D&D 4E Essential 4e: Heroes of the Forgotten Lands

[Fiery_Dragon]

Hello,

A few questions.

Under Thief, for the description of Sneak Attack, does it use once per round
or once per turn for its usage.

For the magic items, are the elemental (frost, fire etc.) weapons listed?
If they are, are they common or uncommon?

Are there any Rare items listed at all?

Can you list the Expertise themed feats by name and maybe a basic blurb about what they do?

Thanks!

Here we go:

Once per turn for Sneak Attack.

No elemental weapons, no rare items (also no rings or wondrous items - it says those are in the DM's book). Magic weapons are: Defensive Weapon, Magic Weapon, Vicious Weapon.

Implement Expertise Category : Each implement expertise feat gives +1 feat bonus to implement attack rolls (increases by 1 at each tier), and when using them with implement power:

Orb Expertise: +1 square to forced movement
Staff Expertise: don't provoke OA when making ranged or area attack
Wand Expertise: ignore partial and superior cover

Weapon Expertise Category: Each weapon expertise feat gives +1 feat bonus to weapon attack rolls (increases by 1 at each tier), and when using them with implement power:

Axe: re-roll 1s for damage
Bludgeon (hammer or mace): +1 to forced movement squares
Bow: +1/tier damage to creatures with nobody adjacent
Crossbow: ignore partial and superior cover
Heavy Blade: +2 defense against OA
Light Blade: +1/tier damage against CA creatures
Sling: don't provoke OA when making ranged attacks
Spear: +1/tier damage when charging
Staff: both Implement and Weapon feat bonus, plus attack reach +1

Master at Arms: Gives generic +1/tier feat bonus to attack rolls with weapon attacks and minor action to sheath and then draw a weapon.

Melee Training: Use ability other than Strength for basic attacks, and use half ability mod instead of Str for damage.

 

[Aegeri]

Can you confirm the classes from Hero's of the Forgotten Kingdoms? The leader druid and such? Also:

Staff Expertise: don't provoke OA when making ranged or area attack

That is insanely good. Well worth taking.

Heavy Blade: +2 defense against OA

Thank god for the confirmation on that! I was worried for a while.

Edit: BTW you have totally awesome timing, I was about to go to bed!

 

[Fiery_Dragon]

Can you confirm the classes from Hero's of the Forgotten Kingdoms? The leader druid and such? Also:

That is insanely good. Well worth taking.

Thank god for the confirmation on that! I was worried for a while.

Under "Making Characters, Here's what you need" it says:

PLAYER BOOKS: Heroes of the Fallen Lands and Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms contain common races and classes. If you're going to use a race or class from another source, such as another player book, you need that source. DDI also has additional classes and races.

And then it lists the Classes and Races from Fallen Lands.

And then it lists:

Forgotton Kingdoms
Druid (sentinel), leader
Paladin (cavalier), defender
Ranger (hunter), controller
Ranger (scout), striker
Warlock (hexblade), striker

Dragonborn
Drow
Half-elf
Half-orc
Human (again?)
Tiefling

DDI

Assassin (executioner), striker

Revenant

 

[Aegeri]

And then it lists the Classes and Races from Fallen Lands.

And then it lists:

Forgotton Kingdoms
Druid (sentinel), leader
Paladin (cavalier), defender
Ranger (hunter), controller
Ranger (scout), striker
Warlock (hexblade), striker

Dragonborn
Drow
Half-elf
Half-orc
Human (again?)
Tiefling

DDI

Assassin (executioner), striker

Revenant

God damn. My love for you right now is absolutely infinite.

 

[Fiery_Dragon]

Can the Thief use any previously released Rogue Paragon Path? Or does it have to select from Essentials PPs?

Under Paragon Paths (for all classes), it says that at 11th level you chose a Paragon Path from the options available to you. Fallen Lands presents one option, but additional paths appear in other D&D supplements and on DDI. You can select a different path if you meet the requirements.

 

[Fiery_Dragon]

First, thanks for throwing yourself to the wolves like this!

