However, I hate psionics for that very reason. it makes me jealous. it makes me very very jealous. I’m green with envy. Why can’t my arcane classes give a small boost to their at-wills and still do basically the same attack with a bit more powerful effect at the cost of an intangible power point? what about martial, divine, and primal classes? why can’t they put a bit of extra umph into an attack and have that attack be a little bit more effective and still retain the ability to to that attack at-will.

still, i’m going to have PHB3 soon. I knew right away that i want to see the more races and the more classes. I see this as a way to avoid the bloated mess which existed in 3.5 of prestige classes, multiclassing, gestalt, endless supplements from third parties. The official and original game development company is publishign increased options for players looking for a specific niche. They are declaring how to create the fusion of two classes. They have already given [weak] rules of dabbling into another class.

The adjustment made by creating a paragon path, with a very simple pre-requisite pattern for entry, is a fantastic new perspective on what was prestige classes. you retain your previous class and gain additional benefits from an elite sub-group within that class. later, the epic destiny leads you onward in legend and lore. truly, fantastic shift from the mess of prestige classes.

knowing that races in PHB3 offer shifting ability score bonuses I am further filled with envy. what about all the other races that came before? why couldn’t they show more dynamic stereotypes in their ability score bonuses?

I really don’t argue that there should be a limit to the number of classes. In fact, even under the guise of four roles, and unique power sources, there is room for multiple classes to represent power sources and roles in new ways. The seeker is a fantastic and interesting primal controller that in no way detracts from the druid. A rogue and a ranger could hardly stand one above another as a best martial striker. I would love to see more classes represented in additional power sources and by showing new themes within each power source by introducing alternate role-fulfilling classes for existing classes. Could you imagine a ranged, implement using divine striker? wouldn’t that be neat? what if there were a melee style controller?

I’d like to see a PHB4 and possibly more. I’m not so much afraid of recurring themes or redundancy. I do feel some concern about power creep. Often I consider that it would be a very good idea to develop all the classes and races simultaneously in order to best ensure that the best ideas (like shifting ability scores) is presented early on and that it can be offered right from the start, that the role is well defined and that a class which is meant to fulfill a role can do so appropriately, that a pattern for creating classes is easy and allows for homebrew support more easily.

anyway, that’s just some thoughts.

@ Toldain
You’ve hit on a very important point, no matter what happens to the D&D game we always have previous editions, great games in their own right, that we can fall back on.

@ Kameron
One thing I worry about is that when we start seeing duplicate power source and class roles that we will have duplication. I was very worried about this with the Runepriest, now I haven’t seen the class yet but Ameron’s review of it has rest my fears. The same with the Seeker which is a Primal Controller like the Druid, however the Seeker completes the functions of the role in a very different way.

@ Swordgleam
I don’t assume that everyone wants to play each class and clearly they don’t. In terms of being overwhelmed, that’s something that I think would happen to new players. Though I suppose WotC is looking to combat that with the Core line up.

@ Rook
I’ve seen the Psion in action and it is an interesting class. I personally want to explore the Battlemind a little bit further. I find the Ardent an interesting concept but not sure if I’ll actually enjoy it. Let me know how you enjoy the Psion.

BTW, I’ve been salivating ever since I heard PHB 3 has psionics, and specifically the psion. So you know where I stand on that discussion.
.-= Rook´s last blog ..Where do you game at? =-.

Most people care more about playing the thing they find fun than playing everything available. Adding more classes isn’t overwhelming them with options, it’s giving them just enough. There’s 25 classes, but only half a dozen of each power source and of each role.

More choices can also be a barrier to new players, which is why WotC is limiting classes and races available in their Essentials line. Hmm, all of a sudden I got the feeling we’re seeing history repeat itself with the separation of AD&D and D&D B/X from 20 years ago.
.-= Kameron´s last blog ..Promoting racial diversity in RPGs =-.

I’m in the first category, playing/running long-term campaigns with a stable character base. We will probably buy PH3 at some point, because we can =), not because we are so eager to see the new classes.

I’m an old-timer. As much as I like 4e, (and I do like it) I like 3.5 and even 2nd edition quite a bit as well. If WOTC were to go out of business tomorrow, that would be a shame, but I can still do the same things I’ve always been doing, and have fun doing them.
.-= Toldain´s last blog ..Innovation in EQ2 =-.

On the other hand, they say that variety is the spice of life, and as long as WotC can continue to offer distinctions between the Classes – which they have done by using power sources very nicely – then let them keep creating classes. Can a Player be satisfied playing a Rogue, when they really wanted an Assassin. Or will a Ranger suffice if they really wanted a Barbarian?

I’m all for more classes, so long as they remain distinct, fresh, and interesting.
.-= Neuroglyph´s last blog ..Gearing up for PAX East =-.