Originally Posted by
darud
Well, yes, bringing Raven, Starfire, BB and Cyborg not just that fixed the TT but pushed them right on top, among the most successful comics of that era, in general, not just for DC. Also made the basis for their big success in cartoons and now live series. I like the other Titans too and I will be more than OK for them to join the team from time to time but yes, they don't bring as much on the table as the original NTT ones
Ascended offered a quite good reply actually, but I will go a bit more detailed
I won't say Dick and Donna were the most important by far. Maybe on some moments, surely not always. Raven, Starfire etc definitely had their moments too, especially at first when the NTT were formed (by Raven, basically) and established their new status in DC (which wasn't anymore the teen sidekicks of JL but a combination of original characters and few former sidekicks moving away from their mentors shadow, all of them already young adults by now).
Trigon (and by extension Raven) had put the Titans on top as an A team as powerful as the JL. He is one of the most powerful characters in DC and dealing with him successfuly had shown that Titans can be at least as good as the JL (who were mostly irrelevant in the fight against him) when they have to face such huge threat levels. Starfire KOing WW or Raven taking down the JL were also moments who established that Titans not just that don't necessary need to look for JL help at every corner and in such big problems but they can be just as powerful (or even superior) to them.
Then as I said, if and when they bring back together the NTT they also need to bring back that spirit and their previous status from W and P era. If you bring them just to polish the boots of JL or wash the Batmobil and do some JL less important errands it won't work. If you downplay or dumbdown their villains to not upset some scale that make JL look better when fight their own it will also won't work, regardless which members you use for the Titans
I already said why the later NTT reunions didn't worked quite as good as the original. Also Raven didn't take over Trigon throne, she had get evil, wanted to take over Earth and main DC universe and that was resolved in the same couple issues by her turning back herself to her good side. Then just few issues later the NTT were broken again however and nothing could have develop more, obviously.
What I thought of, inspired by Ascended post too (didn't remembered it was him) was that she take the throne of his underworld realms, but in secret, without telling anyone about and still playing along as Titans member. I think that will open more possibilities for various story arcs on the long run.
About power levels, well, Donna is a powerhouse, I agree, but she is at best close to Starfire. Wally is great, I will definitley be OK to come back, if possible. Garth, no ofence but is not anywhere near Raven, neither as magic neither as potential for stories. Steel can at least partially replace Cyborg as the tech guy, or girl in this case
I get you like more the Fab 5, and I am ok with them joining the team from time to time, that will be cool (other Titans too) but i stay with my opinion that the NTT team should be the core group who allow the greatest potential from multiple points of view