One of the interesting design decisions of the Essentials Series is that each class writeup leaves obvious space for extensions. Cleric domains and Wizard Schools are the obvious candidates, but there is more.
Let's start with the Cleric. Obviously, we'll see more domains after Storm and Sun. Just open Divine Power, or a 3rd ed PHB, and you'll see a long list of other possibilities. As a big fan of hidden/thievery-themed clerics, I'm definitely waiting for the Trickery domain. Death, Fire, Freedom, Justice, Love, Luck, Magic, Sea and Winter are other classics. I like how each domain has a strong impact that creates unique clerics. I never liked generic clerics, the choice of deity should make a noticeable difference.
But I also want to see a new subclass, call it the Peacepriest *snark*. Uses holy symbols, robes instead of heavy armor, Wis bonus to AC instead of Dex/Int, strong focus on healing and control rather than damage. Of course, this subclass would share domains with the Warpriest.
As for the Fighter, a subclass that's in the air is the Commander. As the Essentials version of the Warlord, its role is leader. The difficult part is to recreate the Warlord in the framework of the Essentials Fighter, which means no attack powers, but stances and static bonuses (and maybe an aura). It could, for example, have a "leader aura" that gives adjacent allies a static +2 bonus to attacks, and a number of stances that add other bonuses like +2 to saves, +2 to all NADs, or +Cha to damage. As a bonus, it could have the ability to choose Warlord (utility) powers and feats.
Instead of Power Strike, the Commander can grant another PC an MBA with big bonuses as an Encounter power.
The Rogue could also get a new subclass with a new role. The Swashbuckler is a Defender, which inherits the Defender Aura from the Knight and Weapon Finesse and movement tricks from the rogue. It's a light-armored, highly mobile class. Mobility tricks include "switch places with an adjacent ally and shift 2 squares before or after", "move half speed and grant adjacent allies +2 to AC UEOYNT", "move half speed, take half damage from burst and area attacks UEOYNT", "make a save and shift 1 square". To fit with the Rogue theme, he could get +1d6 damage on his Defender punishment attack if he has CA.
As for the Mage, we're obviously waiting for the other classic schools of magic, Transmutation, Abjuration, Conjuration, Necromancy and Divination. Transmutation, Conjuration and Necromancy simply need an ability list and some attributed spells. Abjuration and Divination are more difficult, as they lack obvious attack potential. I could imagine that this specialist would have a strong Defender secondary role, or even an ability similar to Aegis of Shielding. It could also have an at-will like Lightning Pillar that creates a defensive barrier. Divination could be leader secondary, including spells similar to Commander's Strike that allow an ally to make an attack with a bonus.
The other question is how and when we'll see these extensions. It could be that we'll see more books under the "Essentials" moniker, but that could be counterproductive. First of all, it creates the confusion again that Essentials wanted to avoid, which is that new players don't know which products they need and which they can pass at the start. It also goes against the "10 products and back to the main line" promise. And, if it is an Essentials product, it would need all the newbie introduction text again.
The more likely scenario is that we'll see a "main line" product that will introduce new subclasses in a similar fashion to the Essentials series, and either require it or "reintroduce" some of its concepts.
Let's start with the Cleric. Obviously, we'll see more domains after Storm and Sun. Just open Divine Power, or a 3rd ed PHB, and you'll see a long list of other possibilities. As a big fan of hidden/thievery-themed clerics, I'm definitely waiting for the Trickery domain. Death, Fire, Freedom, Justice, Love, Luck, Magic, Sea and Winter are other classics. I like how each domain has a strong impact that creates unique clerics. I never liked generic clerics, the choice of deity should make a noticeable difference.
But I also want to see a new subclass, call it the Peacepriest *snark*. Uses holy symbols, robes instead of heavy armor, Wis bonus to AC instead of Dex/Int, strong focus on healing and control rather than damage. Of course, this subclass would share domains with the Warpriest.
As for the Fighter, a subclass that's in the air is the Commander. As the Essentials version of the Warlord, its role is leader. The difficult part is to recreate the Warlord in the framework of the Essentials Fighter, which means no attack powers, but stances and static bonuses (and maybe an aura). It could, for example, have a "leader aura" that gives adjacent allies a static +2 bonus to attacks, and a number of stances that add other bonuses like +2 to saves, +2 to all NADs, or +Cha to damage. As a bonus, it could have the ability to choose Warlord (utility) powers and feats.
Instead of Power Strike, the Commander can grant another PC an MBA with big bonuses as an Encounter power.
The Rogue could also get a new subclass with a new role. The Swashbuckler is a Defender, which inherits the Defender Aura from the Knight and Weapon Finesse and movement tricks from the rogue. It's a light-armored, highly mobile class. Mobility tricks include "switch places with an adjacent ally and shift 2 squares before or after", "move half speed and grant adjacent allies +2 to AC UEOYNT", "move half speed, take half damage from burst and area attacks UEOYNT", "make a save and shift 1 square". To fit with the Rogue theme, he could get +1d6 damage on his Defender punishment attack if he has CA.
As for the Mage, we're obviously waiting for the other classic schools of magic, Transmutation, Abjuration, Conjuration, Necromancy and Divination. Transmutation, Conjuration and Necromancy simply need an ability list and some attributed spells. Abjuration and Divination are more difficult, as they lack obvious attack potential. I could imagine that this specialist would have a strong Defender secondary role, or even an ability similar to Aegis of Shielding. It could also have an at-will like Lightning Pillar that creates a defensive barrier. Divination could be leader secondary, including spells similar to Commander's Strike that allow an ally to make an attack with a bonus.
The other question is how and when we'll see these extensions. It could be that we'll see more books under the "Essentials" moniker, but that could be counterproductive. First of all, it creates the confusion again that Essentials wanted to avoid, which is that new players don't know which products they need and which they can pass at the start. It also goes against the "10 products and back to the main line" promise. And, if it is an Essentials product, it would need all the newbie introduction text again.
The more likely scenario is that we'll see a "main line" product that will introduce new subclasses in a similar fashion to the Essentials series, and either require it or "reintroduce" some of its concepts.
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