What I Like About Nimble 2e (So Far) — A Partial Review

[HatWearingFool]

Yes, because I'm sure it would annoy me in the back of my mind, as it feels (to me) like the ultimate shafting of non-casters

Why not take a non-caster that gets to defend more than once then?

 

[zakael19]

Ok, after glancing through the free stuff I was curious enough to drop some money. Here's a couple of sample abilities that tie into Defend:

Commander Subclass "Champion of the Bulwark:"

Shield Expert. While wearing a shield, you may Defend 2× each round. The first time each
round you block all of the damage from an attack, you may make an opportunity attack against the attacker for free.

Zephyr (monk but cooler?) has options to do free Defends with different decision spaces.

etc

There's also a presented optional rule for those who want some more baseline decision space: using shields to Deflect 1/round, subtracting their value from an attack.

 

[HatWearingFool]

So given that there's two different defense Actions, and the notapaladin gets to Interpose for free at level 4 and a berserker can use their Fury dice to reduce armor, I'm going to guess some of the melee focused classes/subclasses have abilities that interact with armor and actions to up their defense capacity.

So the baseline Spend an Action to Defend is the design space to then do exception based abilities off of to differentiate characters from each other and fit roles around.

Yes I feel like people are ignoring class abilities a bit here…

 

[zakael19]

Wow, reading through the classes and this game is sick as heck. Herald of Snark? Amazing.

 

[HatWearingFool]

Wow, reading through the classes and this game is sick as heck. Herald of Snark? Amazing.

Personally I like the “Path of the red mist berserker”. I mean that’s pretty descriptive

- Hey what kind of fighting style do you use?

- “Path of the red mist”

 

[zakael19]

Personably I’ve like the “Path of the red mist berserker”. I mean that’s pretty descriptive

- Hey what kind of fighting style do you use?

- “Path of the red mist”

Yeah, it’s a good evocative term for a berserker sort!

I love running Nimble and players really enjoyed the system. It didn't take very long at all to gasp the rules.or to keep track of actions.

The solo monsters are really cool and very challenging. The fact that they take an action after every player turn had my players on edge. These guys can actually be run solo without the need for minions or legendary actions/resistances.

So far, great game. Looking forward to more class's and monsters which have been coming.

Arilyn, I forget, have you played Daggerheart/Draw Steel!? I’d be interested to see comparative impressions from people who’ve played the set. I think I’ve run out of steam on DS! but I’m running two games of DH and not sure I need a 3rd…

 

[Peter BOSCO'S]

As a side note to show how confusing "actions" are in D&D, this weekend I participated as a player in (all adult) D&D game in which another player got really upset because she couldn't use their Shield Spell as a reaction since they had already cast a level spell on their turn earlier in the round. At first I thought the DM was wrong, but with a little thought I realized he was probably right since WOTC went out their way to ensure that you can only cast one levelled spell per round. And a quick internet search seemed to confirm.

No, the [DND 5.24] rule is one leveled spell per turn not per round, so they could have cast 'Shield'. OTOH you can't 'Fireball', retreat, fall into a pit trap, and then "Feather Fall' yourself, since it is still your turn.

 

[Arilyn]

Yeah, it’s a good evocative term for a berserker sort!


Arilyn, I forget, have you played Daggerheart/Draw Steel!? I’d be interested to see comparative impressions from people who’ve played the set. I think I’ve run out of steam on DS! but I’m running two games of DH and not sure I need a 3rd…

I have 0 experience with DS! Not even read it. I'm sure it's great but I have too many games and highly tactical grid based games aren't my jam, although character creation sounds fun from what I've heard.

I have played and run DH. I really like it for high fantasy with fun abilities and a strong narrative bent. I like the stress, hp and armour mechanics and the hope/fear dice. It's also really flexible.

Nimble scratches the D&D itch since I've drifted away from 5e and don't like most of the 2024 changes. Haven't done a lot of Nimble but had fun running some of the little adventures in the GM guide. And as I mentioned earlier, I love the solo monsters. Nimble will be competing with Shadowdark and Dolmenwood right now. Too many good games!

 

[zakael19]

I have 0 experience with DS! Not even read it. I'm sure it's great but I have too many games and highly tactical grid based games aren't my jam, although character creation sounds fun from what I've heard.

I have played and run DH. I really like it for high fantasy with fun abilities and a strong narrative bent. I like the stress, hp and armour mechanics and the hope/fear dice. It's also really flexible.

Nimble scratches the D&D itch since I've drifted away from 5e and don't like most of the 2024 changes. Haven't done a lot of Nimble but had fun running some of the little adventures in the GM guide. And as I mentioned earlier, I love the solo monsters. Nimble will be competing with Shadowdark and Dolmenwood right now. Too many good games!

Thanks! I guess I’ll lean into DH for now, I’m such a fan of any system with 2d degrees of outcome and as you note the flexibility has been real enjoyable to run varied games with.

Nimble looks cool as heck for a table that’s otherwise 5e fans tho!

 

[HatWearingFool]

No, the [DND 5.24] rule is one leveled spell per turn not per round, so they could have cast 'Shield'. OTOH you can't 'Fireball', retreat, fall into a pit trap, and then "Feather Fall' yourself, since it is still your turn.

Oh… interesting. Do have a link to sage advice or anything? Both google and bing AI seem to get this wrong. I can find sage advice saying you can’t counter spell on your turn after casting a fireball, but nothing about reaction casting later in the same round.