Best (and worse) new base classes from WotC
- Thread starter SteveC
- Start date
moritheil
First Post
Impeesa said:
Irrelevant. I just mean to say that if the DM expects to be able to deplete your damage output, and you have as a damaging class someone whose damage output is not depleted - whether warlock or archer with hundreds of arrows - the DM may be annoyed and feel like the class is overpowered.
The Cardinal
First Post
my Top Ten:
1. Scout
2. Favored Soul
3. Hexblade
4. Warmage
5. Ninja
6. Warlock
7. Swashbuckler
8. Spirit Shaman
9. Samurai
10. Spellthief
1. Scout
2. Favored Soul
3. Hexblade
4. Warmage
5. Ninja
6. Warlock
7. Swashbuckler
8. Spirit Shaman
9. Samurai
10. Spellthief
MrFilthyIke
First Post
I like the Hexblade, Swashbuckler, Spirit Shaman, Warlock, Warmage, and Spellthief.
There are none that I *truly* dislike.
There are none that I *truly* dislike.
Darmanicus
I'm Ray...of Enfeeblement
just__al said:
If that's the one I'm thinking about, I've been toying with that and the elemental savant from CA. I reckon with a bit of time you could come up with something pretty good however the Wu-Jens elemental types are a bit wacky.
Ashanderai
Explorer
Favorite Classes - Samurai (OA), Sohei, Shugenja, Spirit Shaman, Warlock, Warmage, Wu Jen, and Scout. I have always liked the original Samurai from OA; it provided the mechanics necessary for the warrior gentry that the fighter can't simulate - not just for oriental games, but for typical western ones as well. I have always loved the idea of the sohei as the warrior-monk dedicated protectors, though I think they should have other monk or paladin-like abilities instead of minor spellcasting. The shugenja is a great divine elemental spellcaster. The spirit shaman seems very flavorful, but I haven't seen one in play yet and I worry about the apparent lack of thought put into their spell list - If I were to use one I would probably want to get that revised. I played the warlock for a time and found it slightly underpowered, but useful for certain combat situations; I had a blast playing it, though. The warmage seems very focused also, but I think it could be fun to play if you like blasting stuff. The Wu Jen seems like a fairly bland class until you consider his spell list, which has some very cool spells, but I have yet to see one in play. I love the look of the scout and yearn to see one played sometime.
Disliked Classes - Healer, Samurai (CW), Swashbuckler, and Ninja. I can't see anyone wanting to play a magical pacifist on a unicorn that isn't at an age with a prediliction for playing with pretty ponies; YMMV. The new samurai is a blight on the game; the less said the better. The swashbuckler might have been neat if I hadn't previously discovered the unfettered; I have never been able to consider the swashbuckler as anything but an inferior and less interesting version of the unfettered since then. The flavor of this ninja class is... well, the mechanics in and of themselves are okay, but the pairing of them with this archetype is... well... I think I will invoke the lesson I was taught as a child and simply apply it here - If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all.
Undecided Classes - Incarnate, Soulborn, Totemist, Shaman (OA), Psion, Psychic Warrior, Soulknife, Wilder, Marshal, Hexblade, Favored Soul, and Spellthief. Many of these I think I could come to like, but I think I need to see them in play or take more time to digest the material more before making any kind of judgement. That said though, the Favored soul seems rather... blah to me. All the rest have interesting enough flavor, but I remain uncertain about the mechanics involved in the classes execution during gameplay.
Disliked Classes - Healer, Samurai (CW), Swashbuckler, and Ninja. I can't see anyone wanting to play a magical pacifist on a unicorn that isn't at an age with a prediliction for playing with pretty ponies; YMMV. The new samurai is a blight on the game; the less said the better. The swashbuckler might have been neat if I hadn't previously discovered the unfettered; I have never been able to consider the swashbuckler as anything but an inferior and less interesting version of the unfettered since then. The flavor of this ninja class is... well, the mechanics in and of themselves are okay, but the pairing of them with this archetype is... well... I think I will invoke the lesson I was taught as a child and simply apply it here - If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all.
Undecided Classes - Incarnate, Soulborn, Totemist, Shaman (OA), Psion, Psychic Warrior, Soulknife, Wilder, Marshal, Hexblade, Favored Soul, and Spellthief. Many of these I think I could come to like, but I think I need to see them in play or take more time to digest the material more before making any kind of judgement. That said though, the Favored soul seems rather... blah to me. All the rest have interesting enough flavor, but I remain uncertain about the mechanics involved in the classes execution during gameplay.
SteveC
Doing the best imitation of myself
Some very interesting responses. I guess what this means is the WotC is doing a pretty good job of putting together classes that appeal to a broad range of playing styles. I suppose that's excepting the Wu-jen 
Here's my list:
Best
Psion
Psychic Warrior
Scout
Spellthief (has to be a certain kind of campaign for this one to work)
Spirit Shaman
Warlock (ditto)
Warmage
Worst
Healer
Samurai
Swashbuckler
Meh
Hexblade
Marshal
Ninja
Wu Jen*
Wilder*
Soul Knife*
* never seen them played so I really don't have an opinion yet
Here's my list:
Best
Psion
Psychic Warrior
Scout
Spellthief (has to be a certain kind of campaign for this one to work)
Spirit Shaman
Warlock (ditto)
Warmage
Worst
Healer
Samurai
Swashbuckler
Meh
Hexblade
Marshal
Ninja
Wu Jen*
Wilder*
Soul Knife*
* never seen them played so I really don't have an opinion yet
SelcSilverhand
First Post
Warlock - I am DM'ing an all kobold campaign as a in-between until the main campaigns start up again. The Warlock PC 's sickly effective against even my favorite baddies. Summon Swarm and Earthen Grasp are my personal headaches. I really started to hate the class. Happily I found that grappling monsters with good hide and sneak counter him quite well. After I adjusted my tactics he became a lot more manageble.
Favored Soul - A good class with the same spell casting benefits / drawbacks of the sorcerer. The biggest downside is the lack of Turn Undead ability so no Divine Metamagic feats. Gaining wings at higher levels saved our party once when the player was able to fly above an antimagic field.
Spirit Shaman - I love this class and will probably play him all the way through with no multiclassing. Lots of flavor and appeals to me a bit more than the hippy druid. Spontaneous casting like a sorcerer, but you get to change your spells known every morning. Good class features too. I just wish they had added "Summoned Monsters" in their definition of spirits. Going to try to house rule that one next chance I get. Summon Elemental Monolith, have your Spirit Guide concentrate to maintain it, summon a second one and you concentrate to maintain that one. Mmmmmmm.
Favored Soul - A good class with the same spell casting benefits / drawbacks of the sorcerer. The biggest downside is the lack of Turn Undead ability so no Divine Metamagic feats. Gaining wings at higher levels saved our party once when the player was able to fly above an antimagic field.
Spirit Shaman - I love this class and will probably play him all the way through with no multiclassing. Lots of flavor and appeals to me a bit more than the hippy druid. Spontaneous casting like a sorcerer, but you get to change your spells known every morning. Good class features too. I just wish they had added "Summoned Monsters" in their definition of spirits. Going to try to house rule that one next chance I get. Summon Elemental Monolith, have your Spirit Guide concentrate to maintain it, summon a second one and you concentrate to maintain that one. Mmmmmmm.
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