Non-Core Class Survivor: Round 6

[Rystil Arden]

Ah I see. You were inspired by the parts that I thought were just 'duh obvious' bits Don't take that the wrong way--I understand your train of thoughts. It just wasn't mine. Here's my thought processes on the same points. And by the way, I see most of what you liked to not be the class flavour at all but more of the 'designer mechanical tips and why the class is cool' section. The part you immediately ignored? That was exactly the bland flavour I didn't like

But the hybrid class really comes into its own when you embrace your hybrid nature.

Me: Well duh. Is it even possible for any hybrid character to actually do better when it doesn't embrace its hybrid nature?

You can change roles on a round by round basis.

Me: Ummm...of course I can change roles on a round-by-round basis.

You are the object of envy to sorcerors and of admiration to bards, who sometimes try to emulate your anilities (often with disasterous affects).

Me: This is my favourite flavour bit. It is an ironic nod from WotC that the Bard class is incapable of fulfilling its role as a hybrid

mong members of the two classes whose portfolios you draw from, fighters and wizards, some view you with disdain and others are fascinated by your unique meld of melee combat and arcane spellcasting.

Me: Some of them dislike me and some of them like me. Okay, you've covered all the bases here. Are some of them just indifferent too?

You might feel like you have too many options, too many things you can do in a single round.

Me: Actually here I thought they were talking down to me. I ignored it

The monster that engages you in melee, hoping to get an Attack of Opportunity that spoils your next spell, is in for a big surprise - a surprise of three feet of razor sharp steel.

Me: This is true for pretty much anything but a Wizard. Still, it sounds cool.

You are most effective when you single out and focus upon defeating a single opponent.

Me: Probably. No less than, say, a Beguiler though.

EDIT: As an aside an proof of how much I like the class, I am currently writing a Story Hour that can be found in my sig. One of the main characters started out to be a fighter before the PHB II was put out. He quickly morphed into a Duskblade. Yet, since he started a fighter much of the first parts were written without him able to cast spells. In the story .... SPOILER TEXT FOLLOWS:

See, now your added flavour? Totally awesome! It's easy to add good flavour to the Duskblade, and they even suggest that you can later on. The one they picked was just boring.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

*Shakes head at the latest RA post*

*Remembers to thank the almighty power(s) that be for different ways of thinking of things.*



I see where you are coming from. I technically define anything not in the specific "game mechanics section" as flavor text. But your way makes just as much sense as mine - so not arguing, just asserting an alternet viewpoint.

Regardless of what you say, though. The Duskblade rocks. The beguiler is cool - but a little too "evil" as written. They didn't leave much room for a good beguiler. Sure, they did say beguilers could be of any alignment. But honestly I think that was more of a reaction to the idiotic alignment restrictions on hexblades. Personally, I think the beguiler was written with much more of an "evil" slant than the hexblade was in the CW. Don't get me wrong. I'd love an opportunity to play a CG or NG Beguiler.

Oh - and your analysis of the bard as quoted here:

It is an ironic nod from WotC that the Bard class is incapable of fulfilling its role as a hybrid

Spot on. Exactly the same as my first thought when I read the class for the first time. Well analyzed at reading the fine print. Although I am of the camp that the bard is better than people think, but still at best a good "fifth" party member.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Regardless of what you say, though. The Duskblade rocks. The beguiler is cool - but a little too "evil" as written. They didn't leave much room for a good beguiler. Sure, they did say beguilers could be of any alignment. But honestly I think that was more of a reaction to the idiotic alignment restrictions on hexblades. Personally, I think the beguiler was written with much more of an "evil" slant than the hexblade was in the CW. Don't get me wrong. I'd love an opportunity to play a CG or NG Beguiler.

I don't think the Beguiler has to be evil. I plan to play one ASAP and it will be a nice Beguiler. You know what might be very interesting? A LG Beguiler

Spot on. Exactly the same as my first thought when I read the class for the first time. Well analyzed at reading the fine print. Although I am of the camp that the bard is better than people think, but still at best a good "fifth" party member.

Yeah, my little brother even saw that "Look how many of these classes it says the Bard is in awe of them or admires them" A Bard is actually a poor choice as a 5th party member because there are enough better classes out there that I can build you a better 5-man party than your party with a Bard that doesn't use one, guaranteed. It is possibly the ultimate 8th or 9th party member though--it could be advertised thusly:

INTRODUCING THE BARD!

For when you have so much of what you actually need that a walking +X bonus to attack and damage that can also play good background music starts looking attractive.

 

[Stalker0]

Having seen the Spirit Shaman in action I also think its a great class. Having been using Arcana Evolved Spellcasting system, I love its flexibility, and the Spirit Shaman gains this same flexibility in its spellcasting. The spirit guide is also nice, its your own little scout that can't be killed by most things

 

[Glyfair]

Having seen the Spirit Shaman in action I also think its a great class. Having been using Arcana Evolved Spellcasting system, I love its flexibility, and the Spirit Shaman gains this same flexibility in its spellcasting. The spirit guide is also nice, its your own little scout that can't be killed by most things

I think the biggest problem is that it's a divine casting class. I think this series of polls have shown that the non-core divine classes don't get much respect. The only one that really looks like it might last is the Archivist, which I imagine few are familiar with (even though it's on the WotC site in full).

Certainly, there are probably many reasons for this. However, I suspect one of the major reasons is that they stack up so poorly next to the cleric. When a class has to be so loaded as the cleric is to get a reasonable showing in games, anything that isn't as encompassing just won't stack up.

 

[Rystil Arden]

I think the biggest problem is that it's a divine casting class. I think this series of polls have shown that the non-core divine classes don't get much respect. The only one that really looks like it might last is the Archivist, which I imagine few are familiar with (even though it's on the WotC site in full).

Certainly, there are probably many reasons for this. However, I suspect one of the major reasons is that they stack up so poorly next to the cleric. When a class has to be so loaded as the cleric is to get a reasonable showing in games, anything that isn't as encompassing just won't stack up.

I'd like to believe that the Archivist's staying power is due to the fact that it is an awesome and well-designed class. It's certainly in my top three favourites assuming that irrational psionic hatred makes all psionic classes a lost cause.

 

[blargney the second]

Favored Soul and Spirit Shaman are highest on my hit list right now. I'm glad they're "winning" this round.

-blarg

 

[FireLance]

I voted spirit shaman. It isn't a bad class, but the basis for lumping incorporeal undead, fey and elementals together as "spirits", while reasonable, doesn't really gel with the standard D&D assumptions.

 

[Felix]

No! Vote Favored Soul! Please don't let it stick around another thread!

 

[airwalkrr]

I've been voting warmage. I just dislike the beguiler/warmage/dread necromancer family for being spontaneous casters. Down warmage!