Runepriest
Due to the Dwarves' natural dislike of magic, but the fact that some people would want a mage that could take a hit, the Rune Priest was invented during the earlier years of Dungeons & Dragons. It essentially works the same way a wizard would...except you use (wait for it, wait for it) runes.
In 4th edition, they are a Divine Leader, which means that they have to compete with Clerics rather than Wizards. Since few people have any objection to Dwarven Clerics, they're at a pretty huge loss. Like every other class in the Player's Handbook 3, the Runepriest is so complicated that nobody can tell whether it's OP or UP.
| Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Classes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player's Handbook 1 | Cleric • Fighter • Paladin • Ranger • Rogue • Warlock • Warlord • Wizard | |
| Player's Handbook 2 | Avenger • Barbarian • Bard • Druid • Invoker • Shaman • Sorcerer • Warden | |
| Player's Handbook 3 | Ardent • Battlemind • Monk • Psion • Runepriest • Seeker | |
| Heroes of X | Blackguard* • Binder* • Cavalier* • Elementalist* • Hexblade* • Hunter* • Mage* • Knight* • Protector* • Scout* • Sentinel* • Skald* • Slayer* • Sha'ir* • Thief* • Vampire* • Warpriest* • Witch* | |
| Settings Book | Artificer • Bladesinger* • Swordmage | |
| Dragon Magazine | Assassin | |
| Others | Paragon Path • Epic Destiny | |
| *·: Non-AEDU variant classes | ||