Hi guys,
The next volumes of the Power Class series (9-12) have just jumped onto my desk, and we have some interesting choices for characters here!
PIRATE
First up, an old favourite. However, instead of messing around with a fighter's or rogue's feats, you can now play a Pirate character straight off from 1st level. This chap has d8 Hit Dice for fending off boarding actions (and dealing with scurvy!) but enough skill points to dedicate to climbing rigging and sailing ships. He has his own version of the Bard's lore ability (Pirate's Lore, fully detailed in its own section in this book), Uncanny Dodge and several class features dedicated to fame and infamy! At high levels, this can have a major effect on allies and enemies, allowing the Pirate to get weak merchant ships to strike their colours as he closes in, and strike fear into the hearts of privateers. Rules are also given for the Cutlass and a new magic item, the Cutlass of Command.
ALCHEMIST
Like the Hedge Wizard from the second Power Class series, this is a character type that can be used to portray a very useful NPC, as well as give a player a challenge if he fancies playing something a little different from mainstream arcane spellcasters. New rules are provided for using the Alchemy skill (or its equivalent in the forthcoming 3.5e), and the Alchemist himself has a battery of class features that aid his experimentation - Arcane Calculations grant access to cantrips, for example, while Transmogrification can literally change lead into gold. Several pages are also dedicated to the creations master Alchemists are capable of - Arcane Distillations, Aqua Arcana, Infusions and many more, providing a slightly different take on creating unique magical items.
CABALIST
Very different from a priest or cleric, the Cabalist draws his power from entities and cosmic concepts, invoking their names through rituals of sound and symbol. To this end, Cabalists do not get spells as such - instead, they use rituals and rites, many of which are fully detailed in this book. Not everyone agrees with the practices Cabalists use to use their art, so each is constantly tested as he rises in levels and power, but for those who succeed, the rewards can be great, with masters being able to perform a High Summons on extraplanar entites. The final section of this book cover the use of Power Stones, which permit the Cabalist to store the effects of long and complex rituals.
FOOL
This is my favourite one of the lot
The Fool is a trickster and a prankster but he also has a far more serious side to him. This entry into the Power Class series allows Fools to be used as main characters and, I have a feeling, we'll be seeing far more PC Fools than NPC. . . Full details are given for the Fool's status as Social Pariah, which disallows him from entering normal society but, at the same time, also permits him to use his trade and craft to mock others with a great deal of immunity. The Many Talents of Legerdemain cover just about every aspect of the Fool's craft imaginable, allowing him to specialise in acrobatics, juggling, knife throwing, pratfalls (!), Onicycle Riding (you gotta love this one), Perfidious Props, Non-sequiters, Riddle Games, Parody's Refrain, Insults, Sheprad of the Truth, Prophecy, and many more. New equipment takes the form of the Onicycle and the Fool's Garb, both essential components for the fully featured Fool. It will take a great deal of roleplaying effort to pull this character off in a campaign but it may be one of the more memorable ones!
This third set of the Power Class series will be in your local stores in just under a fortnight's time.
The next volumes of the Power Class series (9-12) have just jumped onto my desk, and we have some interesting choices for characters here!
PIRATE
First up, an old favourite. However, instead of messing around with a fighter's or rogue's feats, you can now play a Pirate character straight off from 1st level. This chap has d8 Hit Dice for fending off boarding actions (and dealing with scurvy!) but enough skill points to dedicate to climbing rigging and sailing ships. He has his own version of the Bard's lore ability (Pirate's Lore, fully detailed in its own section in this book), Uncanny Dodge and several class features dedicated to fame and infamy! At high levels, this can have a major effect on allies and enemies, allowing the Pirate to get weak merchant ships to strike their colours as he closes in, and strike fear into the hearts of privateers. Rules are also given for the Cutlass and a new magic item, the Cutlass of Command.
ALCHEMIST
Like the Hedge Wizard from the second Power Class series, this is a character type that can be used to portray a very useful NPC, as well as give a player a challenge if he fancies playing something a little different from mainstream arcane spellcasters. New rules are provided for using the Alchemy skill (or its equivalent in the forthcoming 3.5e), and the Alchemist himself has a battery of class features that aid his experimentation - Arcane Calculations grant access to cantrips, for example, while Transmogrification can literally change lead into gold. Several pages are also dedicated to the creations master Alchemists are capable of - Arcane Distillations, Aqua Arcana, Infusions and many more, providing a slightly different take on creating unique magical items.
CABALIST
Very different from a priest or cleric, the Cabalist draws his power from entities and cosmic concepts, invoking their names through rituals of sound and symbol. To this end, Cabalists do not get spells as such - instead, they use rituals and rites, many of which are fully detailed in this book. Not everyone agrees with the practices Cabalists use to use their art, so each is constantly tested as he rises in levels and power, but for those who succeed, the rewards can be great, with masters being able to perform a High Summons on extraplanar entites. The final section of this book cover the use of Power Stones, which permit the Cabalist to store the effects of long and complex rituals.
FOOL
This is my favourite one of the lot
The Fool is a trickster and a prankster but he also has a far more serious side to him. This entry into the Power Class series allows Fools to be used as main characters and, I have a feeling, we'll be seeing far more PC Fools than NPC. . . Full details are given for the Fool's status as Social Pariah, which disallows him from entering normal society but, at the same time, also permits him to use his trade and craft to mock others with a great deal of immunity. The Many Talents of Legerdemain cover just about every aspect of the Fool's craft imaginable, allowing him to specialise in acrobatics, juggling, knife throwing, pratfalls (!), Onicycle Riding (you gotta love this one), Perfidious Props, Non-sequiters, Riddle Games, Parody's Refrain, Insults, Sheprad of the Truth, Prophecy, and many more. New equipment takes the form of the Onicycle and the Fool's Garb, both essential components for the fully featured Fool. It will take a great deal of roleplaying effort to pull this character off in a campaign but it may be one of the more memorable ones!This third set of the Power Class series will be in your local stores in just under a fortnight's time.
