Arcana Evolved - Balance with D&D Core Classes?

[Hackmaster]

I am going to be starting up a new D&D 3.5 campaign in the near future. Players will be limited to classes from the PHB only. My players unanimously stated they didn't want to start using rules from multiple other supplements (like the "Complete" series). They might be amenable to a single additional source of options and I was thinking of using Arcana Unearthed/Evolved for a few different base class options.

How do AE classes balance out with core classes? Can they be dropped right into the D&D rules? I know a few magic classes use a different magic system, but are the overall power levels similar? Would an Arcana Evolved Champion significantly outshine a D&D fighter for example?

Thanks for your help.
Cheers,
Jeff

 

[DarkKestral]

How do AE classes balance out with core classes? Can they be dropped right into the D&D rules? I know a few magic classes use a different magic system, but are the overall power levels similar? Would an Arcana Evolved Champion significantly outshine a D&D fighter for example?

Champion is more of a paladin type... and I'd say it's about equal or slightly better than the Pally, but where it appeals is the options it has and the way you can play an evil champion just as easily as a good one.

Warmains (the equivalent of a D&D fighter) would far outclass the fighter, because they are what the fighter should have been.

Totem Warriors and Barbarians I would think would be about equal, depending on the totem chosen.

Magisters are like halfway between a wizard and a sorceror... so if you allow them access to D&D spells that aren't on the list of AU/AE spells, beware of a large power increase, as I feel that would make them much, much more powerful than either a wizard OR a sorceror.

Greenbonds are kinda like cleric/druid mixes in feel, but they play slightly differently. I don't know how they would compare, but I think the CoDzillas come out on top, as they get better BAB, armor proficiencies, and weapons.

I'd say Monks and Oathsworn are similar. They both have similar 'fluff' and abilities, though Oathsworn eventually get some nice immunities that can occasionally be nice in 'gritty' campaigns.

Runethanes, Mageblades, Unfettered, and Ritual Warriors have no real comparison w/in the Core D&D rules, however, there is a reason Unfettered and Mageblades are considered the best 'light armored fighter' and 'mage/fighter hybrid' classes out there: they actually do what they say they do well without overpowering other classes.

Akashics are somewhere between a rogue and a bard.. they're interesting, but don't do much damage, and only limited to a max of +3d6 SA damage even at 20th level, so they're not the best in combat-focused campaigns, where rogues will excel more.

Another thing to note is that since there's no alignment in AE, none of the classes have alignment-based abilities like the Monk and Cleric have.

 

[Turanil]

They might be amenable to a single additional source of options and I was thinking of using Arcana Unearthed/Evolved for a few different base class options.

As a "single additional source of options" Unearthed Arcana would also fit well. This book was probably a response to Monte's Arcana Unearthed, and thus has core class variants meant to resemble what's found in Monte's book (such as Totem Barbarians, Paladins of other alignments, etc.). And it's more compatible with DnD than AU/AE.

 

[theredrobedwizard]

Just use Arcana Evolved; skip the rest of the D&D core books. Your players will thank you.

Regarding balance; they aren't exactly balaced, but they do require more XP to level up. As such, multiclassing between PHB and AE classes doesn't work very well. I suggest having each character pick one, and only level up in classes from that book.

Or, as above, just use AE.

-TRRW

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I agree that the AU/AE classes are pretty well designed and balanced with the Core classes. If you do decide to drop them in, however, you'll need to alter their spell lists a bit.

Greenbonds work well with the Druid list, or you could make them take Clerical domains.

Any of the full arcane caster lists would work for the Magister.

Mage-Blades? You could go a host of ways- the Warlock list, the Bard list, give them access to a couple of Wizardry schools, or use the Paladin or Ranger lists, if you like a more divine flavor. Heck- do them all.

Etc.

 

[Hackmaster]

Thanks for the info. It sounds like I shouldn't have any major problems integrating the stuff into my campaigns, and hopefully it will add a little bit of variety.