What is your favorite new D&D classes?

[Felon]

and why?

If you haven't figured it out yet, you definitely should've included the marshal and the healer from the Minis Handbook.

Kind of annoyed the marshal didn't make it into CV (the spellthief is just a dumb idea with so-so implementation). It definitely deserves more attention in a core product. Maybe Heroes of Battle?

 

[Pants]

Marshall - I think it's pretty neat, but my players disagree. It helps to fill the void of the 'army commander' type character.

Warlock - It does ooze charisma and flavor and it has some pretty coold abilities too!

Hexblade - Also oozes flavor.

Scout - Better than the Ranger IMO.

Psion - Finally a psionics system and class that works! Yipee!

Soulknife - I think it's pretty cool. The ability to forge a blade of pure mind powers is pretty neat.

Artificer - I too think it fills a deserved niche.

Write in for the Totem Warrior from AE (AU?). This is what a Barbarian should be!

 

[Liquidsabre]

I picked none, since the complete books can't design a decent base class to work themselves out of a paper bag!

Now parts of the classes are really great and I've taken these great ideas and incorporated them into several classes.

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

The Marshal class has a really great Aura mechanic that works wonderfully for the bard as an alternative to bardic music, use with a noble class, and use with the Paladin class as an alternative to spell use (the spells never felt really Paladiny).

The Spirit Shaman also showcased the Spell Retrieval system which in theory is a perfect way to model spontaneous divine casters (with full access to their spell lists, divine casters really, really lose out when limited to the known spell mechanic)! Of course I had to tweak the system to make it a bit more balanced for favored soul use, but it works wonderfully!

The Swasbuckler was another near-miss. It has some great stuff in it but primarily loses out in the longrun, like the fighter, it just doesn't sustain itself through the higher levels in a blanaced way with the other classes. At least, not with a bit or re-tooling.

Oh and the Healer makes a marvelous NPC-class! I ended up making the Adept more arcane and the Healer more divine versions for the two NPC classes.

 

[Particle_Man]

Warlock, by a long shot. I will never play any other arcane caster. No paperwork on remembering spell points, spell slots used, spells prepared, spells memorized, where is my spell book, did I have time to prepare spells, etc. Just get up and go! And of course, they are the most stylish class ever produced by Wotc or Tsr.

I think Hexblade, Swashbuckler, Soulknife have style, but there is something missing, can't put my finger on it, in each.

And I think all 4 would lose power, esp. at high levels, but I am not sure that is a bad thing.
Maybe a campaign that just had classes that lose power at high levels? Then there would be no relative loss...

The psion is great for me. Especially the Shaper sub-class. Mind you, none of my Dm's are crazy about psionics...

The Scout seems nice. I would play that before I played a ranger (I think the spells get in the way of my concept of that niche, so it is nice to avoid them).

I have never read the Artificier or Marshal or Healer, so can't comment. The word of mouth is fairly positive, although I have heard that the Healer is best for "casual gamers" who don't want to get too involved, but like to do something that others value. I wouldn't want to play a Healer, but would love it if others did in my party.

I prefer the Spirit Shaman to the cleric, but again, I would like a Warlockized divine caster (I am spoiled now). But that would need more playtesting, and limits of some kind produced on the healing.

 

[MonsterMash]

I voted none as we don't use splatbooks IMC and to be honest there is so much that can be done with the base classes using the feats and skills who needs more?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I voted none as we don't use splatbooks IMC and to be honest there is so much that can be done with the base classes using the feats and skills who needs more?

Make a Marshal with the base classes and feats.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I voted for Psion above, but the Akashic is the best class I've seen in the last couple of years.

 

[DM JOE]

Warlock,Psion,Pschic warrior,and Soulknife...demon ancestry is just to cool and I have always liked Psionics.

 

[Psion]

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[Remathilis]

In retrospect, I'd like to point out I FORGOT the marshall and Healer, so they are an error or OMISSION, not COMISSION.

Thanks.