Dragon #355

[rgard]

I enjoyed this issue. I had no use for most of the articles, but I enjoy the "Character Class" sections to see what options they added. I liked what was added for Fighter-types, but it still seems like everyone misses the fact that the fighter will still suck compared to... pretty much anything else unless he gets cool "uber-leet" stuff like the Druid. I thought the new options were okay and flavorful, but still pretty weak. I know that's not the intended purpose (to "fix" anything) but I wish that the people who wrote it would actually try to do something to help the general situation, not throw some bones out.

Hi Wayne, what all did they add for the fighter types?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[wayne62682]

Hi Wayne, what all did they add for the fighter types?

Thanks,
Rich

A bunch of alternate class abilities.. you usually trade in the bonus feat for that level. Most of them are kinda sucky.. There's some Elemental ones that give you minor resistance at 6th level I believe and let you add +1d6 elemental damage on a critical hit (they go up to +3d6 I believe) and cast a minor spell as a spell-like ability a few times a day... you get a second spell-like ability at 12th level. Examples are: Earth - Magic Stone 3/day, stone shape @ 12th 3/day, stone shape at will @ 20th level. Basically stuff that spellcasters can do long before you can. Flavorful, but largely useless.

The 1st level one is very nice.. you give up the bonus feat and can ignore the weight of armor for encumbrance and armor slows you as thought it was one category lighter than it is, and ASF is half-normal. 4th level one gives you Evasion as long as you're unencumbered or lightly encumbered. 8th level is okay.. it lets you bond your armor so you can don/remove it as a full-round action and gives you some minor AC bonuses. 10th level gives you Fortification (another neat one). The 18th level one gives you spell resistance equal to 11 + Hit Dice.

Basically the abilities aren't terrible, but they don't really do anything to affect the gap that exists. I could see Armored Savant becoming the de-facto choice for fighter-mages though due to halving the ASF. Mithral Fullplate would let you ignore the encumbrance AND not be slowed at all (Heavy -> Medium [mithral] -> Light [Armored Savant ability]).

 

[rgard]

A bunch of alternate class abilities.. you usually trade in the bonus feat for that level. Most of them are kinda sucky.. There's some Elemental ones that give you minor resistance at 6th level I believe and let you add +1d6 elemental damage on a critical hit (they go up to +3d6 I believe) and cast a minor spell as a spell-like ability a few times a day... you get a second spell-like ability at 12th level. Examples are: Earth - Magic Stone 3/day, stone shape @ 12th 3/day, stone shape at will @ 20th level. Basically stuff that spellcasters can do long before you can. Flavorful, but largely useless.

The 1st level one is very nice.. you give up the bonus feat and can ignore the weight of armor for encumbrance and armor slows you as thought it was one category lighter than it is, and ASF is half-normal. 4th level one gives you Evasion as long as you're unencumbered or lightly encumbered. 8th level is okay.. it lets you bond your armor so you can don/remove it as a full-round action and gives you some minor AC bonuses. 10th level gives you Fortification (another neat one). The 18th level one gives you spell resistance equal to 11 + Hit Dice.

Basically the abilities aren't terrible, but they don't really do anything to affect the gap that exists. I could see Armored Savant becoming the de-facto choice for fighter-mages though due to halving the ASF. Mithral Fullplate would let you ignore the encumbrance AND not be slowed at all (Heavy -> Medium [mithral] -> Light [Armored Savant ability]).

Great, thanks!!!

 

[Shade]

My copy arrived last night, along with the latest Dungeon. That's the first time they've ever arrived on the same day (or even in the same week). Weird.

I really like the layout they used for the Creature Catalog this time. The thumbnail index is cool, and space is maximized to give us the most monstery goodness. The artists did a nice job, too. I think the artwork for the springheel is my favorite.

I'm also quite impressed with what the Dragon staff did with the obliviax. Of all the creatures BOZ and I've submitted to Dragon, this one is the most altered. And I think they improved it across the board. Nice work, guys.

 

[MKMcArtor]

Dragonmarks isn't just about Dragonmarks. It's about anything Eberron-related, written by Keith Baker.

Dragonmarks is the title of the series of Eberron articles. In fact, it's the title of Keith's online series of articles (which WotC is sitting on a number that Keith has completed).

