What is your favorite class(es) so far? (4E)

[Herschel]

Just a fun thread to get some opinions and maybe why. I'm not looking for "most powerful" but "most fun" or "flavorful". Here's mine:

Best:
Swordmage - I love Genasi and I love this class. I like the light-armored, mobile fighter type who's not a pin cushion and can play "rescue ranger" by pulling guys out of the belly of the beast. I prefer the Assault variety, but Shielding is cool too and Ensanrement looks interesting. Plus, Elemental Tempest is a paragon path that just beckons to me.

Bard - I first thought it looked like a bit of a mess on paper, and it does, but the versatility is way cool. I'm jonesing to try out a Prescient version. That said, this goes straight to the bottom if a sourcebook offers 'Virtue of Mime' as a build.

Warlord - I love Tactical varieties, but Inspiring also rocks. This class just screams "I am in control of the situation and we shall kick the keister of chaos back to the Abyss!".

Wizard - I used to hate wizards. Then came 4E. Suddenly they weren't "I shall strike you down while my minions watch", now they're "I separate your forces and stun you six ways to Sunday while my pals beat you to a pulp". The only downside is that Eladrin make good ones (The Race Formerly Known as Elves).

Avenger - I like both versions, but maybe prefer the Pursuing version. Another light-armored, mobile fighter with some cool powers. Then again, I'm also working on a very defender-esque Retribution version. Plus, I like Devas a lot.

Good:
Fighter - A classic. I have a soft spot for Great Weapon fighters but Tempest is kind of cool too. Sword & Board is classic also but Bravura drags this class down to just good for me. Roy may fictitiously have an MBA but I don't aspire to be an accountant when I game.

Cleric - Another classic and healing is just too cool when getting mulched by baddies and none do it better than the cleric. Armor up and smack some undead around.

Warden - Some of the flavor just doesn't trip my trigger in this otherwise cool class, dropping it a bit.

Least Favorite:
Ranger - My former favorite is taken over by cheese. The melee version is still okay but the ranged one bores me. "I kill stuff dead with my trusty fey bow. Damage is da bomb". Good for you, but what else do you lend to the party? It's what I'd call a good "starter class" and is also a prime class for "new" elves but doesn't interest me much.

Barbarian - "Thog smash!" Yeah, conversational language.

Druid - The whole shape changer thing bores me. The caster version is kind of cool but the "I'm a monster" version is hack.

Shaman - Ooo, an even more annoying and less useful version of a druidic concept. We used to call "spirit companions" what they really were: imaginary friends because they couldn't get real ones. Giving them light-weight combat stats and minor healing might help their popularity mariginally, but they still suck when compared to a real healer or leader. The only thing I like less than these two classes is the above-mentioned Miming Bard.

Thoughts?
(Have fun with it. This isn't serious interwebs)

 

[Ktulu]

Favorites:

Avenger & Rogue: Both feel exactly like I expect them to in both flavor and mechanics. They're fast, furious, and deadly. Bonus - The rogue can actually go toe-to-toe with a fighter and win; whereas in previous editions he'd be dead in round 2.

Barbarian: While the berserker barbarian is pretty bland, the Thaneborn is a great Primal Warrior type. It reminds me of the Diablo barbarian in that he's got inner power, not just cantankerous attacking.

Fighter: Is sticky, deadly, and fully reminds me of the skilled veteran fighters of stories.


Least favorite:

Shaman: I like the fluff, but can't figure the mechanics just yet. I'll have to play one/see one in action to really form an opinion.

Paladin: I LOVE what they've done with the paladin in terms of giving him tons of options. But I'm not a fan of his M.A.D., nor the fact that Chaladin is a term; and is the only real good build for the paladin at this time (I'm certain we'll see some good fixes to this in Divine Power). I want this one to be my favorite before it's all said and done.

Warlock: Love fluff, can't frickin' build one that suits me. Still on the fence with this one.

 

[Obryn]

My favorite is, hands down, the swordmage. I think they're a great combination of cool tricks and special effects.

Fighters are a close second, largely because of their versatility.

-O

 

[RefinedBean]

Favorite:

Druid. Wildshape whenever I want, awesome utilities, and sublime control options for both melee and ranged.

Least Favorite:

Paladin. "Hey! Hey you! You better, uh, you better come deal with me, or else you'll take...maybe, like, 7 damage? 7 damage, yeah! Ha HA...crap! Where are you going?!"

