December PHB3 Debut Content Announced - The Ardent and the Wilden

[Shroomy]

According to the Dragon 382 ToC, the PHB3 debut content for this month is the Ardent class and the final version of the Wilden (hopefully we'll get some feats since we already have the final version in the CB).

Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Table of Contents (Dragon #382 Table of Contents)

 

[Dire Bare]

I do seem to remember they presented the Wilden earlier as a final version and not so much a playtest. And I remember thinking, "Now that's silly, it should be a playtest!"

Guess it was! Or even if that wasn't the original intent, that's what happened! I know that I for one was hoping for some changes to the Wilden, mostly fluff/visual rather than crunch . . . .

 

[fba827]

have we heard anything about the ardent class yet? or this the first mention of it?

 

[Shroomy]

have we heard anything about the ardent class yet? or this the first mention of it?

Its the first mention in 4e that I'm aware of. There was a 3.5e psionic class called the "ardent."

 

[FireLance]

Its the first mention in 4e that I'm aware of. There was a 3.5e psionic class called the "ardent."

Yes. Essentially, the ardent was to philosophies what the cleric was to religions. So I'm guessing Psionic Leader?

 

[Kobold Avenger]

The Ardent was the "Psionic Cleric" back in 3.5e, but it was apparently so potent they had to split it into 2 classes called the Ardent and Divine Mind. But it was clearly evidence they were trying to get something that was leaderish back then. Based on what the 3.5 ardent was supposed to be like, it's probably a Psionic Leader in 4e.

I'm also glad they aren't going with the name "Empath" for the psionic leader like one unconfirmed statement said. Empath is not something that sounds very inspiring for a party leader in combat, it sounds more like something that tried to get really wishy washy and in touch with the wrong feelings. As opposed to Ardent which also means "Determined".

 

[Moon_Goddess]

I'm really disappointed about losing "Empath" that was a perfect name for a Psionic class.

I'm disappointed about the Ardent, but there's been enough changes of things in 4e that I'm hoding out hope on it. The 3e Ardent didn't feel Psionic at all, if felt wedged into the psionics system, and the Divine mind was even worse, they didn't belong. Hopefully with the 4e knowledge that you don't have to be divine to be a leader they can ditch everything from the from the 3e classes, and just keep the name.

But I'd still rather have empath.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

The Ardent was the "Psionic Cleric" back in 3.5e, but it was apparently so potent they had to split it into 2 classes called the Ardent and Divine Mind.

Sadly, that just made both Ardent and Divine Mind rather crappy classes :\

Ardent was an odd one. It's flavor was...not entirely seperated from psionics, but still markably different. Some were ok with it, some hated it. I don't think anyone really loved it, though, which makes me wonder why it's being brought back.