MoonSong
Rules-lawyering drama queen but not a munchkin
You can't represent a non-spellcasting class by just turning it into a spellcaster. Spellcasting is an immutable and class-defining concept.
Baldurs Gate has dragon shamans as a sorcerer kit?
You can't represent a non-spellcasting class by just turning it into a spellcaster. Spellcasting is an immutable and class-defining concept.
1e Illusionist & Assassin (and Cavalier, and Thief-Acrobat) because they're OK as sub-classes, all the OA stuff, 'cause it's orientalist, anyway.
2e: specialty priest, because everyone's a specialty priest, and specialist wizard, because everyone's a specialist (just without opposition schools).
3e: Sorcerer (and Favored Soul, &c), because everyone spontaneously casts now. All the NPC classes, because normal people are just monsters again, like in every other edition.
4e: Invoker because Clerics are full "controllers" again. Avenger because the Paladin is both defender & striker, again. Seeker, because the Ranger is magic, again. Swordmage, because multiclassing & EKs & Bladesingers. Assassin, because shadow monks & rogue assassins cover it's two sub-classes.
IDK if I would call the Swordmage obsolete.
Some people still want a Paladin like Arcane half casters. Of course multiclassing Wizard/Sorcerer/Bard will basically get you that.
Sure. Some 'obsolete' classes could as easily be seen as still-needed classes, because the thing that obsoleted them doesn't actually let you play a descent facsimile of them.I disagree with you on Specialist Priests. If you just look at the name, then yeah, but if you looked at what they can do and how they are designed, Cleric Domains don't fill the gap.