@Beta:
I think the original operative agenda for the Character Theme character building is to make the theme-up character first and slapped the other stuff on it as the next step. Well that's what I been doing since its induction.
Most themes are from an isolated region in a world settings giving the impression that the theme's practice is "commonly" known and respected there as well as the practice is a background's "flavor" consist of more than a skill bonus with the idea of the character of this theme can also grow into an effective member of a warrior or a caster class.
Of'course, this can't be true for all the Character Theme for some actual function like a class with the difference seen clearer with the issuing of only utility powers and the issuing of leveling up attack powers. Naturally with the themes granting the leveling up attack powers will effectively resembles a class option; making the now non-optional class choice(s) thru the regulated background benefits, class' features processing and feats deciding most of skills' choices, proficiencies and other character's essentials
I know taking confident if these Character's Themes are effective as a primary build for a character stands to reason by the player yet my experience shows the can without a doubt if only build in a manner that on every possible occasion in the process following after choosing a theme to build the player take advantage of all Character Theme's features and benefits and doing so creates unavoidable optimized character build.
As matter of fact the only way this could failed in creating an optimized build if the player de-prioritized a theme's feature or benefit in sake of a class' feature or a feat's benefit.
The spirit of implementing the Character Theme into 4E was obvious to assist players in creating only optimized and superior graded player's character builds as the clear and present role identity of the character yet too many players find this as an issue to participate in that only with a regular class identity soundly presented as the character role identity can solve which makes the Character Theme either something the player must nit-pick thru in order to meet some regular image related to a "real class" as the only role base image for a DnD character or that player don't want anything to do with it.
Weird is definite here in this train of thought about what is a Character Theme good for as well as the decisive grounds on why make a completed Character Theme player's character to play DnD with. Yes, if this train of thought is why many are passing on using such a build than something more than called weird is here; like to say something odd is here,
*Shrug* I don't get that train of thought logic. Ok, its odd, now.
I think the original operative agenda for the Character Theme character building is to make the theme-up character first and slapped the other stuff on it as the next step. Well that's what I been doing since its induction.
Most themes are from an isolated region in a world settings giving the impression that the theme's practice is "commonly" known and respected there as well as the practice is a background's "flavor" consist of more than a skill bonus with the idea of the character of this theme can also grow into an effective member of a warrior or a caster class.
Of'course, this can't be true for all the Character Theme for some actual function like a class with the difference seen clearer with the issuing of only utility powers and the issuing of leveling up attack powers. Naturally with the themes granting the leveling up attack powers will effectively resembles a class option; making the now non-optional class choice(s) thru the regulated background benefits, class' features processing and feats deciding most of skills' choices, proficiencies and other character's essentials
I know taking confident if these Character's Themes are effective as a primary build for a character stands to reason by the player yet my experience shows the can without a doubt if only build in a manner that on every possible occasion in the process following after choosing a theme to build the player take advantage of all Character Theme's features and benefits and doing so creates unavoidable optimized character build.
As matter of fact the only way this could failed in creating an optimized build if the player de-prioritized a theme's feature or benefit in sake of a class' feature or a feat's benefit.
The spirit of implementing the Character Theme into 4E was obvious to assist players in creating only optimized and superior graded player's character builds as the clear and present role identity of the character yet too many players find this as an issue to participate in that only with a regular class identity soundly presented as the character role identity can solve which makes the Character Theme either something the player must nit-pick thru in order to meet some regular image related to a "real class" as the only role base image for a DnD character or that player don't want anything to do with it.
Weird is definite here in this train of thought about what is a Character Theme good for as well as the decisive grounds on why make a completed Character Theme player's character to play DnD with. Yes, if this train of thought is why many are passing on using such a build than something more than called weird is here; like to say something odd is here,
*Shrug* I don't get that train of thought logic. Ok, its odd, now.