[Commonblade]

Warlord would make a good Chaotic/Neutral title.

 

[Odysseus]

Are you kidding? I could do D&D with two classes. But four would be better.

• Pure Warrior (subsumes basically everything with a full BAB)
• Pure Caster (arcane, divine, psionic, misc.; it's all just different talent tree choices)
• Caster-Warrior Hybrid (half-BAB supernatural types, including the traditional Cleric)
• Skill Guy (half-BAB skill monkeys, including any ability that is neither martial nor supernatural)

I think there won't be a skill monkey/expert class at all. Or skill points. With the skill folding, all classes, there is less need for a skill class

 

[Szatany]

They striker role was described as being mobile and doing lots of damage. While the tank role was described as they guy in front defending the wizard. Which sounds a bit like the barbarian fits more with striker. Plus the controller role, is a wide title. not just arcane caster could be in there.
My guesses
Tank
Fighter tree
Paladin tree
Healer
Cleric tree
Druid tree
Striker
Rogue tree
Barbarian tree
Ranger tree
Controller
Wizard tree
Sorcerer tree
Warlord tree

I would refine this further by making sure that each role has a spellcasting and non-spellcasting class in it. That way, no matter what your preferences are, you will find something for yourself.

Tank
Martial: Fighter
Caster: Paladin (not full spellcaster, but still)

Support
Martial: Warlord
Caster: Cleric

Striker
Martial: Rogue, Ranger
Caster: Sorcerer

Controller
Martial: ??
Caster: Wizard

Druid could go to caster support (I hope not, lets make him apart from cleric as much as possible), caster tank (a spell-light druid with solid shapeshifting to tank) or caster controller (weather and summon spells, etc).

Barbarian - while it seems to fit striker, I'd rather not have 3 classes that fill the same niche. Instead how about a wild idea to make barbarian a martial controller? He could affect enemies by shouts, maybe some primitive shamanic tricks...

 

[GreatLemur]

I think there won't be a skill monkey/expert class at all. Or skill points. With the skill folding, all classes, there is less need for a skill class

I'm not sure I think that's likely, but considering that they're referring to the Rogue as a "martial" class, you might be on to something.

But, yeah, I could definitely deal with not having any skill-focused character class, and just giving all the other classes more access to skills. It sounds more satisfying to me than "These guys are good in combat and useless outside of it, while this guy is great out of combat, but only has this one trick he can do in a fight."

 

[Charwoman Gene]

It think the Key is that there are 4 roles and 3 power sources.

Here is my Take on it
Role (MMOism)
Defenders (Tanks)
Martial - Fighter (Confirmed Tank; J. Wyatt Interview)
Divine - Paladin (Confirmed Tank; J. Wyatt Interview)
Arcane - Hexblade?? (Unconfirmed)
Leader (?? Healer) [J. Wyatt did not mention Healing as a role.]
Martial - Warlord (Confirmed Leader; J. Wyatt Interview)
Divine - Cleric (Confirmed Leader; J. Wyatt Interview)
Arcance - Bard?? (Unconfirmed)
Controller (Crowd Control)
Arcane - Wizard (Confirmed Controller; J. Wyatt Interview)
Divine - Druid (Unconfirmed)
Martial - ??
Striker (DPS) {HPPR}
Martial - Rogue (Confirmed Striker; J. Wyatt Interview)
Divine - Ranger (Confirmed Striker; J. Wyatt Interview)
Arcane - Sorcerer (Unconfirmed)

I will state however, that this kind of Categorization and system worship, creating classes to fit diagrams and such, is a really bad design idea. My guess is that the actual book wont be this even.

 

[Mortellan]

And they say D&D isn't copying video games...I like the ideas for the roles above in theory but it seems cold and impersonal if not cookie cutter. It's like assembling a sports team that you have to fill positions for. Anyhoo, I hope Druids are removed, never liked 'em always caused headaches.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

And they say D&D isn't copying video games...

They're not.

Both are using sound design principles for multi-character combat structuring where you want to promote interest. It's convergent evolution.