I got Races of the Wild, you got the questions

[Kae'Yoss]

What does this specifically do, just extend PBS?

No. If anything, it picks up where PBS left off. You get a bonus to attack rolls against flat-footed targets at least 30 ft away, and a bonus to hide again (with the sniping action)

*This question was meant for this thread, but your review on the rating will stand for both books*

Kae Yoss, I am grateful for your review of the book, and I will be buying it, based on what has been said here. But finally, out of a rating from 1 to 5, what do you give it?

Sorry, I hate to be repetitive, but I haven't been able to read the whole book, especially not the fluff part, as I'm reading Lost empires first. I really liked the fluff I've seen so far, and the crunch ranges from OK to really cool.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Okay, I will take that as a good endorsement.

 

[Shade]

What do the maneuvers for the Woodland Archery feat allow?

 

[MerricB]

I understand the need to have something for everyone in the pantheon, I'm just not so certain I like the idea of Yondalla having her ld running around as conscious being. And yes, when only these two deities are presented it makes this goddess with two aspects seem even more central to the faith. It almost reminds me of The Faith of the Sun from Deities and Demigods where Taiia has both Creator/Destroyer aspects.

This shifts the entire nature of halfling faith...which doesn't seem necessary to allow characters of every ilk to have a compatable deity. Now, it just seems that those psychopathic halflings can justify their behavior by claiming to serve all of halfling-kind by following Yondalla's dark side.

Ah, but you're missing the fact that halfling society changed with 3e.

In 1e and 2e they were hobbits. Stay-at-homes who never wanted a day's adventure in their life. As such, Yondalla was the perfect fit for them.

In 3e, halflings are more nomadic, far more willing to take risks. Suddenly, Yondalla doesn't quite fit the halfling race any more.

To take the 3e change in the halfling personalities, and extrapolate that to the split personality of Yondalla is actually quite a good idea - it explains a lot about the halflings.

Although it might seem a bit similar to the gnomish deities, there are a couple of other factors involved. First of all, they're not maliciously competing, which is the case with the gnomes. Superficially it may seem similar, but it's actually a fundamental change.

Second, if you didn't have this dark/light duality, you'd just have another normal pantheon. Would you complain about that?

Cheers!

 

[Jakar]

I'm ashamed of you! One would think that being able to lick one's self would be its own reward.

Have to indeed!

I should of known sorry. I will go stand in the corner for a while.

 

[ivocaliban]

Ah, but you're missing the fact that halfling society changed with 3e.

In 1e and 2e they were hobbits. Stay-at-homes who never wanted a day's adventure in their life. As such, Yondalla was the perfect fit for them.

In 3e, halflings are more nomadic, far more willing to take risks. Suddenly, Yondalla doesn't quite fit the halfling race any more.

To take the 3e change in the halfling personalities, and extrapolate that to the split personality of Yondalla is actually quite a good idea - it explains a lot about the halflings.

Although it might seem a bit similar to the gnomish deities, there are a couple of other factors involved. First of all, they're not maliciously competing, which is the case with the gnomes. Superficially it may seem similar, but it's actually a fundamental change.

Second, if you didn't have this dark/light duality, you'd just have another normal pantheon. Would you complain about that?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying "this is a stupid idea," because that's not what I think at all. I'm just saying that my concept of Halflings doesn't include Yondalla with a split personality. It's still a fundamental change in Halfling religion. I'm just not sure I subscribe to the idea that simply because a people change that means their deities have to change, too. One might have argued that the so-called psychopathic halflings have turned their back on faith altogether (as few of them that I've encountered seemed concerned with the betterment of halfling-kind).

Again, the Race books, just like the Complete books are about options. I don't feel I need to accept everything from either series in order to enjoy them. I'm also not sure what constitutes a normal pantheon as I think there are aspects to each that make them unique. I pick and choose from the new deities, but for the Halflings I still prefer the Forgotten Realms pantheon.

 

[Felon]

Maybe i just find it annoying and a tad ridiculous that if i want to play a character with a powerful, kick-ass animal buddy, i have to play a shapeshifting spellcaster. (No, rangers, with only half their level adding to the animal companion, don't count here; it simply isn't a big enough boost to make the companion viable as anything more than a scout.) Sure, PrCs can help a bit here, but every single one, except the Beastmaster, requires you have an animal companion beforehand. But then again, i don't see animal companions as some important, class-defining ability for either the druid or ranger; both have such a host of abilities that animal companions are little more than an add-on..

Well, can't dispute any of your complaints--indeed, I share a lot of the sentiment. But if you're playing a core PHB class, your non-spellcasting choices are limited.

Personally, I don't think granting an animal companion is any more powerful than the cohort gained from Leadership. And there certainly is precedent for converting class-defining features into general feats (q.v. The Complete Divine).

 

[qstor]

Any idea why the designers have decided to drop pre-existing minor deities for the non-human races in favor of the new ones we're seeing? Not sure I like it.

IMHO WOTC is trying to *divorce* themselves from 1e/2e stuff into new 3x stuff. A lot of the minor demi-human dieties were first in Dragon Magazine or Realms stuff. I think there's a trend towards Eberron and non Greyhawk or Realms stuff into generic stuff.

Mike

 

[qstor]

Able Sniper (for shooting at thos who aren't in point blank range)
Defensive Archery (AC bonus against AoO for ranged attacks)
Plunging Shot (more damage if the enemy is far below you - mainly for flying archers, I think)

And the Tactical Feat Woodland Archer (with the maneuvers adjust for range, pierce the foliage and moving sniper)

Thanks for posting this stuff. My copy hasn't come from Amazon.com yet...*grumble* *grumble*

Does Able Sniper work beyond 30ft? are these elf only feats? What are some of the elven feats?

Thanks

Mike

 

[Kae'Yoss]

What do the maneuvers for the Woodland Archery feat allow?

Ajust for Range (a bonus on subsequent shots in a round if you miss that target), Pierce the Foliage (no more miss chance for conceilment in the next round when you hit with one shot) and Moving Sniper (you can shoot, move, and hide with the sniping action)

One might have argued that the so-called psychopathic halflings have turned their back on faith altogether (as few of them that I've encountered seemed concerned with the betterment of halfling-kind).

Note that Dallah Thaun is not for "psychopatic" halflings, anyway. She's not the evil half of yondalla. Those halflings who turn their back on the halfling race turn their back on both Yondala and Dallah Thaun. And though Dallah Thaun encourages halflings to amass wealth, even by stealing, she is against harming anyone in the process. Her two creeds are "don't get caught" and "don't harm others for your gain".
And, again, she doesn't work against Yondalla, but with her. For example, when evil harms halflings, Yondalla nurtures the survivor and Dalla Thaum seeks vengeance (or rahter, their respective followers do that, but in their goddesses name).

I think there's a trend towards Eberron and non Greyhawk or Realms stuff into generic stuff.

I've noticed that, too. They're pushing Eberron, and pushing hard. There already rumors that it will take the place of Greyhawk as standard setting in D&D (which IMO would be among the worst things that could happen to D&D, since Eberron isn't generic enough. Forcing things like Living Constructs and Shapechangers on standard D&D isn't right. But I think this are but rumors.)