How many core classes can we expected in 4th ed?
- Thread starter Driddle
- Start date
I often pump move silently without hide. With even ranks in each, a halfling's Hide is 2 more than his Move Silently. I like to keep them even (total mods even, that is). It makes it easier to roll. That said, it would seem i would be in favor of making it just one roll. But I think consolodating many skills into one just seems... lazy. I dunno.Zaruthustran said:
librarius_arcana
First Post
shilsen said:
Nope............
Vorput said:
Closer...........
Don't you know?, the number is always 42
librarius_arcana
First Post
There will always be the Fighter, Rogue, Wizard, Cleric, class's
just as there will always be levels, HD, saves,
if you want to see how a skill system could be used within a class/level system you should try checking out my ideas in the "BAB to skill" thread somewhere in house rules (if you can find it) not finished yet though, need to sort out the crunchy details
just as there will always be levels, HD, saves,
if you want to see how a skill system could be used within a class/level system you should try checking out my ideas in the "BAB to skill" thread somewhere in house rules (if you can find it) not finished yet though, need to sort out the crunchy details
For the next quantum leap I think we will see something like D20 Modern: a half-dozen or fewer base classes each concentrating on a very broad archetype, with plug-in talents (which will be expanded to be as versatile as the feat system) and bonus feat slots for high customization. They will all look like the 'vanilla classes': Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Sorcerer, or NPC Expert (which will supplant Rogue). All the specialized classes with lots of class features (Barbarian, Monk, Bard, Rogue, Paladin, etc.) will be transformed into Prestige Classes or be stripped down into component talent chains.
The current paradigm of "levelling up" that raises everything across the board (BAB, saves, SP, etc.) will remain, since to do otherwise would necessitate some wonky stuff that may require everything to be turned into a feat (fixed-strength abilities you activate), skill (activated abilities that increase in strength), or talents (fixed-strength abilities that are always active).
I don't think we have anything to fear about a truly classless version of D&D. Eliminate classes altogether, and it will be D&DINO (D&D In Name Only). Call of Cthulhu tried to be a good classless d20 system and IMO is a total failure with its "choose your BAB, saves, etc." system, mainly because the game design of d20 is integral with a class-based setup (3 BAB progressions and 2 save progressions). d20 Modern was a better attempt at a semi-classless system.
If not a d20 Modern-like system, then we might see a mighty proliferation of 20-level classes, as we have already seen. D&D's multiclassing tends to produce stunted characters, especially at high levels. Adding in new core classes provides a way to have that hybridization without sacrificing the highest-level abilities of a class.
ith that said, WOTC's record of new classes hasn't been perfect (some of their new core classes make more sense as prestige classes). But most of the core classes in the total set formed by the PHB, Complete X books, Heroes of Horror, Miniatures Handbook (marshal & healer), and Player's Handbook II would make good "flagship classes" for D&D 4E. 4E's PHB2 could contain a healthy number of prestige classes and a few additional core classes. (I never thought it was a good idea to put the prestiges in the DMG and to include so few of them, but I suppose book space permits only so much .... even so, Web Enhancements galore should do well)
The current paradigm of "levelling up" that raises everything across the board (BAB, saves, SP, etc.) will remain, since to do otherwise would necessitate some wonky stuff that may require everything to be turned into a feat (fixed-strength abilities you activate), skill (activated abilities that increase in strength), or talents (fixed-strength abilities that are always active).
I don't think we have anything to fear about a truly classless version of D&D. Eliminate classes altogether, and it will be D&DINO (D&D In Name Only). Call of Cthulhu tried to be a good classless d20 system and IMO is a total failure with its "choose your BAB, saves, etc." system, mainly because the game design of d20 is integral with a class-based setup (3 BAB progressions and 2 save progressions). d20 Modern was a better attempt at a semi-classless system.
If not a d20 Modern-like system, then we might see a mighty proliferation of 20-level classes, as we have already seen. D&D's multiclassing tends to produce stunted characters, especially at high levels. Adding in new core classes provides a way to have that hybridization without sacrificing the highest-level abilities of a class.
ith that said, WOTC's record of new classes hasn't been perfect (some of their new core classes make more sense as prestige classes). But most of the core classes in the total set formed by the PHB, Complete X books, Heroes of Horror, Miniatures Handbook (marshal & healer), and Player's Handbook II would make good "flagship classes" for D&D 4E. 4E's PHB2 could contain a healthy number of prestige classes and a few additional core classes. (I never thought it was a good idea to put the prestiges in the DMG and to include so few of them, but I suppose book space permits only so much .... even so, Web Enhancements galore should do well)
WayneLigon
Adventurer
I think we'll see fewer. I look for several of the more variant classes such as Druid or Paladin to be either prestige classes (or whatever their equivilant is) or folded into their 'main' class. I don't think we'll see a classless build-your-own thing yet (or perhaps ever), but I look for more customization options so that some of the classes we have now become superfulous.
librarius_arcana
First Post
WayneLigon said:
One day it will happen, or something very like it
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