PHB3 Debut: Ardent Speculation

[Shroomy]

So... what race is that tiger guy on the cover?




Chris

That's a weretiger (compare to the illustration in MM2), I think the others are fighting him.

 

[thundershot]

That's a weretiger (compare to the illustration in MM2), I think the others are fighting him.

That's what I thought at first, but he definitely looks like he's with them and not fighting them. And he's got a very PC look to him... Of course, the girl with the glowing staff looks to be summoning the little dragon thing, so... I dunno...



Chris (still can't believe Weretigers are naturally EVIL in 4E...)

 

[Flobby]

So... what race is that tiger guy on the cover?




Chris

Tiger guy? You mean the PH3 cover? Isn't that a Githzerai (Githyanki? I always get them mixed up...)

 

[thundershot]

Tiger guy? You mean the PH3 cover? Isn't that a Githzerai (Githyanki? I always get them mixed up...)

No, the cover of the latest Dragon in the link on the first post of this thread...



Chris

 

[yesnomu]

I think it's a weretiger being flanked by the dude and the Ardent's (?) summoned dragon thing. On the other hand, I'd be thrilled to have a weretiger race. Can you say, fourth PHB3?

 

[Dragonhelm]

So... what race is that tiger guy on the cover?

Normally, I'd say a rakshasa. However, the hands aren't backwards. So either the art is a bit off, or it may be a rakasta from Mystara (one can hope!). Or a weretiger. Or, that may have something to deal with the issue, like the article on the druid's shapechanging ability.

And hey, check out D&D Alumni - psionics through the ages!

 

[Shroomy]

One of the feature articles this month is on "Familiar Spells," I think this article is depicting a wizard casting one of those spells at a weretiger through her dragonling familiar.

 

[Dragonhelm]

I was thinking that it might be Divine as well. I remember hearing that the Empath was our psionic leader, and we haven't heard anything about the Divine class(es) yet. Actually I can't really imagine what other niches are left for Divine...

There is one that has been somewhat overlooked, though I think WotC would argue that it's more psionic in nature. That would be inner spiritual/divine power. This was exemplified with the mystic class in Dragonlance, which functioned much like a sorcerer and had a single domain.

Notice how much the mystic sounds like the ardent. Now, I don't think they'll make the ardent divine due to its psionic background in 3e. However, I do think that maybe empath was a working name and they went with the ardent instead.

Whatever the case, color me excited.

 

[Nai_Calus]

Actually I can't really imagine what other niches are left for Divine...

Mechanically, divine archers. The Seldarine Dedicate PP doesn't really cut it since it's racial, deity specific and unlikely to be taken by one of the races that actually can. (Small number of Eladrin clerics, and they have to take Longbow Proficiency to access it. There's usually something I'd rather take than WP. Like Linguistics. That said I just made an Eladrin Cleric whose first level feat was in fact Longbow prof, with the idea that eventually, yes, he'd take Seldarine Dedicate if he gets to Paragon. He's also managed to start with 18s in WIS, CHA and DEX, and thus is not at all a typical example.)

It's also a PP and thus useless before Paragon. And even then you're still using the bow as an implement and not a weapon.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

I'm really surprised they kept Ardent, simply because it wasn't very popular. Mechanically it took quite bit of work to make it not weak, due to WotC purposefully making it suck (much like ALL of CPsi. Lurk might've sounded cool on paper, but mechanically? One of the worst classes they've made). Fluff wise, very few liked it. CPsi is what broke the idea of psionics coming from inside you.

So yeah, they're taking one of the less popular psionic classes and remaking it. Because...?