Some how I think that's not the reason Keith chose that moniker for his column title.

It's not always by Keith; this month's is by Nicolas Logue, for example.

Guys... you're killin' me here.

First, Keith has not yet written a Dragonmarks for us. He has only written the introduction paragraphs (the ones by Trasker). Keith and I have talked about him writing a Dragonmarks for us, and I believe he's on board for one. Which will be cool.

Secondly, the column on the Wizards of the Coast website is DragonSHARDS, not Dragonmarks. We specifically wanted to name our department differently, and Wizards of the Coast was only too happy to agree.

Thirdly, I'm glad you guys are reading the department. Thanks!

I thought they got those virtues wrong, then I looked it up and saw there's at least 3 different types of seven virtues. I was thinking of something along the lines of Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude, Faith, Hope, and Love/charity. And looking at the 2e entry for the monsters known as Incarnates, the seven types of minor good incarnates are also slightly different (as there's Wisdom and Courage).

The sidebar on their opposing sins mentions that the seven deadly sins have remained relatively universal since they were conceived, the opposing virtues have fluctuated a little more; it then notes that the virtues listed here are the ones defined by the Roman Catholic Church.

What Alzrius said. I had a lot of fun writing that sidebar, so I hope it's right. I only had Wikipedia and a few other online sources to work off of, so who knows, right? Incidentally, when Hal handed off the article, he had a different set of virtues, but because I'm a wannabe Catholic, I wanted to make sure to use the "official" list. So, um, yeah. I think I'm babbling now...

Wait, wait. There's now a Psionic Class Act in Dragon? This makes me happy. I just hope that it becomes a permanent fixture of the magazine. All the more reason for me to finally subscribe.

I hope so, but I doubt it.

There's another one coming up, because I decided to try to finally work through my backlog of the articles, but I can only run them when we have space. So, for example, there is one in #355 and likely in #357, but not in #356. I'm tryin', fellas!

This isn't the first time that category has appeared, but it's never become permanent yet.

And it never will be. As the only editor at Paizo who likes psionics, I have to fight a cage match against a brown bear every month I try to run a psionics Class Act. (And by "fight a cage match against a brown bear" I really mean "beg for two more pages and $150 more art budget.")

Basically the abilities aren't terrible, but they don't really do anything to affect the gap that exists.

I generally like to play fighters, so I totally understand and agree with your sentiments about the gap. There's only so much we can do, however, before Wizards of the Coast vetoes any real attempt to power up the fighters. Alas! :\

 

[Nightfall]

Mike,

Sorry I just thought, much like the FR column, a prominent author of said campaign setting was involved. That said, thanks for clearing that up Mike.

 

[Alzrius]

And it never will be.

Crap.

As the only editor at Paizo who likes psionics

Well that must be a lonely road to walk. That said, I refer you to the guys over at Dreamscarred Press. Their d20 psionics material is the best I've ever seen, bar none. Get your psionics fix there.

 

[Nightfall]

*agrees with Al* Dreamscarred Press is bar none, the best psionic d20 company to come around since...well since Malhavoc Press did a few of theirs.

Btw Mike if you need tips on fighting in a steel cage, I'm your guy.

 

[Pants]

I got my issue a few days ago. I quite enjoyed the new CC. The springheel is my favorite of the recent batch. Good art too.

 

[MKMcArtor]

Sorry I just thought, much like the FR column, a prominent author of said campaign setting was involved. That said, thanks for clearing that up Mike.

Nothing to apologize about, my good man.

Because it's so new, there's only one prominent Eberron author right now (Keith). I'm trying to build up the Eberron reputations of a few other guys, but such things take time.

And let me just say: Keith Baker is awesome to work with. Every month I send him the Dragonmarks article and he not only writes the intro but he also does a continuity check for me. Sometimes he even rewrites part of the article to make it fit better in Eberron canon.

Well that must be a lonely road to walk.

It can be.

*agrees with Al* Dreamscarred Press is bar none, the best psionic d20 company to come around since...well since Malhavoc Press did a few of theirs.

Btw Mike if you need tips on fighting in a steel cage, I'm your guy.

I might have to give them a glance, then. Thanks for the tip guys.

And Nightfall: Next time I step in the cage I'll definitely give you a holler beforehand.