Look Ma- Rules Updates!

[Ktulu]

The fact that they can Second Wind as a Minor action is huge IMHO. It allows them to heal and still attack w/o wasting a round.

Also, the ability to be pushed 1 less square is a nice benefit too.

Don't forget, their dwarven weapon training grants them access to the waraxe and gives them a +2 to damage, making it the highest damaging single handed weapon, and it cost less feats to do so.

They also get to save vs being knocked prone, making them VERY sticky.

 

[Joshua Randall]

I don't think the rogue gaining sneak attack 1/turn is that big a deal, but maybe I'm underestimating it.

The times when it will matter are very narrow.

* Rogue hits with an OA. This means (1) enemy provokes OA from rogue and (2) rogue attacks and hits with OA, which implies (2A) rogue has accurate OA, which implies (2B) rogue has melee weapon training. Which ironically isn't as good any more.

* Warlord or other leader grants rogue an attack out of turn and that attack hits. Because most granted attacks are melee basics, this has conditions (2A) and (2B) from above as well.

* Some weird hybrid mojo. Hybrids are by definition narrow cases.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

I don't think the rogue gaining sneak attack 1/turn is that big a deal, but maybe I'm underestimating it.

The times when it will matter are very narrow.

* Rogue hits with an OA. This means (1) enemy provokes OA from rogue and (2) rogue attacks and hits with OA, which implies (2A) rogue has accurate OA, which implies (2B) rogue has melee weapon training. Which ironically isn't as good any more.

* Warlord or other leader grants rogue an attack out of turn and that attack hits. Because most granted attacks are melee basics, this has conditions (2A) and (2B) from above as well.

* Some weird hybrid mojo. Hybrids are by definition narrow cases.

Yeah, but it isn't THAT hard to work out ways to get a substitution of an at-will for an MBA. I don't recall any rogue at-wills that directly substitute but then again I don't spend a lot of time worrying about character build details. It might at worst require a couple feats, which makes it a rather niche thing and all but it will not surprise me at all if charops comes up with something interesting. I doubt it is a big huge broken whatever, but a high STR Brutal Scoundrel can easily have a pretty effective MBA anyhow. Besides, at high level a rogue losing 3-4 damage because of Melee Training and dropping in an extra 3d8 SA damage in trade for it is still nice.

As for dwarves, they really do have a lot of good racial feats that pump up their fighter ability, on top of the best of the best class features for it. Dwarf was already a gold choice for fighter. Someone is now going to have to invent a new color to describe just how good dwarves are at that class.

 

[Mapache]

Weapon Focus no longer gives you a bonus to attacks made with a staff as an implement. This affects my invoker and I'm PISSED!!! Just kidding. It seems reasonable to me.

Unless, you know, your class is supposed to use both weapons and implements. Swordmages are getting hosed by doubling the Weapon Focus feat tax to needing both Weapon Focus AND Implement Focus just to be at the same point they were previously, and needing to stick with Versatile Expertise and not being able to get the side benefits of the next feats like Heavy Blade Expertise. (Also getting smacked around, paladins, bards, and warlocks that went to the trouble of spending their precious weapon property on a weapon that works as an implement for them.)

 

[nookiemonster]

Agree w/Joshua Randall, with the caveat that Essentials thief may be able to use Dex instead of Str for melee basic attacks without using a feat (we don't really know yet).

On another note, OMG they nerfed PRESTIDIGITATION!

 

[Aegeri]

Good catch. I thought the article was meant as errata for the Essentials HotFL book, but it seems it would rather be errata for the PHB to put it on par with the Essentials book.

It's not errata for the upcoming book, it needs to be stressed this is just for stuff printed in that book that needs updated.

Agree w/Joshua Randall, with the caveat that Essentials thief may be able to use Dex instead of Str for melee basic attacks without using a feat (we don't really know yet).

On another note, OMG they nerfed PRESTIDIGITATION!

He can, he gets to use his dex for his MBA and gets +2 damage IIRC.

 

[Drakhar]

I'd also say that it's safe to say there's going to be more next month, this is likely only the really big stuff

 

[Skyscraper]

I don't think the rogue gaining sneak attack 1/turn is that big a deal, but maybe I'm underestimating it.

The times when it will matter are very narrow.

* Rogue hits with an OA. This means (1) enemy provokes OA from rogue and (2) rogue attacks and hits with OA, which implies (2A) rogue has accurate OA, which implies (2B) rogue has melee weapon training. Which ironically isn't as good any more.

* Warlord or other leader grants rogue an attack out of turn and that attack hits. Because most granted attacks are melee basics, this has conditions (2A) and (2B) from above as well.

* Some weird hybrid mojo. Hybrids are by definition narrow cases.

There are also the rogue immediate actions. The at-will Riposte Strike allows for one immediate attack if the rogue is attacked on his opponent's turn. Sure, this requires that the rogue hit with Riposte Strike, that the opponent choose to attack the rogue, and that the opponent remain in flanked position while attacking. Still, this at-will gains in interest, as it forces your opponent to make decisions.

So I'm not sure how much of a niche thing this will be. In the game I play in, I play a warlord and we have a rogue and when we started the game, 18 months ago, we had misread sneak attack and though it worked once per turn (as it will henceforth). The rogue-warlord combo was a killer with Commander's Strike. We quickly realized our error and corrected it, but now we'll be back in business! Yay!

I don't think this will be a major modification in the game or anything. I just think the rogue got a better and more fun to play, for sure.

 

[nookiemonster]

[MENTION=64751]Mapache[/MENTION]: Is that interpretation correct? Weapon focus now reads, "...bonus to the damage rolls of weapon attacks you make with a weapon of that group..."

As I understand it, just because you are using a weapon as an implement, that doesn't make it a "weapon" attack. It would have to have the "weapon" keyword, and I don't know off the top of my head of any attack powers that have both "weapon" and "implement" keyword. In other words, everyone is just as nerfed.

 

[Solvarn]

Unless, you know, your class is supposed to use both weapons and implements. Swordmages are getting hosed by doubling the Weapon Focus feat tax to needing both Weapon Focus AND Implement Focus just to be at the same point they were previously, and needing to stick with Versatile Expertise and not being able to get the side benefits of the next feats like Heavy Blade Expertise. (Also getting smacked around, paladins, bards, and warlocks that went to the trouble of spending their precious weapon property on a weapon that works as an implement for them.)

This disappoints me a great deal.