Some ideas:
Barbarian:
Wildfrenzy Barbarian: A barbarian focused on two-weapon fighting (if both the Ranger and the Fighter have builds for this, why not the Barbarian?) and multiple-enemy/close burst attacks. May use STR/CON as its primary stats, though STR/DEX or even DEX/CON is also possible, since there's Wizard and Bard builds that use alternate stat placements.
Druid:
Summoning Druid: As far as I can recall, there's already some preview material for Druid summons. A Druid build based on summoning animals is a distinct possibility, since the Invoker and Wizard also get summoning powers.
Shaman:
Wolf Shaman
Serpent Shaman: Not sure of the particulars here, but additional shaman powers may revolve around additional animal totems to provide their powers to the shaman.
Warden:
Frostborn Warden: A warden build focused on channeling the power of the winter wind and frost. Will probably involve a lot of slowing effects and ice-based attacks.
What do you think?
- Shaman: Powers/Build built around Spirits possessing the Shaman, allies and enemies. This could either be the Spirit Companion itself, or other Spirits.
- Warden: Have Powers/Build built around its partial transformation. Perhaps ones that are not just Daily, but At-Will and Encounter.
- Druid: Besides Summoning. It be neat if there was stuff based around "weird aberrant" type of Wild Shape.
- Barbarian: I could definitely see a dual-wield build. Would like though a unarmed one (extremely bestial like).
Overall too, I would like to see heavier spirit emphasis, so no elements used or "nature" just spirits.
For Barbarians, I feel there should be a couple more Thaneborn options, as there's more powers that used Con as the secondary over Cha.
Wardens need another element, perhaps the seas & storms as a theme for one build.
A Warden Build that is not all Close Burst but more Burst, give them some range.
I want Blight (aberrant) Druids with plenty of poisonous and necrotic attacks, and tentacles in beast shape powers.
From all that WotC has said, both with the wilden article and in the Celestian Order article I don't think we'll see this. The Primal power source has been flavored as opposing the Far Realm and abberrations, even more so than any other power source even Divine. It seems that the theme of primal is in the spirits of the natural world, not the gods of the Astral, the primordials of the Elemental Chaos, or even the Lords of the Feywild. The primal source seems wholly concerned with protectcing nature and the natural world from ALL threats and as they're making it sound the biggest threat is from the Far Realm followed by the Primordials.
I could see poisonous attacks but necrotic (Shadowfell themed), or tentacle and other Far Realm related appearances probably won't appear in the primal powers.
extended duration wildshape
Wild Shape is already permanent until you turn into something else, how much more extended can it get?
Me, I'd like to see a wild shape-less druid build.
From all that WotC has said, both with the wilden article and in the Celestian Order article I don't think we'll see this. The Primal power source has been flavored as opposing the Far Realm and abberrations, even more so than any other power source even Divine. It seems that the theme of primal is in the spirits of the natural world, not the gods of the Astral, the primordials of the Elemental Chaos, or even the Lords of the Feywild. The primal source seems wholly concerned with protectcing nature and the natural world from ALL threats and as they're making it sound the biggest threat is from the Far Realm followed by the Primordials.
There's always the possibility that since the Far Realms corrupts, it can surely corrupt primal spirits, the way it's corrupted natural creatures and places. This would give rise to corrupted druids and other such primal characters.
Me, I'd like to see a wild shape-less druid build.
Diddo, Something more based on altering the terrain would be cool.
We need a Plant based Warden build and a Storm based Warden build.
Also, a non-animal Shaman, like Ancestral Shaman.
And a two-weapon/throwing build for Barbarians.
There's always the possibility that since the Far Realms corrupts, it can surely corrupt primal spirits, the way it's corrupted natural creatures and places. This would give rise to corrupted druids and other such primal characters.
Those would make fine villains, but I'd question that as a valid PC concept.
Druid:
Summoning Druid: As far as I can recall, there's already some preview material for Druid summons. A Druid build based on summoning animals is a distinct possibility, since the Invoker and Wizard also get summoning powers.
There has been preview material for summoning druids, along with Totem feats that will likely appear in the Primal Power book.
As far as what I'd like to see - Like the poster who made the first reply, a more Tempest/TWF build option for Barbarians would be my choice, even though I can already achieve that through Hybrid Fighter/Ranger with MC Barbarian(at least in part).
Barbarian:
Wildfrenzy Barbarian: A barbarian focused on two-weapon fighting (if both the Ranger and the Fighter have builds for this, why not the Barbarian?) and multiple-enemy/close burst attacks. May use STR/CON as its primary stats, though STR/DEX or even DEX/CON is also possible, since there's Wizard and Bard builds that use alternate stat placements.
I have mixed feeling about this idea. One one hand, i like the barbarian concept and i think its sad that the fighter and ranger both out do the barbarians DPR just because of the way fighting with two weapons is handled. I mean, the barbarian's only real focus is damage and he's is one-up'ed. On the other hand, a TWF barbarian looks way too much like a ranger, IMO. It was bad enough that they copied the shtick over to the fighter for no good reason, if we do it for the barb it becomes silly.
Those would make fine villains, but I'd question that as a valid PC concept.
One of my favorite characters last edition was an aberration druid! She came into the campaign around level 10 and already had the Aberration Wildshape feat, so she literally never assumed the form of a natural animal for her entire career. The Enhance Wildshape spell allowed me to get all of the Ex abilities of whatever i wildshaped into, so turning into cloakers, will-o'-wisps, mimics, etc, became pretty awesome.
