Class features & Class themes

[Tarangil]

A thought occurred to me when reading up character concepts.

I don't know if it's been asked before, but Do class features such as the ones described in Martial power stack with Class themes that are offered in Dark Sun? Or is it choose one or the other?


For example, would one be able to make a Fighter that has the Tempest feature and Gladiator theme?

I haven't found anything anywhere on the subject so, thoughts anyone?

 

[aurance]

Yes they "stack." Although, class build and theme really have nothing to do with each other (Tempest is a Fighter class build feature, and Gladiator is a theme that any class or build can take), so maybe stack isn't the right term. Anyway they both work on the same character.

 

[DracoSuave]

Stacking refers to something specific: When two or more bonuses or penalties add together. The opposite of this is overlap: When two or more bonuses or penalties do not add together and you take the highest value amongst them. It's a game term.

The gladiator theme does not have any bonuses. It stacks with nothing. So, it neither stacks nor overlaps with the bonuses you get from Tempest Fighter.

That probably doesn't ask your question tho, which is probably: 'Can you use a class build and a theme on the same character?'

The answer here is yes. For games that allow themes, your theme is a completely separate choice from your race and your class. It has nothing to do with you being a fighter, it's just an extra thing you have on top of everything else. Themes are not legal in most games, however. Check with your DM first.

The only way it interacts with your class is that when your class allows you to choose a class power, you may choose a theme power instead, if you like. For classes that do not have choices, you do not get to choose a theme power.

Theme powers are not considered powers from your class, but retraining is explicitly permitted from theme powers to class powers and vice versa. If you have feats that trigger from 'your fighter powers' they do not trigger from your theme powers. Theme powers do have power sources, however, so feats and class features that key off of power source interact with them fine; a sorcerer will give its damage bonus to Vieled Alliance powers for example.