What classes will be in the martial power book?

[the Jester]

We don't need a Ki power source. If we did we would require a "genie" power source for arabian game, a Juju power source for a voodoo game, a "spirit" power source for native american game. These can all be captured in arcane, divine, psionic and shadow.

Each region on the map should not have their own power source. They should be based on the effect not on some hair-splitting endeavor to create new power sources.

Actually, I kind of think that Spirit would make a good power source (though it might cover "genie" and "juju" itself). Ki, too- though I might prefer to see it rolled into the Psionic power source.

 

[Xyl]

I can definitely imagine a martial controller character. You see them fairly often in anime. I can hear people going "OMG ANIME!" already.

One of the common archetypes in fighting-oriented anime is the fighter who can manipulate earth and/or air. He can smash a fist into the ground to break it up, generating an area of difficult terrain. He can slash his sword to create a blast of wind that knocks back a group of enemies. He can kick up a cloud of dust that blinds enemies, or cause them to be mired in the earth.

In D&D terms, that sort of character is a controller. He has many area attacks, he can do debuffs, he can change the terrain of the battlefield, and so on. He's also martial, because all his feats are done by physical strength and training (and a lot of wuxia).

Of course, if such a class is released, I think the cries of "4e is too anime!" would reach such a deafening level that all who heard it would be driven to madness. I just want to point out that the archetype does exist in fiction, so it isn't entirely impossible.

 

[Stogoe]

Defenders: Druid (Primal)
Learders: Necromancer (Shadow) Bard (Primal) Clairvoyant (Psychic)
Strikers: Assassin (Shadow) Barbarian (Primal)
Controllers: Illusionist (Shadow) Psion (Psychic)

You forgot the Psychic Warrior in the Psychic Defender role. Although I really hate that name. It reeks of "Psionic X" lazy naming. But it's legacy, so...

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

You forgot the Psychic Warrior in the Psychic Defender role. Although I really hate that name. It reeks of "Psionic X" lazy naming. But it's legacy, so...

I'd agree, but I'm stumped for a better alternative. It's something of a Michael Moorcock allusion, so I tend to give it a pass...

 

[Sadrik]

Actually, I kind of think that Spirit would make a good power source (though it might cover "genie" and "juju" itself). Ki, too- though I might prefer to see it rolled into the Psionic power source.

Power sources should be few and have a true broad niche that is not covered by another power source, imo. So spirit, can be part of the shadow power source- for instance. Creating a whole new source to fit a particular niche is a bad idea.

On this same thought, technology, should it be its own power source or part of the martial. I suppose it is how Martial is defined. If it is defined as non-magical, then, I would say yes. If it is just practicing swinging a sword, then, I would say no.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

I'd agree, but I'm stumped for a better alternative. It's something of a Michael Moorcock allusion, so I tend to give it a pass...

Mindblade?

Zensomething, à la Dune?

 

[Stogoe]

Maybe they should steal the name Soulknife and give them a 'psychic weapon' power tree.

 

[fnwc]

3rd edition already has it. Enter the DM nightmare known as the spiked chain tripper.

Still basically a defender.

I disagree. The chaingun tripper has been known as a 'battlefield controller' build long before 'controllers' 4th edition roles were ever announced. Besides, it fulfills nearly all the points that have been used to describe the controller.

 

[TwinBahamut]

Power sources should be few and have a true broad niche that is not covered by another power source, imo. So spirit, can be part of the shadow power source- for instance. Creating a whole new source to fit a particular niche is a bad idea.

On this same thought, technology, should it be its own power source or part of the martial. I suppose it is how Martial is defined. If it is defined as non-magical, then, I would say yes. If it is just practicing swinging a sword, then, I would say no.

I would say that a "technological" power source would probably be a very different beast than the Martial power source, so folding them into each other would probably not be a god idea. The Martial power source is defined as being based on human skill and ability, so I imagine that something based on technology could be very different, depending on how it is defined..

If we are talking about a setting where guns are the norm, then a gun-user is probably just a Martial character who uses setting-appropriate weapons, rather than a Striker of a new power source.

On the other hand, if we are talking about individuals who can master esoteric forms of alchemy, steampunk clockwork gadgetry, and other forms of mad science which surpass the normal technology of the world, then I say it would have to be a new power source.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Mindblade?

Zensomething, à la Dune?

I like occult as an adjective, like Occult Warrior or Occult Slayer. I've never been that fond of the pseudo-scientific naming conventions Bruce Cordell uses, and occult carries a lot more "mysterious powers" flavour without exactly treading on the arcane "magic is understandable" shtick. Old gypsy women have occult powers. The Green Knight has occult powers. It makes psionics a bit creepy and more preternatural than arcane magic, with its codified rituals and well-known spell names. As well, once you start calling it occult, you can start pulling out other great words like orphic and recondite.