Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="MerricB" data-source="post: 2765211" data-attributes="member: 3586">G'day, Edena!Actually, it turned up in 1E as well, although with different values.. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />It's a big change. In AD&D, ability scores were compressed at the top end. (As I recall, it took 10 wishes to increase one point from 16 onwards). 3e flattens the projection and extends it upwards. There are *lots* of things that are potentially stronger than humans, so the scale accomodates them better.We had a 4th level PC ranger get killed by a 1st level half-orc barbarian due to an unlucky roll. (Critical with greataxe? Not fun).Elves now have low-light vision. They see as well in moonlight as humans do on a sunlight day (see DMG 296, Low-light vision). By starlight, it's like humans with moonlight. Dwarves, with darkvision, do much better underground. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />It's nice. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> The main effect is that when the DM gives you a shiny new weapon, you're not going "Argh! I'm not proficient in it!"Mind you, with all the Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialisation feats and Improved Critical, etc, you do have favoured weapons.(Incidentally, the non-proficiency penalty is -4 for *all* classes now).Really, really sure. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />The 3.5e monk is a treat. It's a really interesting class now.Well, once you go to Magic of Incarnum, the power of the soul is more important...It actually says, "A bard's magic comes from the heart". <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Charisma is the determining force and, in 3e, Charisma not only determines how charming you can be, but the force and strength of your personality. You'll find that the strength of many monster's innate magical powers is determined by their Charisma scores.As opposed to 2e, bards don't write their spells down. Instead they only "know" a limited number of spells. Whether these are gained by an innate gift for magic, or through received learning through their training is somewhat obscure.The actual act of casting the spell is exactly like how the wizard or cleric does it. However, instead of having to prepare the spells from a spellbook or pray for the spells, the phrases and gestures of the spells are always available. Note that they don't prepare spells in advance - they cast them 'on the fly', but only have the knowledge of a limited number of spells.Not crazy at all. That's a change from 3e, btw, where the favoured class of the gnome was the illusionist. However, the 3.5e bard is *much* closer to the 1e illusionist than the 3.5e illusionist is...The rules for preparing spells (no longer called memorisation) underwent a major change.The caster must first be rested (8 hours).Then it takes 1 hour to prepare the spells. In the case of the Wizard, this means preparing them from a spellbook. In the case of a Cleric or Druid, praying for them. In the case of a Bard or Sorcerer, 15 minutes is all they need, refreshing the mind. Clerics gained the ability to cast cure spells spontaneously (so a Bless spell can be swapped out at any time for a Cure Light Wounds).Wizards are fairly similar to 1e, although due to the rules on casting defensively in combat, they're far more effective in a melee. Bards and Sorcerers can just use any spell they know - but it's a limited list.So, a 20th level Wizard doesn't take 7 days to prepare all their spells any more. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />You'd be surprised. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> A 2nd level bard can cast Tasha's Hideous Laughter, one of my favourite 2nd level Wizard spells. By 16th level, they get access to 6th level bard spells - which include a few 8th level Wizard spells! (The Wizard gains access to 8th level spells at 15th level).Cheers!</blockquote>

Verification