Class balance changes in revised PHB?

[maddman75]

Here's my prediction. They won't go as far as many people are estimating.

- Bards will get 2 more skill points.
- Sorcerers will have new class skills that actually use charisma.
- They'll do something with rangers, most likely staggering the free feats so they don't get so much at first level. In any case, we will have all new debates about whether they are shafted or broken, and there will be tons of new alt.rangers.
- Harm will be revised, getting a save.
- Polymorph will be revised, along with another version in a sourcebook, another on the SRD and another one in errata. Can't have too many polymorphs.
- A bunch of feats from the splatbooks will be put in, along with some garbage from the Broken Realms just to piss people like me off.

 

[hong]

When you look at a class list and see blank entries across 19 of the levels, it can make you feel like you'll get bored playing that thing.

My advice is to read about six inches across to the OTHER side of the table, where it shows "spells known" and "spells per day".

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

though the Fighter doesn`t have blank entries accros 19 levels.

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[hong]

I had a brane fart.


Hong "the precursor to a full brane explodiation" Ooi

 

[Celtavian]

Re

I am primarily hoping they don't make such changes that I can't even reasonably modify my current characters.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

I'm still hoping to see Shaman in the PHB, either as the OA version or some other tweaked version.

EDIT: I'd also like to see the Aristocrat improved to a full playbable PC class, to make it a viable option for all those players who want to be nobility. It's not a very difficult class to improve.

Other than that, just the typical list of improvements people want. +2 skill points for the Bard, and maybe some kind of progressing class abilities. Charisma skills for the Sorceror. Intimidate for Fighters.

 

[maransreth]

I sure as hell hope they do NOT put a Shaman-like clone from OA in revised PHB. You think the cleric is unbalanced? Check out that monstrosity!

As for expectations, I am looking for to a revised PHB and DMG just to see what revisions they make to the classes and what new PrCs they add to the DMG. Also hopefully see a revision to the requirements of the Assassin.

And my thoughts are just like mostly everyone else with what will change for classes.

Interesting to note though that most think that the rogue and barbarian can be left alone, as well as the paladin.

 

[hong]

I sure as hell hope they do NOT put a Shaman-like clone from OA in revised PHB. You think the cleric is unbalanced? Check out that monstrosity!

Er... huh?

 

[Berandor]

I'm only sure they won't change the Gnome or the Half-elf.

Which is a shame, really.

B

 

[Michael Morris]

Looks like the Magic business model to me

These revised core books remind me a lot of the business model WotC uses for MtG. Magic is approaching it's 10th anniversary, and it's going to its EIGHTH edition this April.

The core set of magic changes on a regular cycle now, about once every three years. Cards from out of print sets are rotated in and some cards are rotated out.

I predict we're going to see something similar in D&D.

* Broken spells will be watered down, or a few may not be reprinted at all - I wouldn't be suprised if they didn't even bother to try to fix feeblemind and just kicked it out of the core books.

* Feats from the splat books will be rotated in. A few might rotate out but I doubt it. Prime candidates are those that have been reprinted multiple times now - like Spell Specialization (FR Book & Tome & Blood). I know of a few feats that have been in Deities & Demigods AND the Epic Level Campaigns book AND the splatbook they came out of. These feats which the designers feel a need to include repeatedly will definately go in. I don't think we'll see anything getting dropped unless space becomes an issue.

* I will go further to predict that by 2006 we'll see another revision that, again, will add other popular feats to the core.

* My fourth prediction is that the revised books will include *some* material from outside WotC just like the Monster Manual II did.