General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
The spoilers I read at RPGNet said Wisdom. That one was, IIRC, based on a half-orc avenger folks got a preview of, so Dave's PHB2 preview trumps it, unfortunately. Few dual stats make sense for the orc, but I found Wisdom to be about as reasonable as it gets. Dex, less so.
Honestly, the half-orc hardly needs two complimentary ability score boosts, as he three really, really good class features that smack of power creep all by themselves.
Dex is still the confirmed stat, repeatedly. And there's nothing "power creep" about their racials. Gnomes and Devas are far closer to that than Half-Orcs.
About the druid's animal-themed feats . . . do any of them encourage you to take on specific animal shapes, in order to distinguish a wolf wild shape from a panther wild shape? I know there are utility powers like skittering sneak, but I'm just talking about wild shape enhancements.
The reason I ask is that after the initial druid preview in December, I pitched a Class Acts article that never got a response, but I'm writing it anyway for a Silent7Seven Games release. It's basically a series of feats that only work when you're manifesting the correct animal/beast shape, so I want to make sure it doesn't have much overlap with existing feats.
Thanks!
~ fissionessence
__________________
Click above to see S7S's FREE Rune Soldier Heroic Tier Playtest
also check out Silent7Seven.com for information on The Lunar Scrolls,
and the Advanced Class line including "Druid — Favored Forms"
and "Sorcerer — Aberrant Blood"
About the druid's animal-themed feats . . . do any of them encourage you to take on specific animal shapes, in order to distinguish a wolf wild shape from a panther wild shape? I know there are utility powers like skittering sneak, but I'm just talking about wild shape enhancements.
Feats? No. Thank god.
Quote:
The reason I ask is that after the initial druid preview in December, I pitched a Class Acts article that never got a response, but I'm writing it anyway for a Silent7Seven Games release. It's basically a series of feats that only work when you're manifesting the correct animal/beast shape, so I want to make sure it doesn't have much overlap with existing feats.
I personally would despise such official incentives for fluff specialization. The biggest thing about the druid, shaman, and warden now? The thing I really, really love? The way you can decide for yourself what your wildshapes, forms, and spirit look like. I don't want a wolf, I want an angel. Or an otyugh. Or a six-armed ethereal owlbear with an emphasis on mobility instead of raw power. Or myself, holding magic daggers. It is very easy to choose your own flavor now as far as I've seen, and have that flavor match the mechanics regardless of how outlandish that flavor is; and I would hate to see that passed over in favor of someone who prefers druids as A MOOSE AND NOTHING ELSE BUT.
Well, your mileage may vary. And obviously does. I have no problems with that, I guess.
(on an entirely unrelated note, good lord. Is there any particular reason why all the ENWorld smilies look so dumb?)
I don't see why Strength and Dexterity would be seen as more complementary than Strength and Wisdom given the way 4e is structured. So far, the only classes really prioritize Strength and Dexterity in the same build are Fighters and Rogues, although Barbarians and melee oriented Rangers definitely benefit from the Dexterity. Strength and Wisdom are important to weapon using Clerics, melee-focused Rangers, Wardens, Strength-focused Paladins, and Fighters.
One interesting element of Half Orcs receiving boosts to Strength and Dexterity is that it promotes using the race in a manner that is consistent with their initial appearance in AD&D where they had decent progressions as Fighters, Thieves, Thief-Acrobats, and had an unlimited progression as Assassins. They could be clerics, but only had a minimal progression.
I don't see why Strength and Dexterity would be seen as more complementary than Strength and Wisdom given the way 4e is structured. So far, the only classes really prioritize Strength and Dexterity in the same build are Fighters and Rogues, although Barbarians and melee oriented Rangers definitely benefit from the Dexterity. Strength and Wisdom are important to weapon using Clerics, melee-focused Rangers, Wardens, Strength-focused Paladins, and Fighters.
One interesting element of Half Orcs receiving boosts to Strength and Dexterity is that it promotes using the race in a manner that is consistent with their initial appearance in AD&D where they had decent progressions as Fighters, Thieves, Thief-Acrobats, and had an unlimited progression as Assassins. They could be clerics, but only had a minimal progression.
One of the best, high-damage builds involves the storm warden paragon path for two-weapon melee rangers. Most of its special features are keyed off of the character's dexterity score. Half-orcs have the ideal stats for that build.
Back on tpoic, could someone explain how Coordinated Explosion and Restful Healing work?
After a rest (either short or extended), you maximize healing done before the next encounter. (i.e. a cleric's healing word wouldn't roll the 1d6's instead just assuming you've maxed out the rolls).
