What classes will be in the martial power book?

[jaer]

What would a Martial Controller look like?

The Hulking Hurler.

Throw big objects that block off squares, making terrain difficult to impassable. Creatures either get hit by the objects or need to move to get out of the way (and by controlling where the objects land in a square, the hurler controls where the opponent jumps to).

As levels increase, the hurler had hit more than one square, hitting a line of squares as the objects roll through after landing. And when enemies get to close, the hurler can pick them up and throw them.

Being Hulking and obviously quite strong, the hurler uses weapons larger than any other character, so when they swing them, they can hit more than one square (but all squares must be in a row...the hurler swings in a line through a few squares at once). Depending on their weapon choice, they can either trip enemies when they hit (flail weapon) or bash them so hard it drives them back a square or two (mace weapon).

Personally, i think this would be a little ridiculous, but it is the best thing I could come up with...

 

[Steely Dan]

What would a Martial Controller look like?

So far I haven't seen one idea for a Martial Controller that wasn't heavily contrived.

And as they have said that they are not obsessing about filling out the power source/role grid (and forced symmetry), which I am fine with, we may never see this martial controller that many are clamouring for.

 

[Howndawg]

Since it looks like there will be four martial classes in the PHB, I strongly doubt we'll see more than one or two classes in MP. My best bet for a martial controller would be a trickster type character who can lob itching powder and throwing knives into groups of monsters. I think two strikers is enough, and I don't see another leader, but perhaps for another defender I can see a duellist. Lightly armored, he doesn't dart in and out of combat like the rogue, instead his weapons are his armor.

 

[Cadfan]

For the most part, we probably shouldn't need many new classes in the martial power book.

Except for a swashbuckler. We need one of those.

You can't make a fighter into a swashbuckler. The fighter has two core assumptions that are built into the expected power level of the class.

1) A fighter wears the heaviest armor available.
2) A fighter uses both hands for combat related tasks.

A swashbuckler violates those rules. He wears lighter armor, or no armor, and uses one handed weapons with, at most, a buckler or dagger in the off hand. This reduces a swashbuckler's power level straight out of the gate, and requires that the swashbuckler receive something else in compensation in order to make him a viable class.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

For the most part, we probably shouldn't need many new classes in the martial power book.

Except for a swashbuckler. We need one of those.

You can't make a fighter into a swashbuckler. The fighter has two core assumptions that are built into the expected power level of the class.

1) A fighter wears the heaviest armor available.
2) A fighter uses both hands for combat related tasks.

A swashbuckler violates those rules. He wears lighter armor, or no armor, and uses one handed weapons with, at most, a buckler or dagger in the off hand. This reduces a swashbuckler's power level straight out of the gate, and requires that the swashbuckler receive something else in compensation in order to make him a viable class.

Maybe the Rogue will already be a Swashbuckler. From the existing classes, he is the most "predistined" to be it...

 

[Cadfan]

Maybe the Rogue will already be a Swashbuckler. From the existing classes, he is the most "predistined" to be it...

Its possible, but... a swashbuckler *feels* like it should be more of a defender than a striker. I bet the rogue will have swashbuckly options, but I don't think it completely satisfies the archetype.

 

[Fifth Element]

And if there isn't one in the Martial Powers book, then I'll write up an Archer and sell it on PDF

Not if I do it first...

 

[drothgery]

What classes will be in the martial power book? Assuming that the "complete" series of books which had 3 classes in them is what they will go with in this book.

I'm going to throw out the idea that '3 additional classes per power source supplement' is going to be considered unnecessary symetry, and, unless there are obvious holes for martial types left when we see the final fighter, ranger, rogue, and warlord there might well be no new classes in the martial book, three in the arcane book (bard, swordmage, sorcerer), and one or two in the divine book (a divine striker and a divine controller seem doable).

 

[The Little Raven]

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

Veiled Assassin is a paragon path mentioned in Races & Classes. As previously stated, Assassin itself is pretty much rogue, with Shadowdancer being a much more likely candidate for the Shadow Striker spot.

I think the Barbarian will be the Primal Defender in the PHB II.

Possibly a Striker. The only mention we've had of abilities imply quick movement, devastating damage to multiple targets, and followup attacks.

 

[The Little Raven]

Not if I do it first...

I don't see the point. Since the Ranger offers the non-magical archer package (available through multiclassing to any fighters that just want to pick up archery without the rest), it seems completely pointless to make a Fighter archery tree, except for the anal retentive who want "Fighter" on their archer character.