Psionics/Oriental Adventures in their own books, or in PHB*, future core books?

[Samuel Leming]

I'd like to see psionics in their own handbook AND get periodic additions in subsequent PHBs, DMGs & MMs.

I'd prefer to see asian type classes and such in campaign setting specific books. From the what I've seen so far about 4e, it doesn't look like too much additional info would be needed to run eastern type stuff.

Sam

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

As a psi-fan, I'd like to see psionics in their own book. I won't be convinced its properly playtested until the core rules are already out so it can be playtested with and against those.

 

[Ranger REG]

So, it sounds like there will be a new Players Handbook, Monster Manual and Dungeon Masters Guide each year, based off the success of each series in 3E.

Old news.

Apparently, "power sources" other than arcane, divine and martial will be introduced in future books as well. Psionics was one mentioned.

So, psionics fans, would you rather have all your psionics in one big Psionics Handbook, or would you like to see PHB2 with four (or so) psionics classes (a leader, a controller, a striker and a defender), a good chunk of psionic monsters in MM2 and additional psionic magic items and other support in DMG2?

Not so much a psionic fan, so I wouldn't want them in my big three core rulebooks.

And the same thing for fans of monks and other Oriental elements in D&D: Would you prefer all your Oriental stuff in one book, or in, say, PHB3, MM3 and DMG3?

Not so much a fan of PHB sequel. Better to use a different title series like the Campaign Option: Oriental Adventures.

So which system would you prefer?

You mean how they scattered Greyhawk material over the core supplement line? Nope.

I want books whose content/material based on a central theme or topic.

 

[exile]

I would put them in the new core books, but I wouldn't mandate that each new series of core books included three new power sources. Instead each core book would introduce a single new power source as well as options for existing power sources. The second series would introduce psionics as a power source, provide new races with a penchant for psionics, provide psionic classes to fill each of the much talked about roles, and (maybe) provide some way for infusing a little bit of psionic power into non-psionic classes (maybe with talent trees or substitution levels). I have trouble envisioning what a DMG centered on psionics might include. The MM would of course include a large number of psionically empowered monsters and probably notes for adding psionic powers to existing monsters (especially traditionally psionic monsters like mindflayers and aboleths).

The Oriental Adventures series of core books would introduce ki and do muc the same thing. Some new races and classes would be introduced of course, as would ki heavy talent trees (i.e. a wu-jen talent tree for wizards) that can be taken by existing classes.

Chad

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I don't think Oriental Adventures should be ghettoised in its own volume, because in my opinion it would be best if the whole game exhibited a mixture of influences from all over the world.

When WotC stops stereotyping Oriental cultures, then maybe that mix can happen in a positive way. But until then, keep it out!

 

[Nifft]

When WotC stops stereotyping Oriental cultures, then maybe that mix can happen in a positive way. But until then, keep it out!

Asians can fly: Dex +2, Wis +2, wings.

Asians are made of candy: Cha +2, double damage from bite attacks.

- - -

Would you agree that D&D classes could be viewed as stereotypes of Western culture?

Cheers, -- N

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Would you agree that D&D classes could be viewed as stereotypes of Western culture?

Cheers, -- N

Yes, but not nearly to the same extent. Many of the classes are hardly stereotypical, and of the core classes, only the paladin has an actual code of conduct. This is quite a bit different from the "Asians are all ambidexterous" stereotype perpetuated by the samurai class, which is really odd because I had never heard that stereotype before (so perpetuate isn't exactly the right word). I think someone read Book of Five Rings, where Musashi made a point of saying that he thought dual-wielding was the best fighting style, and they automatically assumed that everyone was like Musashi. Musashi was famous in part because he was one of the few samurai who could fight that way... and he used many other fighting styles, too.

Actually, the samurai class flavor text was far more annoying; much could be eliminated or changed by reading a book on Japanese military history other than Book of Five Rings. Fighting retreats, fleeing defeat, betrayal, people too uncultured to play flutes, brainpower... you find these in all cultures, including Japanese culture. It's unrealistic to portray any ethnic group as all cut from the same cloth.

 

[Nifft]

The CW Samurai was terrible on a number of fronts. Let's hope they don't do anything like that ever again.

I could easily be sold that we need better stereotypes for 4iental Adventures, but I'm not sure it's desirable to design a class-based system without some stereotypes in. Mental shorthand and all that.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Snapdragyn]

Insufficient options.

I would like psionics in a PHB. I would like a martial artist class or tree in PHB1 (but don't much care which it is, or if it gets all of the weird stuff). I would like all of the other OA stuff in an OA-type supplement.

I vote 'D' - none of the above.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

The CW Samurai was terrible on a number of fronts. Let's hope they don't do anything like that ever again.

I could easily be sold that we need better stereotypes for 4iental Adventures, but I'm not sure it's desirable to design a class-based system without some stereotypes in. Mental shorthand and all that.

Cheers, -- N

Similar stereotypes - although, of course, not nearly as bad - were inflicted on the monk class too. Always lawful, full of ki and immune to poison? (The latter, by the way, did not show up in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, which leads me to believe that such abilities should be selectable talents, or failing that at least have someone Asian proof-read the things!)