Book of Exalted Deeds Excerpts up

[Darrin Drader]

Isn't turning up when your name is spoken more the halmark of fiends than someone who should be working on the BoED?

Interesting point. Please don't blow my cover.

 

[Mercule]

Interesting point. Please don't blow my cover.

Mercy, Master. Please.

My lips are sealed.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

You know I'm curious if the book has any issues about playing or an example of an all good party composed of only Goblinoids, Orcs and Kobolds as party members. Which in many campaigns would pretty well be a party of outcasts. With issues of just how hard is it to be champions of good, when almost everyone mistrusts you or wants you dead.

 

[LuYangShih]

It looks very good so far. I am glad a book is finally going to deal with the alignment conondrums that so often appear in D&D games. A good baseline for behavior in such situations is most welcome. I am almost certainly going to pick this up.

 

[comrade raoul]

If the WotC excerpts are any indication, I'll have both conceptual and mechanical problems with the BoED. Conceptually, it looks like it'll play up the Judeo-Christian ethical and mythological themes already present in D&D, but I'd really like to have seen a more sophisticated treatment of "good." For instance, I'd like to have seen ways for players and DMs to retain the alignment-laden metaphysics that the core rules presume but adapt that metaphysics to other ethical systems with other conceptions of "good". The sanctified spells are especially obnoxious in this regard, and I think it's symptomatic of a real conceptual problem with the cleric: lots of people seem to force good aligned clerics into an almost monotheisitc dedication to "positive energy" and "good" in what are usually manifestly polytheistic worlds. Shouldn't a book designed to fleshing out fantasy conceptions of good-alignment allow good-aligned pagan clerics to be able to be deeply and profoundly good without being righteous in a Christian sense, and to express that good in their spell-casting styles without calling forth hosts of angels or invoking the wrath of the faithful?

Also there seem to be mechanical problems present even in the excerpt, which is never a good sign. The "Lion of Talisid" seems way too good -- pounce at 5th level? And the cleric's ability to spontaneously cast sanctified spells makes an already overpowered class even more powerful by giving it more options.

Of course, there's always the possibility that the finished book will address my worries, but given the quality of recent WotC products, I'm not holding my breath.

 

[DragonLancer]

Any chance of getting a list of the new monsters in the book?

There are not enough celestials in the game so I'm hoping it gives as many new ones as the BoVD gave us evil beasties.

 

[Henry]

Shouldn't a book designed to fleshing out fantasy conceptions of good-alignment allow good-aligned pagan clerics to be able to be deeply and profoundly good without being righteous in a Christian sense, and to express that good in their spell-casting styles without calling forth hosts of angels or invoking the wrath of the faithful?

Actually, the "Angels" are almost necessary if you assume the existance of Demons and Devils - But keep in mind that just as D&D's Demons and Devils are taken influences from all across the religious spectrum, beings like Lantern Archons, Guardian Archons, and Einheriar are taken from across multiple spectra also. If the imagery is despoiling, all that is necessary is to change the image without changing the stats. The most famous, the Solars and planetars, are the most obvious; the rest are less so.

Also there seem to be mechanical problems present even in the excerpt, which is never a good sign. The "Lion of Talisid" seems way too good -- pounce at 5th level?

Not so powerful for a 10th level character minimum.

Of course, there's always the possibility that the finished book will address my worries, but given the quality of recent WotC products, I'm not holding my breath.[/QUOTE]

 

[BOZ]

Any chance of getting a list of the new monsters in the book?

There are not enough celestials in the game so I'm hoping it gives as many new ones as the BoVD gave us evil beasties.

we've got all of the missing celestials (well, except some of the eladrin) at the Creature Catalog; don't despair citizen.

 

[frankthedm]

I will be picking up the book, since it is aimed at 'mature audiences' i am very curious about the morality sets they have in it. I am holding out hope it won't suffer too much from modern west coast morals.

On an unrelated note, my group has taken on intentionaly calling the upcoming book "BOVG". Has anyone else seen this odd behavior?

 

[BOZ]

book of vile goodness?