That being said, i couldn't imagine this being a default built. It was a fairly niche concept.
hey it was my favorite druid prc back in 3.5...
*if I'm missing something and there are other ways for Druids to get save penalties, please speak up!
Of course these effects would probably not be as powerful as the Warden Dailies. The whole specialization vs. versatility argument
I have mixed feeling about this idea. One one hand, i like the barbarian concept and i think its sad that the fighter and ranger both out do the barbarians DPR just because of the way fighting with two weapons is handled. I mean, the barbarian's only real focus is damage and he's is one-up'ed. On the other hand, a TWF barbarian looks way too much like a ranger, IMO. It was bad enough that they copied the shtick over to the fighter for no good reason, if we do it for the barb it becomes silly.
Not if it's OVERSIZED Two-Weapon Fighting: two big axes or larger weapons of some kind, rather than just swords. Weapons you'd usually need Two-hands for, but can wield with one each. THAT would be cool. I'm not sure how it would balance, but it would certainly steal back the DPR from the Two-Blade Ranger and the Tempest Fighter and give it to it's rightful owner.
On another note, I highly doubt any Aberration/Taint Druid. It's just against what WotC seem to have in mind for 4e. I could see Bullywugs being it, but not Wildens or Elves or Shifters (or any other PC race). Taint/Aberration madness should stay to the Psionic and Shadow side of things.
About Wardens, we have plant-based powers already. They're the Tree Sentinel Forms, and they set you up for the Verdant Lord PP, where you become a Treant. More plant-powers and cold-powers and storm-powers would be much obliged, but I don't think you could build an Warden build out of them - they're niche for Warden, as opposed to thematic a la Earth Warden and Wild Warden. What the Warden needs is a theme that doesn't lock itself down into a single PP or elemental option. That's for the Player to decide, not for the build to.
As for Shaman, the build names are pretty arbitrary. I reflavour them all the time for the spirit companion I want. Not that I wouldn't like more powers that have flavour already tied to snakes or wolves or spiders. What I liked most about the Shaman was that its Power flavour really delivered the primary Primal Spirits, by naming and evoking them. Fate-Weaver especially.
That leads me to the other thing I want out of Primal Power: more on the story of Primal, and the primary (hah) Primal Spirits themselves. Tribal feats have been confirmed, and WotC have said they'll detail the story more. I like this idea. Detailing the story of the Power Source through its Power book, but in a way that incorporates the fluff to the crunch without being obligatory or enforcing itself upon the crunch. Good stuff.
Not if it's OVERSIZED Two-Weapon Fighting: two big axes or larger weapons of some kind, rather than just swords. Weapons you'd usually need Two-hands for, but can wield with one each. THAT would be cool. I'm not sure how it would balance, but it would certainly steal back the DPR from the Two-Blade Ranger and the Tempest Fighter and give it to it's rightful owner.
I don't think i like the sound of that. TWF is the king of DPR and you want to make it more powerful? While simultaneously stepping on the ranger's toes? I'd rather they try to find a way to boost the effectiveness of greatweapon fighting than make the most damaging style more damaging.
I don't think i like the sound of that. TWF is the king of DPR and you want to make it more powerful? While simultaneously stepping on the ranger's toes? I'd rather they try to find a way to boost the effectiveness of greatweapon fighting than make the most damaging style more damaging.
Some sort of Monkey-Grip skill might be a good concept, but it would have to have a few caveats to keep it balanced.
For instance:
1: While wielding a two-handed weapon in one hand, you receive a -1 penalty to hit. (Perhaps -2, but a -1 penalty seems like it'd be enough of a balancing factor)
2: You can only wield one two-handed weapon in a single hand at a time. So no dual-wielding Fullblades.
3(possible optional rule): You may only wield simple or military two-handed weapons in this manner. Things like Fullblades or Mordenkrads are simply too big to be used one-handed by normal, medium-sized heroes.
There are plenty of ways to do this, and to limit oneself because you don't want the Two-Handed Ranger to lose it's spot as the best striker is silly. The only fear I would hesitate from would be if it leads to a cold war amongst classes, grinding their DPR higher and higher. But I'm sure WotC could figure something out so that wouldn't happen.
The idea of a Barbarian wielding two huge axes is epitomises the build. Difficult to balance, but I say you could probably find the right balance.
There are plenty of ways to do this, and to limit oneself because you don't want the Two-Handed Ranger to lose it's spot as the best striker is silly.
Its not that at all. Its that the ranger looses its flavor spot as the light armor dual-wield striker if we start giving that concept away to even more classes. Why be a ranger when the barbarian does the same thing with larger weapons?
The only fear I would hesitate from would be if it leads to a cold war amongst classes, grinding their DPR higher and higher. But I'm sure WotC could figure something out so that wouldn't happen.
An arms race between 2 different fighting styles wouldn't be bad at all but we are talking about an arms race where all the super powers are dual wielding! Currently, most of the super DPR melee builds either use Tempest Fighter or Ranger power for a base. I see no need to throw barbarian in there only with bigger weapons doing the exact same schtick.
What i would like to see are high-end DPR builds that use either TWF or two-handers and are competitive with each other instead of TWF owning hands down.