Compiled info on upcoming classes & races

[yesnomu]

Has anyone playtested barbarians yet? On paper it looks like they're going to do way too much damage. Or perhaps I just got an initial bad taste in my mouth when I saw 9[W] under their base power.

Anyone with actual playtime under their belt that can comment?

Playing a level 3 Barbarian here. So far, my damage output is very spikey. I'll have rounds where I just hit something with my hammer and do fairly minor damage, and then ones where I one-shot a skirmisher with Avalanche Strike, and then charge another, crit, and hit it again. According to my DM, it seems to balance out. I should compare with the warlock next session.

I am very, very tough, though. I have a shield of temp HP near-constantly, and I've so far never even used half my surges in a day. (Although my DM doesn't seem to attack me much, for some reason.)

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I feel really, really awesome with him. Totally apart from damage output, he's just simply fun to play. Whacking monsters with a Mordenkrad never gets old.

 

[Smog]

Playing a level 3 Barbarian here. So far, my damage output is very spikey. I'll have rounds where I just hit something with my hammer and do fairly minor damage, and then ones where I one-shot a skirmisher with Avalanche Strike, and then charge another, crit, and hit it again. According to my DM, it seems to balance out. I should compare with the warlock next session.

I am very, very tough, though. I have a shield of temp HP near-constantly, and I've so far never even used half my surges in a day. (Although my DM doesn't seem to attack me much, for some reason.)

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I feel really, really awesome with him. Totally apart from damage output, he's just simply fun to play. Whacking monsters with a Mordenkrad never gets old.

Anymore info you can give me after you get some additional play time in would be really appreciated. If you have the time, or remember, feel free to pm/email me any comparisons you're able to draw from more playtime. Keep in mind, though, with your comparisons against the warlock, that they're currently considered slightly weaker than the other strikers.

 

[fba827]

Anymore info you can give me after you get some additional play time in would be really appreciated. If you have the time, or remember, feel free to pm/email me any comparisons you're able to draw from more playtime. Keep in mind, though, with your comparisons against the warlock, that they're currently considered slightly weaker than the other strikers.

People are discussing the barbarian playtest class over in this
http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/247932-hows-barbarian-beta-working-out.html
thread.

You may want to look there for more feedback and discussion on that topic.

 

[Ondo]

Updated the Sorcerer info with a link to the D&D Insider preview, and removed this:

It appears the Sorcerer will be an Arcane Controller. Rich Baker mentions thinking hard about "how it could occupy the same role and power source as the wizard but be a different class" (source), and Christopher Perkins mentions Sorcerer as a possibility for members of the Arcane Caste, along with Wizard and Warlock (source).

Significant info on the Sorcerer here. Sorcerers will get flying a little faster than wizards do (source).

Rich Baker noted when talking about the Sorcerer that things could change in process - apparently they did, since this early info doesn't seem to have much in common with the previewed class.

 

[Eldorian]

There is an article that mentions that Half Orcs make better fighters and rogues than barbarians, implying they have a racial bonus to dex.

Also, the same article talks about their origin story, and completes the gnome race for players. (minus feats).

 

[CubeKnight]

There is an article that mentions that Half Orcs make better fighters and rogues than barbarians, implying they have a racial bonus to dex.

Also, the same article talks about their origin story, and completes the gnome race for players. (minus feats).

For some reason, I always thought Half-Orcs would be +Str/+Dex.

 

[Vael]

I originally thought the Half-Orcs would be STR/WIS, but I'm now pretty sure they're STR/DEX. it's a missing combination, only the Bugbear has that combination, and it's a good option.

 

[andarilhor]

The half-orc sheet from D&DXP indicates both Dex and Wis as possible options... and both funtion well to the race concept... seems we will have to wait to settle this doubt.

 

[Alabast]

There is an article that mentions that Half Orcs make better fighters and rogues than barbarians, implying they have a racial bonus to dex.

Also, the same article talks about their origin story, and completes the gnome race for players. (minus feats).

Link to the article?

 

[Hawke]

New Monk info is in the latest (and last) DDI update from wednesday - namely that there'll be a preview in May and it's confirmed in PHB3