Dragon 369 - Design & Development: Barbarian and Bard

[Shroomy]

It's up. You can read it here.

 

[Rechan]

So, the Thaneborn barbarian "plays off the frightening, intimidating presence of the barbarian", who can be an "inspiring, although hotheaded leader".

I believe Bagpuss mentioned in Martial Power some rogue powers keying off intimidate. I suspect the Thaneborn will have similar.

Very curious what the Thaneborn rages are going to look like.

Reminds me of William Wallace.

 

[Shroomy]

I think its interesting that the Primal power source has a theme of transformation. It makes me wonder what the druid, shaman, and warden will be like given the barbarian's example.

 

[Cadfan]

1. I really like the idea of the Primal power source focusing on transmutation. Hopefully we will get a dedicated shifting class, with druidic magic in a separate class. Each one of those concepts is robust enough to support an entire class. I know that will cause a lot of ENWorlder's heads to ASPLODE, but as far as I'm concerned that's a positive.

2. Interesting that removing the bard's need to hold an instrument was a design goal. A lot of people around here didn't like it. I'm not sure what I think. Its probably a positive- its less bardy, but also less stupid. And "guy with a trick up his sleeve" is a good schtick, and well supported by a fair amount of the spells previewed. And if you absolutely must have an instrument as a weapon, it sounds like the Virtue of Cunning build is designed to be compatible with that sort of play.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

2. Interesting that removing the bard's need to hold an instrument was a design goal. A lot of people around here didn't like it. I'm not sure what I think. Its probably a positive- its less bardy, but also less stupid. And "guy with a trick up his sleeve" is a good schtick, and well supported by a fair amount of the spells previewed. And if you absolutely must have an instrument as a weapon, it sounds like the Virtue of Cunning build is designed to be compatible with that sort of play.

How many players generally just assumed the bard sung rather than used an instrument most of the time they did use music. I did, unless they were using a magical instrument.

One thing I wanted with a bard was one that used some ability to dance with their powers, which could go either way in being really lame or cool. But there's hope with Arcane Power, maybe they'll introduce a "Virtue of Grace".

 

[Shroomy]

I like that bards have been divorced from insturments given that bards can be orators, jesters, dancers, comedians, satirists, singers, etc.

 

[FireLance]

I like that bards have been divorced from insturments given that bards can be orators, jesters, dancers, comedians, satirists, singers, etc.

To be fair, you could do that in 3e too. Peform (Sing), Perform (Comedy) and Perform (Oratory) were all valid choices for a bard. The only drawback was that you could not get a bonus to Perform checks from using a masterwork instrument.

 

[Shroomy]

To be fair, you could do that in 3e too. Peform (Sing), Perform (Comedy) and Perform (Oratory) were all valid choices for a bard. The only drawback was that you could not get a bonus to Perform checks from using a masterwork instrument.

That's true.

 

[Rechan]

The one disappointing thing about the Primals focusing on transmutation: I highly doubt any class will be focusing on transmuting the enemy. That's one thing I always liked about Tramsutation Wizards; the turning X to Y, or experimenting like some mad scientist.

 

[Lacyon]

The one disappointing thing about the Primals focusing on transmutation: I highly doubt any class will be focusing on transmuting the enemy. That's one thing I always liked about Tramsutation Wizards; the turning X to Y, or experimenting like some mad scientist.

That'd be one hell of a Druid.