D&D 4E 4e Dark Sun

[Mort_Q]

Given the 4e approach, penalties bad / bonuses good, I think they'll go for something that will augments the existing rules, rather than curtailing them.

Instead of a XP penalty, preservers may need to buy a feat.

Until they starting publishing hints, there are lots of ways the could have gone (could still go) to recreate the general mechanics of Athas.

Not that speculating isn't interesting.

 

[the8bitdeity]

Defiler: After you use a non-preserving arcane power, it gains the defiling keyword, and an area of defiled blight appears in a close burst around you. You cannot use Preserving or Primal powers.

At-will: Close burst 1
Encounter: Close burst 2
Daily: Close burst 3

Defiling infusion
Encounter - Arcane, Defiling
Minor Action Close burst 5
Targets: All creatures in burst except you.
Effect: All targets get -2 to attack rolls. The area in the burst permanently becomes defiled blight.

Defiling keyword: At-will powers with the defiling keyword gain +1 to damage rolls against creatures in defiled blight. Encounter powers gain +2, and Daily powers gain +3.

Preserver: You cannot be affected by defiling blight, and you are immune to the non-damaging effects of defiling powers. When you use a daily arcane power, you or an ally adjacent to you can make a saving throw. You cannot use powers with the Defiling keyword.

I like this a lot, but I think a Preserver SHOULD be able to use a power with the Defiling keyword. Doing so should essentially change their status from Preserver to Defiler. Yet going the other direction would require a massive ritual / DM intervention.

 

[DracoSuave]

Yeah but I'm trying to avoid 'Whoops! Lost your paladinhood!' traps in the design.

Plus, you know how little munchkins are. They'd find a way.

But defiling as a preserver would cause the player loss of their preserving powers, and that's not always easily replaced with just one level. This, more than anything else, is something you must avoid.

 

[the8bitdeity]

Yeah but I'm trying to avoid 'Whoops! Lost your paladinhood!' traps in the design.

Plus, you know how little munchkins are. They'd find a way.

But defiling as a preserver would cause the player loss of their preserving powers, and that's not always easily replaced with just one level. This, more than anything else, is something you must avoid.

True, perhaps both directions are in the DM's realm of control. That way you can have your Jedi becoming Sith if the plot warrants (so to speak). Kinda like Paladins becoming Black Guards in 3.x.

 

[fireinthedust]

If they elemental up the Divine Classes, then the role Rangers used to have (warriors with elemental magic) would be taken over by Paladins and Avengers, depending on build.

Rangers in 2e are basically Wardens in 4e, or Swordmages. 4e Rangers are utterly martial, and would just be 2e fighters with two weapons or bows.
I mention it because the names are going to change in 4e DS. It's not going to be identical, but there are good things about this.

 

[cdrcjsn]

The assassin is now in DDI and probably comes closer to the athasian bard than the 4e bard.

 

[Matt James]

the assassin is now in ddi and probably comes closer to the athasian bard than the 4e bard.

+1, qfe

 

[Deverash]

That part's not up for debate, and the channel divinity aspects of the cleric can easily be addressed: Four feats for each element, each a different channel divinity. Obviously.

However, that doesn't make the cleric elemental.

It wouldn't take much, honestly. Simply have every divine class pick an element at creation, and change their at-wills so that they have a damage type appropriate to that element.

Example:
Fire - fire
Water - cold
Air - thunder
Earth - force.

This works elegantly, and doesn't require a complete rebuild.

Holy power itself, radiant light as a healing force, tho, doesn't really jive with the Dark Sun setting. In non-at-will powers, it can represent the searing force of the sun itself, but it shouldn't be the primary damage type of an elemental-based character.

Why not just change the Radiant damage type in all divine spells to match their elemental forcus? Maybe give them something like the Sorcerer ability to ignore some resistance to go with it.

 

[Pbartender]

I think this is generally how they'll deal with the Defiler/Preserver split. It'll be like the Warlock pacts.

In fact, that would probably be the easiest way to make Defilers and Preservers work... turn them into new Warlock pacts, or Sorcerer styles.

The other way is to make it a feat or ability that replaces an existing class's ability... For example, replace the Wizard's Implement Mastery ability with a Defiler ability.

That aside, much of the flavor can be implemented through appropriately designed Rituals, or alternate rules for rituals. Imagine powering rituals through self-inflicted hit point damage or by spending healing surges.

 

[Mort_Q]

I wonder if they'll do wild talents more like Dragonmarks, or like the Dilettante racial feature.