I feel the classes in the 4E Players Handbook are not perfectly balanced, and they should've been done differently. The Players Handbook classes/role/power source are as follows:

Fighter (Defender) (Martial)
Cleric (Leader) (Divine)
Rogue (Striker) (Martial)
Wizard (Controller) (Arcane)

Paladin (Defender) (Divine)
Warlord (Leader) (Martial)
Ranger (Striker) (Martial)
Warlock (Striker) (Arcane)

Roles:

Defender x 2
Leader x 2
Striker x 3
Controller x 1

Power Sources:

Martial x 4
Divine x 2
Arcane x 2



Now for a game that's all about balance, this sure doesn't look very balanced.


First off, I don't think the Warlord should've been in the PHB at all. It's a neat buff class, but it just isn't essential at all, and I guarantee you it was the least popular class in the PHB. It's weird and semi-complicated, and

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Rather than choosing Class as the First Option, perhaps players could choose a mechanics system for their characters based on the standard classes.

Once that is determined, abilities that are standard to various classes (spells, maneuvers, tricks, etc.) can be added based on a power level of those abilities.  In combat some abilities could stack if desired.  For spells, power levels could stack to cast higher level spells or enhance spells to higher levels.

For this system we will assume that 4 encounters per day will last 4 turns each for a total of 16 turns per day.  This will be used to balance the mechanics for at will, encounter, and daily powers so the class mechanics are roughly equivalent.

We will also assume that powers grow linearly.  A 4th level power is equal...

Playing both D&DNext and Pathfinder back to back was so interesting, I jumped at the chance to do it again, and again it has inspired me, giving me a chance to actually “feel” some of the most important design decisions for D&DNext working in action.

In D&DNext, I like how many feats and abiilties (like Shield Bash, Spell Tactician and others) are designed to add more interesting decision making moments into a player's turn.  WoTC is certainly going in the right direction with feats and abilities like these. This is one of the huge benefits to D&DNext that I'm sensing especially since I've been playing a little Pathfinder intermixed with playtesting D&DNext. In Pathfinder (D&D 3.5/3.75) power creep (and gaining power) really centers on gaining "to hit" and damage bonuses.

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Last Saturday, I was able to play a little D&DNext and a little Pathfinder back to back. In both sessions, I played a cleric that I made to maximize AC and serve as a combatant.  I was amazed by the difference in feel for the two games.  Overall, I enjoyed the D&DNext game more for a number of reasons.

First, in the D&DNext game, my cleric (a Dwarven Lightbringer) could attack with his battleaxe and hit quite often.  Against kobolds and goblins, he could even kill with a single blow.   That felt good.  

Not only could the cleric in D&DNext attack and hit in melee, but he could also move around and play strategically using Shield Bash to grant disadvantage to a foe when it attacked an ally within 5' of the cleric. (Shield Bash was my choice for 1st level feat...kind...

Divine Favor: Clerical spells rely on divine favor to cast successfully.  A cleric's only limit on the number of spells cast per day is the diminishing favor of the cleric's patron deity.  A cleric still cannot cast a spell whose spell level exceeds half the cleric's level+1.  Every time a cleric casts a spell, the player must roll a Wisdom check against a DC of 5.  The DC requires is adjusted as follows:

• +5 per level of spell attempted to be cast
• +1 per spell level attempted since your last long rest
• -2 per level of cleric
• -2 if your prior attempt to cast a spell failed
• -2 if cast as a ritual spell with proper components
• Additional bonuses granted by DM based on assessment of the Cleric's faithfulness to the tenants of the faith

Optional Rule 1: A cleric

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To provide a different feeling for each class I propose using different mechanics for each.

Fighter - Martial Damage Dice (replenished each round)
Wizard - Vancian spell system (replenished each day after long rest)
Cleric - Something like the Divine Favor System (named by Wrecan)
community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...
Described by me at:
community.wizards.com/kezzek/blog/2013/0...
Rogue - Skill tricks, skills, bonuses, and abilities all applied at will without limits
Sorcerer, Warlock - powers as in 4th edition (at will, per encounter, per day)
Psion, Monk - Power points or Ki pool....

Hey guys, I haven't been on the page in a while so heres a brief wrap up of the team just for those who were interested.

Ramulis Polis - lvl 10 Half-Elf Sorcerer (Leader)

Leokas Silverkin - lvl 9 Half-Elf Druid

Tyrion Horvath - lvl 9 Human Ranger

Nasoj - lvl 9 Human War Domain Cleric

Altheas Dior - lvl 8 Human Fighter

Attilius - lvl 6 Elf Rogue

Ulfric - lvl 5 Barbarian


To those who find this interesting, at some point I will write a full synopsis of our campaign. It's very interesting I must say. It is my first campaign and it surely will not be forgotten. We have lost some players along the way but the story still lives on. Our DM is amazing with his story telling abilities and his creativity.

If anyone has any comments or suggestions, please feel free to do so. Comment, message me, add your own...

So tomorrow the campaign continues. A new member is joing us. Our Ranger's, Tyrion's, younger brother will enter with his first ever character. His name, race, and stats are unknown to me but I do know he is a Roque.

To help you visualize our group we have:

A level 6 Half-Elf Druid (who died but was rezzed and should actually be level 7). Thats me.

A level 8 Half-Elf Sorcerer.

A level 8 Human Cleric.

A level 5 Human Ranger.

A level 2/3 _____ Barbarian. I dont remember his race at the moment.

A level 4 Half-Elf Sorcerer.

A level 4 Human Fighter.

And now our new Rogue.

Lets see how tomorrow blesses us. =]