Book of Exalted Deeds Excerpts up

[Psion]

So now we have Sanctified spells for the opposite of Corrupt spells and new spell components. Should have expected that. Nothing from those excerpts makes me think it needs a mature title however.

You know, I've been saying that. At least this article says why:

The Book of Exalted Deeds is intended for mature players because it deals with tough questions of ethics and morality in a serious manner.

But I am still not convinced, again, unless they really are explicit in their examples. I don't think I would object to my daughter playing a game that confronts her with tough moral questions. That even sounds healthy.

 

[LoneWolf23]

Well, I suppose it'll deal with how a Paladin can still be Lawful Good even if he routinely delivers swift death upon Evil Creatures aplenty.

Now, will this book be followed by Books for Law and Chaos?

 

[Oni]

The idea behind the phoenix spell is kind of neat. Mostly doesn't do much to peak my interest though.


As much as I like crunchy bits, I'd like to have seen an excerpt about alignment or something, that might have been more interesting.

 

[Cedric]

I thought the sacrifices weren't in line with the spells. For something you are only going to be able to feasibly do once or twice as a character (losing character levels and the like).

I want something that won't just spang off of someone's spell resistance or allow them to make a save and evade completely.

Call me unreasonable, but if I make that big of a sacrifice, I want some guaranteed results. Not an instant kill...but some serious results none the less.

Cedric

 

[Tewligan]

I hope the picture of the dancing rhino-man isn't typical of the art in this book. That is one of the goofiest-looking monsters I have ever seen in a WotC book.

 

[hong]

IMO, the Lion of Talsid smacks of cheeziness. Scent and Pounce? Ouch.

Whee, it's the druid's version of the OA Singh rager! I wonder if James Wyatt knows they ripped him off.

Oh.

Never mind.

 

[Nightfall]

Hmmm... vows as feats... that sounds a LOT like BoHM. Well see if they follow in its footsteps or not.

Classes: Apostle of Peace... ick, does one of those "new spell level per class level" things. At least this time, it doesn't get 9th level spells MUCH before a normal caster would.

The other two classes seem decent though.

The magic... sactified spells sound a lot like vile spells in effect. I would think that they would try to make the mechanic different (shrug).

yeah well they are trying new ways..but it does seem like a rather super up version of BoHM. But we'll see how closely one follows the other.

 

[buzz]

Classes: Apostle of Peace... ick, does one of those "new spell level per class level" things. At least this time, it doesn't get 9th level spells MUCH before a normal caster would.

I balked at the AoP's rapid spell advancement as well at first, but look at their spell list. The focus on nonviolence makes them a little less powerful, so the progression isn't as abusive as it might look at first.

 

[Nightfall]

So let's give peace a chance!

 

[Darrin Drader]

I'm a little worried that the spells are predominantly high level... Maybe Darrin can alay my fears?

Well, how could I turn away now that I've been summoned?

I worked on a number of the spells that appear in this book and one thing I was very concerned with was providing an array of new spells covering levels 1 through 9. Of course often times the interesting ones are the higher level spells. There are also some 3E reworkings of some spells you may have seen in a particular similar 2E books (go to your library and figure this one out!)

I think that if you're looking for a discussion of alignment, you won't be disappointed. It will tell you what to do with the kobold babies and answer a lot of those borderline alignment issues.

Finally there is a difference between sanctified spells and corrupt spells. Other than the obvious, it is a subtle change that will probably slip past most people.