So I just want to see what you guys think about this. The devs have stated that they create Players Handbooks to have themes. We know that the theme for PH3 is "Choices," so my question is what were the themes of the two previous PH's and what will be the theme of PH4 (considering it will either include Shadow or Elemental) or what would you LIKE to be the theme of PH4?
We know that it has a lot to do with what each book presents as new within. These are the things that each new PH has presented (so you can consider them).
PH: Races, Classes, Skills, Feats
PH2: Racial Paragon Paths, Backgrounds
PH3: Skill Powers, Hybrid Classes
PH4: ???
Obviously, following PH's will continue to produce elements that were given in previous PH's, but those were the new bits presented within each.
Just for fun, here are my guesses:
PH: Specialization
PH2: History
PH3: Choices
PH4: Tactics (No reason; just think it might be a fun seed)
What do you think?
Sincerely,
Lord Dreadman
PH1: Classics and History, the the majority of the classes are typical fantasy archetypes, and most the races and classes have long running traditions are from fallen empires. Its pretty much the basics of fantasy characters.
PH2: Fury and Freedom, the Primal classes and the majority of races all have a savage aspect to them, while the Bard and the Sorceror are more the 'natural talent' of the arcane classes who don't study but simply do, and the Divine classes are more wrath of the gods as opposed to protection and leadership. I would disagree with your PH2 opinion of being historicial, because other than the deva, most the races other than the deva do not have much of an origin compaired to the PHBI races. I mean, the Goliaths don't even have a creation story or an ancient empire or anything.
PH3: Has been stated to be choices and defence against the Far Realm
PH4: I'm guessing more 'morally questionable' heroes, since the shadow classes are likely to debut (unless the Assassin is coming REALLY far ahead of the other classes). Not evil, just 'darker'. Maybe alittle support for the people who want an evil book, but besides some fluff, 4th rules aren't really focusing on good or lawful good characters either.
You may be over thinking it a bit, PHB1 was Basics, as in no matter where you go these are the most prevalent races and classes you'll see. It gave them the chance to introduce Dragonborn and Tieflings to the core game.
PHB2 was Expansion, beyond the PoL bases of small villages or cities are races and classes that rarely make it to town or are very different compared to to the 'norm'. It also introduced Racial PP and Bakgrounds.
PHB3 is about Exploration, of the Mind with Psionics and of races with the Minotaur, the Githzerai and the Wilden which ventures into the Feywild and introduces the Far Realm invasion. We also get Hybrid Classes and Skill Powers.
PHB4 will no doubt take us to the Planes, starting with the Shadowfell to introduce the Shadow Power source. The majority of the classes and races will be influenced by this, although some will not.
Bel
You may have missed what I was saying, so I'll clarify.
The reason I said Specialization was the theme of PH1 is because the idea of defined roles and trained skills was new to D&D. These facets of class and skill allowed each character to be really good at what it did, or to specialize. Feats also took this route with class specific and race specific feats (nothing new to D&D, but it was certainly emphasized right off the bat). Frankly, this theme is the hardest to nail down because it seems like it is just basic rules, but, if that's the case, why not backgrounds instead of feats? Or hybrids instead of multiclass? Or Half-orcs instead of Tieflings? No, this book has a theme, and though I'm not sure it's "specialization," I am sure it's something.
On PH2 it was much simpler. I understand that Goliaths don't have a big history, but EVERYTHING else in the book does. Backgrounds are decisions regarding your character's history, and Racial Paragon Paths are a specific choice to tie yourself into your racial history. Each one of the classes, from the Bard's epic stories to the Shaman's spirits, has innate ties into the history of the world. Devas, half-orcs, shifters, gnomes, they all have compelling and important histories with the world. Even Goliaths are not wholly without history. For instance, their racial "markings" feats refer to their lives thus far and how they will influence their futures. True, it's not exactly Bael Turath, but it IS history.
By the way, I chose one word to be the theme of each because "choices" is just one word, so I thought I'd stick to what we know.
Share your opinions, please. We can't possibly guess where the game is going if we can't even guess where it's been! 
Sincerely,
Lord Dreadman
Personally, I think "choices" is a dumb theme for a PHB (or any book they release). After all, every new book with new crunch in it is full of "choices."
They could have been a little more original on that. :P
I think "theme" would be a poor word. Maybe a better word would be "focus"? I don't know. I didn't catch the original announcement about all this. "Choices" seems like a focus to me.
Personally, I think "choices" is a dumb theme for a PHB (or any book they release). After all, every new book with new crunch in it is full of "choices."
They could have been a little more original on that. :P
well, it's not like that's thir sales buzzword, just something for them to keep in mind. Sure, every sslat has options, but if you look at PH3, it seems like even the options have options- approx 600 hybrid combinations, power points allowing encounter power flexibility, a race that can swap encounter powers every short rest...