Wizards’ update for today is an excerpt regarding Paragon Paths, the tier immediately after Heroic.  The new tier and path system is the replacement for prestige classes from the 3rd Edition. But unlike those prestige classes, Paragon Path abilities and features open up at level 11.  They stack with the base class of a character and are generally intended to portray an area of expertise for the character class.  Wizards has listed a few of the feats a character can take once reaching the new tier as well as one path for each of the base classes.  Presumably these are not the only paths available, but they appear to be the ones generally associated with ideals within their professions.

This preview details the Cleric: Warpriest, Fighter: Kensei, Paladin: Justiciar, Ranger: Stormwarden, Rogue: Shadow Assassin, Warlock: Doomsayer, Warlord: Sword Marshal, and the Wizard: Battle Mage.

Here’s an excerpt of the Cleric: Warpriest Paragon Path

Cleric: Warpriest
“Let loose the gift of battle!”

Prerequisite: Cleric class

Your god demands battle to accomplish the tenets of your faith, and you are the chosen priest at the forefront of the war. When you call upon your divine powers, your weapons glow with holy light.

Warpriest Path Features

  • Extra Damage Action (11th level): When you spend an action point to take an extra action, you also add one-half your level to the damage dealt by any of your standard action attacks this turn.
  • Warpriest’s Strategy (11th level): Once per encounter, if you or an adjacent ally rolls a 1 when making a melee attack or a close attack, you can call for a reroll.
  • Warpriest’s Training (11th level): You receive a +1 bonus to AC when wearing heavy armor.
  • Warpriest’s Challenge (16th level): When you hit an enemy with an at-will melee attack, you can choose to mark that enemy for the rest of the encounter. The next time that enemy shifts or attacks a creature other than you, you can make an opportunity attack against that enemy. If you mark a new enemy with this feature, any previous marks you have made with this feature end.

Thanks to SuperJosh for the scoop.  You can discuss the 4E Paragon Paths in our forums.