BASHMAN
Basic Action Games
I noticed this playtest pack seems to have had 2 goals. #1 Heap the fighter with tons and tons of class benefits, ability score bonuses/feats, etc. #2 Strip as many from the barbarian as possible. I don't have an issue with #1; I like fighters being strong and competent characters. But I am really not liking issue #2.
To begin, I have a barbarian who does not wear armor. Using the Thick Hide class ability, I had an AC of 17, and thanks to an ability score increase that was due soon, it would have gone up to 19 (my Con and Dex scores are odd numbers).
Now my Ability score bonus has been put on hold. And I get to sacrifice feats I was hoping to take to get it. Oh boy!
But wait, it gets better! I lost the "Thick Hide" Ability altogether! In fact, I cannot even take a feat (by lowering ability scores retroactively, wasn't that nice of them) to get the same ability. It just no longer exists! How wonderful! Now My AC drops to 14, and the increase I was hoping for just isn't going to happen anytime soon. Someday I can get a Dex increase to make it a 15, IF I decide not to take a feat, that is. Thanks a lot, guys!
I guess the "but you COULD wear armor" argument is there, but then I have trouble envisioning my character wearing armor. It completely doesn't fit the character concept. The character is a ninja (you read that right) who goes into a "battle trance" when she "rages". This gives her uncanny awareness, and ability to block attacks (hence why she takes half damage while in battle trance). She wears no armor; just a simple black gi. The Thick Hide ability allowed this character concept to work. Now it does not.
Oh, I'll wear armor, if I'm forced to; assuming I don't change classes. I'll come up with some excuse for why my "ninja" now suddenly wears armor, or I'll try to "re-skin" the armor into ninja gear. But I'll hate it.
To begin, I have a barbarian who does not wear armor. Using the Thick Hide class ability, I had an AC of 17, and thanks to an ability score increase that was due soon, it would have gone up to 19 (my Con and Dex scores are odd numbers).
Now my Ability score bonus has been put on hold. And I get to sacrifice feats I was hoping to take to get it. Oh boy!
But wait, it gets better! I lost the "Thick Hide" Ability altogether! In fact, I cannot even take a feat (by lowering ability scores retroactively, wasn't that nice of them) to get the same ability. It just no longer exists! How wonderful! Now My AC drops to 14, and the increase I was hoping for just isn't going to happen anytime soon. Someday I can get a Dex increase to make it a 15, IF I decide not to take a feat, that is. Thanks a lot, guys!
I guess the "but you COULD wear armor" argument is there, but then I have trouble envisioning my character wearing armor. It completely doesn't fit the character concept. The character is a ninja (you read that right) who goes into a "battle trance" when she "rages". This gives her uncanny awareness, and ability to block attacks (hence why she takes half damage while in battle trance). She wears no armor; just a simple black gi. The Thick Hide ability allowed this character concept to work. Now it does not.
Oh, I'll wear armor, if I'm forced to; assuming I don't change classes. I'll come up with some excuse for why my "ninja" now suddenly wears armor, or I'll try to "re-skin" the armor into ninja gear. But I'll hate it.