It basically encourages/rewards the players for taking multiple short rests in a row and using their healing word to maximize healing.
After a rest (either short or extended), you maximize healing done before the next encounter. (i.e. a cleric's healing word wouldn't roll the 1d6's instead just assuming you've maxed out the rolls).
It basically encourages/rewards the players for taking multiple short rests in a row and using their healing word to maximize healing.
Seems to me as a way to give other leaders a little of the bard song of rest, and maybe raising this bard ability itself.
Could you please post one of the Invoker 29 Dailies? Perhaps the one that is, in your opinion, the most powerful?
I am curious if their high-end dailies are as brutual as the Wizard ones...
The one that seems the coolest is
invoke the Absolute Dark
Area burst 2 within 20
Wisdom vs Fort
Hit 6d6+wis Miss for half
Effect create zone of darkness that slows, deals 10 damage and slides one square to the center if they start their turn in the area. You can dismiss the zone
If you sustain, it grows one square to a maximum burst 5
Looks really nasty as if the target does not have teleportation, or cannot be pushed or slid out of the are, it might well be inescapable, especially after it has been sustained a round or two.
Thanks so much for posting that. I really appreciate it.
That looks pretty weaksauce compared to Legion's Hold or whatever the ice one is called. If the target double moves or runs (or both) it can easily get out. It will have to waste a turn to do so, and it can be pushed back in, and everything, so it looks like a great power. But compared to the Wizard ones, it's nothing.
This is not a problem for me, though. I actually think many of the Epic-level Wizard dailies are WAY over the top.
About the druid's animal-themed feats . . . do any of them encourage you to take on specific animal shapes, in order to distinguish a wolf wild shape from a panther wild shape? I know there are utility powers like skittering sneak, but I'm just talking about wild shape enhancements.
The reason I ask is that after the initial druid preview in December, I pitched a Class Acts article that never got a response, but I'm writing it anyway for a Silent7Seven Games release. It's basically a series of feats that only work when you're manifesting the correct animal/beast shape, so I want to make sure it doesn't have much overlap with existing feats.
The druid class seems to be going out of its way to say the specific shape you choose does not matter at all, as there is nothing about gaining abilities of the shapes. So I suppose you could change into an eagle, and look silly flapping around on the ground doing as much damage as a bear shape. Some flavor text and power names suggest or outright state a form, but there is no requirement in the power to be that form. You can use wolverine XXX even if you are a giant ant.
As far as I can se for feats, it is the same there
About 1/2 of the powers (and 3/4 of the at-wills) require you to be in beast shape to use the attack. The more controller type spells are not usable in beast shape, but switching back and forth is not too hard, you can do it once a round as a minor action. You can sustain powers in your beast form though you cannot make new ones, and the druids have some very nice zones.
Yes, like the skittering above, there are a couple power s that specify forms, but the vast majority do not.
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Last edited by Dice4Hire; 9th March 2009 at 01:44 AM..
Reason: forgot a point
The druid class seems to be going out of its way to say the specific shape you choose does not matter at all, as there is nothing about gaining abilities of the shapes. So I suppose you could change into an eagle, and look silly flapping around on the ground doing as much damage as a bear shape. Some flavor text and power names suggest or outright state a form, but there is no requirement in the power to be that form. You can use wolverine XXX even if you are a giant ant.
As far as I can se for feats, it is the same there
About 1/2 of the powers (and 3/4 of the at-wills) require you to be in beast shape to use the attack. The more controller type spells are not usable in beast shape, but switching back and forth is not too hard, you can do it once a round as a minor action. You can sustain powers in your beast form though you cannot make new ones, and the druids have some very nice zones.
Yes, like the skittering above, there are a couple power s that specify forms, but the vast majority do not.
Thanks a lot for this answer! I can appreciate why they designed this way, and I'm sure plenty of people agree with Inyssius's opinion as stated in his post above. But hopefully more people than just me will enjoy feats that let them more fully embody the shapes they take (you can always 'reskin' the feat to require a different beast form; mechanically the point is that you can't take advantage of more than one feat at a time).
~ fissionessence
__________________
Click above to see S7S's FREE Rune Soldier Heroic Tier Playtest
also check out Silent7Seven.com for information on The Lunar Scrolls,
and the Advanced Class line including "Druid — Favored Forms"
and "Sorcerer — Aberrant Blood"
Awhile back in another thread someone asked whether the PHBII was needed if you have a DDI subscription. Scott replied that there were non-character generation rules in the PHBII that you would need to buy the book for. My question is, are there such rules, and if so what topics/issues do they cover?
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