What's with this stealth errata?

[ppaladin123]

While that may be true for the flaming weapon, it isn't the case for the subject of this post. Prior to the ending of issue compilations earlier this year, the individual articles were not considered finalized until they were included in the compilation at the end of the month. (This is the reason why the rules for those articles weren't LFR legal until the compilation was posted.) For the article in question, while the initial posting had a level listed for the power, it was removed in the compilation when it was posted five months ago.

Incidentally, this was one of the reasons listed for why WotC stopped compiling dragon issues at the end of every month; very few people actually read the compiled version.

Actually, no. The compiled version of the issue had the mount as, "paladin utility 4." I still have this compiled issue sitting on my hard drive. I am looking at it right now. The compiled version (not simply the individual article) was changed just a few days ago with no prior warning. Up until four or five days ago, the compiled version people downloaded still said "paladin utility 4."

 

[keterys]

The power always said you had to trade a cavalier only feature to get it, wasn't an option for paladins in the character builder, and was listed as a feature not level 4 in the compendium.

I mean, I agree that all errata should be cleared noted, and I'll pass it along to the errata team since that's two blips in pretty short order, that could have easily been dodged if they'd been in the update doc released yesterday.

But, I'd still say to make your stand on a more respectable rules items

 

[catsclaw227]

Another thing to consider...

A paladin cannot get a utility at level 4. For non-Essential classes (and maybe even Essentials, but I did see a Paladin Utility 4 in Heroes of Shadow), level 4 is always only a stat-boost. There is no such thing as a Utility 4 for non-Essential Classes.

Utilities have always been levels 2, 6 and 10 for Heroic.

 

[ppaladin123]

The power always said you had to trade a cavalier only feature to get it, wasn't an option for paladins in the character builder, and was listed as a feature not level 4 in the compendium.

I mean, I agree that all errata should be cleared noted, and I'll pass it along to the errata team since that's two blips in pretty short order, that could have easily been dodged if they'd been in the update doc released yesterday.

But, I'd still say to make your stand on a more respectable rules items

This will probably be repeated with the Blackguard since it also has a "paladin utility 4" called, "Servant of Vice." In this case, that is how it is printed in the actual book and in the compendium, and you can currently select it at level 6 as a paladin or cavalier.

If Servant of Vice is ok but Celestial Steed is not, then I am not sure what criteria they are using for determining whether a feature receives a level (and is therefore available to the entire class).


Parenthetically: In the case of the steed, a non-cavalier paladin would have to invest a fair amount of money and feats (mounted combat, improved celestial steed, holy steed, plus barding or other mount items) to use the steed effectively. A multiclass character would have to invest another two feats (paladin multiclass and utility swap) to make this concept worthwhile. Given that sort of investment, I don't see the harm in letting other builds and classes take the steed. If it is so important to the player's character concept to have a magical horse that they are willing to invest so much of their build to get it, I don't see why the system can't provide it. Given the cost, it is certainly not overpowering.

 

[ppaladin123]

Another thing to consider...

A paladin cannot get a utility at level 4. For non-Essential classes (and maybe even Essentials, but I did see a Paladin Utility 4 in Heroes of Shadow), level 4 is always only a stat-boost. There is no such thing as a Utility 4 for non-Essential Classes.

Utilities have always been levels 2, 6 and 10 for Heroic.

Nevertheless, paladins (and multiclass paladins) may select Spirit of the Virtuous Charger (paladin utility 8) at level 10 legally in the character builder at the moment. This utility had the level in the printed book. This one eventually gives party-wide flight and speed boosts.

They are not being consistent about what parent classes can and cannot "poach" from the essentials builds.

 

[Zaran]

Another thing to consider...

A paladin cannot get a utility at level 4. For non-Essential classes (and maybe even Essentials, but I did see a Paladin Utility 4 in Heroes of Shadow), level 4 is always only a stat-boost. There is no such thing as a Utility 4 for non-Essential Classes.

Utilities have always been levels 2, 6 and 10 for Heroic.

I have th perfect solution for this that won't get done: Change the power to level 6.

Instead they will post a class acts where cPaladins can waste a feat and possibly lose Lay on Hands to get the ability to get this Class Feature (which all Essentials classes get class features at level 4).

It's just another way to urge is into going to Essentials classes wholesale.

 

[catsclaw227]

I have th perfect solution for this that won't get done: Change the power to level 6.

My point was that the level may have been a typo from the beginning, as well as the Utility 4 power in Heroes of Shadow called Servant of Vice. I would expect that being errata'd in relatively short order.

EDIT: Though, admittedly, doing a search in the compendium for all Utility powers between 3-5 and 7-9, I see that there are currently 6 that are of non-standard level:

• Servant of Vice, Paladin, 4th, Heroes of Shadow
• Strength of Blood, Vampire, 4th, Heroes of Shadow
• Lesser Planar Ally, Warlock, 4th, Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms
• Reactive Shift, Ranger, 5th, Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms
• Shield Block, Fighter, 8th, Heroes of the Fallen Lands
• Spirit of the Virtuous Charger, Paladin, 8th, Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms

So who knows what will happen with these. Has WoTC officially commented on the levels of these Essential powers and how (if?) they can be used by
non-essential classes?

Instead they will post a class acts where cPaladins can waste a feat and possibly lose Lay on Hands to get the ability to get this Class Feature (which all Essentials classes get class features at level 4).

It's just another way to urge is into going to Essentials classes wholesale.

They keep adamantly stating that their plans are to continue supporting non-Essential classes and that Essentials won't be the defacto standard.

I believe them - in that this is how they really feel right now - but I wouldn't behoove them if they needed to change their strategies to be flexible or to remove confusion from the game and it's options.

 

[Obryn]

Huh. Tide of Iron had some possible stealth nerfing, too, it turns out.

Now it specifies "shift 1 square." I still don't think it would prohibit you from shifting into difficult terrain - I mean, you're still shifting 1 square - but it might. I think it's more so you can't shift 2 squares if, say, you use Bludgeon Expertise and Tide of Iron a Large creature back 2 squares.

-O

 

[Kelvor Ravenstar]

Huh. Tide of Iron had some possible stealth nerfing, too, it turns out.

Yeah, the compendium shows it as being updated in the Class Compendium, so I went to the Weaponmaster article. The new version is in the pages from the Class Compendium, but not in the updates file. So in a way this is stealth errata.

It seems to me that wizards has decided they don't need to release errata documents for things that get updated in print products, as we saw in the Dm's kit, or updates from the Class Compendium, which was supposed to be in print, and is now available free on the website.

 

[Jhaelen]

It seems to me that wizards has decided they don't need to release errata documents for things that get updated in print products

If that is indeed the case it's a remarkably bad decision.

Releasing the Class Compendium as free downloads was the right decision. Trying to force customers to buy every new product because it 'might' contain a bit of errata isn't.