Dark Sun previews

[ArcaneSpringboard]

I don't know much about Dark Sun, but I was admittedly surprised to see one of the sorcerer-kings as an elite, and not a solo. However, he is a pretty tough solo -- his at-will melee is 6d10+4 plus restrained, his at-will ranged is 4d12+11 plus dazed, he is constantly doling out defiling damage (necrotic) whenever he hits with one of his powers, and he creates a zone around him that blocks line of sight (except for him) and blinds enemies inside it. And I like this description of Nibenay in combat:


As an aside, I am still getting used to the new statblock, but I like it.

Actually, all the monsters there I think have really quite high At-Will damage. Maybe for MM3 we're going to see a boost in damage amounts across the board?

 

[Wik]

I like that this seems to be the smoking gun that the game takes place after the death of Kalak. That's a good thing!

 

[vagabundo]

I'm liking the new format - with the extra information.

A gripe: the Sorcerer-king's Arcane Defiling works when he uses a basic Melee attack or when he uses Ego Whip - a Psionic attack - surly it should only happen when he casts an Arcane Spell; which he doesn't seem to do at all, well, maybe Zone of Shadows could be classed as an arcane spell.

I'd prefer if he had some, very definitely, Arcane powers that were tied to the defiling instead of an defiling burst and a triggered defile on two non arcane powers.

 

[Mort_Q]

Ego Whip - a Psionic attack

It's Psychic, not Psionic.

 

[vagabundo]

It's Psychic, not Psionic.

I thought Ego Whip was a Psionic power, is it now an Arcane Spell?

I haven't gotten the new PHB so I'm not sure if it is in there; I am going on previous editions here.

 

[Squizzle]

I thought Ego Whip was a Psionic power, is it now an Arcane Spell?

I haven't gotten the new PHB so I'm not sure if it is in there; I am going on previous editions here.

Except for the vanishingly rare instance, monster powers do not receive power-source keywording. It's player-character design technology.

 

[WanderingMonster]

I thought Ego Whip was a Psionic power, is it now an Arcane Spell?

I haven't gotten the new PHB so I'm not sure if it is in there; I am going on previous editions here.

As far as Dark Sun fluff is concerned, Dragon Kings have mastered the unity of the psionic and arcane. That's probably why the line of which of their powers trigger defiling effects is fuzzy.