FRPG - In hand.

[ObsidianCrane]

Hi All,

Along with the Adventurer's Vault, I have the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide in hand and I'm happy to answer questions.

Some quick comments:
1) The art is largely fantastic (what you wanted crunchy stuff?)
2) If this is the standard of product we can expect from the Setting player guides bring more of them on. It was well worth the $$ I spent on it IMO.

Now the real stuff:
Race Mechanics - Drow and Genasi are it. However the book confirms Deva as the new Aasimar. Looks like an interesting idea if they plan to carry that through. Gnomes, Goblins, Shifters (Lycanthropes), Half-Orcs & Orcs, Goliaths and Shades are also mentioned beyond the PHB races.

Class Mechanics - Swordmage and Dark Pact Warlock are it.

Paragon Paths - By and large these are really good, I like them more than the PHB classes in general.
Anarch of Shyr (Assault Swordmage)
Coronal Guard (Swordmage)
Darkwalker (Dark Warlock)
Doomguide (Divine Class, Kelemvor worship) - Works well, and better with Undead to kill.
Drow Wanderer (Drow, Dungeoneering) - a melee class.
Earthheart Defender (Dwarf, Fighter or Paladin) - basically a Dwarven Defender
Elemental Tempest (Genasi, Extra Manifestation) - use 2 Manifestations at once.
Evermeet Warlock (Warlock) - yes at last a Warlock only PP. Though it might well be eratted to be Feylock only as the first 11th level power is about teleporting, though admitedly most 'locks can 'port.
Ghost of Eventide (Rogue, Region Restriction) - Essentially a Shadowdancer.
Heartwarder (Divine Class, Must worship Sune) - Dominate, and healing powers.
High Forest Scout (Archer Ranger) - best Archer Ranger PP to date IMO.
Impulturian Demonslayer (Two-Blade Ranger) - Anti-Demon, but good without demons.
Morninglord (Divine Class, must worship Amaunator) - Not anti-undead, but bringin' the light.
Purple Dragon Knight (Fighter, Paladin, Warlord, Cormyr) - as previewed.
Silvestar (Arcane or Divine Class that uses an Implement, must worship Selune)
Simbarch of Aglarond (Wizard) - Wizard with Healing stuff.
Spellguard Wizard (Wizard) - Anti-teleport (better than that sounds) stuff.
Spellscarred Savant (Spellscar, Student of the Plague) - Spellfire for 4E. I think this makes it clear where the idea of the Spellscars came from.
Steelsky Liberator (Dragonborn, Genasi, Half-Orc or Human) - Anti-Dragon mostly. The worst of the Anti-X PPs imo as it has to many Dragon only things unlike the others that are better against whatever it is they are about killing.
Sword Coast Corsair (Martial Class) - Arr me hearties it be a pirate class, and a good one at that.
Umbriri (Swordmage) - Shadow powers for a swordmage.
Wandering Swordmage (Swordmage) - Wisdom boost utilising swordmage PP.
War Wizard of Cormyr (Wizard, Cormyr)
Whirlwind Genasi (Genasi, Windsoul Manifestation) - So you want to fly? This is the PP for you (good powers as well).
Wildfire Genasi (Genasi, Firesoul Manifestation) - So you want to burn people to ash? This is the PP for you (if you are not a wizard...)

Epic Destiny - Chosen. Its basically Demigod revisited, but with deity specific level 26 utilities.

Backgrounds - the next section of the book is turned over to the regions and giving character background mechanics. It gives a quick rundown on each region and some ideas about Adventurers and motivations for Characters from that region. Very similar to the FRCS region rundowns but character focused.

Feats - The Divine Feats are actually worth taking, and with the new items that let you use Divine Challenge mutliple times in an encounter well worth a look (see Adventurer's Vault for the items).

