Mearls: Druid a Striker/Controller (maybe?)

[Steely Dan]

My current speculation for the Primal power source is:


-Barbarian = Defender

-Druid = Striker

-Shaman = Leader

-Witch = Controller

 

[Runestar]

I still say that the barb should be a striker, and the druid a controller of sorts.

 

[Steely Dan]

I still say that the barb should be a striker

But the barbarian has always been meaty (most HD/HP etc); I don't see them being as fragile as strikers can be.

 

[Engilbrand]

I've never seen the Barbarian as a Defender. He gets more hit points, but that's to make up for the fact that he probably has a crappy AC. Any time your key ability "Flip out and kill everything you see", you're probably a striker.

 

[Runestar]

But the barbarian has always been meaty (most HD/HP etc); I don't see them being as fragile as strikers can be.

I had envisioned that their "fragileness" would come from having a poorer AC than what would be expected of a defender, which may more than offset any advantages of a slightly higher starting hp (and maybe more surges).

When I say barb, I automatically think of a charging frenzied berserker or shock-trooper. I have a very hard time visualizing it as a sword+board style defender.

 

[Steely Dan]

-I had envisioned that their "fragileness" would come from having a poorer AC than what would be expected of a defender



-I have a very hard time visualizing it as a sword+board style defender.

-I think the Barbarian could be the lightly armoured Defender people are clamouring for – they could easily get an AC bonus like the Swordmage.



-Defenders do not have to use sword & board, hence the greater weapon fighter build for the fighter.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Any time your key ability "Flip out and kill everything you see", you're probably a striker.

Yup. A barbarian sounds like a Striker that uses self-healing utilities instead of the rogue-esque "get out of there" powers.

The barbarian probably triggers on a lot of bloodied triggers, so he will perhaps have low hit points (to get that trigger often), but then get up very fast again thorugh various powers.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Cadfan]

There are other ways to give a barbarian defender style durability besides high AC. You could use damage resistance, or higher than typical hit points, or more healing surges and some internal ways to activate them... there are lots of possibilities.

My personal favorite is above average numbers of healing surges coupled with a class ability that lets them access those healing surges. That way they'd take all kinds of damage, but just keep on truckin'.

 

[Engilbrand]

STR and CON are obvious for the Barbarian, but what about the third ability? Would it be WIS, because they're nature-focused, or CHA, so that they can have powers that deal with intimidation, demoralization, and fear? INT is definitely not it, and I highly doubt that they'd make it DEX. Every class seems to need a good mix of physical and mental abilities.

 

[lutecius]

But the barbarian has always been meaty (most HD/HP etc); I don't see them being as fragile as strikers can be.

agreed. The stereotypical fantasy barbarian fits the meatshield role better than any other, even if conan had some rogue skills.


I think the ranger was originallly meant to be primal instead of martial.
The primal striker should be whatever class that gets the shapechanging abilities.

I hope it's not the druid though, I've never liked the focus on wildshape. He should be a controller. I'm not sure i completely get what this role is supposed to mean but I see the wizard as the closest equivalent to druid.