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Message: <blockquote data-quote="wolff96" data-source="post: 378686" data-attributes="member: 342">I wasn't sure where to start this thread, so if it belongs in D&D Rules or something, I would appreciate it if the Moderators would re-locate it.--------------------------------------Just a few thoughts on the Epic Level Handbook progression for classes. Please feel free to add your own opinions. A verdict of "Good" indicates that I think the class grows in power approximately in line with the rise from the PHB. "Poor" means that power falls off in the epic levels. The others should be self-explanatory.Barbarians -- With the number of new feats available to the Barbarian, he's going to be hard-pressed to decide which to get first. Almost all of them are great. Verdict: Good.Bards -- Bards take a bit of a hit with the loss of new spell progression, though they have mostly the same magic options to them that the other casting classes do: Improved Spell Capacity, Improved Metamagic, and Epic Spells. Their fighting combat continues to rise apace, though they'll always be stuck at three attacks a round before haste. Verdict: Slightly better than PHB.Clerics -- The clerics, wizards, and sorcerers are all in the same boat. Most of their continued power comes from Epic Spellcasting or the new metamagic feats available to them. Clerics fare better than the other two "pure casters" due to the epic abilities for Turning/Rebuking. Verdict: Good.Druids -- Druids are the most upgraded class within the Epic Level Handbook. With the errata'ed Wildshape from Masters of the Wild and all the new epic wildshaping feats, druids are some of the most powerful creatures of the epic world. After all, how many classes can change into a Collossal Dragon with a working breathweapon by level 27? Improved Elemental Wildshape also gives access to Primal Elemental forms, meaning that an elder druid is probably going to be the most potent creature on the block. Not to mention that the Epic Druid is still gaining more powerful animal friends and can choose to pursue Epic level spellcasting... Verdict: The real "Winner" of the ELH, Druids come out with some FEROCIOUS powers.Fighter -- In a world where feats are power and bonus feats are your trick, the fighter is in hog heaven. With all the good fighter feats -- especially the fast healing and energy resistance feats, IMO -- the fighter really improves rapidly in power, quickly catching the spellcasters that left him behind near the end of the normal progression. Verdict: Slightly better than the PHB.Monk -- The biggest problem a monk will have in the ELH is the same one the Barbarian has: Choosing among a variety of really great feats. With the continued improvements in speed, Ki Strike, and the other level-based skills the monk develops even more into the totally self-reliant creature. I especially like the ability to deflect spells and the like using Deflect Arrows. Verdict: Good.Paladin/Ranger -- I'll admit it. I haven't looked too much into these classes. Anybody else want to take a look?Rogue -- I have to say, I think the Rogue got it in the shorts with the Epic Level Handbook. The continued improvement of Sneak Attack dice and the Epic level skill uses are nice, but the Rogue is neutered in high level play. Almost every opponent will have SOMETHING by this point to stop sneak attacks. Fortification, Blur, Displacement, the list continues on. Furthermore, the rogue still can't sneak attack anything with a non-discernable anatomy. While that makes sense, it renders them impotent (even more so than before) because the disparity simply continues to grow between what any other melee-type can do to a sneak immune creature and what the rogue can accomplish. I was somewhat surprised by the lack of stealth-related epic feats as well. Verdict: The "loser" of the ELH. Definitely Poor.Wizard/Sorcerer -- Competing with the Rogue for the losers of the ELH, the wizard and sorcerer see a significant fall off in power. Sorcerers especially simply don't have the feats to keep up in terms of Improved Spell Capacity and Improved Metamagic feats, not to mention the difficulties inherent in the Epic Spell System. What's more -- and the real problem with these two classes -- is the reliance on spells that are increasingly ineffective as their targets get better at avoiding magic. Between improved saving throws, epic-level resistance and save items, and the flat-out immunity given by feats or insanely high Spell Resistance the Sorc/Wiz is going to have real trouble contributing to the Epic Level world. Clerics and Druids have the same troubles with their magic, but they have a far larger arsenal of other tricks to fall back on. Verdict: Poor.--------------------------So that's what I think... What do you think?</blockquote>

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