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Message: <blockquote data-quote="tbk409" data-source="post: 5817378" data-attributes="member: 25143">A nice thing about roles is they help prevent overlap in PC functions, and so prevent direct comparison.  If multiple characters have the same function, for instance doing damage, then it is pretty easy to compare them.  If one does much more damage than another, the weaker PC feels undervalued.  It is harder to directly compare different functions, such as comparing healing to damage, or a wall spell to standing on the front line defending others.  This then makes every PC feel valuable, even if one is built more effectively than another.  Role act as a guideline to build a party where everyone is doing different things.  It is nice to be able to determine if your Psion is going to overlap more with the wizard or the cleric in the party.I think part of the problem of roles in 4e is that multiple classes of the same role often functioned very similarly mechanically.  This can make your role feel more like your class than your class does.  Alice: "I use my minor action to heal the fighter."Bob: "I forget Alice, are you a cleric or a warlord?"I think by differentiating the classes more, and making the roles a little less transparent, they can remain a viable guideline. In any case, roles should only be a guidelines.  If you want a party of five thieves, it is possible in any edition (and a little more doable 4e).</blockquote>