My impression of everything I have heard thus far about 4E is that the changes that are being made are either fixing things that are not broken or are fixing things that could be easily remedied with houserules from Unearthed Arcana.
But my biggest concern is that they are not fixing what I perceive to be the biggest problem with 3E: too many classes.
I am not talking about too many prestige classes - this problem is being addressed by the epic and paragon paths (though I am skeptical that these may just be prestige classes with a different name). I am talking about too many standard classes.
The plethora of Complete ____ Books, PHII, and Campaign Background supplements have left so many classes I can't keep up with them all. I am talking about things like the Hexblade, Warmage, Warlock, Marshall, Scout and Favoured Soul. Unless these classes are needed to help flesh out the flavor of the campaign, IMHO that they add nothing to the game that could not have been added by a feat or a class variant. (In many cases the classes strike me as imbalanced)
Unfortunately, this is definitely not going to change. The Warlock and Warlord are in. The Wizard is basically becoming an Evoker, which means we will need new classes to serve as Transmuters, Conjurers, and Enchanters. They promised the Monk and Bard will return in subsequent books - no doubt these books will include all of the other classes.
I know what you are thinking "If you don't like the Warlock do not allow it in your game". All well and good. Unfortunately, there seems to be a growing sub-culture of 3.x players that believe that if you do not allow any and all races and classes in any book published by WOTC your game is substandard somehow. WOTC, while perhaps not to blame for this mentality, certainly has no interest in discouraging it because it helps sell books.
I do not see this trend changing in 4E. If it does not, 4E will be no better than 3E for me and, in which case, I will not buy it. Period. Even if it means giving up RPG's altogether.
I would have preferred the True20 approach where you have 3 classes - expert, warrior, and adept (spellcaster). These broad class types could be developed to fit any archetype you wish.
Are there is there any changes that you would like to see in 4E you know aren't coming, or that you have not heard anything about?
But my biggest concern is that they are not fixing what I perceive to be the biggest problem with 3E: too many classes.
I am not talking about too many prestige classes - this problem is being addressed by the epic and paragon paths (though I am skeptical that these may just be prestige classes with a different name). I am talking about too many standard classes.
The plethora of Complete ____ Books, PHII, and Campaign Background supplements have left so many classes I can't keep up with them all. I am talking about things like the Hexblade, Warmage, Warlock, Marshall, Scout and Favoured Soul. Unless these classes are needed to help flesh out the flavor of the campaign, IMHO that they add nothing to the game that could not have been added by a feat or a class variant. (In many cases the classes strike me as imbalanced)
Unfortunately, this is definitely not going to change. The Warlock and Warlord are in. The Wizard is basically becoming an Evoker, which means we will need new classes to serve as Transmuters, Conjurers, and Enchanters. They promised the Monk and Bard will return in subsequent books - no doubt these books will include all of the other classes.
I know what you are thinking "If you don't like the Warlock do not allow it in your game". All well and good. Unfortunately, there seems to be a growing sub-culture of 3.x players that believe that if you do not allow any and all races and classes in any book published by WOTC your game is substandard somehow. WOTC, while perhaps not to blame for this mentality, certainly has no interest in discouraging it because it helps sell books.
I do not see this trend changing in 4E. If it does not, 4E will be no better than 3E for me and, in which case, I will not buy it. Period. Even if it means giving up RPG's altogether.
I would have preferred the True20 approach where you have 3 classes - expert, warrior, and adept (spellcaster). These broad class types could be developed to fit any archetype you wish.
Are there is there any changes that you would like to see in 4E you know aren't coming, or that you have not heard anything about?
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