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<blockquote data-quote="cignus_pfaccari" data-source="post: 4012034" data-attributes="member: 14557">Because that allows for more than four classes, thus giving players variety.&nbsp; While you *can* go super-generic, that's not really the way a class-based game like D&amp;D would go.It's a recognition that, in play, those four roles are typically what people do.&nbsp; Tanking and healing have been with us as long as there've been RPGs; otherwise, why were fighters referred to as meat shields?&nbsp; The differentiation between controller and striker is a bit more modern; I was only aware of mages as damage-dealers until a DM introduced the concept of battlefield control to me.Classes can also potentially fulfill more than one role.&nbsp; Almost all of them can, for example, do decent damage to one other target, making them able to fill a striker/DPS role.&nbsp; Fighters can defend/tank as well as get out the two-handers and hit people real hard.&nbsp; A fighter will still probably be best at defending and not as good as dishing out damage as a rogue, but that doesn't mean they can't just be meat shields.Knowing that these roles exist is key, I think, to providing a good mechanical base for the game.&nbsp; If nothing else, it means that the designers know how the game is supposed to work, which is nice.Brad</blockquote>

[QUOTE="cignus_pfaccari, post: 4012034, member: 14557"] Because that allows for more than four classes, thus giving players variety. While you *can* go super-generic, that's not really the way a class-based game like D&D would go. It's a recognition that, in play, those four roles are typically what people do. Tanking and healing have been with us as long as there've been RPGs; otherwise, why were fighters referred to as meat shields? The differentiation between controller and striker is a bit more modern; I was only aware of mages as damage-dealers until a DM introduced the concept of battlefield control to me. Classes can also potentially fulfill more than one role. Almost all of them can, for example, do decent damage to one other target, making them able to fill a striker/DPS role. Fighters can defend/tank as well as get out the two-handers and hit people real hard. A fighter will still probably be best at defending and not as good as dishing out damage as a rogue, but that doesn't mean they can't just be meat shields. Knowing that these roles exist is key, I think, to providing a good mechanical base for the game. If nothing else, it means that the designers know how the game is supposed to work, which is nice. Brad [/QUOTE]

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