What is your favorite new D&D classes?

[Shemeska]

I've got a question here... with the sudden proliferation of new 'base classes', how is this any different from the 2e glut of 'kits'. And since I never played 2e, keep that in mind if you want to weigh in on this.

 

[Scotley]

Yes, the healer and marshall from Miniatures Handbook as well as the Mariner from DL Age of Mortals should have been on the list. I am running a seafaring game and the Mariner is useful.

 

[Dragonhelm]

Yes, the healer and marshall from Miniatures Handbook as well as the Mariner from DL Age of Mortals should have been on the list. I am running a seafaring game and the Mariner is useful.

If licensed products are included, then you simply must include the Master from War of the Lance.

 

[Crothian]

I've got a question here... with the sudden proliferation of new 'base classes', how is this any different from the 2e glut of 'kits'. And since I never played 2e, keep that in mind if you want to weigh in on this.

the classes are better balanced. And kits numbers a dozen per handook, so there was a few more. Kits tried to allow the classes to do things they couldn't, but in todays game with the feat and skill system the classes are much more flexibile.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Swashbuckler, Healer, Marshal, Warlock.

I strongly believe the Swashbuckler will be a core class in 4E. The mantra was always that Fighters could model any sort of fighting man, from archers to swashbucklers, but the truth is that, at the end of the day, it's best at emulating a big guy covered in armor, which is incompatible with a number of concepts.

Healers are a great, focused class, especially as Clerics have continued to expand and branch out. Clerics have become more interesting over time, but sometimes, damn it, you just need a medic. (And before anyone says that "no one likes to just be a medic," I can't get my wife, who's not exactly the Queen of Nurturing, to NOT play a medic in MMORPGs. You never can tell.)

Marshals do something no other class (or even prestige class) models well, and is a great addition to D&D and parties in general.

And I find Warlocks to be very satisfying flavorwise as well as being more interesting mechanically than the Sorcerer, which I find to be deeply boring as a class.

 

[Dark Psion]

Aside from my namesake, I'll add the Artificer and another write in for the Akashic.

 

[SpiderMonkey]

I just read the Warlock class the other day, and I'm hooked. I have no idea how it would turn out in actual play, but the flavor...? C'mon, this class oozes charisma.

 

[Testament]

I just read the Warlock class the other day, and I'm hooked. I have no idea how it would turn out in actual play, but the flavor...? C'mon, this class oozes charisma.

Their power curve is weird, its quite flat compared to other classes. They start off strong as, but fall behind FAST, especially after 6th level or so.

But who cares! As has been said, it oozes style.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Love the Wilder for it's barely contained psychic power. Every time I see it in the book I just want to scream "TETSUOOOO!".

The scout could easily replace a ranger in my campaign.

The artificer fills a nice niche.

And last but not least, I like the Spirit Shaman's take on divine spellcasting. CDiv came out while I was working on my homebrew, and when I saw the Spirit Shaman I said "Holy crap! These are the guys who live in the Ghostlight Marsh! WotC must have my house bugged!"

 

[ColonelHardisson]

The Warlock, by a long shot (although the Warmage is cool; it bears a strong resemblance to the HackMaster Battle Mage). The Warlock is a concept long in coming for D&D - this type of character has been around in comics, cartoons, legends, stories, and movies for a long time. Very cool class.