Level Up (A5E) Level Up Class Preview: Adept

The Kickstarter has launched and already has nearly 2000 backers! Over the next month, we have plenty of fun stuff to show you. Let’s start with a class — and we’ll start at the beginning with the Adept.

Class Preview: Adept — Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition (A5E)

The Kickstarter has launched! Over the next month, we have plenty of fun stuff to show you. Let’s start with a class — and we’ll start at the beginning with the Adept.

www.levelup5e.com

 

[This Effin’ GM]

I didn't say anything about listing what spells/maneuvers do, but thanks for the strawman I guess.

I don’t know what to tell you. The ability you went on a 4 paragraph rant about was in the preceding paragraphs, which is standard design for abilities in classes that add on to existing separate abilities (thus the sorcerer comparison).

I get that finding out you didn’t catch something isn’t ideal, but doubling down and then lashing out about it is a weird choice.

Sorry you missed it, sorry you don’t like my comparison after you continued to try to decry standard design as bad design, sorry two of us took the time to explain it. Have a good day pal, I sincerely hope it gets better for you.

 

[Faolyn]

Aside from that, I definitely agree with other comments that the Adept's abilities generally cost too much exertion- lots of two cost for cool things that aren't actually useful. The 1 turn mirror image spell for 2 exertion is particularly egregious- it should either cost 1, or cost 3 and actually just cast the full spell and last a minute.

Well, first off, mirror image is a 2nd-level spell. O5e monk archetypes that let you cast spells (specifically four elements) generally charged 1 ki or more per spell level (note that fly is a 3rd-level spell, but 4E monks have to spend 4 ki).

Secondly, while the adept's mirror image only lasts a turn, it also only requires a bonus action to cast.

Due to the bonus exertion that adepts get, adepts generally have a little bit more exertion than monks have ki (a 4th-level mink has 4 points; a 4th-level adept has 5). And while they also get back all spent exertion after a short or long rest, they can also do the meditation-for-a-minute and get back 1d4 exertion (works just like Battle Meditation, except it takes a minute, and everyone can do it, not just adepts). Or at least they could as of the Combat Maneuvers playtest.

 

[Stalker0]

O5e monk archetypes that let you cast spells (specifically four elements) ...

I will pray to holy heaven that at no point was the 4 elements monk used as the basis for a single thing in LU, except as a cautionary tale of how NOT to do a subclass.

 

[Horwath]

I will pray to holy heaven that at no point was the 4 elements monk used as the basis for a single thing in LU, except as a cautionary tale of how NOT to do a subclass.

add Sun soul to the lesson just to be sure.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

@Morrus was a ruling on Shockwave given, whether it’s an action or an attack from the attack action?

 

[Morrus]

@Morrus was a ruling on Shockwave given, whether it’s an action or an attack from the attack action?

Action, I'm advised.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

Action, I'm advised.

Thank you sir!

 

[Sword of Spirit]

I like the idea of allowing my players to mix and match O5e and Level Up base classes and subclasses. One of the cool things about the Adept is that it trades out the required mystical stuff allowing for some interesting options. One that immediately stands out as appealing to me is using Kensai with Adept which really conceptually works well.

Another idea is using Warrior Monk with monk for someone who wants all the O5e stuff, but really wants to focus on unarmed to the exclusion of weapons.

On that second concept, I‘m wandering if taking a martial tradition has some basic benefit in addition to access to maneuver lists. On the surface it looks like Warrior Monk doesn‘t get a third level feature if you use it with the O5e monk. Maybe (hopefully) Level Up already has a more general rule in the compatibility appendix on that sort of thing. If not, I might have to house rule giving them a maneuver (maybe two eventually) for that combo to work.

 

[Timespike]

I like the idea of allowing my players to mix and match O5e and Level Up base classes and subclasses. One of the cool things about the Adept is that it trades out the required mystical stuff allowing for some interesting options. One that immediately stands out as appealing to me is using Kensai with Adept which really conceptually works well.

Another idea is using Warrior Monk with monk for someone who wants all the O5e stuff, but really wants to focus on unarmed to the exclusion of weapons.

On that second concept, I‘m wandering if taking a martial tradition has some basic benefit in addition to access to maneuver lists. On the surface it looks like Warrior Monk doesn‘t get a third level feature if you use it with the O5e monk. Maybe (hopefully) Level Up already has a more general rule in the compatibility appendix on that sort of thing. If not, I might have to house rule giving them a maneuver (maybe two eventually) for that combo to work.

You can do this without too much trouble as long as you keep two things in mind:

1. A character should never be able to have levels in the O5E version of a class and the corresponding A5E class. So no Paladin/Herald, Berserker/Barbarian, Ranger/Ranger, or Adept/Monk builds.
2. A5E classes are much more well-rounded in terms of being able to contribute to all three pillars of the game than their O5E counterparts. So if you have an O5E character next to some A5E ones, while there aren't any real balance issues to worry about, don't be surprised if the players running O5E classes start to get a little envious of the exploration and social abilities of the other characters around the table.

 

[lichmaster]

2. A5E classes are much more well-rounded in terms of being able to contribute to all three pillars of the game than their O5E counterparts. So if you have an O5E character next to some A5E ones, while there aren't any real balance issues to worry about, don't be surprised if the players running O5E classes start to get a little envious of the exploration and social abilities of the other characters around the table.

Well, on the flip side, that's one hell of advertisement for A5E