I also think there should be some attack powers for the heroes apart from just basic attacks. Perhaps a second type of at-will?

So far, Per Scene/Per Session are all specific to class but I might go further and completely adopt “skill powers” like PHB3 that just need to be trained in a skill to get.

I envision again very generic base classes, with some really juicy multiclass feat options. You’re generally less single-attribute limited (D20M, dex was an uberstat!) which really opens up the build possibilities.

I can certainly see a few balance passes on the at-wills as presented here, giving them value that someone will actually use one in place of a basic attack. I like the idea of your selection of at-wills being based on fighting style as opposed to class, I’d like to see it expanded to encounter, utility and daily powers that can be chosen by all classes, with a few class-specific ones. Classes will come with their own special powers (perhaps a choice based on build: Is your fast hero agile or precise?) to differentiate them. I like this idea.

Aim seems way too good for the Fast hero. Sacrificing a move action is worth it for a class that uses ranged weapons and is good at moving in the first instance. It will be spammed, heavily. Another example of where Fast/Dex proves to be too broad for its own good.

Also, I agree that the kickers don’t seem balanced, as some classes have more than others AND some classes have a better variety than others (e.g. Fast heroes have great variety…Strong heroes not so much).

Plus, who in their right mind would take a power if they don’t qualify for at least 1 of the kickers?

Andrew: Feint right now is in 4e, just as a skill thing and not a power, so I’m not quite as worried about that one. Aim might be used often with ranged attacks, but that may be OK. I’m still hoping that people will be moving around, just incentivized in different ways. I’ll have to be careful about that. And I agree Duck should be Per Scene, though I do have a “Block with stuff” power that I’m considering getting back to At-Will.

Also, that’s not all the powers, just the ones I’ve hammered out enough. There will be an equal amount of kickers for each class.

Bartoneus: Thought about that issue today, and I’m definitely going to encourage no matter what that the pg. 42 chart be heavily used. I’m thinking though that in the case of Shoving and similar where there’s a power and just a generic move, there’s a “non trained” penalty where you don’t get the half level bonus unless the GM rules that it’s appropriately cinematic. On first blush I like the idea a lot but I’ll have to think about it more.

CharlesWK: I purposely wanted to shift the focus away from direct attack/combat powers (and some classes aren’t combat classes particularly) but maybe I swung the balance too far and need to toss in some more direct powers. I don’t mind making the basic attacks more relevant, but maybe they don’t need to be the only solution.

Sian and Saragon did touch upon a concern that I share, which is that without any Weapon At-Wills there is going to be plenty of movement, forced movement, grabs, conditions and buffs, but when someone wants to shoot a gun or throw a punch they’re going to default to a Basic Attack, which i think takes a lot of the flavor out of 4e combat. I would really like to see some At-Wills like Twin Strike or Scorching Burst turn into things like Double Tap or Autofire which could be available to everyone who wants to use a Firearm, but would have kickers for to help make Soldier, Gangster or other combat orient archetypes, without forcing them to use weaker Basic Attacks constantly.

Breather makes sense in a modern context as well, if you’re resting then spending a healing surge or someone administering first aid to you is more effective. Again I like how this illustrates the adversity such as moving and shooting is less effective, doing anything and trying to heal is less effective as well.

My big concern comes from how many at-will powers a hero might get, and that you could feasibly have a hero who cannot grab a target at all or cannot shove someone, but Dave knows about these concerns already so I imagine we’ll see something addressing them.

In my own game, I might create a second 1st-level encounter power slot that can only be filled by one of these. That way you’d end up with a unique or “signature” move, that adheres to the “more combat options” philosophy of 4th Edition D&D.
.-= Saragon´s last blog ..Goblin Throwdown, Part Two =-.

Well, I don’t see whole picture here, but is it valuable option to trade move for +1, or it’s just be full-round action (Faint/Aim + Attack) constantly?

What type of action is Taunt?

I don’t get Breather — it’s goal to team tactic: I heal you, you help me healing yourself?

Change Duck to Per Scene and make it little bit more powerful: add “and you have cover in reach (close range?)”. It’s feel more like one time opportunity cinematic stunt, and don’t belong to at-will powers, IMHO.

And I don’t see balance in “kickers” — some classes get more, some less.