Nahat Anoj
First Post
I think that with Roles WotC is just distilling the essence of what characters generally do into four broad types. I also think that characters in one Role will be able to reproduce the functions of the other roles to some extent, but it will be harder. For example, I think a Cleric will be able to do many "cleric-y" things like heal and buff for little or no "charge" (like, heal as a Free action, or perhaps immediately as the result of another action/event such as scoring a critical hit). Whatever the case, the Cleric won't have to spend many resources (in the form of spell slots or combat actions) to do what he does. On the other hand, if the Cleric wants to do concentrated damage to someone (that is, act as a Striker), I believe he will be able to but it will take more of his resources. Perhaps it takes a full-round action to do a flamestrike style spell, or perhaps he'll have to use up one of his per day abilities.JoelF said:I still just don't like the whole 'Role' concept. It feels to me that they're going to have to pigeonhole classes into one of these, instead of just saying, lets make a class cool with different abilities from the other classes. I also think it will lead new players to have more of a "do what you're told to" by the core books instead of trying new ideas out.
Let's do another one. As a Striker the Rogue should be able to deal out big damage fairly easily (I think the 3e version of Sneak Attack is a pretty good example). However, perhaps the Rogue can expend more resources to use a "hamstring" ability that slows someone up and helps control the battlefield, thereby acting as a Controller.
I really believe that all classes will be able to fulfill some of the functions as other classes. Exactly how they do it will be different (for example, when a Fighter is trying to be a Controller that may operate differently than a Wizard being a Controller, and probably not as efficiently), but the results will be much the same. I just think that it'll somehow cost more when a class strives to act beyonds it's general role. And perhaps a class will be better at fulfilling some Roles than others. For example, a Paladin might be better at doing the Leader thing than he is doing the Striker thing, while a Fighter might be better at doing the Striker thing than she is at the Leader thing. And so on.
In an unrelated note, I'd really like to see a Martial Controller class - the first thing I think of is "Mastermind", someone who manipulates the flow of battle with supreme skill and, perhaps, minions.

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