Charles Ryan on the Sacred Cows of D&D

[WizarDru]

OK, I'm confused. So is it basically just something where you are allowed to take a level of something else? So would you then be a Cleric 6/Dwarven Cleric 1? I don't understand the reason behind being able to only take it at a certain level. Then again, I am commenting on something I haven't even seen yet.

These appear in other places, such as the Planar Handbook, as well. You become a Cleric 7, but at level X you took an optional variant level instead of the standard core version. For all intents and purposes, you are still a cleric of your effective level, but you got different benefits for the level in question. For example, there are alternate planar levels for the druid in the Planar Handbook, to make them more appropriate to a planar campaign. It's a neat idea, as long as it isn't taken too far. It has the potential to completely dilute the core classes, but on the other hand, it allows for more customized concepts within the class. It's an interesting option.

 

[Testament]

These appear in other places, such as the Planar Handbook, as well. You become a Cleric 7, but at level X you took an optional variant level instead of the standard core version. For all intents and purposes, you are still a cleric of your effective level, but you got different benefits for the level in question. For example, there are alternate planar levels for the druid in the Planar Handbook, to make them more appropriate to a planar campaign. It's a neat idea, as long as it isn't taken too far. It has the potential to completely dilute the core classes, but on the other hand, it allows for more customized concepts within the class. It's an interesting option.

Neat idea yes, but utterly overpowered. Look at the Dwarven fighter for example. Instead of his bonus feat at 1st level, he gains a d12 HD, and weapon focus in ALL AXES!

I personally dislike racial sub levels, not just because of their overpowered nature, but because the reinforce racial stereotypes.

 

[Mark]

Actually, come to think of it, I guess I never really turn off my "geekmode" while here on ENWorld.

hee hee hee

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Neat idea yes, but utterly overpowered. Look at the Dwarven fighter for example. Instead of his bonus feat at 1st level, he gains a d12 HD, and weapon focus in ALL AXES!

I personally dislike racial sub levels, not just because of their overpowered nature, but because the reinforce racial stereotypes.

So on average 1 extra hit point, and a +1 to hit so long as he uses an axe, vs. power attack/cleave/etc? Seems fair.

 

[scourger]

whatever

I just hope the folks at WotC remmeber that no matter how good a steak is, once you kill that cow & eat you're not getting any more milk (and therefore no butter or cheese) out of it!

[It's a metaphor.]

 

[Krieg]

'Ablative' damage

I had to look what 'ablative meant. Hadn't seen that word since Latin class in College.

Well now we know which of us are not Traveller players.

 

[ptolemy18]

Ablative armor reduces damage by itself being consumed in the process of soaking the damage. In essence, your hit points take away killing blows by the killing force "blowing off" the hit points first. Hence, "ablative" hit points. It's the way the designers look at the hit point mechanic as opposed to an actual wounds-tracking system. Only the last blow is truly lethal - the rest is just padding.

In my games (as a DM and player), I prefer to think of hit points as being pretty literal. Higher-level characters can absorb attacks which could kill an ordinary person, because THEY'RE JUST THAT TOUGH!

Although this may just be me.... I always prefer to describe wounds as gorily as possible...

Jason

 

[ptolemy18]

I see ablative vs. non-ablative hit points as being primarily determined by setting and mood. They're both good for different things.

For any supposedly "realistic" system (like D20 Modern, D20 Weird World War, World of Darkness, KULT, etc.) I think ablative hit points suck. If you're playing in a modern-day setting and you can't get killed by a single lucky gunshot wound (barring something like "luck points" or "karma points" to keep you alive), then something is wrong.

But for a system which is supposed to be totally fantastic, like D&D... for a game where you're supposed to be able to heroically soak up tons of wounds... in THAT case, long live ablative hit points!!

Jason

 

[Lord Pendragon]

So on average 1 extra hit point, and a +1 to hit so long as he uses an axe, vs. power attack/cleave/etc? Seems fair.

No. A Dwarven fighter is going to take Weapon Focus in an axe at some point anyway. I will be one of his feats. But by taking the racial substitution level, the dwarf gets a better hit die, a feat he's going to take anyway, and the same feat several times over in a handful of other weapons, just for good measure. It's like the cleric and the Radiant Servant of Pelor. One option is just more of everything.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

since an auto-hit at 1st level really is too good.

I really don't understand how 1d4+1 twice a day can be considered too good, even at 1st-level. But I guess that's why I'm not a game designer. :\