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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dire Bare" data-source="post: 5333004" data-attributes="member: 18182">Congratulations to everyone who read the entire OP . . . too long for my attention span.Nice breakdown Phat, although I don't think that the two different styles of class builds are as incompatible as some see them.  An essentials build is more linear on the surface, seemingly more rigid.  However, the various abilities gained at certain levels are only rigid in the sense that there are only a few options to choose from at each point.  With more material in later books and Dragon magazine, it's very possible that when the Slayer has to choose a level 1 ability, he'll have more options to choose from than just Power Strike for an attack power.  It's still more rigid and linear than a non-Essentials build, but not as much as some folks claim.  Plus, the Slayer can choose utility powers from any source, Essential or not, plus 1st level at-will stances.  They don't have access to the wider range of powers a non-Essential build has, but they aren't locked into what is in "Fallen Lands".Still, I would have preferred a style somewhere in between the older products and the Essential products.  Older builds are very open to options, but you only get any real guidance at crafting an effective build at 1st level, beyond that it is too easy to "water down" your build with nonoptimal power and feat choices.  Unless you are pulling a build from a supplemental product and stick with powers only found in that product (and if that product supports 2 or more builds, than it's still an issue).  Essentials builds aren't as rigid as some make them out to be, but I do still find them a bit too limiting.  I'd have loved to see class powers categorized much like feats are now in Essentials, smaller groups in a tighter theme to help you choose effective suites of powers.  Guidance without limitation.I think the concern that Runepriests (forex) aren't good to play due to low Dragon or supplemental book support is overblown.  Just because several of the newer classes don't have the wealth of options that the more traditional classes offer, doesn't make them suboptimal or no fun to play!  The Runepriest with only the feats and powers offered in PHB3 works pretty well just as it is!  IMO.  Sure, more options would be nice, but the lack of them doesn't kill the class.I am interested/concerned that class expansions in the future will be solely in the Essentials style.  It's likely, and makes a degree of sense . . . . supporting the new "edition" rather than the old . . . . but I'd rather see both styles supported.  We'll see what happens . . . .</blockquote>

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