BoED -- things to look out for?

[hong]

Some of the sacrifice spells may be too good if the sacrifice is easily dealt with.

"I will nobly sacrifice myself to defeat the ... blah blah blah .... "
"But you'll die!"
"No prob, my buddy here has True Res prepped, and we should get a lot more than 25k for their loot."

Geoff.

Oh yeah, I noticed that one. That particular problem may actually not be so bad in my campaign, given my mods to resurrection.

What's ironic is that phoenix fire, the spell that brings you back to life after killing you, is the least broken of these spells. You actually lose a level with that one.

 

[Joachim]

You've got to remember that to use exalted spells you have to be _exalted_. An exalted person isn't going to use his god's gift lightly by killing himself, knowing he can come back.

If you want to know the definition of powerful, read the Saint template for +2 ECL. Makes half-celestial look like half-turd for half the ECL. An 18th level Paladin Saint would be much more powerful than a human 20th level equivalent.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

If you want to know the definition of powerful, read the Saint template for +2 ECL. Makes half-celestial look like half-turd for half the ECL. An 18th level Paladin Saint would be much more powerful than a human 20th level equivalent.

Of course, that also has some serious prerequisites, too, unlike half-celestial. That's just a matter of choosing your parents wisely and/or otherwise getting it tacked on however one does it in one's campaign.

Brad

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Vow of Poverty for monks and sorcs can be bad, for the simple reason that monks don't really give up much for the benefits, and sorcs still have the option to buff themselves up with spells, thus gaining most of the benefits of the equipment that poor PCs have to sacrifice in addition to the VoP benefits.

Add in Shintao Monk from OA. Look, yet MORE feats and mutant powers, and the code of conduct is so similar, you'll kick yourself for not going through with it!

Actually, I think VoP can work with most classes, but it does seem like it's made for monks.

Brad

 

[The Lone Badger]

Some thoughts:

It mentions earlier in the book that the Saint LA is deliberately low. It's meant to be unbalanced, being able to take the template is a reward.

Monks get great milage out of VoP, true. But it pretty much replaces the benefits they'd normally get from being loaded down with enough magic items to pay off the national debt. It allows for an ascetic monk who owns no more than the clothes on his back and a begging bowl, and is prepared to give up even that at a moment's notice. In low-magic-item campaigns the Vow may need to be toned down, in DMG-recomended-GP-allowance ones it looks really good.

Touch of Golden Ice (feat) is nasty for a monk. Sooner or later your opponent will roll a 1.

An Apostle of Peace gains 9th level spells over 10 levels, but since you have to be 6th level to join you gain 9th level spells only 1 level before straight-class casters, and they get more and more variety.

Nymph's Kiss is a horribly overpowered feat that I would recomend removing.

 

[Xarls Taunzund]

Of course, that also has some serious prerequisites, too, unlike half-celestial. That's just a matter of choosing your parents wisely and/or otherwise getting it tacked on however one does it in one's campaign.

Brad

Of course they also changed the level adjustment on half-celestial to be based on racial HD, a 1-2 HD critter has only a +2 LA from half-celestial.

 

[Xarls Taunzund]

Some thoughts:

It mentions earlier in the book that the Saint LA is deliberately low. It's meant to be unbalanced, being able to take the template is a reward.

Monks get great milage out of VoP, true. But it pretty much replaces the benefits they'd normally get from being loaded down with enough magic items to pay off the national debt. It allows for an ascetic monk who owns no more than the clothes on his back and a begging bowl, and is prepared to give up even that at a moment's notice. In low-magic-item campaigns the Vow may need to be toned down, in DMG-recomended-GP-allowance ones it looks really good.

Touch of Golden Ice (feat) is nasty for a monk. Sooner or later your opponent will roll a 1.

An Apostle of Peace gains 9th level spells over 10 levels, but since you have to be 6th level to join you gain 9th level spells only 1 level before straight-class casters, and they get more and more variety.

Nymph's Kiss is a horribly overpowered feat that I would recomend removing.

I think the thing with Nymph's Kiss is a misprint, I think that the bonuses should only apply to Fey creatures. And as far as the Apostle of Peace goes, if you want to get creative, go Monk 1, take Sacred Vow and Vow Poverty at 1st level, then 2 levels of Sorcerer, Wizard, or Cleric, or even Druid or Bard, at 2nd level for your bonus exalted feat (gained from Vow of Poverty) you take Vow of Non-violence, at 3rd level you take Vow of Peace, plus you will have a +5 base Will save, so at 4th level you can take your first level of Apostle of Peace and be casting 9th level spells by 13th level. Of course you have to be human to do this, or just wait one more level for your bonus exalted feat at 4th, then take AoP at 5th.

 

[gfunk]

so at 4th level you can take your first level of Apostle of Peace and be casting 9th level spells by 13th level.

You forgot that you also need 10 ranks in Concentration, which is only possible for a 7th level character.

 

[Xarls Taunzund]

You forgot that you also need 10 ranks in Concentration, which is only possible for a 7th level character.

.....oh....yeah.....*slams head on desk a few times*.....sorry!

 

[Hammerhead]

How is Nymph's Kiss broken? Doesn't it only add like a +2 bonus to Cha checks or something? Wow, yeah, that'll come in handy for all those times you use Cha skills...

...yeah, I know it happens, but I sure wouldn't waste a feat on something like that.