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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 6308491" data-attributes="member: 82106">I think they did an excellent job. The 4 roles fall directly out of the most fundamental basic combat roles. If you read and understand basic tactical theory 4e's 4 roles are direct abstractions of the FUNCTIONS of tactical units.What the other breakdowns you give examples of do is confuse function with means. 'Sniper' and 'Assassin' aren't functional roles, they modus, ways of accomplishing the function of delivering firepower. Thus the 4e striker role is more fundamental because it is a functional role, delivering damage, of which there are many means, such as ranged attacks, etc. Likewise the other LL categories aren't functional roles (though some of them correspond more or less closely to 4e roles). Again something like 'tank' isn't a role, its a method of accomplishing the role of defender, but 4e illustrates a number of other ways to accomplish that such as the swordmage's damage deflection and enemy teleporting. 'Blaster' isn't a role, again, its a method, barbeque is just confusing the two as well. Monster roles are a bit different kettle of fish. They are built around specific tactics, not goal/function. This is nice for the DM as monsters are purely one-dimensional tactical constructs that are intended to do exactly one thing each. Leader is an 'add-on' because its not really a thing that monsters do very much of. In short monsters are highly stereotyped tactical units which each emphasize only a very specific tactic. MOST PCs are considerably broader and have several different tactical options. Monsters have one tactic each.</blockquote>

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