In addition to the previewed Heroic Tier there are 12 Paragon feats (2 Swordmage, 2 Dark Pact, 3 Drow, 3 Genasi, 1 Wizard, and 1 anti-Shadow critter), 2 Epic feats (1 Gensai, 1 Swordmage), and 2 Mutliclass Feats (Swordmage, and Spellscarred).

This again reminds me there is a desperate need for the PHB Races especially Eladrin to get a boost in the Racial department (the Moon Elf and Sun Elf feats are exclusive of each other).

The Swordmage Multi feat gives you Arcana and the Swordmage Warding feature.

Rituals - there are 24 rituals. I'm not typing out their names, and nor have I read them yet.

Almanac - this section covers the Ethos of the major deities, and gives a brief overview of the cosmology and things relating to that sort of stuff. Also covers languages, currency, general society matters.

Yes I can answer some questions.
No I will not type out powers etc.

 

[Blizzardb]

How does Spellscarred work? No need to spell it exactly, I am just curious about the new multiclass mechanics.

 

[ObsidianCrane]

You take the feat, Student of the Plague.

Then you can replace your class powers with the Spellscarred "Class" powers using the normal Novice Power, Acolyte Power and Adept Power feats.

The Student of the Plague feat also gives you one of three options as its Feat Power; Sight of the Unseen (1 sq darkvision), Flamespeed (+1 speed 1/enc), and Larger than Life (+1 Reach 1/day)

Spellscarred Savant then lets you pick a 7th level (or lower) and 19th level (or lower) attack power from the class for the 11th level and 20th level powers of the PP, and gives a utility only availble through the PP.

 

[Kunimatyu]

What's the Swordmage multiclass feat like? Do you get one of the two Aegis powers, or a basic at-will from the class?

 

[ObsidianCrane]

As I said in the first post:

The Swordmage Multi feat gives you Arcana and the Swordmage Warding feature.

 

[Rechan]

How much mention does the Aasimar/Deva get? I mean, are they detailed as a race (with a racial writeup) or is it just like, a paragraph of fluff? Is it mentioned where we'll see them?

Also, what the hell is a Shade? Or is that the Netherese?

 

[Spatula]

I'm curious how the multi-class PP powers work - for example, a gensai PP. What stat do the attack powers use? Do they require a weapon or implement?

 

[Kunimatyu]

As I said in the first post:

The Swordmage Multi feat gives you Arcana and the Swordmage Warding feature.

My bad, didn't see that. I'm somewhat surprised that it doesn't give any of the abilities, and that +3 defense bonus is actually better than a shield, yes?

It seems like fighters with Intelligence 13 or higher would want this feat just for the AC boost. I'm definitely considering taking it for my Warlord, as the forcefield doesn't decrease skills like a shield...

 

[ppaladin123]

I am dying to know anything you are willing to tell me about swordmage utilities. I'd also love to hear a little more about the wandering swordmage pp. What exactly does wisdom do for it?

 

[ObsidianCrane]

How much mention does the Aasimar/Deva get? I mean, are they detailed as a race (with a racial writeup) or is it just like, a paragraph of fluff? Is it mentioned where we'll see them?

Also, what the hell is a Shade? Or is that the Netherese?

Shade = Netherese, which we already know from the LFR information the PC version of which is the Shadar-kai (see also the FRCS).

The Deva have 3 paragraphs only. None of the Races other than the PHB ones mention where they will appear.

I'm curious how the multi-class PP powers work - for example, a gensai PP. What stat do the attack powers use? Do they require a weapon or implement?

Elemental Tempest and Wildfire Genasi use your choice of Str, Con or Dex.

Whirlwind Genasi uses your choice of Int, Wis or Cha

They are "Racial" powers. The Whirlwind and Wildfire have level appropriate bonuses to their powers but the Tempest doesn't (so I must wonder if there is an errata due there).

Admittedly the Tempest can combine their level 12 Utility, their level 16 feature, along with a couple of feats with their level 20 power to dish out 25 or more points of auto-hit damage.