Ashanderai
Explorer
I like both books, but for the different reasons others have listed above; both books have a different focus.
As far as the classes, I like the PHII's Duskblade and Knight, but don't care very much for the other two classes in that book.
In AE, I like the Akashic, Champion, Greenbond, Mage Blade, Magister, Ritual Warrior, Runethane, Totem Warrior, Unfettered, and Witch. Someone mentioned that the Ritual Warrior mechanics were clunky and hard to remember, but I find that the opposite is true - they are easier to use and remember than if playing a spellcaster of either system. In fact, I would say that as a class that uses daily resource slots in the vein of the spellcasting classes, it is so easy to use that it could serve well as a primer for a player trying to learn how to manage such character class resources before diving headlong into being a spellcaster. Anyway, for classes, I would give the edge to AE.
Both books have interesting and fun feats, but I would give the edge to PHBII when it comes to feats.
PHBII also has some other goodies such as replacement abilities for existing classes, teamwork benefits, affiliations, new spells, and few other items. But AE also has some other goodies that are very different from what PHBII has to offer. AE has new races like the giants, verrik, mojh, faen, sprytes, and others. AE also has the Diamond Throne setting, new PRCs, a phenomenal and flexible spell system, a conversion appendix for adapting the rules for play with core, new monsters, and ways that improve (IMHO) how to use certain skills and a couple other rules over that of how they are used in the core rules. For all that stuff, I would give the edge to AE, but I have to admit I am not too interested in the affiliations and teamwork benefits that PHBII offers. But then, I am also not really terribly interested in the Diamond Throne setting or new PRCs either.
Both are good books and as for which to buy first, it just depends on what you are looking for as many of the above posts have pointed out. Both can be used to improve an existing game with more options for players. PHBII is designed with the core rules in mind, while AE was designed so that it could replace the PH. However, AE can also be used to supplement the PH.
I disagree with others who say it takes a lot of work to combine AE with core; I think it takes only a little work and I do combine the two often enough to completely understand what I am saying. Just come up with a list of feats from both systems that are available to any PC of any class or race from either system (this is already done online and can be found at either diamondhtrone.com or over on the AE forums at Montecook.com - probably in the archive by now), don't let PCs mix and match spells, spellcasting classes, metamagic feats, or item creation feats (these things should be used with the others from their own respective system, but playing an AE spellcaster beside a core spellcaster in the same party while remaining balanced is not only possible, but has been done already in numerous games), choose which races and classes you want available in your campaign and which ones you don't, and decide if you will use an extra feat at first level (like AE does) for core class characters as well or if you don't, then take that option away from the AE classes too.
As far as the classes, I like the PHII's Duskblade and Knight, but don't care very much for the other two classes in that book.
In AE, I like the Akashic, Champion, Greenbond, Mage Blade, Magister, Ritual Warrior, Runethane, Totem Warrior, Unfettered, and Witch. Someone mentioned that the Ritual Warrior mechanics were clunky and hard to remember, but I find that the opposite is true - they are easier to use and remember than if playing a spellcaster of either system. In fact, I would say that as a class that uses daily resource slots in the vein of the spellcasting classes, it is so easy to use that it could serve well as a primer for a player trying to learn how to manage such character class resources before diving headlong into being a spellcaster. Anyway, for classes, I would give the edge to AE.
Both books have interesting and fun feats, but I would give the edge to PHBII when it comes to feats.
PHBII also has some other goodies such as replacement abilities for existing classes, teamwork benefits, affiliations, new spells, and few other items. But AE also has some other goodies that are very different from what PHBII has to offer. AE has new races like the giants, verrik, mojh, faen, sprytes, and others. AE also has the Diamond Throne setting, new PRCs, a phenomenal and flexible spell system, a conversion appendix for adapting the rules for play with core, new monsters, and ways that improve (IMHO) how to use certain skills and a couple other rules over that of how they are used in the core rules. For all that stuff, I would give the edge to AE, but I have to admit I am not too interested in the affiliations and teamwork benefits that PHBII offers. But then, I am also not really terribly interested in the Diamond Throne setting or new PRCs either.
Both are good books and as for which to buy first, it just depends on what you are looking for as many of the above posts have pointed out. Both can be used to improve an existing game with more options for players. PHBII is designed with the core rules in mind, while AE was designed so that it could replace the PH. However, AE can also be used to supplement the PH.
I disagree with others who say it takes a lot of work to combine AE with core; I think it takes only a little work and I do combine the two often enough to completely understand what I am saying. Just come up with a list of feats from both systems that are available to any PC of any class or race from either system (this is already done online and can be found at either diamondhtrone.com or over on the AE forums at Montecook.com - probably in the archive by now), don't let PCs mix and match spells, spellcasting classes, metamagic feats, or item creation feats (these things should be used with the others from their own respective system, but playing an AE spellcaster beside a core spellcaster in the same party while remaining balanced is not only possible, but has been done already in numerous games), choose which races and classes you want available in your campaign and which ones you don't, and decide if you will use an extra feat at first level (like AE does) for core class characters as well or if you don't, then take that option away from the AE classes too.
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