"Power Sources" and Classes

[Tony Vargas]

Source is a handy concept, and keyword.

However, there's no meaningful difference between having a Fighter, Cleric and Wizard, each with many builds or sub-classes and having a Martial, Divine, and Arcane source, each with many classes. Same heirarchy, different labels.

If Source must be thrown under the bus to apease 4e-haters (and, I suppose, it must), then having only a very few classes - one for each source - each with multiple sub-classes, would be equally workable.

 

[KidSnide]

The term "power source" ought not appear in the rules more than once or twice, and then explicitly in the DMG when discussing class design. It's a completely artificial construct.

I agree that the term "power source" should be taken out back and shot. D&D is a fantasy game. The term is out of genre (as is "power") and shouldn't be part of the working vocabulary of the game.

That said, I would be totally fine if some character classes had access to arcane spells (or martial exploits).

-KS

 

[Ahnehnois]

Power source makes sense as a cpncept for casters, not so much for fighters, thieves and barbarians ImO.

This is kind of an important point. "Martial" is not a power source, even if you define that term pretty generously. Every character has martial prowess to some extent and should at least be able to attempt any maneuver or task (though a fighter or rogue is far more likely to succeed at many tasks than your average wizard).

Power source, as others have said, is a needless metagame abstraction, one that adds nothing to the design and is best forgotten.

 

[fba827]

well, it has been handy to have as a keyword on some occasions (example, terrain effects that have some specific effect if a certain type of power is cast in the zone.. so it's easier to say "if a divine power is used..." rather than "if a cleric or paladin or avenger or runepriest or ..." but, then, i know, that sort of situation is very rare to begin with so having a whole terminology evolved for a rare situation may not be optimal to begin with.

 

[Buugipopuu]

If we must have power sources, there should be five: Martial (or Mundane, or whatever you want to call non-Magical), Arcane, Divine, Primal, and Item (or Artifice, or whatever). With an optional Psionic source. Characters should just use the source that is most appropriate for whatever they're doing at the time... so a Barbarian who rages uses the Primal source, but when he makes a standard attack it's Martial, and when he activates his magic sword that's the Item source.

I disagree with the need for an "Item" power. If a Wizard made the item, it's Arcane, if a Cleric made it it's Divine, if a Psion made it it's Psionic or Mental or whatever. Artificers or similar focussed classes seem generally arcane, so there's no need to have a separate power source for one class that appeared in a single campaign setting.

 

[Minigiant]

Unless they are going to enforce fluff of the different power source (Divine are best healers, Arcane are worst healers. Primal are best elementalists, Divine worst) or they replace caster level with arcanist level or primal level or separate spell lists by power source...


Then they don't need to formalize power sources.

We will just know that at the Stance chapter, everything is martial. In the Spell, Pact, and Song chapters, everything is arcane. The Prayer and Smite Chapter is filled with divine stuff. And the Gift chapter is all primal.

 

[Meophist]

I don't know about calling them "Power Sources" specifically, perhaps something like "Type" would be better, but I think, if included, they should be attached to different abilities rather than the classes themselves. Magic Missile is Arcane, Cure Light Wounds is Divine, whacking somebody on the head with a sword is Martial, regardless of whether the person is a Fighter, Rogue, Cleric, or Wizard. Some monsters may have Martial or Arcane resistance and take less damage from those sources. Some feats may require a certain number of Arcane abilities or something.

The types can be subdivided further, Martial having Slashing, Piercing, and Bludgeoning; Arcane having Fire, Acid, or other subtypes; et cetera.

 

[innerdude]

You don't need "power sources" if you don't have "powers."

Without "martial powers" you don't need a "martial power source." It's called "the human body."

For me personally, the entire "power source" concept was, and continues to be one of the biggest turn-offs of 4th edition.

 

[Aramax]

To quote Mr Horse"No Sir,I dont like it!however I dont think this would be a deal breaker for many people so go ahead throw it in!

 

[Erik le Rouge]

I think power sources should die in a fire .

I think it's completely artificial this idea to shoehorn everything in a box. It came out of the idea that power needs different sources, I think every form of energy stem from one original source using different conduits or channel. It complicate things needlessly when you want to mix and match different kits to create your own character.