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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Falling Icicle" data-source="post: 6259387" data-attributes="member: 17077">This is what I said about this topic on the WotC boards:The problem I have is that some classes get to be good in all three tiers of play (combat, exploration and interaction), while fighters get to excel in only one, and get absolutely nothing for the other two. Wizards, clerics and druids, for example, can excel in all three, depending on their spell selection. Rangers are superb in combat and exploration. Rogues are decent in combat and really good at the other two. Etc.Some people might argue that this is "balance," but there are some problems with that argument. First, every class gets to do well in combat. Are fighters really that much better at combat than, say, paladins or rangers or wizards? No, they're not. The second, and biggest problem, is that trying to balance across pillars is bad game design. Not every adventure, campaign, gaming group, etc. is going to place equal emphasis on each of the three pillars. Some will feature much more combat. Some will have little combat and tons of roleplaying. Without giving each class at least a minimal degree of competence in all three pillars, you're unfairly punishing those who play certain classes in certain types of adventures or game styles.I'm not suggesting that every class needs to be 100% equal in all three pillars. All I'm saying is that each class needs to be able to be at least competent and have something interesting and fun to offer in all three. Just becuase a class has the name "fighter" doesn't mean it has to be all about fighting. I can think of thematic areas that fit within its niche that help in the other two pillars. Fighters could excel at standing watch and noticing danger, and feats of athletic prowess to help them in the exploration pillar. They could excel at intimidation, leadership, and inspiration for the social pillar. IMO, there's just no excuse for making a 1-dimensional, shallow class that can only do something interesting in combat, and gets to spend the other 2/3 of the game bored with nothing meaningful to contribute.</blockquote>

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