New Design & Dev : Party Role

[Reaper Steve]

Right here

(Am I really the first to find this?)

Basically is explains the concept behind where characters get their power:
Arcane is magic power , divine is power of the gods, and now they explain that martial power is power from oneself.

I buy the rationale (even if I didn't need one.)

 

[mhacdebhandia]

(Am I really the first to find this?)

No, but I like Mearls' new mini-bio:

Mike Mearls is found only in subterranean places, as he detests sunlight. He is greatly evil and considers the bulk of humanity (and its kin) as cattle to feed upon. He speaks only his his own arcane language and several other weird tongues -- purportedly those of terrible races of things which dwell in regions of the subterranean world far deeper than mankind has ever ventured.​

 

[I'm A Banana]

Good enough for me!

And it seems that it's more of an Athlete-Jackie Chan kind of continuum, and less of a Jackie Chan-Wuxia continuum, which is good to hear.

 

[Branduil]

I like how they're providing a unified category for the non-magical classes to inhabit. It should be useful for balance and make it easier to create homebrew magic-less classes.

 

[Mouseferatu]

It also makes introducing new varieties of classes (potentially in future PHBs, as discussed elsewhere) really interesting on a thematic level.

For instance, if the first PHB is "arcane, divine, and martial" characters, then PHB2 could be (just pulling ideas out of the air, I have no advanced knowledge) psionic, bound*, and ki-based characters. PHB3 could introduce characters that draw power from incarnum, shadow, and... uh, something new.

*That's "bound" as in the binders, introduced in Tome of Magic.

Meanwhile, other supplements like splat books could expand on, and introduce new, classes that use pre-existing "power sources," such as a book for martial characters or a book for arcane characters.

I think it's a really interesting method of categorization, and I look forward to seeing how it plays out.

 

[Reaper Steve]

No, but I like Mearls' new mini-bio:

Mike Mearls is found only in subterranean places, as he detests sunlight. He is greatly evil and considers the bulk of humanity (and its kin) as cattle to feed upon. He speaks only his his own arcane language and several other weird tongues -- purportedly those of terrible races of things which dwell in regions of the subterranean world far deeper than mankind has ever ventured.​

1) Whew...just checking.

2)Yeah, Mike's my neighbor. Ha! I wish.

When it was confirmed that SWSE was a preview of 4E and that Mike 'IRON HEROES' Mearls is heavily involved, I nearly wept with joy.
SWSE+IRON HEROES will make 4E the apotheosis of D&D for me.

 

[F4NBOY]

SWSE+IRON HEROES will make 4E the apotheosis of D&D for me

What about adding some Bo9S to that equation?

I really don't know, but i think this article from Monte somehow influenced the designers. It's too much of a coincidence. At least it's for the better

 

[Arashi Ravenblade]

See i actually Like the idea of future PHB being focused on certain types of abilties, incarnum, Shadow, Binding, true name ect. . .if that is indeed the case.

 

[jasin]

No, but I like Mearls' new mini-bio:

Is that also a quote from an old book, like his old "dark hope of chaotic evil" bio? A description of mind flayers, perhaps?

 

[jasin]

And it seems that it's more of an Athlete-Jackie Chan kind of continuum, and less of a Jackie Chan-Wuxia continuum, which is good to hear.

I'd be happiest with an athlete-wuxia continuum. Both because I like both ends, but also because I'm not sure Jackie Chan will be able to compete with 30th-level wizards... but then, possibly 30th-level wizards will be toned down from what the concept means currently?