I still have the original manuals.
The first line from each description:
Blaster - specializes in delivering massive damage at range*
Controller - specializes in manipulating the actions of foes, causing them to stand immobile in battle, or controlling their movements, or even turning them into allies.
Defender - power focus on healing foes, increasing their buffing abilities, and decreasing foes' debuffing abilities
Scrapper -specializes in hand to combat. [...go to e-to-toe with enemy]
Tanker - the "big man" of the team combing massive defense with powerful but not exceptionally quick offensive punch.
In the early days of live you made choices that had hard limitations. As hard as Jack tried that turned out to not be the case. Case in point the *Blaster. Yes it has a BOOM stick to hit at range with massive damage.... it can then run up to you and hit you with said BOOM stick for massive damage. Blapping is perhaps the most fun I have at times.
There are no hard rules anymore. A scrapper can take the med pool and heal from the edges. A controller can tank. Etc. A kheldian can be squid only(range), lobster only(tank), human only, and of course all three.
Your hero. Your choice. Build as you wish. You have three builds to make.