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What classes do people think will be core? Or if you think they'll do the "all books are core" route again, which classes will be in the initial book (whether it's called PHB or Basic Set or whatever)?

A common complaint about 4th ed is that there are too many classes. I think WotC is going to listen to this and go to the other extreme, which will be to only have a very limited number of core classes. Instead of introducing new classes, Wizards will instead introduce new builds for the classes.

Here is the list of core classes and their builds that I think we'll get:

Fighter (Core)
A man that uses a weapon (or two) in battle. It will have the following builds:

• Ranger (Build): Fighter with animal companion.
• Monk (Build): Fighter who uses his fists.
• Barbarian (Build): Fighter who has little training but instead just goes into wild rages.
• Warlord (Build): Healing Fighter.

Rogue (Core)
A sneaky type that uses finesse and deception to attack it's enemies. It will have the following builds:

• Bard (Build): Has some arcane abilities that focus on deception and healing.
• Assassin (Build): Has some supernatural abilities.

Cleric (Core)
A priest that focuses on healing. It will have the following builds:

• Paladin (Build): Has some healing, but focuses more on fighting.
• Druid (Build): A protector of nature that transforms into animals.
• Avenger (Build): A Holy Assassin.
• Invoker (Build): Uses Words of Power to call upon great power that it can barely control.
• Shaman (Build): A protector of nature that focuses on healing and has a spirit companion.
• Runepriest (Build): Similar to an invoker, but uses these powers to wield a powerful weapon.

Wizard (Core)
A spell caster that spends years of study to master the arcane arts. It will have the following builds:

• Sorcerer (Build): Unlike a Wizard they're born with magic.
• Warlock (Build): Made a pact to gain it's arcane powers.
• Artificer (Build): Something of a healing Wizard, it could also create minions that it uses in battle.
• Swordmage (Build): A wizard that uses a sword and focuses on melee fighting.

All this is pure speculation, but I thought it would be fun to do that. I think these builds won't be in the initial book but will instead be in later supplements.

What do other people think we'll get as the core classes in the initial book?

I agree with the notion of having fewer, broader classes. The 4e approach of specific classes to fit a narrow character concept just resulted in the more "oddball" choices (such as the seeker or runepriest) getting little support.

Deciding which classes are iconic enough to make it into the initial release is an important choice. As I understand it, some people were disappointed that the druid or bard didn't make the cut in the first 4e PHB, and may not have returned when those classes did become available. As such, the first PHB should contain the most "classic" or "iconic" classes, leaving the newer experimental stuff for later installments.

Naturally, you need to have the basic four:

Fighter
Wizard
Rogue
Cleric

Beyond that, I'd suggest the following classes:

Warlord
Monk
Paladin
Bard
Ranger
Druid

This would give us four martial classes (Fighter, Rogue, Warlord, Monk), two divine classes(Cleric, Paladin), two arcane classes(Wizard, Bard), and two primal classes(Druid, Ranger). The Paladin and Ranger would also be part martial, with access to some martial abilities. This should cover the basics, while saving classes like the Barbarian, Sorcerer, and Warlock for later.

Whether they go for broader classes or narrow classes is ultimately irrelevant, it is merely important that they pick one approach and stick with it.

Jan 15, 2012 -- 11:51AM, JohnLynch wrote:

• Warlord (Build): Healing Fighter.

OK, no. That's not what a Warlord is. (Though they are, amusingly, better healers than the Cleric in the current gamestate.)