Excerpt from the D&D Miniatures Handbook up at the WoTC site

[Green Knight]

You can click the link, below, to see it.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20030906a

They've got the following, there:

• Marshal (New Core Class)
• Dragon Samurai (New Prestige Class)
• Aspect of Hextor (New Monster)
• Nothic (New Monster)
• Sudden Empower [Metamagic] (New Feat)
• Invisibility, Swift (New Spell)

I'm particularly fond of the Marshal class and the Dragon Warrior Prestige Class, myself.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

I'm not verry impressed with the marshal. It seems like a weaker Cleric to me.

BAB = Same
Saves = Same
Skill Points = +2 for Marshall over the Cleric (Marshal Wins)
Bonus Feats = Clerics get damain powers which are equivalent to feats while Marshals get Skill Focus (Diplomacy) (Cleric Wins)
Spells = Marshall limited list of Auras and Move Bonuses to allies 1-5/day on while Clerics get a huge list and plenty of spell slots. (Advantage Cleric)
Other = Clerics get The Turn Undead Ability (Clerics Win).

I really don't see the advantage in not taking a cleric unless you want more and different skill choices.

 

[kenjib]

Does anyone see anything related to miniatures in the samples? I don't understand what the point of this book is...

 

[kilamanjaro]

The Marshal also gets martial weapon prof. over the cleric. I see the Marshal as a more focused bard and a good fifth character for any party.

 

[kilamanjaro]

btw, does anyone know what the deal is with the 'swift action' mentioned in the invisibility, swift descripition? Is this a new way to refer to free actions or is it something new altogether?

 

[ashockney]

Interested in hearing comparisons to the Cry Havoc supplement from Malhavoc. (Is it out yet? Cross-referenceable? One better than the other?)

I agree that the Marshall is in many respects a weaker cleric. Much less limitations however, particulary in "uses per day" and not losing actions to grant these buffing bonuses. Cool, and smooth transition for using buffs, which I'm sure will translate very well on a battlefield. Translated for P&P dnd, I'd prefer to significantly reduce the area of the buff (maybe it grows as you gain in level), and add some extra "bonus" martial feats.

I like the dragon samurai. Easily transportable to Dnd.

The Sudden Empower feat is very cool.

 

[ashockney]

Interested in hearing comparisons to the Cry Havoc supplement from Malhavoc. (Is it out yet? Cross-referenceable? One better than the other?)

I agree that the Marshall is in many respects a weaker cleric. Much less limitations however, particulary in "uses per day" and not losing actions to grant these buffing bonuses. Cool, and smooth transition for using buffs, which I'm sure will translate very well on a battlefield. Translated for P&P dnd, I'd prefer to significantly reduce the area of the buff (maybe it grows as you gain in level), and add some extra "bonus" martial feats.

I like the dragon samurai. Easily transportable to Dnd.

The Sudden Empower feat is very cool.

 

[Enkhidu]

btw, does anyone know what the deal is with the 'swift action' mentioned in the invisibility, swift descripition? Is this a new way to refer to free actions or is it something new altogether?

From what I read, I think that a "swift" action is a free action that can only be completed once per round - if I remember seeing right, Quickened Spells fall under this catagory.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

The Sudden Empower feat is very cool.

What you want to bet we see "Sudden" version of most all the Metamagic feats? According to a recent issue of Dragon, this is how one of the designers, sorry can't remember who, handles Meamagic in his game.

I'd bet they will be in Unearthed Arcana too, but as a variant Metamagic system.

I like it.

 

[Green Knight]

Does anyone see anything related to miniatures in the samples? I don't understand what the point of this book is...

They've said that half the book will be D&D specific, while the other half will be Miniatures specific (I.E. Half will have new Core Classes, Prestige Classes, Feats, Magic Items, Spells, etc, while the other half has new miniature combat scenarios, mass combat rules, advanced skirmish rules, campaign rules, and the like). Besides, those elements can be used in the D&D miniature game. The Marshal, for example, is made specifically with D&D Miniatures combat in mind.