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Message: <blockquote data-quote="raion" data-source="post: 5423944" data-attributes="member: 62300">To start, I have loved the Shade as a race(?) ever since I read the Dragon article way back in the day. I am extremely happy to see Shade seeing print as a playable race in 4e, but I have to make some comments of my own..1) -1 Healing Surge: I, for one, love this. It is a wonderful flavorful penalty for a race based around ripping yourself apart and replacing bits with foreign material. The rest of the material does not justify it, at this point.. but I'd love to see it fit.2) +2 Charisma: I love how D&D has abandoned any pretense that people with high charisma are likable, attractive, or in any way capable of leading. I do not disagree with the stat selection rules-wise, but it makes me laugh when I think of Shade flavor through the years.3) One with Shadow: If there is feat support for this power, I could love it. As it stands, it's flavorful, fun, and frankly underpowered compared to anything I can think of.4) Utilities: Here's the crux. If there were at least 2 per level, and they were all at least on par with same level utilities, I would be a fan of this race. I remember the random bonuses and powers Shades have gotten previously, and this is a fantastic way of handling them. It's implied there are only 3 between levels 1-10, and none of them is impressive.Summary:- Give some selection for racial alternate utilities, with powers usable by a variety of classes, comparable to their utilities without having to say "flavor" to ward off bad thoughts.- Add a feat or two which tweak One with Shadow, turning it from a flavorful exit strategy, or non-combat gimmick, into a few different solid abilities.- Include a Paragon Path and Epic Destiny, which further advance your Shade-ness.Shade should be a race a variety of people would want to play for a variety of classes, hampered with a penalty which would discourage them.. rather than a race people like for flavor, hampered with the same.</blockquote>

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