Playing Githzerai PS:T

[avin]

Article is up.

The opening phrase is almost the same Dak'kon use to say on Planescape: Torment. Is that quoted from the game or is something that came before?

https://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drfe/20090817

 

[Nymrohd]

Endure. In enduring grow strong. God I love Torment

 

[Shroomy]

I haven't got a chance to read the article yet, but I did skim it, and while doing so, I noticed that Zuoken is now an exarch of Ioun.

 

[Shroomy]

I finally got a chance to read through this article at lunch and its pretty good. Its basically divided into two sections. The first section is primarily fluff with special emphasis on the origin of the Githzerai (from the Githzerai perspective as opposed to the Githyanki perspective explored last issue) and Religion (like devas, githzerai are a race strongly associated to a particular power source, in this case psionic, but with a deep affinity for the Primal Spirits). As I mentioned before, I liked the Zuoken made a return to 4e as Ioun's exarch, and I also liked the sidebar that explores how individual DMs can adapt githzerai to their own campaigns. Finally, in the fluff section, there are a pair of sidebars exploring how githzerai exist in the Forgotten Realms and Eberron (a nice bit of lore for those interested in it).

The crunch section consists of two backgrounds, a bunch of racial feats (heroic, paragon, and epic), and another racial PP. Most of the feats involve increases to your ability to shift in various situations or key off the githzerai's iron mind racial power; however, there are several feats that I loved including Githzerai Blademaster (proficiency with all military heavy blades, as well as bastard swords and fullblades, plus a +2 feat bonus to damage with them that increases to +3 at paragon and +4 at epic) and Zuoken's Centering (a paragon feat that allows a githzerai monk to determine hit points and healing surges based on their Wisdom, you use Wisdom for your Strength checks, and Athletics is also based on Wisdom). The paragon path is the storvakal, a kind of psionic enlightened warrior, that is open to all classes (its powers key off your highest ability score); its powers and class features are a nice of mix of defensive and the offensive.

 

[No Name]

Zuoken's Centering (a paragon feat that allows a githzerai monk to determine hit points and healing surges based on their Wisdom, you use Wisdom for your Strength checks, and Athletics is also based on Wisdom).

Currently Zuoken's Centering doesn't have githzerai as a prerequisite, although that may be changed in the completed issue.

 

[doctorhook]

When I first saw the link to this article on the WotC page, I thought it was same article that appeared at the beginning of the month, debuting Githzerai from PH3. (I assumed it had been made available for free this weekend, on account of GenCon, or something.)

My only complaint is about the title: every other article called "Playing ..." has introduced rules for playing a new race or racial concept, while this article doesn't; it's more in line with an "Ecology" article. (I'm comparing it to "Ecology of the Dragonborn", which was very similar.) Naming consistency is important to me; it means that the publisher is paying attention to what it's releasing.

 

[Shroomy]

My only complaint is about the title: every other article called "Playing ..." has introduced rules for playing a new race or racial concept, while this article doesn't; it's more in line with an "Ecology" article. (I'm comparing it to "Ecology of the Dragonborn", which was very similar.) Naming consistency is important to me; it means that the publisher is paying attention to what it's releasing.

I don't think "Ecology" really fits either, since there is no in-depth discussion of githzerai psychology, physiology, or society. In any case, I don't think the title matters that much.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Not bad. A little surface stuff, but cool for anyone approaching the Githzerai for the first time.

I...don't like the art.

Aside from that, fine, good, useful, bring on the next wave!

 

[Belorin]

When I first saw the link to this article on the WotC page, I thought it was same article that appeared at the beginning of the month, debuting Githzerai from PH3. (I assumed it had been made available for free this weekend, on account of GenCon, or something.)

My only complaint is about the title: every other article called "Playing ..." has introduced rules for playing a new race or racial concept, while this article doesn't; it's more in line with an "Ecology" article. (I'm comparing it to "Ecology of the Dragonborn", which was very similar.) Naming consistency is important to me; it means that the publisher is paying attention to what it's releasing.

The focus of the Playing... articles is shifting with the shift in focus of Dragon and Dungeon magazines. Dragon will cover the player side while Dungeon covers the DM side where the Ecology of... articles will be found.

Bel

 

[Dire Bare]

When I first saw the link to this article on the WotC page, I thought it was same article that appeared at the beginning of the month, debuting Githzerai from PH3. (I assumed it had been made available for free this weekend, on account of GenCon, or something.)

My only complaint is about the title: every other article called "Playing ..." has introduced rules for playing a new race or racial concept, while this article doesn't; it's more in line with an "Ecology" article. (I'm comparing it to "Ecology of the Dragonborn", which was very similar.) Naming consistency is important to me; it means that the publisher is paying attention to what it's releasing.

While the shift in what "Playing *insert race here*" articles doesn't bother me, I did wonder what was the point of splitting the Githzerai player content into two articles. Why not just one article with all that fun stuff? Eh, no big deal either way I suppose.