How many themes do we need?

[Viking Bastard]

without skills it will take away from skill challenges and other "chances" to RP, and DnD is the first RPG ever. We need skills for sure. As for feats i think we need them too. Me and my friends (from time to time) play a RPG called Rifts. Rifts has no feats in it and it really hurts character customization. I think they should be core.

Skills, feats, and themes should be core.

3e was the first edition to have skills in the core of the game. A lot of people think that skills were detrimental to the RP parts of the game, not vice versa (I'm not making that point myself, but it's not an uncommon claim).

 

[howandwhy99]

without skills it will take away from skill challenges and other "chances" to RP, and DnD is the first RPG ever. We need skills for sure. As for feats i think we need them too. Me and my friends (from time to time) play a RPG called Rifts. Rifts has no feats in it and it really hurts character customization. I think they should be core.

Skills, feats, and themes should be core.

Yeah, and frankly I disagree. What really needs to be done is to get rid of the whole "Checks" mentality and remove ability score rolls to, which are simply now skills in disguise.

 

[Minigiant]

I guess it is only fair that I list all the themes i think we need in the first PHB, MM, and DMG.

12 Class
Weapon Master, Adept, Magic User, Assassin, Beast Master, Shapeshifter, Bard-Lite, Monk-Lite, Warlock-Lite, Crusader,Sorceror-Lite, Berserker

8 Racial
Human, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Gnome, Orc, Dragonborn, Tiefling

4 Roles
Defender, Striker, Controller, Leader

5 Weapon Styles
Sharpshooter/Archer, TWF, Reach Weapon, Guardian/Weapon&shield, Brawler/Unarmed

4 Combat Tactics
Slayer/Offense, Lurker/Stealth, Warlord/Support, Vanguard/Defense

8 Spell Schools
Transmution Illusion Enchantment Divination Conjuration Evocation Necromancy Abjuration

3 Template
Werewolf, Vampire, Lich

7 Weapon Master type
HeavySwords LightBlades Axes Hammers Spears Crossbows&Bows Slings&Thrown

10 Advanced/Prestige Themes

10 Epic Themes

So at least 71 themes.

 

[Salamandyr]

It's kind of a financial necessity for WOTC that something in Dungeons & Dragons be essentially "expansion pack", ie something to get you to buy the next book. In 1e it was spells and monsters. In 2e it was spells, monsters, and kits. In 3e it was feats, spells, monsters, and prestige classes. In 4e it was classes, powers, feats, monsters, and power sources (basically...everything).

In Next, it looks like it will be backgrounds and themes (in addition to the usual monsters and spells). This works for me, since they look like there's less chance for unforeseen synergistic consequences. They look like they'll be fun. (one other expansion pack possibility...rules modules!)

 

[Campbell]

3e was the first edition to have skills in the core of the game. A lot of people think that skills were detrimental to the RP parts of the game, not vice versa (I'm not making that point myself, but it's not an uncommon claim).

Heh. In 2e NWPs were "optional", but recommended. By the time the first supplement was printed the optional part pretty much went out the window.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I guess it is only fair that I list all the themes i think we need in the first PHB, MM, and DMG.

12 Class
Weapon Master, Adept, Magic User, Assassin, Beast Master, Shapeshifter, Bard-Lite, Monk-Lite, Warlock-Lite, Crusader,Sorceror-Lite, Berserker

8 Racial
Human, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Gnome, Orc, Dragonborn, Tiefling

4 Roles
Defender, Striker, Controller, Leader

5 Weapon Styles
Sharpshooter/Archer, TWF, Reach Weapon, Guardian/Weapon&shield, Brawler/Unarmed

4 Combat Tactics
Slayer/Offense, Lurker/Stealth, Warlord/Support, Vanguard/Defense

8 Spell Schools
Transmution Illusion Enchantment Divination Conjuration Evocation Necromancy Abjuration

3 Template
Werewolf, Vampire, Lich

7 Weapon Master type
HeavySwords LightBlades Axes Hammers Spears Crossbows&Bows Slings&Thrown

10 Advanced/Prestige Themes

10 Epic Themes

So at least 71 themes.

I agree with 90% of this, and I am hopeing that we advantuly get this, but I think we can for book 1 trim it a bit


I do want 2 archery/ranged weapon themes, one that specializes in multi shots and one that is more sniper. I hate that foreign 10 missiles around is always better then 2 or 3.

 

[Minigiant]

I do want 2 archery/ranged weapon themes, one that specializes in multi shots and one that is more sniper. I hate that foreign 10 missiles around is always better then 2 or 3.

Me too.

I love one that give extra attacks and one that gives bonus damage.

The Sharpshooter theme could give increased critical range and crit damage.

The weapon style theme could grant bonus attacks.

 

[Campbell]

Bruce Cordell just confirmed that feats are meant to be delivered as themes first and foremost. It seems the implication is that DM guidance might be necessary for players who pick and choose feats and skills.

 

[Agamon]

Bruce Cordell just confirmed that feats are meant to be delivered as themes first and foremost. It seems the implication is that DM guidance might be necessary for players who pick and choose feats and skills.

I like this. Instead of "I want this cool feat", it's "I'm a *insert theme*, and therefore, this is my cool feat that lets me be *insert theme*-y".

Allows for better feat balance, too, if you don't get to divorce theme from it's feats (less min-max mix and match).

 

[PinkRose]

Mike Mearls, said that themes give feats, but feats could be chosen separately if one wants to. So RPers can pick a theme and then use the feats as provided and Min/maxers could pick feats and make-up a theme name around those.
Maybe even, like some MMOs and 4e D&D, there will be builds for those CharOp people.

Also, on topic, as many themes as possible.