The Paladin is just kind of a mess, and its whole concept just doesn't do it for me. I'd much rather play an Avenger.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

Favorite: The Monk. Closest thing to a martial controller in the game. I like the mechanics, I like that he's psionic, and I still have concepts left over from 3E that I didn't ever get a chance to play. I'd really like a chance to play a Radiant Fist of Corellon.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Why do you force me to pick favorites?

I think Fighters, Warlord, Invoker, Avenger and Warlock belong to my favorites.

My least favorite are Warden and Shaman. Seem to fiddly or i can just not make sense of the character. Ranger seem a little to ... simple to me, on the other hand.

 

[Akaiku]

Of things I played, Sorcerer.

Though, I do admit, I like my shaman, though there is a specific house rule under effect that greatly increases the awesome of them. Namely, My character counts as an ally for effects that key off my spirit. Other than that? No, probably a terribad class that only contributes in extremely specific ways.

None of my friends can stand playing wizards. This also goes into invokers, and the only druid that anyone's got to play is a gmpc and is being played as a melee striker with lower damage.

 

[avin]

Sorcerer.

 

[Intense_Interest]

Most favorite
Anything that has more than one Multiclass feat. Specifically Multiclass: Wizard and Utility Swap Feather Fall.

Favored
Fighter: So much there in just one class. GWF, Sword&Board, Tempest, and Broken!

Wizard: Post-Arcane Power having everything but Strength as an available secondary stat, having 5 builds in 1 class is always a bonus. Pretty much the only class in which Magic Items define the class (Staff/Orb/Wand/Tome)

Meh
Barbarian: I'm still waiting for Primal Power to give me a 2WF barbarian (Str + Dex?)

Both Arcane Strikers: Essentially a single-class package in a multi-build game. 'Locks and Sorcs are both Magi-cannons with flair. I don't find the umpteen variations of "blast it with magic and do X" powers to be flavorful at all.

Divine classes: with the likely-hood of Divine Power having more toys to play with, I could see one of the group jumping up to "favored". But I don't grade on potential. Divine as a power source is a group of partially-divided powers either being "Grey" or "White" depending on your build.

Dislike
Swordmage: The Striker that plays at being a Defender, and both Avenger and Barbarian play that role better. One death save and you're a ranger in cloth trying to ping away at the outskirts. You can basically only play a Rogue with a bag of tricks instead of being a catch-all class for "Magical Sword Guy".

 

[Lancelot]

Favorites:

• Avenger - Always (or almost always...) hitting is awesome. It's a highly mobile class, so you're always moving around the battlefield. More crits than usual (nearly 10% chance with every attack), and high AC. It's a mechanics dream.
• Bard - Jack of all trades. Good in nearly every area: blasty magic, weapons, armor, skills, rituals, healing. Plus, I'm enjoying the roleplaying aspects of creating my own poems (rhyming couplets, haiku, limericks) to commemorate our greatest victories.

Would also love to play:

• Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard - I've always loved arcane spellcasters. Sure, they're less versatile and powerful in 4e - but they're still plenty good enough for me.
• Invoker - Fantastic flavor text; real Old Testament stuff, bringing the fury of the gods.
• Barbarian, Rogue, Ranger - I've been hugely impressed by the mobility, damage output and flavor of these classes.

Neutral, would consider playing:

• Paladin, Fighter, Warden, Swordmage - I don't have the patience to be a defender. I want to be dishing out some pain, controlling the battlefield or giving my allies some tactical advantages. Being the damage-soak (even if I feel invincibly "hard") just doesn't appeal. Having said that, there are some defender builds that are less defender-y that I might consider (particularly the Swordmage).
• Druid, Cleric, Warlord - Don't feel passionate one way or the other. I've never much liked clerics, I'd prefer to play a bard than a warlord, and shapechanging doesn't appeal much. Having said that, I'd give any of these a go for a change.

Don't Like:

• Warden - Hits all of my "dislike" buttons: defender, shape-changing, primal source. Can't deny the effectiveness of the class (got a friend who is playing an insanely-good goliath warden), but it's not for me.
• Shaman - I've never liked animal/spirit companions. Don't like the flavour, don't like the powers. Again, probably a great class for other people - but I have no interest.