What classes will be in the martial power book?

[Scholar & Brutalman]

I could see a bigger demand for arcane and divine classes in their power books. If the current best guess of the classes in the PHB is right, and if the ranger is a martial character (it's never shown any divine powers in any of the playtests) then the PHB1 has 4 martial, 2 divine and 2 arcane classes. And also 3 strikers and only one controller, which I think will inform whatever new classes come out soon after the initial release.

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

You know, I had a similar thought. And it's certainly one possible interpretation of the text. But something about the way it's phrased--nothing specific, just an overall feel--implies a different power source to me.

But I've been wrong before. On occasion.

I originally picked the warlock as the divine controller - the pacts sounded more like a divine source than an arcane one, and obviously they'd want to have two controllers in the PHB...

Inference: since you're discussing the bard, and you're under the NDA, the bard isn't in the playtest material you've seen. This is no surprise, but some people have been hoping it's been added to the PHB.

Now all I have to do is subtly question you about the 60 or 70 other classes from 3.5, and I can determine what classes are in the PHB! Brilliant!

 

[UndeadScottsman]

I could see a bigger demand for arcane and divine classes in their power books. If the current best guess of the classes in the PHB is right, and if the ranger is a martial character (it's never shown any divine powers in any of the playtests) then the PHB1 has 4 martial, 2 divine and 2 arcane classes. And also 3 strikers and only one controller, which I think will inform whatever new classes come out soon after the initial release.

However, that also means there may be a bigger demand for a book with new martial powers as there are four martial classes in the PHB, compared to two divine and two arcane. It makes a lot more sense to me now that I think of it that way.

 

[FabioMilitoPagliara]

Races and Classes suggests that bards draw their power from "otherworldly patrons" in a fashion that is neither arcane nor divine, but something else entirely.

like the warlock you mean?

the bard in races and classes is very interesting but seem a varition on the warlock, and since the warlock is arcane....

I can be wrong obviously

 

[Frostmarrow]

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.

-Throw people
-Grapple people
-Climb atop monsters (and hamper them)
-Flip out (and attack everything in a small area)
-Riddle people with shurikens

 

[Aristotle]

A lot of folks have explained why so many of the classes that are not confirmed will likely be of other power sources. I agree with most of that. I especially like illusionist as a shadow power source caster, rather than another arcane caster. I'm hoping we don't see a ki power source, and think that the monk, if not divine, best fits the feel of psionics and should take over as the primary physical psionics class. It feels more unique and useable to me than the majority of the psionic fighting classes released to date.

Back to the subject at hand. What *will* be in this first power source supplement?

I'm hoping for no more than two new classes. One would be fine. I don't care if they fill the grid, so I don't really care if they put out a martial controller. One martial leader is likely stretching the grid enough, and we believe we are already getting two martial strikers. Perhaps some power sources will be "best in class" for a certain role, allowing for a 3rd striker. Otherwise it would be a defender, and the fighter is so versatile that it boggles me as to how they could make another defender that the fighter can't emulate. My vote, because I think each of these books will have a new character class, has to go for the 3rd striker... perhaps a swashbuckler if it doesn't step on the rogue's toes too much, a kensai type sword saint would be my preference if they want to tie non-western classes into these products rather than an OA product.

I think we will definately see more martially inspired paragon paths and epic destinies. I'm hoping a lot of the prestige classes people are calling for get done through these avenues rather than full base classes.

I think a host of new/alternate talent trees are a safe bet. I assume the weapon techniques, that they claim will make fighters who use different weapons feel so much different from one another, will be handled mostly through talents. This presents the biggest area for martial expansion in my opinion... as we could get talents/feats/stunts, or whatever the martial equivalent to a spell is, for a variety of weapons and fighting styles.

 

[Steely Dan]

I'm hoping we don't see a ki power source, and think that the monk, if not divine, best fits the feel of psionics and should take over as the primary physical psionics class.

I could see the monk as the psionic striker.

 

[HP Dreadnought]

EDIT: And if there isn't one in the Martial Powers book, then I'll write up an Archer and sell it on PDF, for the guys like me that need a little less "whoa" factor in some of our gaming elements so that we don't become jaded by the Vegas-like glitz and glamor of all these "superphat gnarly totally tubular kewl" things that have tended to be marketed right now. 4E sounds like a potentially great game with Vegas-fixated marketing.

I like Vegas.

If when you play 4E you're in a hot night club surrounded by topless showgirls, I'm all for it! I say MORE Vegas in D&D!!

 

[Patlin]

Assassin will likely be a Paragon Path for Rogue.

I think they've stated that each paragon path (at least in the original 3 books) will appeal to two different classes. If Assassin is a paragon path, it'd be interesting to think of which the second class might be. Ranger, maybe? Sort of a sniper assassin?

Does anyone know for sure Assassin isn't allready a paragon path in the original 3? I don't recall seeing a list.

 

[Darkwolf71]

I think they've stated that each paragon path (at least in the original 3 books) will appeal to two different classes. If Assassin is a paragon path, it'd be interesting to think of which the second class might be. Ranger, maybe? Sort of a sniper assassin?

Does anyone know for sure Assassin isn't allready a paragon path in the original 3? I don't recall seeing a list.

We don't even know for certain what classes are in. As far as I know, no specific Paragon Paths have been mentioned.

As for second class, yeah I think a Ranger/Assassin would be very interesting. And there is enough similarity between Ranger/Rogue stealthyness that it fits. (Assuming similarities to 3.x Rangers, of course.)