Power sources. What's the point?

[Scipio202]

Power source isn't a strict mechanical distinction. Its more a design guideline.

Yup. I haven't done the analysis with the full power list, but in the PrRC there was a distinct correlation between Power Source and which defense is being attacked. Martial power sources, for example, attacked AC most of the time, while Arcane rarely attacked AC.

 

[Bolongo]

Unless I'm smoking crack some of the rituals are dependent on your power source.

Don't do drugs, drugs are bad, mmmkay?

While rituals clearly tap different power sources - notably arcane, divine and primal - there is no prerequisite of getting your class powers from the same source. You just have to be trained in the appropriate skill.

 

[N0Man]

It's a way to try to stop ridiculous trolls claiming that everyone is a caster now, because everyone has powers. Everyone has powers, but not all powers are magical, they have other sources.

It also helps create a consistent model that can be more easily balance different classes.

 

[Urbannen]

I'm very happy that druidical power and clerical power will use different power sources. It should also have been that way, and could have made an excellent rational for druids' limited weapon and armor.

But the ranger doesn't use a nature power source? Hmm...

 

[Simplicity]

See, I guess my problem with it is that it's such an obvious keyword that could be used for prerequisites.

You want that feat? You need to have a martial/arcane/divine power source. That seems to make sense to me (except for perhaps in the multiclassing case). Fighters, warlords, and rogues should have access to some common pool of powers. Clerics and paladins should too. But... they don't.

Maybe the "power" books will rectify this. I hope so.

 

[lutecius]

See, I guess my problem with it is that it's such an obvious keyword that could be used for prerequisites.

You want that feat? You need to have a martial/arcane/divine power source. That seems to make sense to me (except for perhaps in the multiclassing case). Fighters, warlords, and rogues should have access to some common pool of powers. Clerics and paladins should too. But... they don't.

Maybe the "power" books will rectify this. I hope so.

I hope not. These power sources seem arbitrary and make so little sense that I'm glad they don't have any effect (not that the roles make much sense to me either)

And such feats would have to take into account all the classes that may or may not come for each power source.

 

[pukunui]

What if all the fighter, rogue, ranger and warlord powers were in one big Martial pool from which those four classes could all freely choose their powers? And so on for the other power sources/classes. That could be interesting ...

 

[GMforPowergamers]

What if all the fighter, rogue, ranger and warlord powers were in one big Martial pool from which those four classes could all freely choose their powers? And so on for the other power sources/classes. That could be interesting ...

I plan to run a few games that way to see how it works...

 

[pukunui]

I plan to run a few games that way to see how it works...

I think I'm going to run the game as-is first off and once everyone's comfortable with it and I've had a chance to see how everything works, then I'll start fiddling. This is definitely something I want to try though ... Glad you like it too!

I also want to try a low/no-magic martial power source only campaign.

 

[BASHMAN]

To sell more books. Each new power source is an additional $40 book they can sell you.