What are themes?

[Colmarr]

We were also supposed to have builds that revolve around choice of weapon or shields and while the fighter has that sort of thing and we have feats I have felt that it wasn't what I was lead to believe.

You mean to say that

Fighter: One-handed, 2-handed, Battlerager, Tempest and Brawler (is that what's it's called?).

Ranger: 2WF, archery, marauder.

Wizard: Orb, Wand, Staff, Tome

Sorceror: Blade or Staff

(to name just 4 classes that sprang to mind)

isn't enough of a weapon/implement-based differentiation of builds for you?

Each of the above builds significantly affect the way the base class plays and is built. A bow ranger is nothing like a 2WF ranger. Likewise, a competently constructed orb wizard plays significantly differently to a competently constructed staff wizard.

I'm honestly confused. If that's not "builds that revolve around choice of weapon or shields" then what you were lead to believe?