SSquirrel said:
Which is when you spend a feat and have learned the spell properly. The Exotic spell system is included to stop all caster spell lists from looking exactly the same. It's also why there are a wide variety of less obviously good spells for combat. How many 1st level wizards in 3E don't memorize Magic Missle? It's stupid not to. It's obviously the best damage spell of its level. I don't think any of the damage spells at 1st level are clearly best in AE. Sorcerous Blast at the 3rd level spell mark is tho
Except that due to requiring a feat, it creates teh EXACT same problem as it tries to relieve. Two 3.5 wizards will have a more diverse spell list than two magisters. Particularly since the spells dont mechanically warrant a feat. Moreover, if you treat all rare spells as requiring a feat, it makes no sense, and makes magic just a blasting tool rather than a way of life. If I'm trained by a magister who knows a certain spell, why is it rare?
I've seen threads where Monte has reccomended that if you don't see spells you want in the game, discuss it with your DM and import them from other games or make new ones. I've never seen anyone in any game I've played in the past 18 years actually research and make up a totally new spell.
You've been gaming with some lazy players then. A unique spell shouldnt require a feat if its no more powerful than another spell of the same level. If a player wanted to fight with a funky looking longsword, that was mechanically the same as another longsword, I wouldnt make them blow a feat on it to be different.
It's been admitted that Magic Missle is really almost too good for a 1st level spell, so the spells are all less good than Magic Missle. Monte is the one who designed all the spells I believe and I seem to recall some moderate d20 experience there
Any way you slice it, a touch spell for d4 damage and 1 point of dex damage that allows a fortitude save to completely negate flat out sucks. Its not a matter of magic missile being too good (its not), its a matter of those spells sucking hardcore on their own. I'd rather throw a rock than cast mind stab... at least a thrown rock doesnt waste a spell.
See for me, I'm bored to tears w/the PHB classes and want something completely different. Haven't had a gaming group in way too long, but when I do get around to running, I'm going to have nothing from the PHB added. I don't want it. I'm playing AE to have new experiences, not to blend w/the PHB.
Rangers just suck in 3E and are only slightly better in 3.5. I've also never been a fan of Rangers being spell casters, I just don't see the point. The Bard isn't really covered exactly in AE, but you could mimic one pretty well skill wise w/an Akashic. No Bardic song abilities, but no biggie. Rogue ports over directly, fighter is superfluous when you have Warmain and Unfettered. I disagree with your gripes about the Warmain and see them as a pretty fun alternative. Barbarians are thematically covered by the Totem Warrior. A lot of the Forgotten Realms Barabarians are focused on a totem animal (esp ones in RA Salvatore books) and it fits nicely.
A fighter will beat the pants off a warmain if you include any non core feats. Getting an average of 1hp more a level and a minor will save boost is a terrible trade for their lost feats (2 of which could go to improved toughness and iron will, erasing the warmains "benefits"). Combat rituals are largely useless as well. You get toughness at 1st level instead of a feat.. what a great trade! So, given that a warmain is weaker than a fighter, and the fighter is generally considered at the low end of the totem pole... whats that say about the warmain? All of the noncaster classes (except akashic) felt weak compared to phb non casters, which is sad since the noncasters rank pretty low in the power curve.
Whatever your feelings on rangers, there is no similar archtype in AE... a semi skilled outdoorsy guy. The best you could come is some sort of wierd akashic/unfettered hybrid or a totem warrior (which feels too tribal, not to mention weaker), which is just hammering a square peg into a round hole.
