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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lobo Lurker" data-source="post: 1996860" data-attributes="member: 25172">I was going to post this in the "How could 4th Edition be more elegant" thread but, in the end, decided that it didn't really belong there. What follows is just my opinions on DnD classes in general and how they could be improved. I'm open to opposing viewpoints. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />The classes (by no means set in stone):Give each class specific roles that aren't intruded upon by other classes... the classic example of this is the bard (arcane spells, support abilities, skills, medium bab). While an argument can be made that no other class brings all of those features together in one class, I still feel that the bard is a class looking for a niche.Before listing anything, I suppose I should come out and say that I really like how Monte Cook made flavorful classes for his Arcana Unearthed/Arcana Evolved PHB. I don't think that ANY class should be hands down generic blah and I'm not a fan of Bonus Feats being class abilities. Feats add a lot to the game (in my opinion) and rather like D20 modern's approach of giving each player something at every level be it a new trait or a new feat.The classes and some comments (this list is not all that well thought out, just some names and notes).Bard Primary Ability: Bard Songs These should be a variety of support-style abilities like they are now, but greater in scope. Bards should be the number one support characters.Secondary Ability: SkillsTertiary Ability: combat ?BarbarianPrimary Ability: Damage Dealing Secondary Ability: Taking DamageTertiary Ability: Survival AbilitiesClericPrimary Ability: HealingSecondary Ability: Support SpellsTertiary Ability: Positive/Negative Energy Manipulation - Note: either the Cleric or the Paladin should be the master of using Postive or Negative energy for specific effects. Basically, take the turn undead mechanic and do something with it (via class abilities) other than turning undead (which puts a serious damper on undead encounters). Perhaps the scope of these abilities can be large enough to replace a Cleric's spellcasting all together (well, maybe leave in some lesser spellcasting ability). Casting spells would then become the Druid, Wizard, Sorceror, & Psion's balleywack.DruidPrimary Ability: Elemental/Nature-based SpellcastingSecondary Ability: HealingTertiary Ability: Survival AbiltiesFighterPrimary Ability: Weapon/Armor StuntsSecondary Ability: CombatTertiary Ability: ResistanceMonk I'm a little lost with this class...Primary Ability: Martial Arts AbilitiesSecondary Ability: EvasionTertiary Ability: ResistancePaladin Champions?; No spellcastingPrimary Ability: Positive/Negative Energy ManipulationSecondary Ability: CombatTertiary Ability: ResistancePsionicist Maybe use a skill/feat-based system for it's powers? Not sure what to do with this.Primary Ability: Mind-Affecting Spells/PowersSecondary Ability: Tertiary Ability: Ranger No spellcastingPrimary Ability: Survival AbilitiesSecondary Ability: combatTertiary Ability: Animal FriendsRoguePrimary Ability: SkillsSecondary Ability: Useful & Interesting AbilitiesTertiary Ability: combatSorceror not sure whether to keep this a 9-level caster or bump it down to 7th.Primary Ability: Magic Manipulation Limited spellcasting but lots of ways to manipulate those spells (best metamagiker in the game)Secondary Ability: Spellcasting (non-support)Tertiary Ability: SkillsWizard no REAL changes, but weave the sage archtype into the wizard's portfolioPrimary Ability: Spellcasting (non-support)Secondary Ability: Item ManufacturingTertiary Ability: KnowledgesOther niches needing to be fulfilled: The Spell-casting Warrior, The Agile Warrior, The non-backstabbing skills guy, The magic-using (but not spell-casting) warrior or skill-guy, & skilled magic user.After looking at this list, I got to thinking that it would, perhaps, be better to have a handful of generic classes (warrior/expert/spellcaster) and have advanced (@4+ levels) and prestige classes (@11+ levels).Lets hear your thoughts.</blockquote>

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