Ardent Class: Predictions?

[chitzk0i]

One possibility is to invest temporary hit points. Another is to grant regeneration. Another possibility is to provide DR as an interrupt reaction.

They tried the temporary hit points thing with the artificer and I think it makes an interesting change of pace.

As for the DR, I think you mean immediate interrupt. It sounds cool, though.

I was hoping for something radical, something along the lines of Avenger's Oaths to demonstrate that the Leader role can result in different modes of play.

Although check out the whole avenger AC thing. They recently nerfed Avenger AC and are giving them more tools for damage to compensate. Basically, avengers were a little too radical.

 

[DreamChaser]

I'm guessing hexblade.

Shadow power source isn't in this book...so far it is looking like D&DI content only...maybe out in PH4.

I'm guessing that that is psychic warrior or a new divine class that we haven't seen before.

The githzerai is pretty obviously a monk.

DC

 

[Turtlejay]

Soulknife?

Jay

 

[WalterKovacs]

The benefit would mostly flavor-related. Since the mantles would have powers that are thematically linked, they (and the ardents who use them) will be distinctively different from each other. I can see why some players might chafe at the restrictions, but as long as the powers are approximately equal to each other, I doubt there will be balance issues.

It would be more likely that, like with Warlocks, they would allow you to pick from any mantle, but if the power fits into your mantle, it is enhanced. The "enhanced if you have this class feature" effects are an existing mechanic that could be used. With the power point mechanic already there, they likely wouldn't want to introduce something else that also makes the class more complex (unless they are aiming for another class similar to the shaman). Maybe a simple mechanic would be on the cost of the augments. Instead of having scaled augments like the psion (since versatility is most important for controllers) perhaps using an "out of mantle" augment costs more (meaning that you can either stay in mantle, and get more bang for your power point buck, or you can pay more, but have more versatility).

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

It would be more likely that, like with Warlocks, they would allow you to pick from any mantle, but if the power fits into your mantle, it is enhanced. The "enhanced if you have this class feature" effects are an existing mechanic that could be used. With the power point mechanic already there, they likely wouldn't want to introduce something else that also makes the class more complex (unless they are aiming for another class similar to the shaman). Maybe a simple mechanic would be on the cost of the augments. Instead of having scaled augments like the psion (since versatility is most important for controllers) perhaps using an "out of mantle" augment costs more (meaning that you can either stay in mantle, and get more bang for your power point buck, or you can pay more, but have more versatility).

Well, there's one reason I think this concept is unlikely. It would be pretty awkward to write up the powers associated with it. You'd have Mantle augments to powers AND PP based augments on the same powers. The power blocks would be pretty large and messy, plus it would be a real pain for a player to figure out what powers were the best ones to take. Mechanically it would probably work fine, it just seems awkward to present and manage.

Really I'd think that any class design where Mantle and PP based mechanics overlap would be a bit too complex. Mantles could be implemented in a few ways if they go in that direction. They could be like CD where you spend a feat to gain a Mantle based power (which can then be subject to PP augments) for example. That would keep the two things independent.

Of course there's no reason to suppose that they WILL have Mantles at all. There could be other ways to use PPs besides as augments too. Its hard to say. Well, we will see in a few months when PHB3 comes out. Until then I'm not going to even think about it, lol.

 

[DreamChaser]

Soulknife?

Jay

I'm wondering if we are going to see either:

a) two strikers - monk and soulknife

or

b) soulknife absorbed into psychic warrior to give it more of a unique feel. This would work well with my above prediction that psychic warrior (psionic defender) will emphasize something like metacreative and psychoportation powers...

Not sure which I would prefer however.

DC

 

[Destil]

Soulknife strikes me as being more likely a paragon path than anything, letting anyone who mixes psionics and weapons get a chance at it.

 

[WalterKovacs]

Well, there's one reason I think this concept is unlikely. It would be pretty awkward to write up the powers associated with it. You'd have Mantle augments to powers AND PP based augments on the same powers. The power blocks would be pretty large and messy, plus it would be a real pain for a player to figure out what powers were the best ones to take. Mechanically it would probably work fine, it just seems awkward to present and manage.

Really I'd think that any class design where Mantle and PP based mechanics overlap would be a bit too complex. Mantles could be implemented in a few ways if they go in that direction. They could be like CD where you spend a feat to gain a Mantle based power (which can then be subject to PP augments) for example. That would keep the two things independent.

Of course there's no reason to suppose that they WILL have Mantles at all. There could be other ways to use PPs besides as augments too. Its hard to say. Well, we will see in a few months when PHB3 comes out. Until then I'm not going to even think about it, lol.

My assumption was that it would basically be something along the lines of augment 2 (mantle X: this augment costs 1 less), or something like that. Basically, instead of having powers modified the way they usually are, instead their augments are modified. I doubt it would be the only way they do it (the mantle would basically just be what they call the 'class feature' that is referenced in the powers, like the Avenger's censure, or the warlock's pact, or the sorceror's magic type, etc). However, it's more likely that the augments will be modified based on mantles (or whatever the class feature/build type is called) but the at-will/unaugmented versions probably won't be.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

My assumption was that it would basically be something along the lines of augment 2 (mantle X: this augment costs 1 less), or something like that. Basically, instead of having powers modified the way they usually are, instead their augments are modified. I doubt it would be the only way they do it (the mantle would basically just be what they call the 'class feature' that is referenced in the powers, like the Avenger's censure, or the warlock's pact, or the sorceror's magic type, etc). However, it's more likely that the augments will be modified based on mantles (or whatever the class feature/build type is called) but the at-will/unaugmented versions probably won't be.

It certainly isn't impossible, but it seems like it would make it rather difficult to do things like add new Mantles later on since it would require new information for each power. There may be a way to do it that avoids that though, who knows. There are a lot of possibilities. I'll be interested to see what they come up with.

 

[FireLance]

Pdf is up and accessible, although the link is not yet live from the content calendar.

Key points:

• Psionic Leader flavored around projecting and influencing emotions. Charisma primary, Wisdom and Constitution secondary.
• Standard Leader approach to healing. The key tweak is that the mantle selected by the ardent gives a small bonus when the healing power (ardent surge) is used.
• Mantles are no longer philosophies but are projected states of mind that give bonuses to allies close to the ardent (like auras). Mantles do not seem to affect powers, but (as mentioned above) grant a small bonus to the target of the ardent surge healing power. The mantle presented is defensively oriented. The other one in the PH will be offensively oriented. Mantles can be improved with feats to grant increased bonuses and additional types of bonuses.
• Uses the same power structure as the psion: at-will powers that increase with level and are augmentable with power points, and daily powers.