New Power Source

[Recidivism]

This edition needs another power source (and the associated class, feat, and power bloat) like any of us need another hole in the head.

In my opinion; YMMV.

Absolutely.
The only reason to introduce new power sources at this point is to introduce new mechanics. "Time" power source could easily be explained as "Arcane." Same with "Elemental." Heck even "Psionics" could be "Arcane," but it's differentiated by having unique mechanics.

 

[the Jester]

Hmm, actually I could see Time as a power source. It certainly wouldn't have to be, but I could see a lot of potential for making it one (and I think I would vary its structure a fair amount from that of most of the other classes, using a lot of opportunity and immediate action powers).

To justify it being its own power source, it would really pretty much have to have a variant structure or a very strong schtick.

 

[darkwing]

Time isn't a source of power though. It's something to be manipulated by power. Arcane manipulates time via magic. Primal via nature... perhaps by speeding up or slowing down natural phenomena. A godlike martial artist would appear to move so fast that time seemed to stand still from his perspective. Saying time is a power source is like saying AC is its own power source. It just doesn't fit.

 

[drothgery]

I kind of agree with the sentiment that a new power source isn't needed here, mostly because power sources don't mean a lot in 4e. IMO, a lot of what they're doing in recent 4e stuff with radically different builds of the same class should have been done with entirely different classes, and then power source-specific feats / utility powers / other stuff.

 

[the Jester]

Time isn't a source of power though. It's something to be manipulated by power. Arcane manipulates time via magic. Primal via nature... perhaps by speeding up or slowing down natural phenomena.

It rather depends on how you look at it. In 3e, the Temporal Plane was an energy plane akin to the Positive and Negative Energy Planes. There was a chronomancer class in 2e, so if you like you could term the power source Chronomancy. And you could argue that Arcane manipulates nature through magic, Divine via the power of the gods, so 'Primal' just doesn't work as a power source either. I mean, six of one, half-dozen of the other, you know?

Now, while I don't see a need for a temporal power source, I certainly see room for one... which puts it far ahead of most of the additional power source suggestions I've seen bandied about. And like I said, I think it could be made unique and distinctive enough to be worthwhile. Hummm.

 

[delericho]

FWIW, the 4e PHB1 gives a list of power sources:

Martial, Arcane, Divine
Primal (barbarians and druids are examples)
Ki (monks are the example given)
Elemental, Psionic, Shadow (no examples given)

I know they implemented the monk class; did they ever actually bother with a Ki power source? Am I right in thinking Elemental hasn't been covered (but all the rest have)?

I think there is potentially scope for a "Music" power source (and "Time"), and I do think an "Artifice" source would be a good idea. But, as others have noted, I'm inclined to think that a new power source is really only warranted if you have something interesting to do with it. Indeed, with the Essentials move away from AEDU classes and towards each class being more 'unique', perhaps there's no longer actually any great call to worry about power sources - indeed, a class could quite happily draw from many (or even all) sources.

 

[Pour]

Dream.

It has a planar connection mentioned in several supplements, it's not been explored much in any prior edition (to my knowledge), and the concept just feels ripe with potential.

Now what exactly would it entail that is different from Arcane, Psionic, and Shadow? That is deserving a good, solid brainstorming, but I feel there is design space both new and exciting somewhere in there.

 

[SeamusRedfern]

I'm only down with your new power source if I can play a Timelord, get a Sonic Screwdriver, and if I can get stolen by a TARDIS.

 

[darkwing]

Now, while I don't see a need for a temporal power source, I certainly see room for one... which puts it far ahead of most of the additional power source suggestions I've seen bandied about. And like I said, I think it could be made unique and distinctive enough to be worthwhile. Hummm.

The problem is it's unique and distinctive enough for one class. You can't make an entire power source for one class. Well, I suppose you could but there would be little point because arcane can already cover that.

 

[Grydan]

I know they implemented the monk class; did they ever actually bother with a Ki power source? Am I right in thinking Elemental hasn't been covered (but all the rest have)?

They opted to abandon Ki as a power source. I believe one of the reasons they gave was that they couldn't really find a way to make it anything other than a thinly veiled synonym for "Asian", and that all of the classes that they could come up with could fairly easily fit into an existing (or about to be released) power source.

I'm inclined to believe that Elemental will suffer the same fate. The Sorcerer is already heavily themed along elemental damage lines, and fits easily into Arcane. I'd be surprised to see it show up at this point as anything more than a mixed source, like the Martial/Primal and Martial/Shadow subclasses. An Arcane/Elemental subclass, perhaps.