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A signature spell for a tradition should probably evolve as you level. That could be a straight path of increased damage or bonus effects. Honestly, it would be a more compelling system if there was some aspect of customization in how you build up your signature spell as you level. 15th level...

Well, that is what he did in OD&D and AD&D. He didn't have Sneak Attack. He had "Backstab." There wasn't any flanking. Facing was vague at best. Hiding in combat was not in the rules set. You had one shot at a back stab in a combat and that was it, unless your DM felt like bending a heap of...

As I've noted in another thread: Rogues Ruin Everything No, seriously, that's their role. They throw wrenches into everything. They disable traps, they bypass hazards, and they hobble opponents. A Fighter smacks you around and beats you down. Maybe he even knocks you down, drives you back, or...

The cleric 0-level spells will need some work in another pass. Maybe a bless weapon, close wounds, shield of faith, and whatnot as Words of Power - simple buffs or reaction effects so that the cleric can do some minor blessing every round in combat - +1 to AC for that attack, +1 damage with that...

The equipment section wasn't addressed in this pass. If that's a deal-breaker for anyone they aren't really up to speed on the play testing process. Wizards get 3-4 new spells known and 1 more spell cast per day that is as powerful or more powerful than their most powerful spells prior. Oh, and...

Come now, we all know you hit the Healer, then the Controllers and Artillery. Otherwise they yo-yo and it's nothing but work, work, work. Rogues - ganking the other team's cleric since 1974. - Marty Lund

That time would be basically every Interaction or Exploration event. Seriously, nobody's coming on here crying about how the Fighter class gives you that absolute worst class platform for either of the other pillars. He has no skill enhancements, no knacks, no spells, and no maneuvers dedicated...

I don't kow ... I'm seeing a whole lot of the same old "My caster isn't better than everyone else! I'm going to play XYZ because your D&D sucks," axes going to the grinder here. At this point, the core classes need some tweaks - the martial ones in the maneuvers system and the casters in the...

The current implementation of the Rogue's maneuvers is excellent. I like that his bonus damage expression is a more situational version of Deadly Strike. The Fighter is the best at fighting. The Rogue is uniquely talented with Skill expertise. I'd be more inclined to call the maneuver something...

Yeah, it isn't like the Wizard adds spells known to his spell book, or the Cleric has access to every Divine magic spells in that level to shove into that slot day-to-day or anything ... Seriously, spell slots are the single most powerful and flexible commodities in Dungeons and Dragons over...

I'm happy to see an extended maneuvers system and separated wheel-houses for the fighter and the thief. There needs to be some tweaking, obviously, but it is a good path. The spell-casting designs on the cleric and the wizard are much improved. I think channel divinity / turn undead needs to...

Weaker Hobgoblins being able to bump up stronger Hobgoblins could actually be pretty terrifying. If they create more stratification between ranks of Hobgoblins that could be very useful - or if PCs see more targeted penalizing effects against monsters. Yes, though, when all the monsters are at...

Plenty of pirates are Fighters (or non-PC-classed warriors). "Sailor" is just a single background. There can certainly be temporary aberrations, but the class mechanical designs should make it readily apparent than X levels of Fighter makes you a better Fencer than X levels of Rogue - assuming...

Interesting. I kind of like the way Core seems to be shaping up with regards to categories. The Rogue and Fighter are Martial Classes and use Maneuvers while the Wizard and Cleric are Magic-Using Classes and use Spells. Curbing the number of daily spells-per-day to 2 per tier may wind up being...

I think the "one stat at a time" deal could work. I don't think it should terminate in death regardless of HP, though. Being knocked unconscious until the total amount of drains in effect was less than 7 would do the job nicely. I think a 6-step list would be overkill. I'd have the victim of...

Isn't this why Wizards learn to cast Shield? - Marty Lund

I'm definitely a fan of the "so evil he became undead" monsters spawning lesser undead from their victims, rather than copying themselves. It's more consistent. I do think there needs to be some sort of penalty from suffering Energy Drain other than just less Max HP. You should be worse on...

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with Energy Drain handing out "Suck Points" to characters that have a nice, simple description of what it does: Energy Drained: -5HP and -1 to all attack rolls, saves, and checks Get drained, get a suck-point. Hand the player a penny to put on his...

This is hands-down the best approach. Beyond that, I think I'd like them to flesh out and refine the concepts a little more. "Evil and vicious" vs. "More evil and vicious" vs. "Evil, vicious, and older" don't quite do it for me. Wight - The mortal died while wallowing in one for of depravity...

Just keep in mind that "challenging" doesn't mean the same thing as "deadly." Something challenging in the woods could be utterly defeated by a ranger or a druid while a party without the benefits of a character without strong natural lore abilities might suffer a loss of resources - time, hit...