PHB classes: fact or rumor

[Vayden]

I've definitely seen a "shadow" power source mentioned by WotC people at some point. There might have been a hint about in the Shadowfell section of W&M, though I'm not sure.

Also, I know we've seen at least one playtest report where one of the players was playing a *redacted* class, so there is a chance there will be a "surprise" class in PHBI.

 

[Belorin]

Not officially. It's likely, given how "sexy" such a product is, but it's not confirmed. Even if there was a confirmed Shadow power source, an Illusionist might not be it (shadow as an illusionist thing is DEFINITELY one of those weird legacy issues they might be getting rid of).

Illusionist could work as another "arcane controller" in the PH.



This could be likely, too.

Also, there could be some sort of "shaman" class as a diivine controller, using spirits and auras and the like.

The third possibility is an elementalist of some sort, which could either be arcane or divine. Given how big of a presence the Elemental Chaos has in the metasetting (home of the primordials, home of the archons), it wouldn't be too surprising. You'd have clerics of the Gods, and Elementalists of the Primordials, perhaps?

Illusionists and the shadow power source were mentioned a couple of times in the Worlds & Monsters preview book.

The Shadowfell is a dark echo of the world. It touches the world in places of deep shadow, sometimes spilling out, and other times drawing hapless travelers into it's dark embrace. It is not wholly evil, but everything in the Shadowfell has a dark and sinister side. The energies of this plane fuel the powers of necromancers and shadowcasters, create illusions and shadow constructs and animate some undead.

I would like to see a shaman class also.
Not to sure about an elementalist, tho.

Bel

 

[MaelStorm]

Give me one more class and I'll be happy.

But, IMO an additional controller is needed, either a new Divine one or another Arcane one.

 

[mrphoenix]

another hint that there will be a ninth class (by John Rogers):

During that exchange, I mentioned how much I'd loved how other design decisions (traps, traps, trappity traps...) and the play of the game overall. I also kind of whinged that people were getting the wrong idea about things based on some of the previews. He made the judgment call that "play feel" was a valid thing to discuss on the boards and gave me the thumbs up. As he mentioned, I've kept bigger secrets -- the final TRANSFORMERS script was actually printed on silver paper that could only be read with a specially colored strip of cellophane. He figured I could handle this and not blow that the final class is ...

Could also be a joke, but i think there is a grain of truth =)

 

[MaelStorm]

another hint that there will be a ninth class (by John Rogers):

Could also be a joke, but i think there is a grain of truth =)

Or a trap!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I'd like to see the druid, bard, and barbarian included ... it would go a long way toward convincing me to adopt 4E, since I don't want to wait until PHB2 to run the campaigns I am used to.

But then, I'd like to win the lottery too.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

I'd like to see the druid, bard, and barbarian included ... it would go a long way toward convincing me to adopt 4E, since I don't want to wait until PHB2 to run the campaigns I am used to.

So, my suggestion is to run campaigns you AREN'T used to. 4th Edition ones. Let the new rules and new fluff inspire a new game where those classes aren't needed.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

So, my suggestion is to run campaigns you AREN'T used to. 4th Edition ones. Let the new rules and new fluff inspire a new game where those classes aren't needed.

Bah, humbug.

Why shouldn't I play the game I want, rather than the game WotC wants me to want? Is it too much to ask that the new D&D rules allow for similar play elements as the last set(s) of D&D rules so players can continue to play the sorts of games they are happy with?

It's this "It's new! It's better! But you have to change your campaign assumptions!" bit about 4E that has me grinding my teeth and considering staying with 3.5. I'd adopt 4E based on the new & better mechanics alone, as I did with 3.5, but I don't like having to create my own rule mechanics to add something back in to the game that was in the core game before.

 

[MaelStorm]

Bah, humbug.

Why shouldn't I play the game I want, rather than the game WotC wants me to want? Is it too much to ask that the new D&D rules allow for similar play elements as the last set(s) of D&D rules so players can continue to play the sorts of games they are happy with?

It's this "It's new! It's better! But you have to change your campaign assumptions!" bit about 4E that has me grinding my teeth and considering staying with 3.5. I'd adopt 4E based on the new & better mechanics alone, as I did with 3.5, but I don't like having to create my own rule mechanics to add something back in to the game that was in the core game before.

They knew those choices would be difficult, and wouldn't please everyone.

 

[Sir Brennen]

Over in this thread showing screenshots from the DDI character generator, one of the screens has the classes listed:

Cleric
Fighter
Paladin
Ranger
Rogue
Warlock
Warlord
Wizard​

Seems pretty official to me. Screenshots can be found here: Boing Boing