Info on M.Cook's AE "Transcendence?"

[Driddle]

Have I missed press releases and whatnot that give the goodie-teasers on what we can expect from the player's handbook supplement for Arc.Evolved?

 

[Crothian]

Beyond Mortal Limits Lies Unimagined Power!

Dragons walk the land, offering power to whoever is willing to grant their allegiance. As the world changes, the people of the Diamond Throne lands must change along with it. New powers and talents arise in this time of tumult.

Transcendence expands the scope of the Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved variant player’s handbook, offering an array of new character options, abilities, and paths of evolution. Customize your character to a greater degree than ever before, or swear allegiance to the dragons and transcend the bounds of flesh and mind.

This player's companion includes six new evolved classes, which allow a character to transcend the limits of mortal power. Its new mechanics add flexibility to the Arcana Evolved character classes, allowing each player to sculpt a class's talents. The book also contains new weapons and armor that change and shift in response to a character's wishes, adding a new layer of customizability to equipment.

Transcendence, the first rules expansion to Arcana Evolved, broadens the scope of options available to players and DMs. It is specifically designed so that all players—not just a subset—will find the book a useful, treasured addition to their libraries.

 

[Eremite]

Wow.

Is this a variant Epic Level Handbook? I don't need a variant PHB, as good as AU is (and, no doubt, AE is better) but I would really like to see the ELH done well and Monte would be the man to do that.

 

[Monte At Home]

Wow.

Is this a variant Epic Level Handbook?

No, it's not. It's like a player's guide to AE. Sort of an analog of the "Complete" books, but all in one (and it's not really all that much like them, but that's a much closer example than the Epic Level book).

 

[Eremite]

No, it's not. It's like a player's guide to AE. Sort of an analog of the "Complete" books, but all in one (and it's not really all that much like them, but that's a much closer example than the Epic Level book).

Sounds good and I'm sure I'll buy it... and yet I'm disappointed (in a sense) that it's not a variant ELH. Is that something you have considered doing? I think many are disappointed with the existing Epic rules and I know I for one would like to see your take particularly if it's written for core 3.5E D&D.

 

[Seeten]

Seconded Eremite's opinion on this one.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

Seconded Eremite's opinion on this one.

You folks may want to check out the chat transcript. (Link at the bottom of this post.) It has information on Transcendance. As to "epic" levels, I'd suggest checking out the second link to the AE Design Diary on 25th level characters.

http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?mpress_MCAEchat020305
http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?mc_diary_36

 

[Driddle]

((Transcendence stuff))

Thanks. I'm looking forward to this. Was hoping it offered additional options for totems, witches, etc. but sounds pretty nifty just the same.

((aside, re 'epic level': Epic, epic, epic ... gimme a break! The new Arc.Evo takes classes to 25th level already; any more 'epic' than that is just silly))

 

[Crothian]

Also, it is written by Mike Mearls and frankly I've yet to be disappointed by any of his books. Also happens to be a pretty nice chap.

 

[Michael Tree]

This player's companion includes six new evolved classes, which allow a character to transcend the limits of mortal power. Its new mechanics add flexibility to the Arcana Evolved character classes, allowing each player to sculpt a class's talents.

Interesting. I wonder if these are anything like the Substitution Levels mechanic in the "Races of" books, or the variants in UA.