I have the PHII...

[Shade]

Got it yesterday. This book rocks!

Both the feats and spells chapters are the strongest part of the book. I'm sure some folks will cry "power creep!" when they read 'em, but I think they've finally made a book where the bulk of the feats are on par with the core feats. I can see easily half of them in frequent use. I like the fact that they've gotten experimental with the spells, trying multi-school spells, liberally using casting times of swift and immediate actions, and allowing spells to be ended early for a greater effect.

I think that the PHB II is a watershed book in the evolution of D&D. Many of the future supplements are going to use these feats and spells as springboards for ideas and where the limits may lie.

Just a few personal highlights so far:

• Chain Dispel: 8th-level spell that affects multiple opponents and ramps the max caster level bonus to +25
• Greater Mirror Image: Functions as normal mirror image, but adds an additional image each round. Max 8 images; if you drop below 8, one replenishes on next round.
• Melee Weapon Mastery: Provides bonuses to attack and damage based on weapon category (bludgeoning/piercing/slashing) rather than specific weapon.

 

[VirgilCaine]

+4 to checks to resist being disarmed, you can wield the weapon in a grapple without penalty and use it as normal, you can add +5 to all your attacks after the first when taking a full attack, you can take 10 on an attack roll once per round, and you gain a +1 AC bonus.

What's the BAB requirement of this one again? +15? +18?

Edit: I see it requires Fighter level 18. Well, I suppose it's a very good weapon specialist benefit...

What does Melee Weapon Mastery do?

 

[Zephyrus]

Duskblade - Did the casting on that class look off balance to anyone else? Sure they get a selection of spells worse than a sorcerer, but to cast even more of them, in armor, with a full Bab?

Actually... it gets worse than looking off balance... its screwed up...

the Duskblade gets 0-level spells/day and known...... but... the duskblade spell list has no 0-level spells to choose from. to make matters worse.. the duskblade spell list have 25 spells to choose from... a Duskblade with a +4 INT mod at 1st level (Why, I dont know but humor me).. can have all 25 of the duskblades based on the progression of new spells known they get. further... their are only 2 4th level spells and 2 5th level spells they can learn.

I like the class alot but I think their are some problems that need to be addresed.

I also noticed some other problems such as with some of hte new monk feats. a couple of them make reference to a 8th level monk bonus feat. Monks get their feat at 6th, not 8th level. One of these feats even says monks can ignore the preq. except the +9 BAB requirement which is essentially the only thing it needed anyways and they couldent qualify for it at 8th level anyways.

I love the book, and I Think the options they present are awsome! however... their are a few glaring errors that bother me. Fortunatly they appear to be only a few... but they are disturbingly big errors (0-level spell access but no know-able spells on the list, wrong level references for monk bonus feats-Off by 2 levels!).

I havent had a chance to dig into too much though ... the duskblade and the feats were among the things I looked at the most. I hope to have a chance to delve into it more tonight.. if I can wrestle it away from my roommate.

 

[Gold Roger]

Eh, the real Duskblade spelllist is with the other class information...

 

[Zephyrus]

Eh, the real Duskblade spelllist is with the other class information...

(calls room mate, verifies)... Then their is definitly something wrong... the book makes no reference to that the Duskblade can also draw from the Wiz/Sor spell list in addition to the Duskblade list that he could see and yet even in their example starting packages they reference spells not on the duskblade spell list.

EDIT: Okay... Room mate found the full list... nevermind.

 

[Shade]

What does Melee Weapon Mastery do?

Provides bonuses to attack and damage based on weapon category (bludgeoning/piercing/slashing) rather than specific weapon.

I don't have my book handy, but IIRC it was +2 to both attack and damage.

 

[Pseudonym]

IBeguiler - Why no diplomacy? I understand manipulating people through deception, but that doesn't mean 100% of the time. Just seemed odd.

I think you must have overlooked that. Diplomacy is on their class list.

 

[Derren]

The most pleasant surprise where the spells. They are really all exceptional and extremely usefull.

YOu know, when people say something like this it is most of the time analogus to "They are all overpowered".

 

[Gold Roger]

The new spells are powerfull, but not out of line and none of them struck me as game breaking. It's just that they are innovated, fill new niches and are versatile. All imho good things. (And I'm a DM, so I will have to deal with them).

 

[Thaumaturge]

YOu know, when people say something like this it is most of the time analogus to "They are all overpowered".

You know when people say something like this it is most of the time analgous to saying "I know the rules and you don't, I win".

And you know when people make comments like mine they are... buttheads.

I like the duskblade. My only concern is that with a quickened truestrike, the "arcane strike" feat from complete warrior, and power attack this class could become very very sick. Of course you have to spend two feats, a couple of spells, and a class ability to do the combo, but who won't?

Thaumaturge.