Ampersand: Sneak Attack

[Lizard]

That there's a monster labelled "oni" in W&M would seem to suggest there will be an OA at some stage.

If you tear off its bikini, will it try to marry you?

 

[Khuxan]

That there's a monster labelled "oni" in W&M would seem to suggest there will be an OA at some stage.

I thought that was the new name for the ogre mage, acknowledging its roots.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Well it may not be called OA but there could certainly be a setting that is more specific to those things.

How can it; if one of the 10 major 4E world design philosphies is "The setting remained historic medieval world onto which fantasy elements were grafted. The two concept don't blend well"? IF a quasi Anglo/European fantasy setting doesn't work, why should a quasi Japanese/Oriental fantasy setting be fine? There is no reason for one to work and the other not that I can see.
Aside from:
1. Being 'PC' 'cos anything european based is chauvanistic and has cultural exotism.
or
2. Every body in WotC thinks Ninja are cooool

Edit:

That there's a monster labelled "oni" in W&M would seem to suggest there will be an OA at some stage.

Nope I reckon this is just now RAW as are shurikens. The 4E PoL setting is mix and match cultures, which I don't have a prob with. I jsut think it is ridiculous to say that the european fantasy mix doesn't work- it has for a long time and still does in a lot of literature

 

[WyzardWhately]

I suspect the limited weapon selection is tied into the weapon trait thing that 4E is going to be pushing. Different weapons are probably going to be much more different - there will be more than a few different damage types, crit ranges, multipliers, and the occasional special +2 to something. That is, there will be much more mechanical differentiation.

So, that gives a reason for any one character's selection to be toned down, because his choice of weapon has a greater impact. Rapiers, for example, probably get some spiffy stuff and so require a feat pick.

At least, that's my suspicion.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Well maybe not in the 4e core world. But that doesn't mean another setting can't, hell if that was the case then places like Calimport in Forgotten Realms would cease to exist.

 

[scrubkai]

Not really DnD is, and always has been, based on quasi medieval Europe. Other cultures are there but they are in campaign extras or different campaign worlds

Lets see...
My 1978 PHB has Monks, Bo Sticks, Jo Sticks and Scimitars all of which are distinctly non-european. (Not to mention way too many french pole arms.)

So to me I don't see shuriken as being odd at all for D&D. It's always been an odd mixed bag of cultures thrown together for a game.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Lets see...
My 1978 PHB has Monks, Bo Sticks, Jo Sticks and Scimitars all of which are distinctly non-european. (Not to mention way too many french pole arms.)

So to me I don't see shuriken as being odd at all for D&D. It's always been an odd mixed bag of cultures thrown together for a game.

Yeah as I edited above I don't see shurikens as a problem. I just really disagree that:
1. DnD is not- in the majority- based on europe (up until now, yes I remember bo and jo but they and the monk are such a small part)
2. Quasi-Euro fantasy doesn't work- man it worked for Tolkien and every one afterwards!

But I'll repeat, I like the cultural mix but the premise behind why they are doing it I think is poor.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Yeah, D&D has always been more medieval European than anything else but it ain't that medieval and it ain't that European. The monsters tend to be more exotic than the PC stuff.

 

[mach1.9pants]

But I'll repeat, I like the cultural mix but the premise behind why they are doing it I think is poor.

Not that it really matters! Nerd Rage

 

[Sunsword]

So what if Weapon Proficiency grants a +5 bonus to Attack ala Skill Training & Weapon Specialization (if it exists) grants an additional +5 bonus ala Skill Expertise (or whatever its called is SWSE)?