Power Sources purely cosmetic?

[Thyrwyn]

No one said the Arcane Power source wouldn't have powers that are illusions - just that the Shadow Power source would be better at them or focus on them or do them better.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

I don't see the point in pigeon-holing the Power Sources too much. For the most part, they appear cosmetic, and I like it that way. It's just a way of grouping different classes with similar ways of using their abilities. I'd like to experiment with different concepts, like a Divine Striker or a Martial Controller. I'd rather the power sources didn't dictate too much what can or can't be included within them, so I can decide that myself.

 

[GSHamster]

I think the best analogy is the colour wheel in Magic: the Gathering. Power Sources are cosmetic in the same way that colours in Magic are cosmetic.

Theoretically, there is no mechanical reason that stops Wizards from giving card-manipulation to white instead of blue, or direct damage to green instead of red. However, for design reasons, each colours has its own niche, the things it is good at and the things it is bad at.

Similarily with power sources, each source will probably have certain elements that it is strong in and certain elements it is weak in, but those restrictions are not really enforced at the mechanic level, but more at the design level.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

But I don't think classes/power source etc should be separated based on culture.

QFT

Personally, I'd like to see the Monk as a divine striker. I'd have no problem with them replacing "ki strike", with "radiant strike".

 

[Deep Blue 9000]

So far it seems that power sources are like 3.5 schools. They're a way of sorting powers but have no mechanical effect.