Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 8660569" data-attributes="member: 7635">The biggest hurdle you have to make with the new stat blocks is that they are as far from the PC classes as you can have them. The "wizard" tag is superfluous and they have actively attempted to remove any or all signposts that would allow you to define the "class and level" of an NPC as if it was a PC.To that end, NPCs no longer have spellcasting slots, caster levels, or abilities that rely on either. They no longer use spell lists, and most don't have abilities that resemble class features (though some still mimic a few). This is also true of a feature like sneak attack (which mimicked rogues) as well.On the one hand, I get the reason why. Look at the archmage in the MM. He's an 18th level caster who is CR 12. He is built a bit nerfed as is because he could swap time stop for meteor swam and probably tpk most groups, but if they put his level lower he's gonna lose tremendous power (compare to the CR 6, level 9 Mage). So rebuilding casters to have consistent attacks and abilities not tied to spell slots helps fix that swingy aspect of casters, at that cost of customization or internal logic. It appears WotC views high-level NPC casters as having a bunch of mid-level abilities usable repeatedly and a smattering of support spells rather than complicated high level spells.My biggest concern is that though these NPCs don't FEEL like they are mimicking the classes they say they emulate. The warlocks don't have beam attacks that resemble eldritch blast, they use melee weapons (they're all pact of the sword apparently.) Clerics get a healing ability and wizards a blasting one, and druids get to change into a predefined animal but that's it. Rogues use poison damage and multiple attacks, not sneak attacks. etc. They feel like classes from a different game. A Champion, Transmuter, War Priest and Master Thief don't feel like a simplified Fighter, Wizard, Cleric and Rogue, they feel like expats from a different game. So in the end, I think it's best if you ignore those names and tags that signpost it to be akin to a PC class. They are from another world. Vecna isn't a 20th level wizard. He's just a powerful creature with a lot of magicky abilities that if you squint looks a bit like a caster class.</blockquote>

Verification