Design and Development: The Deva

[evilbob]

Yes. It's one thing I'm looking to combat by allowing a race to have one floating ability score.

I liked this idea and have tried it. You end up with a slightly higher power curve (since players are slightly more optimized), but players can play the characters they -want- with less of a "penalty."

The way I did it was to allow one +2 bonus to change to whatever you wanted, but the second one had to stay the same. So a half-elf could be +2 Str and +2 Cha, but not +2 Str and +2 Int, for example. Honestly I think it's pretty reasonable.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

It's amusing that they say they're "equally competent with arcane and psionic arts". Though it makes sense as I'd pick them out as being good with divine, even though I think that Tieflings (and Gnomes) are better picks for all of the arcane classes. Though I think it's a good clue that psionics will be using Int and Wis as ability scores.

 

[Alt Boy!]

Yes. It's one thing I'm looking to combat by allowing a race to have one floating ability score.

I assume you give humans two floating scores then?

 

[Klaus]

With all that talk of how difficult it was to translate the devas' look, I think it'd have gone much smoother if they had an in-house artist to illustrate all the steps. The easiest route would be to look at how angels look in D&D and apply some of those characteristics to a humanoid base.

 

[kenmarable]

I think that they would make pretty good invokers, too. I can't wait to play Angel Summoner!

Now we just need a BMX Bandit class!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NTAAvJIGrs]Angel Summoner and BMX Bandit[/ame]

 

[Rechan]

I think it's probably something akin to being a roadie for a rock band. You've hung out with the gods in their home, you call them by their first name, you may have fought alongside them in a past lifetime. With all that intimate exposure to the gods, there's no real need to join the fantasy world equivalent on an online fan club.

I am giving you Xp just for that explanation.

Though I think it's a good clue that psionics will be using Int and Wis as ability scores.

I hope that Psionics uses Con, too. I think a Psi class that's about changing your body would make sense to work off Con.

The way I did it was to allow one +2 bonus to change to whatever you wanted, but the second one had to stay the same. So a half-elf could be +2 Str and +2 Cha, but not +2 Str and +2 Int, for example. Honestly I think it's pretty reasonable.

Yeah, that's what I intend.

I assume you give humans two floating scores then?

Yes.

With all that talk of how difficult it was to translate the devas' look, I think it'd have gone much smoother if they had an in-house artist to illustrate all the steps. The easiest route would be to look at how angels look in D&D and apply some of those characteristics to a humanoid base.

Well. Angels now have no facial features, and no legs.

... Yeah, I can see that working out well.

 

[Klaus]

double post

 

[Klaus]

Well. Angels now have no facial features, and no legs.

... Yeah, I can see that working out well.

Hence my "some features". The first thing that sprang to my mind was deva shedding light through their eyes, and their bodies glowing dimly, as if they were lit by some unseen source (Dr. Manhattan?). Their hair would flow about, as if in a breeze, and faintly luminescent wings could be seen at their backs.

I'd even fold the illumians into the deva, and have each deva marked by a floating Supernal rune on their foreheads.

 

[Mercule]

Well. Angels now have no facial features, and no legs.

Yeah, 4e may be a great game, but they made some very odd flavor decisions.

 

[RyvenCedrylle]

I'm a little confused as to why the deva flavor and optimization 'doesn't match?' They 'defend and inspire?' Alright, so with INT and WIS you've got the Swordmage as a Defender and either the Tactical or Resourceful Warlord as Leader. They're also the two most common rider stats, so they shore up secondary effects for the Fighter (especially the Pit Fighter), and to some extent the Ranger and Cleric as long as you're willing to have a clear dump stat somewhere else.

They obviously do not optimize well for strikers with the exception of a well-planned Ranger. Warlocks and Rogues? No. Paladins are too MAD and this guy has a +2 to INT which does nothing for the Pally. I don't have PHBII so I can't say much there.