New Power Source

[Dice4Hire]

I am curious what they will do with the ELemental power source next year.

Overall, I can see the existing power sources being fine for the game.

 

[GameDoc]

Temporal power as a separate source may not be feasible, but I think it's viable enough to be the basis for a "chronomancy" school for mages, and by extension, other wizards as well.

 

[delericho]

The problem is it's unique and distinctive enough for one class. You can't make an entire power source for one class.

I think you can, for two reasons:

1) If the class is distinctive enough in its own right, but only really works with a unique source...

2) Don't forget the possibilities of multiclassing/hybrids. So you're not just adding one class - you're also adding some more possibilities for every class, which might be worthwhile.

Well, I suppose you could but there would be little point because arcane can already cover that.

It really depends how distinctive it is. While everything in Time could be covered in Arcane, there's a question of whether you do that by adding a whole new class (that probably works in a distinctive enough way to warrant a new power source anyway), or by adding a bunch of new powers to existing classes (running the risk that they'll get lost in amongst the plethora of other Wizard powers).

I'm still not convinced that Time is distinctive enough to warrant being its own source... but I'm also not entirely convinced that it isn't either.

 

[KarinsDad]

It sounds like a solution looking for a problem.

If we take every old edition plane of existence and turn it into a power source, we could have quite a few new power sources. But, I just don't see the need.

Before I would want a time power source, I would want a demonic power source. It's more mainstream medieval fantasy than science fiction. Time sources tend to be more science fiction (Dr. Who) or superhero (Flash/Kang).

Anything can be pulled into medieval fantasy, but not necessarily as an entire power source.

 

[technoextreme]

I'm inclined to believe that Elemental will suffer the same fate. The Sorcerer is already heavily themed along elemental damage lines, and fits easily into Arcane. I'd be surprised to see it show up at this point as anything more than a mixed source, like the Martial/Primal and Martial/Shadow subclasses. An Arcane/Elemental subclass, perhaps.

I don't think the Elemental book is introducing a new power source. Its just themed classes like Heroes of Shadow.

 

[Shadus]

The problem is it's unique and distinctive enough for one class. You can't make an entire power source for one class. Well, I suppose you could but there would be little point because arcane can already cover that.

Assassin. The only true shadow power class. Well, unless you count vampire. Either way, my point is that WOTC have done it before.

They opted to abandon Ki as a power source.

This made me sad. Monk is just odd as a psionic class, it dosn't even use the same power system as the other psionics. Plus, it would of been really interesting to see other classes with full disciplines like the monk. I could see the Wu Jen from 3.5 being able to trade in a move to cover her self in metal or something. It also could of been for non-European theamed classes like India or the Persia, that have rich warrior cultures, but are rarely mentioned in modern fantasy. *sigh*

On topic, I agree that Temporal shouldn't be it's own power source unless it added it's own system. And while time is a cool idea, I feel like their are other things that could be covered before hand, such as the power source that created the abyss (Shard of Chaos I believe). I could see Chaos being a much more thematic power source for the DND would.

 

[Vael]

The problem is it's unique and distinctive enough for one class. You can't make an entire power source for one class. Well, I suppose you could but there would be little point because arcane can already cover that.

Actually, now that we're moving away from the more traditional (or better known) power sources, I'd only expect a class or two from a power source. Filling the role grid isn't necessary. Or, I'd point out that Essentials has effectively introduced subclasses, that can have different roles. So, to go with the idea of a Time power source, I'd have one umbrella class, the Chronomancer, but give it a pair of subclasses: the Timebender (Controller) and the Prescient (Defender).

This approach has a few advantages. One, you can swap powers between the two classes, since all the Timebender's and Prescient's powers would actually be Chronomancer powers. This would really help cut down the number of powers you need to write. Second, feats could also be shared between the classes. Third, you don't necessarily need to pigeonhole a class into a role that doesn't quite fit.