PHB2 vs. Arcana Evolved

[Nightfall]

Uh no.

Well it was the same I thought when you say "sudden strike" or something that increases damage and attack output.

Kami,

Okay well not sure I 100% agree with you there but eh I will agree that the world of AE/AU can be a tad...dry.

 

[Pants]

Well it was the same I thought when you say "sudden strike" or something that increases damage and attack output.

The swashbuckler class doesn't have sudden strike.

Sudden Strike > Sneak Attack when modelling a swashbuckler.

Skirmish is also better if you see a swashbuckler as constantly moving, taking quick jabs at the enemy before deftly jumping backwards. Sudden Strike fits the 'a ha, I just stabbed you when your guard was down!' Sneak attack has too much baggage IMO.

 

[Mallus]

Sneak attack has too much baggage IMO.

It's just badly named. Would you mind if it was called 'Inflict Conditional Precision-Based Damage (Variable)'?

As to AE and PHBII... I just got the PHBII and I like it. The Beguiler and Duskblade seem to be solid classes that map well to established archetypes in my homebrew (once I drop the pesky 'elf' requirement from the DB).

I've used AE/AU classes in the same campaign world for several years now, and I think the ones I use are terrific (akashic, unfettered, warmain, champion, mageblade, ritual warrior, totem warrior, witch, and recently magister). They just 'fit' into my setting concept more easily than a lot of the WoTC material.

Plus, I think the move to define classes as broad, flexible ability frameworks (as in the champion, witch, and totem warrior) is a brilliant move. I wish Monte would have taken that farther, and I hope something like that becomes the standard in the next D&D edition.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Plus, I think the move to define classes as broad, flexible ability frameworks (as in the champion, witch, and totem warrior) is a brilliant move. I wish Monte would have taken that farther, and I hope something like that becomes the standard in the next D&D edition.

Actually, it has kind-of found it way into D&D already. AU/AE gives out less class abilities, but more feats, and a couple of feats really feel like class abilities. Currently, it's just the "alternate class ability" thing.
Of course, AE also grabbed some of the "Substitution" levels from normal D&D in Transcendence...

 

[Voadam]

I'd buy that just fine.

It didn't exist when AE was first created... but it wouldn't have been too much of a stretch.

Cheers, -- N

Isn't there a feat in Arcana Unearthed that does that? Adds 1d6 on a strike when the opponent is flat-footed?

 

[Voadam]

The Champion is a much better take on the Paladin than the Paladin could hope to achieve.

I like the idea of the champion class better than the actual implementation. Summoning a magic weapon and shield that gets more poweful as you level is cool. Doing it once a day for a limited time is not.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

The main reason I do not use the AE is that it really comes with a lot of baggage, world wise. Races and classes all have interconnections with the setting, and some of those may be ahrd to put into a standard Grey, FR, EB game.

Bwuh? The magister, mageblade, greenbond, akashic work great and are flavor free from the world. I merged the witch and sorcerer into a single class as well (the runethane is just a gimpy magister by and large). The magic system is leaps and bounds better than the PHB system. I find the base world really boring and bland, but you can use the crunch very easily in nearly any game. My current one is an Oathbound game with AE and PHB non-caster classes (hybrids converted to use simple magic), and its working great.

 

[Mallus]

Currently, it's just the "alternate class ability" thing.

Right. That was introduced in the PHBII, no?

It's a start, but I still prefer the loose abilities packages found in AE's champion and witch classes.

 

[Pants]

It's just badly named.

Not really.
The baggage I speak of is the damage bonus against flanked opponents. Obviously just personal preference, but it's not something I see as being swashbuckler-y. YMMV of course.

I personally dig the totem warrior, runethane, ritual warrior, and kinda-sorta the mageblade. The witch doesn't feel very witch-like at all and the warmain seems like change just for change sakes.

Plus, I think the move to define classes as broad, flexible ability frameworks (as in the champion, witch, and totem warrior) is a brilliant move. I wish Monte would have taken that farther, and I hope something like that becomes the standard in the next D&D edition.

Yeah, that's what I dig most about AE and I hope D&D catches onto this idea. Instead of making more base classes, there should just be less classes that are easier to tailor to your whims.

 

[Nifft]

Isn't there a feat in Arcana Unearthed that does that? Adds 1d6 on a strike when the opponent is flat-footed?

+1d6 on the first round of combat, and you can take it up to three times. (IMHO it's clearly an NPC feat.)

-- N