Countdown to Essentials - Powers, implements, feats

[Markn]

The latest Essentials article can be found here:

Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (Powers, Implements, Feats ...)

Some good stuff here.

Implement proficiency, some updated powers (though not named), all races to be like PH3 races with flexible stat bonus and best of all, feat classes to make it easier to find the feat that fits your character.

Also a great explanation on a change to melee training.

Finally, a brief statement on magic items that will be fully explained in a later article.

Good stuff as far as I can tell!

 

[Dice4Hire]

There is some serious thinking going on at WOTC.

I approve.

 

[Dire Bare]

Good article, with new info we haven't even gotten from GenCon scoops!

Hmmmm . . .

Implement Proficiency: I understand why they made the change, but I'm not sure how I feel about a multiclass wizard/cleric casting prayers through his wand (or staff, tome, whathaveyou).

Feat Categorization: One issue I see already with the new feat categories is too many feat categories . . . but I suppose I handled it in 3e well enough. I wonder if they are doing away with level restrictions on feats (tiers) altogether?

Overall, I do like what I'm hearing about the changes in Essentials. While I don't feel the changes add up to an unofficial "4.5e", the rules have changed enough that I'd like a revised Player's Handbook printed soon. Perhaps the Rule Compendium will fill that void for me.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Good article, with new info we haven't even gotten from GenCon scoops!

Hmmmm . . .

Implement Proficiency: I understand why they made the change, but I'm not sure how I feel about a multiclass wizard/cleric casting prayers through his wand (or staff, tome, whathaveyou).

Feat Categorization: One issue I see already with the new feat categories is too many feat categories . . . but I suppose I handled it in 3e well enough. I wonder if they are doing away with level restrictions on feats (tiers) altogether?

Overall, I do like what I'm hearing about the changes in Essentials. While I don't feel the changes add up to an unofficial "4.5e", the rules have changed enough that I'd like a revised Player's Handbook printed soon. Perhaps the Rule Compendium will fill that void for me.

But you can now use a holy symbol for all your wizard spells if you like. For some clerics, it i a definitive plus. Also the poor half-elf has received a great update to its racial ability.

I am really looking forward to the essentials. And I am clearly really glad, i didn´t buy the initial player handbooks. But I wouldn´t hesitate to buy them if errata were incorporated.

 

[Ahrimon]

Hmm, I wonder if my laser cleric will be able to pick up the dual implement feat now.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Wow, from the changes mentioned in the article above, it is clear that the October changes to the standard 4E game are gonna be epic. Changing all wizard encounters? Or only those Printed/reprinted in essentials? I'm getting confused about what is gonna change.

But I can wait and see. I have no need to panic.

 

[BobTheNob]

Gotta say, when I first read about essentials I rolled my eyes and said to myself "What now?".

Since reading the released material, I am totally excited. Everythiing I read I approve of, some Im even plum giddy about. It might not be 4.5 (dont respond..we allknow it isnt), but I am excited to see how it can divert the game that our group plays and give us positive gains.

My gut feel sais it will

 

[ppaladin123]

But you can now use a holy symbol for all your wizard spells if you like. For some clerics, it i a definitive plus. Also the poor half-elf has received a great update to its racial ability.

I am really looking forward to the essentials. And I am clearly really glad, i didn´t buy the initial player handbooks. But I wouldn´t hesitate to buy them if errata were incorporated.

The implement change is great. It gets rid of the awkward implement juggling that used to go into mulitlclassing and helps classes like the shaman in particular. Half-elves everywhere are pleased as well, like you said.

On a related note, Morninglord just became even easier to exploit for a lot of classes. I suspect there will be some sort of errata incoming.

 

[TerraDave]

These all seem crosscutting: essentials and "core".

So I have two responses:

-looks good

-...zuchini...

 

[WhatGravitas]

Whoa, bigger changes than expected... but I like all of them. Revised melee training is cool, but ensures that Str chars are still supreme at MBAs (as it should be) and the implement change goes a long way towards simplifying multiclassing - and as a bonus opens up interesting chars who cast with the "wrong" implement as a stylistic choice.

I like what I'm reading there - really 4e with 2 years of additional playtesting/design under its belt. This incremental updating might really mean that 4e will last a long time, since only fundamental overhauls need a new edition... like that!

Cheers, LT.