"Some" traditional classes to get the axe - Which ones do you reckon?

[GreatLemur]

I'd love to see the Paladin, Ranger, Barbarian, and (possibly) the Monk rolled into Fighter talent trees and feats. I doubt they'll be quite so aggressive, though, since things like paladins and barbarians are big, iconic hooks that the developers might want to keep nice and obvious to people.

The Monk class needs something done to it, certainly, but it sounds slightly difficult to fold into the Fighter. That is, as long as the Fighter continues to get proficiency with all armor and shields at first level. I'd really love to see a Fighter that can trade those proficiencies in for a Monk-style AC bonus progression, but that sounds more like a variant class than a talent tree.

If we do trust that tieflings are core races, does that make warlock a base class?

Oy... I'm really hoping they ditch favored classes. I'm only gonna ignore 'em, anyway.

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

The Monk will probably go -- it's only allowed to exist in odd numbered editions.

 

[Riley]

If Tieflings are in the PHB, does that mean they won't be an LA race? Or will LA be revamped/dropped? Or will the race be presented as-is, and LA races supported heavily in the PHB?

Perhaps racial levels (like the racial paragons of 3e UA) will substitute for LA's.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I have a great fondness for the Paladin, but it has been one of the more poorly designed classes in all editions. It is really begging for a revamp from the ground up.

A PrC for a specific flavor of Fighter/Cleric has always been the obvious route in 3e. They wrote such a PrC up, but it felt like a watered down PHB Paladin to me. The 3.5 PrC Paladin is not weak, it just lacks unique flavor that would appeal to someone who really likes the idea of Paladins IMO.

 

[Remathilis]

Hmm...

Archivist: Nah. Too specialized. Some of his "I know stuff" abilities given to mage.
Artificer: Wait until 4.0 Eberron.
Barbarian: Feat tree for Fighter
Bard: I'd like to see them revised and stay, but...
Beguiler: Hmm... Mixed with the Bard...
Cleric: Staying, with some revision and some options to replace turn undead
Dragon Shaman: Strong Potential New Class.
Dread Necromancer: Toast. Fused with new mage class.
Druid: Kept, but with a lot of new options to mix in.
Duskblade: Gone, replaced with a viable fighter/mage mix.
Factotum: More Mixing for the Bard?
Favored Soul: Rolled into Cleric
Fighter: Staying, getting a Bo9S infusion in the arm.
Healer: Gone and the best bits mixed into Cleric.
Hexblade: Prestige Class at best.
Knight: Mixed into Fighter.
Marshal: Perhaps Marshal/Beguiler = new bard?
Monk: Kept, but with heavy revision.
Ninja: Gone.
Paladin: Prestige Class most likely.
Ranger: Chance of heavy revision, but also chance of PrC
Rogue: Kept and Augmented
Samurai: Gone.
Scout: Mixed with Ranger or Nixed
Shugenja: Gone.
Sorcerer: Gone, mixed with wizard and warlock
Spellthief: PrC
Spirit Shaman: Rolled into Druid or Dragon Shaman
Swashbuckler: Rolled into Rogue.
Warlock: new base class 2.
Warmage: Gone.
Wizard: Rolled into a variety of other casters. Renamed Mage?
Wu Jen: Gone.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Swashbuckler: Rolled into Rogue.

Disagree with that one (although I think your list is good overall). Or perhaps I should say I dislike your conclusion, regardless whether it is right.

This is where Arcana Unearth's Warmain/Unfettered split makes more sense.

IMHO, the finesse full BAB fighter is small but significant hole in Core 3e. It is not the feats and armor, but finesse requires access to skills in a way that is not trivially papered over with feats.

Unless changes are made deep in the class mechanics (which is conceivable) a Fighter/Rogue does not make a Swashbucker.

 

[helium3]

They're going to axe the Sorceror.

 

[Glyfair]

Found this image on the 4e forums. Note the "warlord" class (as well as fighter, ranger & wizard).

 

[Shalimar]

Found this image on the 4e forums. Note the "warlord" class (as well as fighter, ranger & wizard).

It could be that the Ranger and the Warlord are prestige Classes considering they aree both level 9. That field doesn't leave much room for Info, so it may just list most current class and total level.

 

[WayneLigon]

'Zelandor' campaign? Interesting. I wonder if that's the 'generic setting'. Interesting that Ravenloft is mentioned there.