BoVD vs. BoED

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

There are also some 'Exalted' feats that don't pair up well against their 'Vile' counterparts (Evil Brand v Nimbus of Light). And just what looks like a really broken feat (Nymph's Kiss, +2 to all Charisma-related checks, +1 to all saving throws against spells + spell-likes, +1 Skill Point per level including the level you take this feat, no reason for a telepath-psion not to take it, but that may depend heavily on the wording in the PsiHB-Revised).

I don't know whether to be thrilled or disappointed. I don't think psionics and alignment mix.

I'm afraid of psionics being in a non-psionics splatbook if the author isn't one of the "psionics guys".

In any event, I don't see how it helps psions more than sorcerer. It doesn't seem to boost save DCs, for instance. However, the feat is better than Luck of Heroes and several helpings of Spell Focus combined.

There must be a catch I'm missing, though.

 

[Olive]

I don't know whether to be thrilled or disappointed. I don't think psionics and alignment mix.

I'm afraid of psionics being in a non-psionics splatbook if the author isn't one of the "psionics guys".

You realise that Psionics aren't mentioned in the feat description right? It's just Reiella extrapolating.

One thing that I did notice about both books is that the description of alignment stuff is mostly aimed at LG in the BoED and CE in the BoVD which kinda recalls the old L=G and C=E in Original D&D. And I don't like it...

 

[hunter1828]

One thing that I did notice about both books is that the description of alignment stuff is mostly aimed at LG in the BoED and CE in the BoVD which kinda recalls the old L=G and C=E in Original D&D. And I don't like it...

I'm noticing that too. The BoED, which I do like, seems to be best used with paladins and clerics. But what about the chaotic good ranger or neutral good rogue? I'm sure I can extrapolate something out of it, but it seems geared in one direction.

hunter1828

 

[jester47]

I got a good look at the BoED today. I did not find it terribly useful.

When I look at a book, I ask myself "Can I do this another way using only the core rule books." If I get "yes" for a lot of items I find in the book, I figure that it is not really useful. Some of the new rules were handy. Like Excorcism, and Channeling. Most of the PrCs I found to be very specific and hard to integrate. For example, the "good assassin." Well, why not change the alignment requirement for assassins? Concerning the Bahamut PrC, why not just use a paladin of Bahamut?

The BoVD gave answers to things that a lot of us wanted. The Demon Lords and the Devils. It gave us some cool PrCs like the Demonologist and Diabolist. It gave us rules that filled in some logical holes. It had some hokey stuff, but the usable items in it were numerous.

I feel that the BoED is stretching to fit. I feel that it is trying to fill holes that are not there.

Also, the art at the chapter openings I thought was horrible. What happened to the rad schetches we are so used to? Whats up with the woodcuts?

While the BoED has some good stuff in it, the mediocre stuff overshadows it.

Aaron.

 

[FrankTrollman]

One thing that I did notice about both books is that the description of alignment stuff is mostly aimed at LG in the BoED and CE in the BoVD which kinda recalls the old L=G and C=E in Original D&D. And I don't like it...

Also the "sacred = good, desecrated = evil" postulate.

That works great in monotheism - but when your official cosmology is that there are an equal number of Good and Evil gods - that's only true half the time. Half of the Sacred things in the D&D world are supposed to be Sacred to Evil. Not desecrated perversions of that which is Sacred to Good - just Sacred to Evil in their own right.

Neither the BoVD nor the BoED seem to address that point terribly well.

-Frank

 

[Vocenoctum]

Oh yeah? Any specific ones that you liked?

the Ancesteral Whatever feat really appeals to me, so teh Anointed Knight is very cool, though I find that I'm not that keen on the powers automatically. (I liked the sam's Ancestral Daisho, and currently have a Psychic Weapon Master, so I'm keen on raising my weapons my way, instead of waiting for Chance in the shape of the DM)

fist of raziel seems pretty cool. Risen Martyr is an interesting idea. Not sure about Skylord, since there's already a few cool classes like it, will have to read more.

Sword of Righteousness is a cool, quick idea.

Vassal of Bahamut is great, though I'm not sure if it's worth me taking all ten levels. I've got a dragon blooded -bard/ paladin/ dragon disciple right now that follows Bahamut and the class fits him great.

I've given a cursory look over the other more class oriented (ranger, bard, barbarian) and will go back and reread, though the ranger one (lion of Somethin) was nice enough.