Complete Mage product description

[Nyeshet]

I happened to follow the link to the Complete Mage at the WotC site (under "off to press" on the main page) and a few things grabbed my attention:

Arcane Power at Your Fingertips

Every sentient creature is born with some potential to work magic. However, true mastery of arcane magic requires skill, practice, and power beyond the reach of common folk—specifically, the power to harness raw magic and shape it into a desired effect. You are among those gifted few who have learned to channel arcane magic, shaping it to serve your creative or destructive whims.

This D&D supplement is intended for players and Dungeon Masters. In addition to providing the definitive treatise on arcane magic, it expands the character options available to users of arcane magic, including bards, sorcerers, wizards, assassins, warlocks, and wu jen. Herein you’ll find never-before-seen prestige classes, spells and invocations, magic items, alchemical items, heritage feats, and reserve feats (a new type of feat that grants special abilities to those who remain charged with magical power). Alternative class features give other character classes—from the barbarian to the rogue—a little taste of what it’s like to be an arcanist without sacrificing their core identities. (emphasis mine)

First we had psionic focus in the XPH. Then - recently - we gained Combat focus that worked in a similar pattern. Now, it seems, we have a magical focus - albeit called 'Reserve'. I wonder where else this will lead? Will we see a Skill Focus that allows one unusual competency in a skill while focused, or perhaps new and more complex uses of the skill while focused, or perhaps allowing more difficult results with lower DCs while focused? These are just the first things that come to mind for such.

It was nice to see that the Warlock will be getting a bit of attention, and it seems they will be giving alternative class levels rather than a new class or three. The 'never before seen PrCs' could be interesting, but considering the new PrC style I'm guessing no more than eight or ten will be in the book. That's what, 30-50 pages right there, right? :\ Ah, well, we can hope, I guess, for a bit of conciseness.

It is interesting that this books actually seems to be what Complete Arcane was sporting to be: a book that gives each class a bit of arcane-ness. The Complete Arcane spent more time introducing new classes (although I rather like the Warlock, I admit), new spells, and revised PrCs than ways for each of the non-arcane classes to be a bit arcane-ish.

It all but requires a follow up that grants a bit of the divine to each of the classes. Complete Priest? Somehow I doubt that will be the title, but I suppose I wouldn't be too surprised if it were.

I wonder why the cover art is still in b/w? The pic itself seems a bit odd, but it is hard to make out too many details due to size and lack of coloration. Is that a jester's hat the cover character is wearing?

Anyway, I think I may actually by this one, when before I had been more indifferent. Not so much because I think it will be an amazing book, but rather because it has stoked my curiosity.

 

[Felon]

It is interesting that this books actually seems to be what Complete Arcane was sporting to be: a book that gives each class a bit of arcane-ness. The Complete Arcane spent more time introducing new classes (although I rather like the Warlock, I admit), new spells, and revised PrCs than ways for each of the non-arcane classes to be a bit arcane-ish.

I'll just be glad if they don't restrict one-third of the new spells to the wu-jen, as they did with the Complete Arcane.

And along that line of thought, I'd like to see some ways for warlock invocations to become available to other classes without multi-classing. If they're going to devote space exclusively to invocations, at least let us the most out of it.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

I wonder if there will be support for the Tome of Magic classes?

 

[mhacdebhandia]

I wonder why the cover art is still in b/w? The pic itself seems a bit odd, but it is hard to make out too many details due to size and lack of coloration. Is that a jester's hat the cover character is wearing?

 

[Tsillanabor]

The more I hear about this book the more I like it. I hope to see something for the Tome of Magic classes.

 

[Psion]

First we had psionic focus in the XPH. Then - recently - we gained Combat focus that worked in a similar pattern. Now, it seems, we have a magical focus - albeit called 'Reserve'.

Hmmm. The way they describe it, it sounds a bit different than psionic focus. A bit more like the old Psionics Handbook or Locus feats from Scarred Lands. (Ari did work on Scarred Lands stuff, though not that particular book.)

It was nice to see that the Warlock will be getting a bit of attention,

and it seems they will be giving alternative class levels rather than a new class or three.

The 'never before seen PrCs' could be interesting, but considering the new PrC style I'm guessing no more than eight or ten will be in the book.

I for one welcome new flavorful prestige classes. You want the quantity, we already got a wealth of PrCs. Let's go for the quality.

 

[Pbartender]

It is interesting that this books actually seems to be what Complete Arcane was sporting to be: a book that gives each class a bit of arcane-ness. The Complete Arcane spent more time introducing new classes (although I rather like the Warlock, I admit), new spells, and revised PrCs than ways for each of the non-arcane classes to be a bit arcane-ish.

Coming soon to a game store near you...

COMPLETE ARCANE II

:\

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Three cheers for the fantabulous, wholly original Pbartender!

. . .

*crickets*

. . .

Yeah. It's not the same thing as Complete Arcane, so get over it.

 

[Mercule]

I wonder if there will be support for the Tome of Magic classes?

Who do I have to kill to make it so?

Otherwise, the new Warlock invocations are the only thing that's calling to me. I'm sure the quality is good -- great authors -- I'm just having enough issues managing current options.

And I'll take some really high quality PrCs over a glut of them. Since 3E came out our group has had a Thief-Acrobat (3.0), a Duelist (3.0), and an Order of the Bow Initiate (3.5). So, we're not really looking for more.

 

[Pants]

Yeah. It's not the same thing as Complete Arcane, so get over it.

Yeah... I'll wait till the book's out before I say that...