Eight is Enough: How Many Classes?

[Mostlyjoe]

Wow, It never ends to amaze me how gibberfrothy the community can get over things like this. I don't think they'll start putting things down in stone till the Dec preview book gets out.

 

[Doug McCrae]

I think it shows WotC haven't finalised the number yet.

But I liked the suggestion that one always tells the truth and one lies. Mearls must be the liar as it's well known he's a devious criminal genius who feeds his victims to a giant two-headed alligator in his basement.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Awww....

I was hoping there'd be a conspiracy theory instead of a flub!

It's like the Illuminati is a lie!

Well, what's with Mearls acting like nobody had told us that there would be 8 classes, like it was some sort of internet rumour. Eh? Eh?!

 

[M.L. Martin]

Well, what's with Mearls acting like nobody had told us that there would be 8 classes, like it was some sort of internet rumour. Eh? Eh?!

As the one who asked Mearls this question, I can clear this up.

I asked him if he could tell us how many classes would be in the PH. He said that he wasn't sure how much he could say on that front. I said that I had asked because the Internet was taking 8 classes as a given--and I do think that EN World has placed too much weight on a comment that may no longer be relevant and that it seems other WotC folks have backed off from--and he told me that that would probably the 'middle of the range' figure that we'd get.

EDIT: Correcting a spelling error above. Thanks, Doc.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

As the one who asked Mearls this question, I can clear this up.

I asked him if he could tell us how many classes would be in the PH. He said that he wasn't sure how much he could say on that front. I said that I had asked because the Internet was taking 8 classes as a given--and I do think that EN World has placed too much weight on a comment that may no longer be relevant and that it seems other WotC folks have baked off from--and he told me that that would probably the 'middle of the range' figure that we'd get.

WotC are having a bake-off? Sweet!

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

As the one who asked Mearls this question, I can clear this up.

I asked him if he could tell us how many classes would be in the PH. He said that he wasn't sure how much he could say on that front. I said that I had asked because the Internet was taking 8 classes as a given--and I do think that EN World has placed too much weight on a comment that may no longer be relevant and that it seems other WotC folks have baked off from--and he told me that that would probably the 'middle of the range' figure that we'd get.

Thanks.

I do note that "middle of the range" could mean less than 8 classes...

 

[M.L. Martin]

Thanks.

I do note that "middle of the range" could mean less than 8 classes...

I noted that as well, but really, who can they drop? Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, Wizard, Warlock are confirmed; Paladin and Warlord, practically so, and the Ranger is such an iconic concept I really can't see it being cut.
I'm holding out for 9--the 8 above plus a second controller, either Druid or (as was suggested by recent posts here) Illusionist--but that is only speculation/hope.

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

I noted that as well, but really, who can they drop? Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, Wizard, Warlock are confirmed; Paladin and Warlord, practically so, and the Ranger is such an iconic concept I really can't see it being cut.
I'm holding out for 9--the 8 above plus a second controller, either Druid or (as was suggested by recent posts here) Illusionist--but that is only speculation/hope.

They can drop Paladin, Warlord and/or the Ranger. Practically confirmed does not equal actually confirmed.

 

[M.L. Martin]

They can drop Paladin, Warlord and/or the Ranger. Practically confirmed does not equal actually confirmed.

Good point; I should have been clearer. Yes, they can cut any one of those three, but two of them are long-standing D&D archetypes, and the third's a chance to show off new concepts and provide an alternative to the cleric, so I'd say that the odds of them being removed are long. But then, I have been known to make mistakes . . . from time to time.

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

I think the only classes they really have to supply are the basic four; as long as those four are there it can meet any claim of being D&D (if not AD&D.)

I recall a quote from the Gencon reports about their being more than 3 but less than 11 classes in the PHB. I think we settled on 8 because of Logan Bonner's comment, but if that isn't valid now then there's no reason to think the PHB has any other than the officially confirmed classes.

As for why they might want fewer classes: if each class has a lot of powers, feats and talent tress to choose from plus 30 levels of support, they may taking a lot more space than in 3.5. This is total speculation of course.

(Edit - I thought I should point out I'm playing devil's advocate here. I think it's more likely that we'll see around 8 to 9 classes.)