Complete Classes not supported in PHBII?

[Graf]

I hadn’t looked at the marshall when it first came out.
I looked at it again recently and I’ve revised my opinion a bit… it looks a bit like a supped up version of the divine mind (i.e. its main power, the auras are more potent than the Divine Mind). It looks like it would be an interesting class for an NPC boss.
I disliked the Mini’s Handbook classes (except the often reprinted warmage) when it first came out, but I have to admit that I may have missed something.

As for which classes were supported… All would have been the best, if it was originally included in a complete book one would hope that it was worthy of support. On the other hand lots of people don’t have the Complete Books, so it’s hard to imagine that they would spend a huge amount on supplements that are not required. The Oriental classes were more of a mixture of existing systems and spells than base classes.

Psionics?
They didn’t have a enough decent psionic material to round out the Complete Psion, it’s not like they were suddenly going to have lots of high quality psionics stuff to add to the PHB II. So you would have had more unpopular psionic material (irritating the crowd that likes that stuff) -and- the people who don’t like psionics at all.
No.
No psionics was the best call they could have made.

 

[Ranger REG]

In the PHBII there are a few classes that are not supported in the PHBII. A few of them I understand. All of the Oriental flavored classes are not in there...

What do you think?

Do you really think I want disastrous repeats of Complete version of de-Asianized classes? HELL, NO!!!

It was bad the first time around (starting with Complete Warrior).

 

[Psion]

Do you really think I want disastrous repeats of Complete version of de-Asianized classes? HELL, NO!!!

It was bad the first time around (starting with Complete Warrior).

QFT.

 

[lukelightning]

I'm personally annoyed that they didn't support hexblades' spell selection. Instead they decided to give assassins more spells. Assassins. An evil/mostly non-PC PrC that isn't even included in the book in any other way.

So instead of spending a mere column of space on supporting a PC core-class by listing new hexblade spells they decided to support a prestige class that isn't exactly something for players, in a Players' Handbook.

 

[Voadam]

I'm personally annoyed that they didn't support hexblades' spell selection. Instead they decided to give assassins more spells. Assassins. An evil/mostly non-PC PrC that isn't even included in the book in any other way.

So instead of spending a mere column of space on supporting a PC core-class by listing new hexblade spells they decided to support a prestige class that isn't exactly something for players, in a Players' Handbook.

I really like the hexblade dark companion option though and will be doing the ritual for it soon in the game I'm playing a 4th level hexblade.

 

[Eridanis]

My first thoughts were why support the marshal and not any of the psionic classes.

My first thought, too. I imagine it's because the Complete Psionic came out the previous month, and they didn't want to "overdo" it.

 

[JoeGKushner]

My first thought, too. I imagine it's because the Complete Psionic came out the previous month, and they didn't want to "overdo" it.

They're saying it for Races of the Mind with subsitution levels and some PrCs that don't blow chunks.

 

[Garnfellow]

I think this thread is just one more argument against the easy proliferation of new base classes. WotC has been churning out these things willy-nilly for the last couple of years. Now, when WotC comes to do a big book like PHII, one aimed for a broad audience, they are stuck between a serious rock and a hard place.

I don't know how many new base classes have been introduced, but I bet that something like 90% of all players stick with just 10% of available classes, which means that most players mostly use core PH classes with a few choice selections from other books.

And on the other side of the coin, probably 10% of the players use 90% of the available classes. I suspect this latter group includes some of the more enthusiastic, active, and adventuresome players, the big spenders who buy every new supplement as it comes out. These are people who play all the time, have tried everything twice, and are always ready for something new.

So if WotC puts out a big sequel to the PH and includes support for all these new base classes, they are going to make that adventuresome 10% very happy, but alienate the 90% who mostly stick to the core books. If, on the other hand, if WotC limits support for all these new classes in its sequel, they alienate that adventuresome 10% who have invested a lot of $$$ in the supplements. Either way, you are ticking off an important market segment. Not a happy choice.

This is just one more reason why I think the base classes -- which are the fundamental building blocks of characters -- should be kept to a smaller, manageable number. Add all the new feats, spells, and prestige classes you want.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Change your arguement to they should eliminate classes entirely and make it a point system with several examples of how to organize that into different classes and I'm there with ya.

 

[Psion]

Change your arguement to they should eliminate classes entirely and make it a point system with several examples of how to organize that into different classes and I'm there with ya.

Point systems are icky.

Actually, I say that, but I like Hero. So point systems aren't icky. They have drawbacks. They do have their place, but that place isn't in D&D.

IMNSHO.