What classes will be in the martial power book?

[Darkwolf71]

I'm not sure how 4th edition is going to handle prestige classes -- perhaps you're forced to change class at paragon and epic levels (e.g., become an 'assassin' or 'shadowblade' at 11th).

There will be no Prestige Classes in 4e. You get Paragon Paths at 11 and Epic Destinies at 21. Basically, you keep your base class and get 'template' type stuff to add to your character.

 

[Atlatl Jones]

Yes, but it's been implied that each PHB will present new classes with new power sources. Thus, new classes based on existing power sources would--or so it seems to be--be found in power source-specific splatbooks.

They've said that the PHBs will have classes with new power sources, not that they'll only have classes with new power sources.

Frankly, I will be very surprised if the martial power book has any new classes in it. With a whole new edition, there's already tons of design space open for expanding the core classes. I expect it will have quite a few paragon paths and epic destinies, some new feats, and lots of new powers. We know that in the PHB fighters have a choice between being focused on big weapons or on weapon & shield. Maybe the martial power book will have options for fighters who wield swashbuckly weapons, or ones with polearms, or even exotic things like spiked chains.

 

[Mouseferatu]

They've said that the PHBs will have classes with new power sources, not that they'll only have classes with new power sources.

Yes, but if you look carefully at the cover of PHB1, it says something about rules for "martial, arcane, and divine characters." (Or at least the original cover did; dunno if the new one will.)

That certainly implies, at least to me, that each book will cover a set of power sources, and--at least where classes are concerned--nothing but that set of power sources.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

As they've already stated that the Barbarian is the same power source as the Druid, I highly doubt he'll be in this book.

Agreed. I'm guessing Barbarians will be in the PHB2 alongside Druids as "primal power source" heroes, helping to distance them from fighters and rangers.

For the martial sourcebook, my money's on monk, and maybe something like the swordsage (with wuxia-influenced powers). That, and a boatload of new feats and ranger/rogue/fighter/warlord powers.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

The most basic power of the controller is the ability to affect a lot of enemies at once.

On that note I think the closest you could come to a martial controller would be a Sapper/Grenadier style character ala Malazan. Maybe some sort of pack master, but that almost sounds weird as a Martial character.

My picks on possible classes:

Barbarian - Though I think this is more likely for a Primal Power Source

Monk - Already mentioned as a Martial power source, leave the KI feels for related Paragon Paths.

Ninja/Assassin - I agree you'd have to distinguish it from the Rogue, but maybe you go heavy for poisons, disguises, and hypnoses where the Rogue is more swashbuckley.

Pirates - There are always two, a Pirate and a Ninja.

Cavalier (Samurai?) - Paladin without the Divine Power/Fighter with more Culture. And a bigger emphasis on equipment. Not in terms of awesomeness, but that you fight more effectively when you use certain combinations of weapons and armor. A suits based class rather than a specialist. And a horse.

 

[UndeadScottsman]

I heard bandied about that the monk could use the Martial power source ("your kung fu is not strong enough"). It certainly feels right with the Shaolin philosophy that how enlightened you are is reflected in how well you fight.

I could see a monk as a Martial controller that does stuff like this:

I see the Monk as a martial controller as well, doing things like

-Tripping people
-Doing one of those ki strikes that stuns people (quivering palm)
-Kicking a guy so hard he flies 10-20 feet away.
-Catching arrows and returning them to sender.
-Quickly zipping in and out of combat to herd enemies into the right spots.

and stuff like that. Basically he wouldn't have the size range of a Wizard as a controller, but in the range he does have he'd be extremly effective.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Hmm... What would I like:

-Brawler (non-monk unarmed combatant)
-Gladiator
-Sword Dancer/Wild Dervish (could be a paragon as well)
-Trickster (think rogue/swashbuckler/alchemist)

If Brawler is put in or not put in at all and there is paragon spot for a fighter. I would love to see; Sewer Rat/Alley Fighter paragon path. So you know ear-biting, eye-gouging, groin-kicking, chair-smashing goodness.

 

[FabioMilitoPagliara]

But the nature/primal source is supposed to draw from the feywild? Feywild=Arcane is what I thought I read. So if that is the case are we going to have an arcane barbarian and an arcane druid. The druid bothers me none what-so-ever. The arcane barbarian does bother me though

primal should be more connected with nature primal force than the feywild exuberance of positive energy (that surely help growing things

Primal:
Druid
Barbarian
some sort of nature mage that take the weather/plant/elemental spell of the 3.x druid

new martial? don't know

as someone said I expect some new trick for the martial characters

 

[AZRogue]

Gladiator, Monk (Martial Artist), Swordsage-type?

It would probably be a book of mostly new abilities, maneuvers, and paragon paths.

 

[Steely Dan]

Assassin will likely be a Paragon Path for Rogue.

I think the Assassin will be the Shadow Striker in the PHB II.