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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 9205390" data-attributes="member: 27780">Dungeon/Polyhedron Issue 91/150: Mar/Apr 2002part 11/12Advanced Characters: 5 advanced classes are detailed here, some of which will appear in the final version, while others will not. Unlike the final release, they flat-out state you need a number of levels in particular core classes to qualify rather than linking it to skill & feat requirements which allow for alternate (if slower) routes, which is another thing I’m glad they dropped. The Mage is similar in broad strokes to the final version, but has a nonstandard BAB, fewer skill points, a somewhat janky system where they don’t treat magic specific skills as class ones until they reach higher levels, but they do get more bonus feats. Overall, the final version is once again slightly stronger. The Mentor is one that winds up on the cutting floor, as a character built largely around making other characters better is unlikely to be popular as a PC choice and the mechanical implementation of a nonspellcasting Loremaster is just generally rather weak. The Shadow Slayer is pretty similar to the final version, although having both vitality & wound points and having to choose which ones will be buffed by their discretionary power slots leaves them slightly weaker overall. Some chosen ones are more chosen than others. The Soldier is also similar, but even more obviously weaker in this version, because 3 of the levels simply give you +1 wound point as their special feature, which are replaced with the much more interesting tactical aid and improved critical features in the final one. The Thief will be replaced by the Infiltrator in the final version, which has a skillset tweaked to fit the modern day setting better rather than just directly recycling the D&D uncanny dodge and special abilities. Finally, a trio of templates that also won’t make it into the main book, for if you want your character to have fiendish, lycanthropic or vampiric ancestry. Nothing hugely surprising about these, although they do seem a little overpowered for what you’re giving up, particularly if you want to play a combat monster who doesn’t care about the social penalties. More stuff that definitely needed another editing pass.</blockquote>

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