Thoughts on PHBII

[Sitara]

Classes slated for PHBII appear to be Barbarian + Druid (Primal power source) and Psioniscist + Psionic Warrior (psionic power source). We may also see the sorceror (elemental PS). If we are VERY lucky we may even get the Samurai + Monk (Ki) power source. I sure hope so.

And ofcourse each power source will probably be expanded in splats (like FR SB will have the Swordmage, another addition ot the arcane power source)

The bard will be offered though DDI from all accounts.

Is that all about right you think?

Another thing I am wondering about is the Barbarian; how will they focus him? Fighters are already damage soakers while rangers are miobile and hit hard.

Now in 3E barbarian had higher hp than the fighter (though less armor), was more mobile than the ranger AND did more damage than them both.
How will this work in 4e. IMO he will be a super version of the ranger, though easier to hit and focused on melee only with no ranged powers, but with more hp. Many powers will focus on rage and berserking.

The druid could be either a primal leader, a primal controller or heck, even a primal striker with direct damage spells and shapeshifting.

 

[Old Gumphrey]

What is the bard's power source? Music?

I'm sure the barb will be made into a striker. He doesn't remotely fit into any other role. I'm positive the druid will be a controller, since we have a lack of controllers, and really why would a loner become a leader? The 3.5 druid with Diplomacy was just awful.

Psion I would guess would be controller to further even out the role balance, and because, well, mind control, duh. Psywarrior will probably end up as a defender or striker.

Samurai would likely be a leader if it showed up, and I'd peg the monk as a defender; although, a striker monk wouldn't surprise me.

Where did you get the info for elemental power source? I'm sure they'll just file sorcs under arcane and be done with it, thus eliminating cool core concepts like an Elementalist or Planar Summoner.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I think the Bard will be in the PHB (though I could see it being released prior to this on DDI).

I think since the Druid will be a Hybrid it will be either Striker/Defender or Striker/Controller. Striker/Defender be with different shapeshifting, and Striker/Controller be with how the weather-spells turn out and shapeshifting for striker.

I don't think it will be a Leader. Since the Shaman most likely will.

We know from R&C that the Barbarian, will have totemic abilities and a wide-variety of rages, as well as follow-up attacks. I suspect, it could be a Controller or Defender. Controller in, I can see it just charging across a battlefield dealing damage and various effects to everyone around him and Defender in that I could see him standing put, building walls of bodies with his axe.

Though R&C sounded more Controller like, what with his own power shown where he ran across a whole dungeon, killing 5 skeletons along the way.

It will be interesting to see how they use the totemic abilities.

I hope the Sorcerer is Primal, but I could see it being Elemental or Arcane too.

The Bard as well I want Primal, but it will probably be Arcane Leader.

We know there will be a Psion, from the PHB, I bet it will be a Controller. I could see Lurker + Soul Knife being combined.

 

[GnomeWorks]

What is the bard's power source? Music?

The bard is going to be the arcane leader. I don't have a source handy, but I think it's even been said multiple times.

Psion I would guess would be controller to further even out the role balance, and because, well, mind control, duh. Psywarrior will probably end up as a defender or striker.

That'd be "needless symmetry" that you're citing for reasoning. Things that could and possibly even should be symmetrical (ie, class design) aren't, because that would be "needless."

Basically, anytime you want to say that something should exist to balance out or even out with something else, it won't happen.

So the psionicist could very well end up a leader or striker (though I don't imagine it'd be a defender).

Samurai would likely be a leader if it showed up, and I'd peg the monk as a defender; although, a striker monk wouldn't surprise me.

Ki being a power source is sketchy and has been debated rather extensively.

Where did you get the info for elemental power source? I'm sure they'll just file sorcs under arcane and be done with it, thus eliminating cool core concepts like an Elementalist or Planar Summoner.

Summoners are done anyway, since summoning help is badwrongfun, or something.

 

[Sitara]

Elemental, Ki and primal power sources have been confirmed in the 4e PHB, as have some others like Shadow and a few more I don't recall. (someone with the books can chime in here )

I am sure Monk will be a striker. Samurai might end up as a striker or defender...I dunno. I just want a quickdrawing and lethal slashing/cutting samurai, so I hope he is a striker.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Yeah the PHB confirmed; elemental, ki, primal, psionic, and shadow.

 

[GnomeWorks]

Yeah the PHB confirmed; elemental, ki, primal, psionic, and shadow.

Huh.

Fair enough, I guess. I suppose we'll see what they're doing with ki in a year, then.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Basically all we know, is Ki is going to deal with "soul energy".

 

[GnomeWorks]

Basically all we know, is Ki is going to deal with "soul energy".

I expect a grandiose number of powers that all deal damage with the possibility of a minor side-effect and are pretty much name-swaps with previously-existing powers.

Oh, and terrible names.

 

[drothgery]

Hmm... taking a few things into account

The PHB2 has been confirmed to have classes using the primal and psionic power sources. It's also been said they'd like to fit shadow in, but they need room for some things that use one of the original three power sources.

Classes that have been all but confirmed for PHB2 - barbarian, bard, druid, sorcerer

Classes really needed for Eberron - artificer, barbarian, druid, psion, soulknife, necromancer; it's safe to say that if there's one class in the Eberron player's book, it'll be artificer

So here's my guess for the PHB2 classes

arcane - bard (leader)*, sorcerer (controller)*
primal - barbarian (defender)**, druid (hybrid)*
psionic - soulknife (striker), psion (controller)
shadow - necromancer (leader), illusionist (controller)

* this class defintiely has this role and power source, though it might not be in PHB2
** this class definitely has this power source, guessing on the role