Why do you lke the Primal source?

[Shroomy]

I think that the primal power source is the best conceived power source in terms of theme and its supporting fluff (its definitely much more unified). Arcane, Martial, and to a lesser extent, Divine, are much more generic in comparison.

 

[RedBeardJim]

For me, the reasons I like it are all wrapped up in a sentence I first read almost thirty years ago:

"A thing is about to happen which has not happened since the Elder Days: the Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong."

 

[Dedekind]

I think that the primal power source is the best conceived power source in terms of theme and its supporting fluff (its definitely much more unified). Arcane, Martial, and to a lesser extent, Divine, are much more generic in comparison.

The recent D&D podcast mentioned how they really put a lot of time into the fluff of Primal Power. It always surprised me by how little fluff is put into the divine power and martial power. But I always liked fluff...

 

[Rechan]

The recent D&D podcast mentioned how they really put a lot of time into the fluff of Primal Power. It always surprised me by how little fluff is put into the divine power and martial power. But I always liked fluff...

About six months ago, I had a lunch with Rodney Thompson. I asked him about the Elemental power source, and basically "If so many classes all ready do lots of elemental damage (Wizard, Sorcerer), how is the Elemental power source going to stand out?"

His response was basically "We haven't even started designing the Elemental classes. But when we do, we're going to come up with a Story for them. That story will tie them to the world, and will reflect their mechanics."

You can see what he's talking about with the Primal classes. I expect the Psionic classes to be similar (Well, except for the Monk). The Psionic classes, it looks like, are themed around an awakening in response to the Far Realms encroachment.

I get the impression from the PHB that the devs were so busy trying to hammer out the rules and get everything set up, and also market it, that they didn't really think about real unification. They wanted to get the classes to work, and get them out the door. I think that now they have "room", breathing wise, and mechanics wise, to explore. The framework that they made is rather strong, and now they can tinker with the framework.

 

[AverageCitizen]

I think that the primal power source is the best conceived power source in terms of theme and its supporting fluff (its definitely much more unified). Arcane, Martial, and to a lesser extent, Divine, are much more generic in comparison.

See, I really like that about Arcane and Martial. They are amoral, no strings attached. They're just tools that your character uses to advance his or her own goals. I'm more of a noir fan, and primal just doesn't fit as well. That's why I can tolerate Divine a bit more, because religion is a part of so many people's lives. It adds a bit of a Father Dowling Mysteries feel to the whole thing. (It was like Diagnosis Murder with a catholic priest.)

The recent D&D podcast mentioned how they really put a lot of time into the fluff of Primal Power. It always surprised me by how little fluff is put into the divine power and martial power. But I always liked fluff...

I like making new worlds, so I think that is why I am predisposed to the generic sources. All of the player's material is permeated with the standard setting fluff for the Primal source, and changing it is like cleaning up after a feather pillow fight with a chain devil.


I think I just feel like a character's class should represent his skill set and not his personality or motivation. Primal power source just comes with so much attached it seems one-dimensional.

And as long as I'm coming clean, I might as well point out that I pretty much hate almost all the generic fluff that Wizards produces. I cringe at all of the power flavor-texts. Admittedly, it's not really their fault. They have to keep it generic to avoid stepping on DMs toes, and the beauty of story-telling has always been in the details. When I take the mechanical concepts and generic story ideas and then weave them in to my campaign world, filling in the details and setting up relationships, then even the sources that I "hate" get some cool opportunities. Its just a lot more work to make a primal character up to par for me. Its just not my thing, so its like swimming up stream.

 

[Rechan]

I'm more of a noir fan, and primal just doesn't fit as well.

Two words: Swamp Thing.

You tilt Swamp Thing right, and you are going to get yourself a nice dark hero.

 

[AverageCitizen]

His response was basically "We haven't even started designing the Elemental classes. But when we do, we're going to come up with a Story for them. That story is going to be tied to their mechanics, and tie the classes together."

It could be great. I just hope they keep it generally applicable.

The Psionic classes, it looks like, are themed around an awakening in response to the Far Realms encroachment.

Oof.

See, if we're going to get into the details, then why don't they go ahead and make an official setting? And if they are, why don't they go ahead and make it Eberron, since they seem so determined to disguise and dilute Keith Baker's ideas to vanilla and spread them all across the game?

I think this is why I don't like fluff, and I'm really not trying to be belligerent here, so if you have read anything I have been saying please carefully consider the following:

Closeup, detailed, event oriented story-telling: Good

Abstract, grand scale history/legend story-telling: Good

A lot of the ground in between: Enthusiastic geeks excitedly describing the cool stuff they just made up.

Does that make any sense?

 

[AverageCitizen]

Two words: Swamp Thing.

You tilt Swamp Thing right, and you are going to get yourself a nice dark hero.

= Epic.

See that is what I mean. I'm a good story-teller, (sorry to brag, but there it is) I'm just not as good with this primal stuff... I need a consultant.

 

[AverageCitizen]

The Barbarian Essentials article on DDi I also aded a lot of non-magical rages.

Primal Power added a lot of non-elemental barbarian powers. So you can have the barbarian that just channels an ungodly rage, or you can have a barbarian that channels totems like the Winter Wolf or the Black Dragon.

Good to know. I think I'll look into those.

Good news, I think this is working. Between multiple posters invoking the Entmoot and Rechan bringing in Swamp Thing you guys are getting me there. Keep it coming.

 

[Theroc]

I would say that Nymphs and Dryads would be connected to the 'Primal' Source, since they are(at least in mythology to my knowledge) the 'spirits' of the various natural occurances. Tree nymphs and whatnot.