what to expect?

[Majoru Oakheart]

OK, so when questioned about talent trees, they gave a nebulous answer that does not confirm or deny them specifically but leaves room for the reader to infer something like them.

Thanks for the clarification!

Yeah. What we DO know is that the tier system appears to be integral at a number of levels. Feats have only prerequisites of tiers, the type of things that character are supposed to do are determined by what tier you are in, adventures are written by tier and so on.

I think the powers you get will be heavily based on the tier you get them in.

 

[JohnSnow]

I'm trying to understand how 4e classes are structured. Perhaps there's not enough information, but I'm wondering...Is something like this what you are expecting?

Fighter
HP: d10
Saves: Fortitude good
Combat: +3 start, +1 each level gained
Skills: 4 + INT trained/ 4 + INT points each level gained

I can pretty much guarantee that none of these is correct. A fighter might very well get a bonus to his Fort defense and his BAB (+2 or even +3). However, the progression from there on for every character will be exactly the same not counting any feats or powers the character takes.

My evidence is the following quote from Wizards Presents - Races and Classes:

In 4th Edition, (all the progressions) have been combined into a single level-based check modifier that applies to all of your character's attacks, defenses, and skill checks. All 10th-level characters have a +5 bonus to AC, all three defenses, attacks, and so on. Naturally, your ability scores, class abilities, and feat selection impact this single progression, so you can expect that a paladin's Fortitude defense will be significantly better than his Reflex defense, and likewise better than the rogue's Fortitude defense. In fact, every class features important attack or defense boosts at 1st level that distinguish their best traits from their ordinary ones.

I think that says it all.

 

[Andre]

All 10th-level characters have a +5 bonus to AC, all three defenses, attacks, and so on.

This is the part I can't figure out. Once you add in armor and shields, it gets pretty hard to hit an opponent (unless the level bonus to AC overlaps with, vs stacks with armor).

Fighter-1
Combat bonus +3
Level bonus to attack: 1/2 level (rounded down?)
Total bonus to attack: +3

Opponent
Combat bonus +0
Level bonus to AC: 1/2 level (rounded down?)
Armor: chain shirt +4
Shield: +1
AC: 15

The fighter needs a 12 or better to hit (55%). And while the bonuses to attack and AC scale evenly as characters level, up armor will likely get better. What happens when the opponent is running around in plate armor and a large shield (+10 AC). Now the fighter needs a 17 to hit (20%)

Obviously, stats and items can make a big difference, but I thought we were moving away from dependence on items, and I'm personally tired of the importance of stats in building effective characters (not every fighter should have to be conan-sized to be successful).

Since I believe the designers when they say they will keep the "sweet spot" all the way through - any idea how?

 

[Rechan]

Something forgotten: you get Something New every level. Be it a feat, or a new class power, or something, but they've expressed that you something when you level up.

The fighter needs a 12 or better to hit (55%). And while the bonuses to attack and AC scale evenly as characters level, up armor will likely get better. What happens when the opponent is running around in plate armor and a large shield (+10 AC). Now the fighter needs a 17 to hit (20%)

1) I doubt that we'll get such a huge inflation from armor.

2) You're forgetting Fighter powers and feats. Also weapons. For instance, they've said swords are more accurate; so there might be a bonus to attack for using swords.

 

[Xethreau]

All character class advancements look the same. This means BAB and Defenses will progress in the same manner. I also think this will mean that all classes might get powers and feats at the same rate, I am not sure.


The designers have never said anything, to my recollection about "talents," and I am confident that "Class Abilities" have been split up into Feats (cross-class-selectable, always active) and Powers (multiple choices, exhaustible abilities). Talents, as per SWSE, are complete conjecture from the fans. I find it likely that talent "Trees" have been replaced by Paths and Destinies, honestly, but W/e. However, we do know that they get Powers as they level up, and it is likely that they get feats as they level up as well. Powers may or may not have trees, same with Feats.

Don't be afraid to put multiple "Sellect Power/Feat" in the same level (remember the latest "Confessions" article?) Also, no dead levels; all, or nearly all, levels should have something.

If classes are similar to SWSE classes, then they will get bonuses to their defenses based on their class. The total bonus is "+3" and can be distributed to any of the three defenses as wanted (but no defense penalties.)

 

[Szatany]

Although it was not confirmed either way, we know that they are moving away from randomness during the character creation (ability score point buy is now default). So the chance that HP are no longer rolled each level is a very strong possibility.