PHBII Classes Confirmed

[jsaving]

Perhaps WotC will swipe GW's mesmer and have the avenger slap divine punishments on foes who perform specific actions such as making a melee attack or casting a spell. (Belkar's divinely imposed mark of justice from OOTS would be a more humorous example.) This would fit the literal definition of avenger as somebody who exacts punishment for previous actions, and would certainly differentiate the divine striker from other strikers that have thus far been introduced.

 

[Bold or Stupid]

I had been thinking of designing a divine striker that had an ability to "victimise" an enemy, sort of like Hunter's quarry, but not switchable until the foe was dead. Their powers would be either Holy strike like more damage to the victim, and area effects that didn't push the victim. I'd put them in heavy armour and push two handers there way for an unstoppable black knight ploughing through the battle to get you image.

This was a long winded statement of what I hope the avenger will be.

 

[doctorhook]

Oh, it certainly wasn't because I've got something against the Artificer and the Swordmage - just that the classes in the matrix are "the core", as in published in the Player's Handbooks. No value judgement intended.

We're cool, E.

They're core enough to be mentioned in other books beyond player's guides, and it's been stated by the designers that they're core too.

Does the word 'core' hae any meaning any more, aside from 'Produced by Wotc'?

Not a snark, I'm genuinely curious. Does Wotc produce any material that is not core? If not I think the meaning has shifted from 'These materials are the base of the game' to 'Not a 3rd party product.'

The simplest answer is probably what darjr so succinctly suggests:

rpga

It's an odd position we're currently in. On the one hand, "core" used to mean "The basics; the bare minimum number of products necessary to play the game." This meaning still exists, because there is still a bare minimum one needs in order to play D&D. OTOH, because the previous meaning of "core" apparently implied superiority or enhanced quality beyond that of supplements, WotC decided to declare all of its material "core". It's obvious where the confusion comes from.

We've got one word with two incompatible definitions. What we need is two words.

Yes, they've said on several occasions that they need at least four classes per splatbook, so it's quite likely we'll see exactly four classes per power source in the future.

...? Are you being sarcastic, or does "at least" mean "exactly" now?

 

[dm4hire]

Yes, they've said on several occasions that they need at least four classes per splatbook, so it's quite likely we'll see exactly four classes per power source in the future.

This is my thinking also to which I broke down how the books will be divided, especially since the remainder of the Power Books come after PHBII.

Arcane will cover Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard
Divine will cover Avenger, Cleric, Invoker, and Paladin
Primal will cover Barbarian, Druid, Shaman, and Warden

This division is based on there being a total of 16 classes between PHB & PHBII and currently only four power sources. That is unless they introduce an additional power source, such as elemental which could be what Sorcerers use. The additional power sources as listed in the PHB were elemental, ki, primal, psionic, and shadow. If WotC stays with four classes per book then it would make sense that they wouldn’t introduce another power beyond primal so that all the classes balance out between the first four books.

With primal being covered in PHB II that would also leave four powers left to be divided between PHB III and PHB IV. Each source getting four classes would give eight classes per book equaling 16 more classes by the end of 2010 in addition to any campaign setting classes. Due to all the demand and chatter on the boards there’s no doubt psionics will be in PHBIII and most likely either ki or elemental depending on how much noise fans of the Monk have made to WotC.

 

[firesnakearies]

This is my thinking also to which I broke down how the books will be divided, especially since the remainder of the Power Books come after PHBII.

Arcane will cover Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard
Divine will cover Avenger, Cleric, Invoker, and Paladin
Primal will cover Barbarian, Druid, Shaman, and Warden

This division is based on there being a total of 16 classes between PHB & PHBII and currently only four power sources. That is unless they introduce an additional power source, such as elemental which could be what Sorcerers use. The additional power sources as listed in the PHB were elemental, ki, primal, psionic, and shadow. If WotC stays with four classes per book then it would make sense that they wouldn’t introduce another power beyond primal so that all the classes balance out between the first four books.

With primal being covered in PHB II that would also leave four powers left to be divided between PHB III and PHB IV. Each source getting four classes would give eight classes per book equaling 16 more classes by the end of 2010 in addition to any campaign setting classes. Due to all the demand and chatter on the boards there’s no doubt psionics will be in PHBIII and most likely either ki or elemental depending on how much noise fans of the Monk have made to WotC.

Best case scenario in my opinion: PHBIII covers Psionic and Ki Heroes, and the third campaign setting is Dark Sun. That would be totally awesome.

 

[Squizzle]

Best case scenario in my opinion: PHBIII covers Psionic and Ki Heroes, and the third campaign setting is Dark Sun. That would be totally awesome.

From what I understand of Dark Sun, psionic and elemental would be a far better fit for that setting than psionic and ki. Perhaps two each of ki and elemental classes, plus four psionic? Then PHB4 could be two each ki and elemental, plus four shadow.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

This is my thinking also to which I broke down how the books will be divided, especially since the remainder of the Power Books come after PHBII.

Arcane will cover Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard

The Arcane Power Blurb clearly includes Swordmages.

 

[dm4hire]

That's assuming Amazon's listing is current and correct. The catalogue might state the same thing, but we're four months out. The cover preview doesn't list any classes on it. One of my friends was upset with the Martial book because he had heard that originally the Paladin was suppose to be included with it but it is obviously now in the Divine book. The problem is that the book is listed at 160 pages which also lends to it not possibily including the Swordmage as that thins down how many pages a class would get or cuts back on the number of feats. The Martial book is 160 pages, serving four.

 

[JPL]

Best case scenario in my opinion: PHBIII covers Psionic and Ki Heroes, and the third campaign setting is Dark Sun. That would be totally awesome.

Hmm . . . or pair up Elemental / Psionic for Dark Sun, and then do Ki / Shadow for Oriental Adventures.

 

[Thasmodious]

Best case scenario in my opinion: PHBIII covers Psionic and Ki Heroes, and the third campaign setting is Dark Sun. That would be totally awesome.

That would be cool. I'm wondering, though, if we will see a new Oriental Adventures, with the ki power source presented in that book - monk, ki striker; wu jen, ki controller; samurai, ki defender, etc. Two power sources and 8 classes in OA would be cool.