New Excerpts: FR: feats and AV: Holy Symbols and Wands

[Deverash]

I'm fairly sure that the saving throw bonus from first aid will not stack with the saving throw bonus from being more than 5 squares away from your allies...

You'd be right, though I had to look it up myself. First Aid gives the save&bonus to an adjacent ally. But a +5 to saves isn't bad either.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I'm fairly sure that the saving throw bonus from first aid will not stack with the saving throw bonus from being more than 5 squares away from your allies...

Ally starts adjacent (which is not uncommon), ally applies first aid, ally moves 5 squares. Or Ally moves in, ally applies first aid, you move 5 squares away during your turn, saves happen at the end of the turn.

Saving on a 5+ is pretty good though. My main complaint is that save bonuses seem to be showering from the trees, and we're only a single feat away from automatically saving.

 

[FireLance]

Ally starts adjacent (which is not uncommon), ally applies first aid, ally moves 5 squares. Or Ally moves in, ally applies first aid, you move 5 squares away during your turn, saves happen at the end of the turn.

Ah, good point. I hadn't thought of that.

Saving on a 5+ is pretty good though. My main complaint is that save bonuses seem to be showering from the trees, and we're only a single feat away from automatically saving.

The save might be almost automatic, but getting there still takes effort! Getting to 3+ requires a specific race, a specific background, a feat, a specific condition (all action points spent), one ally to sacrifice a standard action to give you first aid (and success on the skill check is not guaranteed at low levels), and either you or your ally to take a move action to get five squares away. I really woundn't mind if you could scrape another +2 to your saving throw from somewhere because rolling a 1 or a 2 after all that would be heartbreaking.

 

[Ahglock]

the art for the holy symbol article threw me. Did they reshrink halflings in the realms or is that just an error, or am i seeing things wrong. Other than that not impressed with the items. The feats were okay, they mostly seemed fairly tame. i liked the wood elf agility one. Saves seem to be stacking up, I guess that is part of the design though so if you don't want to be taken out of the game, you most likely wont be.

 

[Saben]

Saving on a 5+ is pretty good though. My main complaint is that save bonuses seem to be showering from the trees, and we're only a single feat away from automatically saving.

Actually another feat wouldn't make a difference. Feat bonuses don't stack.

Also, the FR feat also wouldn't stack with Human Perseverance. So you end up with +2 from that and +2 from the background, with a situational +2 from First Aid. I'd also consider House Ruling backgrounds as either Feat bonuses or Racial bonuses...

 

[FireLance]

Actually another feat wouldn't make a difference. Feat bonuses don't stack.

Also, the FR feat also wouldn't stack with Human Perseverance. So you end up with +2 from that and +2 from the background, with a situational +2 from First Aid. I'd also consider House Ruling backgrounds as either Feat bonuses or Racial bonuses...

This presumes the FR feat provides a feat bonus. Some feats that key off circumstances provide untyped bonuses, e.g. Nimble Blade provides an untyped attack bonus when you attack with a light blade and have combat advantage, and Dragonborn Frenzy provides an untyped damage bonus on damage rolls when you are bloodied. Since the FR feat keys off a circumstance (no action points remaining), it could also provide an untyped bonus.

 

[Xris Robin]

So, what exactly does the feat to give Swordmages a spellbook do? Or more accurately, what does a spellbook do for someone besides a Wizard?

 

[Spatula]

Ah, good old FR. Even the spellplague couldn't get rid of the munchkin rule options.

A regular rogue can spend a feat to turn his or her melee attack into high-crit (katar) or upgrade to d8 damage (rapier). A drow FR rogue can spend a feat to turn his or her ranged attack into d8 damage and high crit. Crazy.

 

[Spatula]

So, what exactly does the feat to give Swordmages a spellbook do? Or more accurately, what does a spellbook do for someone besides a Wizard?

The same thing the spellbook does for the wizard? Give you access to additional daily and utility powers for your class, probably.

 

[Keenath]

Radiant Servants could get 19-20 threat range with powers like Flame Strike, Mantle of Glory, Purifying Fire, Enthrall, Fire Storm, etc., etc. where before they would have to choose radiant alternatives.

The reason is to serve its purpose: Fighting undead which are vulnerable to radiant damage.

I see both points, but that kind of IS my point. If you're fighting lots of undead or playing a Radiant Servant, why would you take Flamestrike in the first place? Wouldn't you choose a daily that actually uses radiant? (Coincidentally, mantle of glory is a radiant power, and doesn't benefit from the symbol of pelor.)

There are a few levels where a certain build may not be able to pull a Radiant power (like level 17 if you have low STR), but those are so rare that it hardly seems worthwhile to get a specific holy symbol to counter it. At least, not when there are a dozen other holy symbols that will be more generally useful.

Would you really want to trade a Symbol of Hope, Victory, or Life for a minor benefit to one or two of your powers?