Dragon 372 - Secrets of the City Entombed...Includes Many Necromantic Flavored Powers

[catsclaw227]

All of the powers in this article were specifically written for this article by Matt Sernett and developed by me. None of them appear in any upcoming product (at least, that we have planned) and are exclusive to Dragon Magazine.

These kinds of bridge articles really make DDI-Dragon shine. Give Matt kudos for us, and good job on this Rodney. Now... to tie in some more rituals...

Oh, and will the assassin article be similar to the Gladiator article?

 

[Jack99]

All of the powers in this article were specifically written for this article by Matt Sernett and developed by me. None of them appear in any upcoming product (at least, that we have planned) and are exclusive to Dragon Magazine.

Thanks for clarifying that

 

[Negflar2099]

I wonder how a Warlock / Paladin team would do with this... They have lots of surges, but I'm not sure a Paladin would like his essence sucked out.

We have a Dark Pact Warlock in a group I play in and while none of us are Paladins I can tell you it's not fun to have your life force sucked out by ally. Of course it's all optional so I don't have to give him part of my soul but if I don't then I'm not a "team player."

Yeesh. Remember when the worst thing a fellow player could steal from you was the giant ruby you just found? Now it's all give me your life force this and let me use your soul to power my dark magic that.

On the plus side the article is cool.

 

[Admiral Caine]

All of the powers in this article were specifically written for this article by Matt Sernett and developed by me. None of them appear in any upcoming product (at least, that we have planned) and are exclusive to Dragon Magazine.

Okay okay okay...!

Thanks Rodney. Thank you Catsclaw, SirBrennan, Shroomy, and future posters.

I was wrong. I'm plenty glad to be wrong.

But folks (I say to the general community), it was okay for me to question it. It was okay to be concerned. I clearly didn't condemn the article.

The point that I raised had merit, BUT it's a great thing that this article is 100% new content and not preview material. It's cause for rejoicing.

 

[RodneyThompson]

But folks (I say to the general community), it was okay for me to question it. It was okay to be concerned. I clearly didn't condemn the article.

The point that I raised had merit, BUT it's a great thing that this article is 100% new content and not preview material. It's cause for rejoicing.

I was just clarifying that it was all new. No harm in asking, just wanted to make sure everyone knew it wasn't preview content.

 

[Admiral Caine]

I was just clarifying that it was all new. No harm in asking, just wanted to make sure everyone knew it wasn't preview content.

You're absolutely right. My apologies. Its the avalanche effect that gets me sometimes.

It is also the side effect of coming out of the Edition Wars. Collectively there is a tendency to defend against critique without necessarily pointing out the positive.

All the preceeding posters were trying to help. But I can be happy to be wrong, especially if that means a better stronger product.

I'm a DDI subscriber. This news just means I got more value for my money. Hell, I'd rather be reassured than just told I was wrong.

Anyway.. enough discussion on bulletin board social dynamics.. Thank you very much for this cool article.

Feel up to trying something with rituals soon?

 

[catsclaw227]

Yeesh. Remember when the worst thing a fellow player could steal from you was the giant ruby you just found? Now it's all give me your life force this and let me use your soul to power my dark magic that.

These kids and their newfangled magickal abilities. They can be SO selfish!

 

[Sir Brennen]

Animate Dead vs. Summon Arrowhawk

Rodney, since you're perusing the thread, how do you feel Animate Dead stacks up against the previewed Wizard Power of the same level - Summon Arrowhawk?

Animate Dead lets you raise larger creatures. This fact to me lets the power be more "controller-y", as a larger creature probably has reach, has more squares around it to trigger OA's, and can take up more squares to block opponents. However, the existence of larger creatures in an encounter is up to DM fiat, and the large creature has to die earlier in the battle for its corpse to be useful.

Arrowhawk flies, can shift 3 before attacking, targets Ref instead of AC and marks the target (marked for what, tho, I have no idea.) Plus, it deals generic damage vs. Animate Dead's necrotic, which can be hampered by resistances.

In general, I'd have to give the edge to Summon Arrowhawk.

 

[Harlekin]

I really like how some of the powers generate an epic feel. Especially Sealing Death's Door stands out, with the cleric telling Death himself: "You have no power here". That's pretty badas.

Hellfire soul is nice as well, though maybe not in good aligned parties.

 

[chaotix42]

Rodney, since you're perusing the thread, how do you feel Animate Dead stacks up against the previewed Wizard Power of the same level - Summon Arrowhawk?

Animate Dead lets you raise larger creatures. This fact to me lets the power be more "controller-y", as a larger creature probably has reach, has more squares around it to trigger OA's, and can take up more squares to block opponents. However, the existence of larger creatures in an encounter is up to DM fiat, and the large creature has to die earlier in the battle for its corpse to be useful.

Arrowhawk flies, can shift 3 before attacking, targets Ref instead of AC and marks the target (marked for what, tho, I have no idea.) Plus, it deals generic damage vs. Animate Dead's necrotic, which can be hampered by resistances.

In general, I'd have to give the edge to Summon Arrowhawk.

If the marked opponent doesn't attack the arrowhawk they get a -2 to hit. Mini-defender summon!

I too want to see the summons buffed up a bit. Maybe if the animated dead is destroyed the wizard doesn't take damage like he does with normal summons? Or perhaps give the animated dead some extra hit points? It definitely needs something special.

The cleric's summon seems real weak for a 15th lvl daily, too. I haven't compared it to other 15th lvl prayers though.