Player's Guide to Paladins and Monks: Prestige Class Preview

[eryndel]

You know... I don't know. The prestige classes in all these books seem to be VERY Scarred Landsesque; they're to the point where a pre-existing campaign can't import them with any ease.

As a result, I'm really kind of blase about the lists of classes in the books. It doesn't sell me on them one bit. Of course, I've got a couple coming to me from my contribution to the PG:W/S/B so I'll get to see the rest of those books, but it strikes me that S&SS would sell these books on the other rules, not the classes.

Hence my lack of comments in these threads

Not to be argumentative or anything, but have you looked at either of the books that have come out. Each Prestige Class has a little blurb on how to use the class in a more generic setting. Because I'm not above a little copyright infringement, here are some examples.

Archer of the Steppes (PG: Fighters and Barbarians): "The archer of the steppes is such a fantasy archetype that it fits nicely into almost any campaign with relative ease. The primary difficulty in integrating it is whether the campaign setting posesses a culture of mounted barbarians famed for their archery. If not, the class could be retooled as a secret society or brotherhood among a barbarian tribe. Alternately, a single race, perhaps elves or orcs, might have a similar class as elite warriors in their bands. In any case, the archer of the steppes should present few difficulties to most GMs in other campaigns."

Moonwitch (PG: Wizards, Bards, and Sorcerers): "The Moonwitch requires the existence of an evil diety associated with the Moon, lycanthropy, and magic to be used in another campaign. At the very least lycanthropes and other shapeshifting creatures must serve the diety. If no such diety exists, the GM should create some other patron or unifying ethos or the moonwitches as a prerequisite for entry. The prestige class likewise expects the GM to use invocation benefits (See Div&Def et. al.) in his campaign. If he does not, he will need to find some other prerequisite that shows the character's devotion to the moonwitches."

I chose these two examples to show one class that is very easy to incorporate in another campaign and one that has some difficulties. If I was running a realms campaign, the Archer of the Steppes fits right in with my vision of some of the tribes inhabiting the Shaar. Really no alteration needs to be done. Moonwitches, on the other hand, would need to have their name changed to Nightwitches (or something similar), I'd change the invocation prerequisite and spell focus prereq with Shadow Weave Magic and perhaps change the Madness blessing with some sort of darkness effect. Voila, you have a great witchy servant of Shar.

I think S&SS make it rather easy to port these classes to other settings.

 

[Nightfall]

Well, I guess I'll have to pick this one up, too, if for nothing else the spells... Just don't expect Benkk to start riding a hairy pig. I'm a Warhammer veteran, and I leave such pursuits to those of the green and stupid persuasion...

Don't worry Ni. I wouldn't expect Benkk to do something that out of character of himself.

Elistor,

If you read the opening statement above, you'll see that the reason for many of these Prestige Class Previews is because they are a way of introducing people to some of the aspects of the Scarred Lands. Also there are number of ways to incorporate these Pr-classes as each one has some various ideas. Plus it's not all about the prestige classes. Indeed the fluff ideas for making arcane motifs in PG: Wizards, Bards and Sorcerers are some very nice ways of doing it WITHOUT resorting to a feat like you do in the Realms. Also regarding this same book, Bards have various ways of seeing their craft in action, not only in spell theory but also in terms of using grand epics to cast and/or use with Bardic Music abilities. Sorcerers also get ideas for making them more than just "draconic ancestor spellcasters." Mean time the PG: Fighters and Barbarians I felt covered two very important aspects of each class. For fighters, schools and war colleges for training, as well as building your own mercanary companies. For barbarians, tribal traditions and belief systems that can work their way into various campaign settings. I also can't wait to see what is done for Clerics and Druids, as well as what I know went into PG: Rangers and Rogues. (Though I can't say what since I'm bound by NDA). So while it might be a little hard to feel for the books, I certainly believe they FAR surpass any of the present day WotC attempts to do "class books". Believe me when you make the comparison, few if NONE of the class books comes close to making your characters more interesting or having more variants to improve your game than these books have for me.

 

[Nightfall]

I think S&SS make it rather easy to port these classes to other settings.

Agreed. In fact using Blessed of Mesos, one could say they are actually servants of the Phaerimm, considering their mastery of sorcery is so well versed. As for something like the Chain Legionarre, simply make them a small order of Banites. Brothers of the Crimson Temple, simply make them followers of Meshaurak or some other repilitian deity. What I also liked was the way these books incorporated not only the CORE pr-classes into the setting, but also dealt with Monte's BoEM series. (My hope is that BoHM also gets a work up too in PG: Clerics and Druids)

 

[Holy Bovine]

Oh boy - I got the first part of my insurance settlement today - I think it might be time for a trip to ye olde games shop...

But the 64,000gp which one to get next...??!???!! The torture!!! It's unbearable!

 

[Nightfall]

Well if you already have PG: Wizards, Bards and Sorcerers, get Fighters and Barbarians...since the other three haven't been released.

 

[Creamsteak]

Well, I don't actually play Psions or Psychic Warriors that often. Just had that concept for that one particular game.

So, is this book out, or do you just have an early copy?

 

[Nightfall]

No cream I don't have the book. It's not out yet. Probably won't be out until October. I just happen to have gotten this from the S&SS boards where Joseph Carriker was kind enough to hand out a prestige class preview. Much like he's done for all five of the books.

 

[Liquid Snake]

I think so far these are the most interesting-looking PrClasses from all the Player's Guides. All of them seem to have something fresh or a renovated view on old character types.

Can't wait to see how the 'Knight of Tears' looks like...can't wait to get some cash to get the first two guides either.

 

[X-Marks!]

"These books are not all about the prestige classes. I am doing these in response to someone who, quite a while ago, asked what prestige classes would be in the books. This is less of a "Buy Me! Preview!" thing than a simple response to a fan's request."

Yeah, that's something that really struck me when I got into my copies of the 2 Books out so far. I just expected these to be just another set of Prestige Class Compilations, but they're really a whole lot more! I'm really looking forward to the next books in the series now.

Does anyone have a correct release date for this month's "Cleric & & Druids" and "Rangers and Rogues"? (For some reason, Sword & Sorcery doesn't seem to be posting any of its next S&SS books on its Release Schedule anymore, mostly just the Mind's Eye & WoD-type products.)

Also, the mention of the 'Psion/Psychic Warrior Book' -- A reality or just a hope at this point?
~ALX

 

[Estlor]

Well, like I said, I haven't gotten my books yet so I don't really have a lot to add to the discussion.

I will say I did finally see the W/S/B book in the bookstore last night. I didn't really flip through it too much, I was just curious to see which of my spells were used. Two of them (Darkness Nocturne and Prelude to Day) made it, but what shocked the hell out of me was that, all total, there probably weren't more than 10 spells in a book about spellcasters!

I'll give S&SS credit where it's due - they didn't take the easy way out with these books.