Now, let's hear more about the Thief! How many at-will "Tricks" does a thief have to pick from at first level? Do any of the tricks mirror the Red Box rogue power "Bump and Run" which allowed the thief to slide an enemy one square and move half its speed after an attack as a standard action?

Can you list and describe some of the thief tricks?

What does the second-level class feature Thief's Weapon Talent do?

What does third level improved backstab do?

What does the fifth-level Cunning Escape power do?

Does the thief have a named Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies, or does the level chart just keep progressing. What new powers to thieves get at 11 and 21st level.

You get two Tricks at first level. All Tricks are at-will Move actions. Don't see anything that lets you slide an enemy.

Acrobat's Trick: Move up to speed-2, +2 damage on basic attack
Ambush Trick: Move up to speed, gain CA against enemies within 5 without adjacent enemy allies
Escape Artist's Trick: shift 2, can shift 2 at end of turn
Feinting Trick: Move up to speed, +CHA to next damage against non-CA target
Sneak's Trick: move -2, Stealth check to hide (with cover or concealment)
Tactical Trick: move, do not provoke OA when leaving squares adjacent to allies, have CA against enemies with on ally adjacent to them
Thug's Trick: shift 1, flanked enemies provoke OA if they shift
Tumbling Trick: shift 3, deal STR damage to a different adjacent enemy when you hit with basic melee this turn (thief's cleave)
Unbalancing Trick: shift 2, knock enemy prone

Weapon Talent: +1 attack with light blades, hand crossbows, shortbows, slings

Improved Backstab: One more use per encounter, but still only once per turn

Cunning Escape: Immediate Reaction, +4 defense, shift 3 squares

Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies seem to work exactly as in the PH. In essentials, they list one per class. Here we have Master Thief (Improved Backstab again, and again at 13th level) plus an action point power and Masterful Cunning, which lets you shift 3 during your first turn in an encounter.

Indomitable Champion is the Epic destiny listed here.

 

[Yaldabaoth]

Would you mind listing the names of the Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies?

Does [Fighter] Weapon Training give a flat +1 to everything?

 

[Aegeri]

What does the rogues weapon finesse do?

 

[Fiery_Dragon]

Now for the Knight!

What does the Battle guardian class feature do?

What does improved power strike do at third level?

What does the eight level shield block ability do?

How many stances can first level knight's pick from? Can slayer's and knights pick from the same set of stances. Same question about paragon and epic levels.

That's all for now. You're awesome for doing this, enjoy date night!

Defender Aura: at-will minor action, activates an aura 1 that lasts until deactivated (minor action) or you fall unconcious. In the aura, enemies take -2 attack penalty against you or allies with their Defensive Aura activated. Does not affect Marked enemies.

Battle Guardian: Opportunity Action - when an enemy in your Defender Aura shifts or attacks not you or other Defender Aura ally, you make basic melee attack against the enemy, dealing STR damage on a miss.

Power Strike is an free action encounter power that lets you deal an extra [w] damage when you hit. Improved Power strike lets you use the power one more time per encounter.

Shield Block: Immediate interrupt, encounter power: damage reduction of 1d10/tier+CON for you or adjacent ally who gets hit and takes damage, must be using a shield.

ETA: JUST TO CLARIFY - it doesn't add Damage Reduction (sorry!), it reduces damage taken on a hit by 1d10/tier+CON. Sorry if I was unclear or used bad jargon.

Heroic Knight: There are 6 stances listed, you pick 2.
Slayer: There are 6 stances listed, you pick 2.

The stance lists have 2 stances in common. The way the classes are written up, each is it's own thing. It doesn't say you can't pick a stance from the other, it's just sort of a self-contained section on just that build. They each have their own Paragon Path.

Now that I read this, it looks like they both use Indomitable Champion as Epic Destiny, same as the thief.

 

[Fiery_Dragon]

Sorry for posting again so soon, but we've heard some good things about the quality of these books. What are your thoughts on this matter. Does this feel like a high-quality book that would stand up to the rigors of regular gaming sessions?

Yes, very much so.