Savage Species preview.

[MerricB]

The main things to check are the number of feats and skill points. I think they may be altered for Savage Species and thereby 3.5E

Cheers!

 

[shilsen]

I love it. I'd been planning to do the same thing in my campaign, so I'm happy WotC did the hard work for me.

 

[Frostmarrow]

What, a Minotaur 3/Drow 1/Nilbog 2?

Aiii! Yes, that's what I'm afraid of. Very afraid.

 

[F5]

I haven't read the preview yet, but it sounds like this works well with the Reincarnate spell. If you come back as a satyr, you just start taking levels in the Satyr class.

 

[Ysgarran]

So far, I don't see what the attraction is for this book. The basic form of monster advancement was already in the monster manual and the SRD.
Most of what is presented in the preview follows the current rules.

From the SRD:
Monsterous Humand:
Hit Die: d8
Attack Bonus: Total HD (as fighter)
Good Saving Throws: Reflex and Will
Skill Points: +2 per extra HD
Feats: +1 per 4 extra HD

The major difference is the skill point calculation has changed. Smart minotaurs will benefit more under these rules while average (int 7) minotaurs will get less skill points.

Finally, I don't know for sure but I doubt that multi-classing the minotaur before it reaches level 8 of the minotaur class is allowed.

later,
ysgarran.

edit:
It looks like the classed minotaur gets three feats while the one in SRD has two...

 

[mmadsen]

Well that just seems odd. The species covered in the book are being handled as classes? Not sure how I feel about that. Looks interesting, but feels strange.

The monsters in the Monster Manual already belong to quasi-classes: Animal, Beast, Giant, etc. It's not that odd. Along the same lines, I designed simple classes for heroic animal characters rather than use the Awaken rules.

In most cases, these classes work more elegantly than templates too -- particularly when the creature is supposed to become more powerful at higher levels (e.g. Vampire, Half-Celestial).

 

[MerricB]

So far, I don't see what the attraction is for this book. The basic form of monster advancement was already in the monster manual and the SRD.
...
The major difference is the skill point calculation has changed. Smart minotaurs will benefit more under these rules while average (int 7) minotaurs will get less skill points.

Not true. Special abilities are factored in. A level does not guarantee a Hit Die. There are some significant changes.

Cheers!

 

[War Golem]

Anyone know the expected date this book is supposed to be on sale in stores?

Thanks.

 

[Ysgarran]

I see it as a possible time saver for DMs but that is about it. This paying someone else to go through the drudgery of doing something that really is not at all difficult. The leveled special abilities are a logical progression of increasing abilities from weak to strong. The Gore Attack is an example, a 1st level minotaur gets 1d4 (2d6 charge) while the final ECL 8 minotaur gets a 1d8 (4d6 charge).

Of course this is just a prelimnary look at the book. I'll admit the book might have something to surprise me, but as it stands it isn't a resource I'll find usefull in my campaign.

Ysgarran.

Not true. Special abilities are factored in. A level does not guarantee a Hit Die. There are some significant changes.

Cheers!

 

[Geron Raveneye]

Wow...

...to think that just a few days ago, some people were grinning at OD&D for it's "silly" concept to make 3 races actual classes you could play and rise through the levels...and now all's aflame for a book that does so with a host of creatures from MM?