Eberron - Extreme Explorer PrC

[Pbartender]

Extreme Explorer

Did they have to? Couldn't they find better names for the PrC or its class abilities?

I'm trying to keep an open mind about this, but it's already almost enough to make me not want to buy the book.

 

[wocky]

I say... couldn't they find a better PrC to showcase?

I don't like the fact that the PrC is strongly based on action points... it's like WotC is saying to us: We'll only have new crunch as long as we keep adding new rules/subsystems to base the crunch on. (e.g. Action points inspiring feats dealing with action points, PrC based on action points and spells that meddle with action points...).

I'd like to call this the "Magic: The Gathering" effect.

In this case, it's particularly bad since this "rule" is an out-of-the-game concept. Action points have no in game concept to back them up ("luck" maybe... bah!), which makes the Extreme Explorer have no character concept behind.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'm just disappointed that they decided to showcase something this month that has already been revealed in full detail by people who attended Winter Fantasy (ArthurQ, in fact, IIRC)

 

[TiQuinn]

From the PrC description:

"The ancient depths of Sharn, the tangled jungles of Q'barra, the howling crags of the Demon Wastes, and the cyclopean ruins of Xen'drik are like home to the extreme explorer. Whether motivated by a thirst for knowledge about Eberron's most ancient civilizations, a hunger for the long-lost secrets of tremendous arcane power, or simply a lust for gold, extreme explorers subject themselves to tremendous danger to achieve their goal--and somehow manage to escape in one piece, often by the skin of their teeth. The extreme explorer is the iconic action hero of Eberron: courageous, resourceful, determined, and just plain lucky."

Problem is this doesn't sound too prestigious. It sounds like every character I've ever had.

 

[daTim]

I'm waiting to cringe when someone forms the "League of eXtreem Explorers!" or LXE for short.

Every time I see the word "extreem" now, I just want to yell "Exxtreeeem!!!" like I'm in a Mountain Dew commercial or something.

 

[tetsujin28]

The Winter X-treme Explorer Games are coming soon.

 

[JeffB]

WOTC is definitely trying to kill any enthusiasm I can muster up for this setting.

:snooze:

 

[~Johnny~]

Disclaimer: I like Eberron and I think the designer (Keith Baker) is a really talented guy. Read my biased responses below.

I don't like the fact that the PrC is strongly based on action points... it's like WotC is saying to us: We'll only have new crunch as long as we keep adding new rules/subsystems to base the crunch on. (e.g. Action points inspiring feats dealing with action points, PrC based on action points and spells that meddle with action points...).

If it's any comfort to you, this is the only PrC in the Eberron Campaign setting that's based on action points. And it seems pretty logical to me that if you're going to add a rule like action points that you create a prestige class based on their use.

Anyway, according to Keith, a goal of this class is to "allow players to perform heroic or colorful actions that they might otherwise shy away from because of the poor odds. They can't do these all the time - hence the use of action points - but when things are bad, they can push themselves to (here it comes) extremes."

In this case, it's particularly bad since this "rule" is an out-of-the-game concept. Action points have no in game concept to back them up ("luck" maybe... bah!), which makes the Extreme Explorer have no character concept behind.

Action points are as easy to translate into non-game terms as any of the "points" in D&D. When you "spend an action point," it represents an extreme (that's right) effort, a heroic flourish or a last-ditch attempt. Granted, if you just say "I spend an action point" and your DM nods, you're not going to get that flavor. But any good GM is going to force you to explain what makes your attack or bluff attempt or save so special. It's a cliche to say that action points are cinematic, but that's what they are. They're a way to signify a surge of andrenaline, to take it up a notch, to be EXTREME (I said it so no one else has to ...please).

On the other hand, you're right. It's a pretty generic "adventurer" class, it's low level and it's only five levels. It's really an option for any character who's willing to sacrifice constant min-maxing for the occasional burst of luck when it's needed most.

 

[Valiantheart]

I got the immediate impression of Indy bungie jumping into the temple of doom or skie boarding towards the Ark. Not exactly blowing my skirt up here...

 

[TiQuinn]

Johnny, if the theme/core concept behing Eberron is cinematic/pulp adventure, shouldn't these kind of things be available as core abilities or feats for all the classes, as opposed to just abilities in a prestige class?