Anyone have the April Dragon yet?

[Ravellion]

Well, on theme is the Jester prestige class.

Also, the Class Acts section finally covers a class that hasn't gotten enough attention in Dragon - Commoners. The section is Flaws for commoners (example - Corpse- you are dead, but you get an extra feat!)

Hmmm. I wonder whether my players are going to request this starting flaw and then buy a raise dead with their starting money

Rav

 

[Glyfair]

Hmmm. I wonder whether my players are going to request this starting flaw and then buy a raise dead with their starting money

Yeah, but you have to be a Commoner to take the flaw. That in itself is a flaw

Besides, this is horribly written. You already get an extra feat for taking a flaw. Does this mean you get two extra feats, or is it just emphasizing the extra feat you already get? Did anyone playtest this?

Well, I've finally had a chance to read through it:

Editorial: Not that Funny!

Discusses the controversy over the humor in April issues of Dragon.

Enter the Far Realm by Bruce R. Cordell

Gives a History of the Far Realm, discusses the "Cerebrotic Blot" where the Far Realm touches the world, lists encounters through the various levels of the blot, lists feats, spells and monsters tied into the blot.

Sidebars include Origins of the Far Realm (it's appearance in Gates of Firestorm Peak, Eberron, etc.), the Far Realm in Eberron (basically it's part of Xoriat) & magnitude of the blot.

The Umbragen: Shadow Elves of Xen'Drik by Keith Baker

Pretty much has been covered thoroughly in the rest of this thread. I think it's interesting that the two important classes for the race are non-core (their favored class of Warlock and the Soulknife).

Coming Home by Matt Forbeck

This is a prequel to the "Marked for Death" series. It does a nice job of fleshing out some of the books backstory. At the same time, it stands on its own.

I think this is one of two ways I like my fiction in Dragon. Tying into a D&D book series gives some spotlight to the book, some backstory for those players in Eberron and a decent story for those who aren't interested in either. I'm sure their will those who complain, but I usually skip the fiction myself and I like this here (indeed, I was looking forward to it).

(The other way is pure quality. I would love to see another series the quality of Niall of the Far Travels appear in Dragon on occasion.)

The Ecology of the Chuul by Mike Mearls

I've only skimmed this one so far (the Chuul doesn't really interest me). Seems a pretty good, but typical, example of the series.

Bazaar of the Bizarre: Tools of the Assassin by Oliver Diaz and Rober J. Hahn

Magic items for assassins. An interesting sidebar on people using cursed items as portable traps.

Spellcraft: Volume Veneficus

A yuan-ti spellbook. Every spell has a snake theme.

Gaining Prestige: The Jester by Richard Pett

Part of the April Fools theme. Jesters can have some pretty terrific perform checks (since they can choose one perform skill they have 13 ranks in to add their Jester level as a bonus). It includes an enhanced perform check sidebar that includes results up to 75 DC.

Sage Advice by Andy Collins

Questions dealing with druids and damage reduction.

Class Acts

Implacable by Joshua Cole(Barbarian) - a variant barbarian for dwarves
Songs of Peace by Hal Maclean (Bards) - tips on being a peaceful bard
The Multiclassed Cleric by Mike Mearls (Cleric) - discussion of multiclassed options
Flaws for Commoners by Ted Ragonstaff (Commoner) - the April Fools article. One of the best, I think.
Boosting Your Animal Companion by Mark A. Hart (Druid) - discussions of spells that help a druid's animal companion
The Celtic Warrior by Kieran Turley (Fighter) - discussion of celtic fighters, includes a feat "Spear Master" that allows a spear to be used as a double weapon
Monk Styles by Jacob Steinmann (Monk) - a few martial art styles are described from the "real world"
A Paladin by Night by Joshua Cole (Paladin) - when a paladin might wish he was a rogue
Flights of Fancy by Amber E. Scott (Ranger) - new types of arrows
Merchant Rogues by Shelley Baur (Rogue) - self explantory
Sorcerers are Special...ists, too by John E. Ling, Jr (Sorcerer) - rules for creating a theme as a sorcerer (a lesser version of specialist wizards)
Verbal Components by Eric Rampson (Wizard) - creating "verbal components" for your spells (things to say in character)

Comics (Nodwick, Dork Tower & Zogonia)

 

[Zaukrie]

The far realm article is good, but not as great as I'd hoped. It mostly covers what happens then the far realms encroach on the material plane. Nice that the monsters are both high and low level. The feats are all about characters or NPCs that have been touched by the far realm and given power at a cost.

I've skimmed the article, and not read its every word to be fair. But, it didn't seem far realm enough to me somehow. Maybe when I read it in detail it will seem more bizarre/wierd/dangerous.

It is a good article, just not a classic, know what i mean?

 

[James Jacobs]

Hmmm. I wonder whether my players are going to request this starting flaw and then buy a raise dead with their starting money

Rav

Of course... they'll still have the Corpse feat when they're raised from the dead so they'll immeditaely die once they come back to life. It's tough but fair.

 

[Jason Bulmahn]

Of course... they'll still have the Corpse feat when they're raised from the dead so they'll immeditaely die once they come back to life. It's tough but fair.

We playtested the corpse flaw extensively, mostly with Mike McArtor's characters. It is a bit powerful.. but balanced.

Jason Bulmahn
Associate Editor of Dragon
dragon@paizo.com

"Keep your hands off my pig and my peasant hat!"

 

[James Jacobs]

I reckon once I get my lunch-time Maure Castle game going here at Paizo we'll be testing the Corpse flaw on a weekly basis.

 

[Razz]

What are the previews for next month's Dragon?

 

[IronWolf]

Already mentioned earlier in the thread:

http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=2092684&postcount=15

 

[Mad Mac]

Actually, one quick follow-up question on the Umbragen article. Are the soulknife substitution levels geared towards making the character more rogue-like? (would explain a lot)

 

[Von Ether]

Have they stopped the April theme issues? I always hated those.

Each his own. I loved them.