Just got Complete Divine -- any issues I should be aware of?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

One of my players (who plays a paladin/cleric, not surprisingly) just sent me the Complete Divine sourcebook as an early Christmas/thanks-for-introducing-me-to-D&D gift. As you might guess, he also was hoping to use some of the spells from the book and, ultimately, one of the prestige classes. This is certainly a good way to put them in front of me, if I may say so.

That said, I know there are some issues with the book in other folks' campaigns. Is there anything in particular that I should be on the lookout for?

 

[MerricB]

Divine Metamagic has errata. Use it. Also, don't allow it and nightsticks (from Libris Mortis?) in the same game.

The RSoP is somewhat overpowered. I'd remove martial weapon proficiencies - why does it have them? - but it doesn't bother me that much.

Apart from that, have fun. I advise using the variant turning rules.

Cheers!

 

[pawsplay]

If someone plays a Shugenja, make sure they understand that their elemental choice isn't just flavor, it strongly defines what kind of caster they are. A fire shugenja, for instance, is a sorcerer in all but name, whereas a water shugenja is a buffing healer with few damage dealing spells.

 

[frankthedm]

1. Some of the feats that let 'turn attempts' to be traded in for other effects are very powerful. So much so that one of them, Divine might, is the main building block of a few power comboes.

2. Practiced spellcaster sounds like a good feat to many multiclass players since, unless done carefully, the system is slightly punishing of those who give up spellcasting progression. It also is a really good for several monsters; Dragons and spellcasting monsters in general will loooooove this feat. When a player first asks for this feat, i recommend have a brief chat with them explaining that everyone, PC or NPC, choses from the same feats so they understand they are sure to see foes with this feat. I’d recommend this chat for a lot of feats, but this feat in particular.

 

[Wraith Form]

I advise using the variant turning rules.

Agreed--it adds some power and yet simplicity to something that was originally ugly & painful.

 

[glass]

unless done carefully, the system is slightly punishing of those who give up spellcasting progression.

franktheDM is a master of understatement.


glass.

 

[comrade raoul]

Even with the errata, Divine Metamagic gets my vote as the most broken feat in the game. Never let anyone use it.

 

[frankthedm]

franktheDM is a master of understatement.

Well, if you multiclass haphazardly you'll cripple any character. With casters, you either dip in your non caster class to get abilities you need to accent your character and stay a primary caster or dip the casting class for a few tricks to use with your main class [true strike, shield, expeditious retreat].
__________________
Burn the land and boil the sea

 

[Felon]

When a player first asks for this feat, i recommend have a brief chat with them explaining that everyone, PC or NPC, choses from the same feats so they understand they are sure to see foes with this feat. I’d recommend this chat for a lot of feats, but this feat in particular.

I recommend not having this chat with a player, since it's basically concealing vindictiveness under a thin disguise of fairness. When I hear this "wire mother" logic from a DM, I can't help but visualize the DM as some inebriated wife-beater, rationalizing why the player brought his doom upon himself: "I just wanted to sit down and drink a beer and play some friendly D&D, real nice and peaceful-like. I wouldn't even a thought 'bout touchin' the Practiced Spellcaster feat, but then you had just to go and take it, didn't ya? Now you done asked for it! Oh, why oh why do you make me do these things to you, Brandine?"

I suggest a slight variation: allow or disallow a feat on its own merits, and if its presence ratchets up the power level of the campaign, make adjustments. There are countless options, and giving Practiced Spellcaster to a monster is only one. The players don't need to have any little chats to know you're making adjustments, it's just how DM'ing works.

 

[Klaus]

The variant Turning rules are awesome, but a lot of people on these boards have added a house rule: turn resistance not only gives a bonus vs. the damage dealt, but also gives a "damage reduction" of sorts to that damage.

Radiant Servant of Pelor gives a lot *on top* of what the cleric gives. I suggest dropping the weapon proficiencies given (i.e., you get nothing in that area) and lowering the BAB to the poor progression (since the class focus on the turning/spellcasting aspect of the cleric, so it should neglect the rest). Personally, I'd replace the RSoP with the Master of Radiance from Libris Mortis.

Check out the errata, specially on the spells.