D&D 4E The New 4e Class Patterns and what is missing

[Rechan]

The "other power" for barbarians, druids, etc. will be "primal." Reference the elf primal blaster in the back of R&C.

Assuming the "Primal Blaster" isn't some sort of Paragon Path.

 

[TwoSix]

Assuming the "Primal Blaster" isn't some sort of Paragon Path.

...touche.

Just to add another possibility, the dwarf section makes a reference to "wizards and elementalists." Elementalist = divine or primal controller?

 

[DreamChaser]

For me, the logic of a druid being a leader is that, through their shapeshifting, they will be able to mix it up in combat. This is a lot like a cleric or warlord, who are capable combatants by virtue of their good weapons and good armor. I think most of their spells will augment party members, being things like healing (probably a regen-style heal) and barkskin.

or by shapeshifting the change the logistics of the entire battle (battling a humanoid is very different from battling a giant eagle, for example. In this case, they would be a controller.

Leader seems to describe helping others do things better rather than "mixing it up" in combat. It just so happens that both of our leaders appear to be strong combatants. Since bards will also be leaders, it doesn't follow that a leader must be a melee machine.

DC

 

[Nahat Anoj]

Leader seems to describe helping others do things better rather than "mixing it up" in combat. It just so happens that both of our leaders appear to be strong combatants. Since bards will also be leaders, it doesn't follow that a leader must be a melee machine.

True enough. Bards may end up being a more striker-ish leader. Although the way I see it, bards in previous editions have been the quintessential jacks of all trades, so I have a feeling they'll be pretty good "off-tanks" and second-line warriors, just like clerics, warlords, and (I suspect) druids.

 

[Steely Dan]

Honestly, an entangling, volcano-making, comet-summoning, cloud-of-gnats-calling controller is so easy to conceptualize.

What I think is being neglected is a Shaman-type leader. One that uses the spirits of nature to buff his friends.

That's exactly what I would like, the shaman as a primal leader, and the druid as a primal controller.


Though I have thought about the sorcerer as a primal controller, and now there is mention of this elementalist class…