Eliminate Classes

[amnuxoll]

Aside from flavor related issues, are there any mechanical/balance problems with eliminating class-based restrictions on power selection?

At each level when you are entitled to a new power you simply pick one from any class list.

Am I missing something? This seems to me like it would actually work. It seems like classes themselves are practically obsolete in 4e. I'm not sure I'm happy about that.

:AMN:

 

[Plane Sailing]

A fighter gets to mark everyone he attacks. What if he picks a wizard Burst spell? Whammo, instant marking of lots of people.

Plus characters could just cherry pick the best healing spell from clerics, the best area spell from wizards, the best single target attack from ranger and so forth. The power lists are carefully configured to both the role and the existing class.

Classes still have differentiation by class features, defence bonuses, hit points and so forth then, PLUS they are differentiated by their class power list.

I think it would be possible to create a classless system, but I think it would take more than a simplistic choice of allowing free access to all power lists.

Cheers