Monte's newest Arcana Unearthed Design Diary

[John Crichton]

As taken from the front page - http://www.montecook.com/diary.html

I have to say that every time I read one of these I get more excited about the book. I wish I was going to GenCon so I could pick up an early copy.

I love the flavor that it seems like he is trying to infuse. The Runethane, Mage Blade & Witch classes seem different and fun. I could see using them the way he presents them now. Of course, I haven't seen any game stats or rules for these characters yet but in Monte, I trust.

I have always had a slight problem with the way magic users have been handled in D&D. Having the foci be things like staffs (Gandalf) and swords be needed to channel magic (with proper rules support that I don't have to invent) while not new are things that I want to have in my game.

Feel the Joy(tm).

 

[Merlion]

I agree. True little of what he's doing is completely new or original...but he will probably actualy do them well. And yes the new magic system especialy sounds wonderful. I think Arcana Unearthed is going to open up a lot of great options. trouble will be deciding what class to play first

 

[Dave G]

I am right there with you. I'd love to be one of the first to pick up this book, but alas, it is not to be..

 

[Mercule]

I'm anxious to see what he's got up his sleeve not so much so I can use them as-is, but so I can grab ideas for my own game.

I'm trying to convert my game world back from a skill-based system, and having a rough time of it. Actually, everything besides magic works as well or better in d20, but spells are very hard to balance playability and style.

It sounds like Monte's book will present some ideas I can grab. I'm especially interested in the Runethane because it sounds almost exactly like my Runecasters. Maybe I won't have to do any rebuilds there at all. *shrug*

 

[John Crichton]

I'm anxious to see what he's got up his sleeve not so much so I can use them as-is, but so I can grab ideas for my own game.

Same here. I rarely use things in context but I'll grab things from all over the place to use in my homebrews. Much of Monte's stuff is drag-and-drop and he's getting better at it, IMO. The last 2 things I have seen of his (BoEM3 & BoHM) have been formatted well and while I may not use everything in them, they are a good source of inspiration.

 

[WayneLigon]

I can't wait, myself. Everytime I read something new about it, it just sounds better and better.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I'm loving the book the more I see of it, but I am concerned about one thing,

Where are all the sneaky types? I mean he's right that skill user describes the rogue and bard really well, but sneaky is something that people associate with the rogue at least in the same breath with which they say skills. I really like the Akashics and I will be very pleased if there is a skill user and a sneaky type, but the Akashic alone just doesn't fit.

Well, by my count he has yet to reveal two of the races and two of the classes so I can still have hope. Or just integrate the rogue, which is a near perfect class. On the other hand I would love to see a class that would be to rogues what runethanes are to clerics or witches are to sorcerors.

 

[Merlion]

I think the Akashic or possibly even the Unfettered could easily be a sneaky type. The Akashic is supposed to be able to fill just about any role involving skill use. and the Unfettered gets a sneak attack or sneak attack like ability. The Akashic strikes me as being his version of the rogue, accept they dont have a sneak attack(that we know of) a specfic association with thiefy practices, and their truly focused on mastering skills and the like.
He has mentioned all 11 classes I believe..Akashic, Magister, Witch, Runthane, Warmain, Unfettered, Oathsworn, Totem Warrior, Mage Blade, Greenbond and Champion.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Eleven was my count of classes and nine was what I got for races counting humans and the transformed version of the Fae race. The FAQ says thirteen new classes and eleven new races.

Sigh, but the blurb says eleven classes and 10 races.

I imagine that Akashics and some of the warrior and magi classes are very capable of being sneaky, it's just that none of them seem to have it as a focus.

I mean being a ninja isn't just about walking quietly it's about making that your reason for being.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I agree, it seems to be a bit lacking in the sneaky. I'm sure you can compose it, but nothing seems to scream 'sneaky!'

Meh. I'll always have the FFd20 ninja and theif!

I'm more excited about his spell system than anything. That's the one thing I can see that'll actually *help* the system overall. The rest of it is really a lot less original than he's giving himself credit for, but, because it's Monte, I'm sure it'll be done nicely (perhaps better than before).

But the spell system sounds *juicylicious*! I can't wait to be able to finally fully customize all spellcasters.