December Rules Update Available

[Elric]

See http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/UpdateDec2009.pdf.

Grasp of the Grave (Dragon) is fixed.

Pennant of Heaven's Armies is fixed.

Solar Enemy feat had duration clarified to end of next turn.

Careful Strike Ranger at-will has been improved.

It's annoying that there's no separate "just the new updates" document posted, since there are 73 pages (!) of errata.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

arcane riposte is still useless because it lacks an implement property as well as a proficient bonus...

to make it even worthwhile to use it has to be int +4 or even int +6 vs AC and increase by +2 at epic...

and the targeted assault is no fix as it reads in the update document... (marking you was replayed by that has you marked... the problem was that it read marked by you in the primal power handbook)

 

[Infiniti2000]

The purpose of careful attack is to increase a character’s chance to hit. However, twin strike was always a better choice because it representeed equivalent damage and better accuracy. This change makes careful attack a viable choice.

No, not vs. twin strike it doesn't. Careful Attack only barely edges out twin strike in a very small percentage of the attacks (at needing an 18-20 to hit). Otherwise, twin strike is always better. Only now, careful attack is always better than a basic attack, except that you can get basic-only improvements.

 

[keterys]

For very low damage bonus values, Careful Attack is actually looking an awful lot better than it was. Wonder if I still have that spreadsheet for comparing the two hanging around, hmm.

 

[keterys]

Yep, found it. At static bonus 0, it gives the nod to Careful for when you need a 16-21 with Twin Strike. At static bonus 2, it's 17-21. At 6, it's 18-21. If I bump things up to 12 static, d12 base damage die, 2d8 quarry, +7 Dex, I still end up with 18-21.

So that's a _much_ better situation than it used to be, even if I still wouldn't bother

 

[Sanzuo]

Life Transference is a Daily now.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Healers Sash - Fixed. This got abused in my one-shot last weekend.

although the Rogue (12con) still ran out of surges.

 

[keterys]

I think the Healer Sash got overdone... it went from a device for between-turn healing or allowing a leaderless group to adapt to something I wouldn't expect people to actually wear. Better safe than sorry, though, I guess.

 

[lukelightning]

Healers Sash - Fixed. This got abused in my one-shot last weekend.

although the Rogue (12con) still ran out of surges.

Darn it. Now my level 7 RPGA character suddenly has a level 11 item.... can I sell it for profit?

 

[sfedi]

I'm very happy with these updates.

I had a houserule exactly as the Careful Attack fix.
But also applied to Sure Strike. Oh well.