Because we are Star Wars: The Old Republic, and we are our own game
- Our game is designed from the ground up around the group size of four.
- We have a higher level of hybridization in all classes.
- We have companions that are capable of substituting a missing role in a flashpoint group.
- Everyone can revive other players, not just healers.
- We have a higher percentage of tanks in the overall population.
- All our classes can fill at least two roles.
- Most of our advanced classes can fill two roles.
- We're very gradually introducing roles in the game.
- We always have 4 members in a group, even if there are only two players (although I doubt most players would be able to do a flashpoint that way).
- There are 4 classes (on each side), which makes for a perfect iconic party.
- AT-ATs have 4 legs!
So, while everyone knows [insert 50 facts about a very different game], we know that 4 was the perfect number for our game and we didn't think much about 5.
I actually think this is a great decision. With a lot of the classes being able to play similar roles. healing, tanking, and 'DPS', there coule be less of a need on that one tank class in the game or the one healing class in the game. In addition players don't have to worry about being a healer and not being able to kill targets with a companion at their side that can help.
The smaller the group the faster it will be to get it going. This could be a great move by BioWare. We just have to wait and see later in the year.
