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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 5894395" data-attributes="member: 7635">Here's the problem with trying to say "X is a theme or background, not a class" is that if you work hard enough, you get left with very few classes.Lets say WotC takes all the PHB1 classes (Fighter, Cleric, Wizard, Rogue, Bard, Ranger, Paladin, Druid, Illusionist, Assassin, Monk, Sorcerer, Barbarian, Warlock, Warlord) and decides to try to make some Themes or Backgrounds instead.Its really easy to make warlock a theme (eldrich powers) and background (pact) so its gone. Sorcerer and Ilusionist could also be replicated with just a Theme and proper spell selection. Bard could be a background (with music/knowledge talents) applied to a rogue (troubadour), wizard (loremaster) or fighter (skald). Assassin likewise is really just a theme (with lots of killing powers/feats). A druid could a darn good example of a specialty priest, so lets make that a nature background and a shapechanger theme. A monk could work just as well as a martial arts theme and acrobat background; one could imagine priestly monks (shugenja), rogue-monks (ninja) or warrior monks. Even wizard monks (super sayians!)A ranger is an archer theme (or two-weapon theme) + a natural background. Barbarian is the same, but with a rager theme. Even a Paladin could be a fighter or cleric with the "smite evil" theme. Warlords are pretty much akin to our warrior-bards above but more shouty and less singy. That leaves us: Fighter, Cleric, Wizard, Rogue. But wait! What's a rogue but a skill-monkey and sneak attack? You could make them a theme (stabby) and a Background (criminal) and have fighter-rogues and wizard rogues. Even our buddy the cleric could theoretically just be a theme/background if not for the arcane/divine magic split.Hmmm... Fighter, Cleric, Wizard. Where have I heard that before... Oh yeah, OD&D (1974). ....Its probably for the best at this point to accept ranger, assassin, and all the other PHB1 classes as being unique special snowflakes, even if they could in theory be themes or backgrounds. What is one person's indespensible class is another's talent tree in X supplement.</blockquote>

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