[PHBII] New races, new classes and...

[fabneme]

Well, if I'm not mistaken, the PHBII will have circa 230 pages, right?

Considering the (especulated) 8 races and 8 classes, we'll have around 150 pages, if WotC maintain the same number of pages per race and per class as in PHBI.

And what about the other 80 pages?

What is being said about it?

And what would you like to see on it?

 

[LightPhoenix]

Actually, the latest info is five races in the PHB2.

Eight classes, each roughly 25 pages would make 200 pages. This will be the majority of the book. Even at 20 pages per class, that's 160 pages - only 70 left.

Going by the PHB1 table of contents - possibly a short section on new uses for skills. Probably a larger section on feats (40 pages) and a smaller section on equipment due to AV coming out (20 pages max). Probably some new rituals as well, so maybe 10 races/30 feats/10 equipment/10 rituals/10 extra.

 

[hailstop]

Personally, I hope we don't see more equipment or magic items in any more PHB's. One thing I really didn't like in 3e was how fragmented things were. We have the Adventurer's Vault and Vault 2 coming out...equimpent and magic items should stay there. Leave the PHB for classes, races, feats.

 

[Mengu]

Classes in PHB are around 13-16 pages each. Races are 2 pages. I expect there will be about as many Feats and Rituals (probably compiled from Dragon Magazines) as PHB1. I'm sure there will be a few more epic destinies.

That's around 120 pages for classes, 16 pages for races (assuming 8 instead of the rumored 5 races), 20 pages for feats (including new multiclass feats), and 20 pages for rituals. That's 176 so far.

I'm guessing more equipment is inevitable for any new implements and such that are introduced. Probably not 46 pages of it, but I expect at least around 10 pages. We're up to 186.

That leaves around 44 pages. There could be new Paragon paths for each PHB1 class. There could also be 1 more new build option for each PHB1 class, and the PHB2 classes could be beefed up with an additional build option and Paragon path. That would easily cover those 44 pages.

 

[Kaelkatar]

I would suggest that extra paragon paths and build options for current classes will appear in the martial power book and the arcane power book, not the PHB2.

Items (implements specifically if they introduce a new one) and Rituals will likely be created to complement the new classes.

 

[Intrope]

More Epic Destinies, perhaps?

 

[Kaelkatar]

Epic destinies only take up half a page, a full page at most. While no doubt we will see at least a small handful of EDs in the PHBII, it is hard to imagine the unknown pages to be full of them. That is the major problem, other than classes, no other data type seems like it will take up more than 10 pages at most. Thus it is likely it is going to be a combination of items, rituals, EDs, and races. The likelyhood of any of those being a major part of the handbook is slim as the Arcane and Martial powerbooks as well as the Vault are likely to contain a good deal of items, rituals, and EDs.

 

[Rechan]

I personally hope they give the Core PHB races (and the PHBII races) some paragon paths ala the Warforged article.

 

[Kaelkatar]

I don't care much for the idea of racial paragon paths.

Race based paragon paths serve as a impassible blockade, as you cannot in any way gain a new race. This means if any racial PP is made that is powerful enough, it limits your possible races down to one. One of the biggest changes that makes 4e so much better for character creation is the wide array of races that you can choose from without taking any serious downfall.

The one way I wouldn't mind seeing it, would be if there was a second way to obtain it. For example a wizard PP that required being an elf, or required you to have over 16 wisdom.

 

[LightPhoenix]

Classes in PHB are around 13-16 pages each.

Oops, slight overestimate on classes on my part.

For the races - I'm inclined toward the most recent information. Perhaps at one time Genasi, Drow, and... er... the other FR race were going to be in PHB2.