Non-Core Class Survivor

[Nifft]

Saionara, samurai-san.

-- N

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Hmm, lots of hate for the wilder.... why? Anyone care to explain?

I voted for the samurai, of course, and I would loathe voting against a psionic class, but of all the base classes in the XPH, it is the most deserving of the boot.

It's primary class ability, wild surge aka breaking the metacap, is game breaking on its own, IMO. (I wish the XPH was more conservative about these kinds of things. I would be delighted if everything in the XPH that could increase manifester level got tossed out.) Toss in bad game design (not enough penalty at low level, too much of a penalty at high level, using penalties rather than limits as a balance technique) and it's a loser.

 

[I'm A Banana]

The Samurai is a good offender, I won't mind if he gets kicked off the island at all. He's not a bad idea (spaghetti western samurai), but he's an idea that definately didn't need a controversial class to do.

I had to vote for one of the Incarnum classes, though. Because they represent one of WotC's most consistent flaws as a design house -- valuing cool mechanics over cool concepts. It's something they don't do a lot of, but when it's bad, it's BAD.

Still, I can't say I'll miss the Samurai at all.

 

[Agent Oracle]

*SNip!*

Doing samurai or ninja even remotely realistically is almost guaranteed to fail without actual research, and finding actual reliable information on ninja is, of course, difficult.)

*snip!*

Actually, a japanese researcher uncovered an ancient text of authentic ninjitsu practices not too long ago (i can never find news articles when I need them). It seems ninjas were a lot more practical than we give them credit for.

Among the things i remember from the article was such helpful hints as "Cary a ladder with you, because you may need to go over a wall" and "The best disguises require as little effort as possible. Put on the right hat, and you can pass for a laborer." Apparently it was then as it is now, nobody pays attention to the help.

To be fair, the Japanese have, in many ways, romantacized their own histories FAR more than we europeans do. I mean...

Didn't come out of america. And we didn't inspire this romp either...

 

[drothgery]

Hmm, lots of hate for the wilder.... why? Anyone care to explain?

I voted for the spelltheif, but if/when we get around to knocking psionic classes off the island, the wilder's going first in my book. Way too specialized, reminds me of annoying wild mage stuff, and isn't very different from a psion in any case.

 

[Nifft]

To be fair, the Japanese have, in many ways, romantacized their own histories FAR more than we europeans do.

Maybe we (Europeans) just romanticize it differently... say, by playing D&D.

-- N

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Actually, a japanese researcher uncovered an ancient text of authentic ninjitsu practices not too long ago (i can never find news articles when I need them).

Wow, I didn't know that. Someone ship a copy to WotC!

It seems ninjas were a lot more practical than we give them credit for.

Among the things i remember from the article was such helpful hints as "Cary a ladder with you, because you may need to go over a wall" and "The best disguises require as little effort as possible. Put on the right hat, and you can pass for a laborer." Apparently it was then as it is now, nobody pays attention to the help.

I would expect a ninja to be that practical, actually

To be fair, the Japanese have, in many ways, romantacized their own histories FAR more than we europeans do. I mean...

It's true. Just because someone is Japanese doesn't mean they know their own history all that well.

When it comes to media examples, there's Flame of Recca. Worst portrayal of a ninja, ever! And no, he wasn't a metsuke agent.

 

[Agent Oracle]

What is the spellthief's prime ability, and how often is it used?

the spellthief's prime ability is the ability to (smacks forehead) steal spells. They can run up to a spellcaster, and make a sneak attack to steal a spell away from the caster, and use it themselves! This is pretty potent in high-magic worlds. But when the GM just wants to run a quick fight, and dosn't want to bother with things like, say, writing out the complete spell list of an enemy sorcerer...

Basicly, a spellthief is your typical rogue with lower skill points, one-third-progression spells (they end with fourth level spells) And a bunch of supernatural abilities (steal energy resistances, steal spell-like abilites, etc.)

Thing is, though, they are a magic class that needs to get into melee range to use it's powers. Low hit dice + low AC + Charging spellcasters = "Fireball'd"

effectively, they either un-buff monsters, or they annoy spellcasters.

 

[Agent Oracle]

Maybe we (Europeans) just romanticize it differently... say, by playing D&D.

-- N

Well played Trebeck. You're the man now dog.

 

[Psion]

Y'know, I understand the ardent hate, but I've personally changed my tune on that one.