New playtest up; interesting tidbits with Classes and Races

[Rechan]

New Playtest.

So they created a mostly human party of 1st level PCs who are all affiliated with a local count. The warlord, Domna, is the baron’s youngest daughter, and Tian, the rogue, is Domna’s lifelong friend and also the son of the leader of baron’s personal mercenary troop. Sasha, the wizard, is daughter to the baron’s chancellor, and guarding her is Robozcniek, a warforged fighter. Rounding out the group is Heron, and eladrin ranger who was a childhood friend of Tian and Domna.

1) The Warlord is in, it's a class from first level. 2) There was no mention of having issues adapting the Warforged and Eladrins, so if anything they're in the playtest material.

Now to Class abilities:

Their second impression came squarely from the three arrows with which Heron skewered the hapless goblin sharpshooter in the loft. That poor goblin fired on Heron, missing but triggering an immediate counterattack from the ranger, who followed up with two more arrows on his turn.

Domna rushed a wolf and missed it, after shouting encouragement to her friends (providing a small bonus to them). The wolves continued to tear at Heron, almost sending the unfortunate ranger to death’s door. Sasha used a wizard strike with her staff, not only injuring a wolf, but also pushing it away from the prone Heron. This gave Heron the room he needed to stand, move away from his assailants, and regain a few hit points with a second wind. On his first regular turn, Tian used his second wind, then pursued the goblin by leaving the front door and running to intercept at the tree.

Sasha maneuvered to blast both wolves with another strike from her staff, pushing the one attacking Heron away again.

Domna used her tactical acumen to attack in such a way that the wolf she hit opened itself up to Robozcniek.

Several things pop out there. First that the ranger, at first level, is able to fire several arrows - two of which are on an immediate counterattack.

Next the Warlord shouting to give her allies a boost. Later she maneuvers to make the wolf open itself to the fighter - now this is either the author's flowery prose, or her tactical acumen caused it to be hampered somehow, possibly AC?

The wizard has a "wizard's strike" that does damage and moves foes back (unless this is the author's flair for the dramatic again). This attack apparently has an Area of Effect, as it effects both wolves the second time.

Finally, both wounded characters used "second wind" to gain hit points back. So it's possible there is a mechanism to allow all characters to heal themselves.

 

[AFGNCAAP]

The "wizard's strike" sorta reminds me of the psychokinetic combat between Gandalf and Saruman using their staves from the LotR movies.

 

[Theovis]

Finally, both wounded characters used "second wind" to gain hit points back. So it's possible there is a mechanism to allow all characters to heal themselves.

This seems to be straight out of SWSE...

 

[Rechan]

I posted this as the same time as someone else. The other thread has more posts.

Come over here: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=205986

 

[Branduil]

I'm guessing the four additional classes in the PHB are Sorcerer, Ranger, Paladin, and Warlord.