Excerpt: Paragon paths (merged)

[Lacyon]

This would be why it doesn't show up anywhere in Merriam-Webster's Online, or Dictionary.com, or Wiktionary?

Neither does magocracy.

Nevertheless, if enough English-speakers use the word, it's English.

 

[Storm-Bringer]

My only concern with them using the name Kensai for a Paragon Path is it takes the name out of the pool of possible names for the hypothesized Ki power source. I was thinking yesterday that a Kensai would be an ideal Ki Defender class (with Monk as striker & Samurai as Leader), and now that dream has been dashed. As dreams go, it's not much of one so no real big loss, I guess.

Oh, who am I kidding.... My world has been ruined!

Depending on how much tongue you have in your cheek, that is a good point, really.

My bigger concern is that it dilutes the meaning of 'kensai'. Which is much, much more than 'good with a sword'. As shorthand for an RPG, not such a big deal, really. I mean, there are more to monks and paladins historically than portrayed in D&D.

Still, it is rather jarring. And as you mention, if they release 'Oriental Adventures' for this edition, they will be short one class name.

 

[Stormtalon]

I figured I needed to jump on the hyperbolic response bandwagon at least once, ya know?

 

[DandD]

Or they'll just say that Kensei is one of the thematically appropriate paragon paths for whatever heroic tier-basic class there is (most likely Samurai, although they should just be Fighters renamed, but oh well). No big deal.

 

[Storm-Bringer]

Neither does magocracy.

Nevertheless, if enough English-speakers use the word, it's English.

To paraphrase Wolfgang Paulli: That isn't even wrong.

 

[Masquerade]

I wonder if whatever form multiclassing takes (class training feats, actual "levels") will be sufficient to allow a character to take a paragon path. For example, I am playing a warlord with a bit of wizard mixed in. Can I take the battle mage paragon path?

Maybe you could start as a warlord, take wizard in place of a paragon path, and then take battle mage in place of an epic destiny. Maybe.

 

[Stalker0]

Maybe you could start as a warlord, take wizard in place of a paragon path, and then take battle mage in place of an epic destiny. Maybe.

Doubt it. I don't think you can bow out of epic destinies. Supposedly epic destines are "really cool" in the way that they completely break the rules. Further, the designers have mentioned that your epic destiny determines how you "leave the game" after 30th level.

 

[Lackhand]

To paraphrase Wolfgang Paulli: That isn't even wrong.

Mostly because it's write.

[pejoratively]prescriptivist![/pejoratively]

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

good stuff

I will have to admit that I didn't read this whole thread, but I really like Paragon Paths. I wish that 3E had had them, rather than prestige classes.

They fix several things:

1) since their entry requirements only relate to a class choice, there is no more 'I have to plan my character all the way to level 20 from the get-go'. You can freely choose feats, etc without having them impact your paragon path availability

2) since they overlap with base classes, they only have to be balanced against each other, unlike Prestige classes which are balanced by features lost from the base class.

3) It looks to me like 'dipping' into paragon paths isn't allowed. You pick one for 11-20. Another improvement.

Ken

 

[malcolm_n]

Man, I really feel sorry for the folks coming up with these names. No matter what they use, they can't win!

Might as well just have called it the Awesomemaster Weaponguy.

Oh no! Please don't start using Adjective-noun Noun-noun combination of names

One word, English (british, canadian or american?), Paragon Paths

Warrior (fighter)
Mage (wizard)
Killer (Rogue)
Archer (Ranger)
Champion (Paladin)
WArlock (Warlock, though I'm sure capitalizing two letters is wrong too)
Tactician (Warlord)
Priest (Cleric)

There we go. [ / endhumor]