Speak to me of the "Dread Commando"

[rowport]

Hiya, ENWorlders! I finally got around to picking up the Heroes of Battle book, after finding that I really enjoyed the Heroes of Horror. So far, I must say, I thought the latter was much better than the former... but that is the subject of a different post!

Anyway... one of the high points of HoB for me is the Dread Commando PrC. I absolutely love the flavor of this class, and as a guy who tends towards playing Rangers and Rogues, it seems like a natural for me. But, some of the class abilities have me scratching my head, wondering, "can that be right??" So, I come seeking clarification!

1. The flavor text specifically focused on Rangers and Rogues. And, the 'style' of the prestige class suits those base classes as well. But, both Evasion and Improved Evasion as well as all of the Ranger Combat Style abilities require no more than light armor to function. Am I correct in thinking that restriction still applies while taking the Dread Commando levels, and if so, would that not make the Armored Ease ability nearly useless??? I mean, if the Ranger/Rogue abiliites are going to keep you in light armor anyway, then who cares if your armor check penalties decrease? I feel like I am missing something here.

2. The Team Initiative Bonus ability is megasweet. But I wonder about the phrase "...who can see you" in the ability description. Does this literally mean that your allies must *see you* to get the bonus? And, if so, would that not make the ability nearly useless, since Hiding is one of the main schticks of the Dread Commando?? Even worse, I shudder to think of the constant re-shuffling of the initative order as the bonuses leave when DC hides, then return when he pops out into melee! Sheesh!

As I said, I really like the class concept, but am baffled by these mechanical questions. Any insights..?

 

[Fieari]

I can't answer all your questions, but I can help you in one area. Your initiative bonus is a bonus to your initiative ROLL. Only the roll. So at the begining of combat, you roll initiative, and determine turn order. If the Dread Commando then goes and hides, you don't re-roll. The turn order has already been established.

 

[rowport]

Fieari-

Thanks for the reply! Yes, that makes sense. So, even if he ducks out of sight (and of course he will) then the initiative order stays as established. Got it, cool.

I did look again at the example characters of the Dread Commando (one a Rogue/DC and the other a Ranger/DC) but it is not clear whether or not Evasion and Combat Style abilities are affected, since both examples are wearing light armor! :/ There is explanatory text that (I think) implies that the abilities would both still require light armor, but again, I am puzzled why there is a benefit to reducing armor check penalties if you are only able to wear light armor anyway.

 

[griff_goodbeard]

Probably not the response you're looking for, but a Mitheral Breastplate is light armor that (IIRC) has a -3 ACP. Armored ease would help there.

edit- same with mitheral chainmail (-4ACP)

 

[rowport]

Probably not the response you're looking for, but a Mitheral Breastplate is light armor that (IIRC) has a -3 ACP. Armored ease would help there.

edit- same with mitheral chainmail (-4ACP)

LOL Well, it is certainly not the answer that I would *hope* to hear, but that does look like what the text implies, too. A Breastplate and Chain Shirt are shown in the examples. So, I guess, the Dread Commando is effectively stuck wearing light armor. That by itself is not so bad-- not worse than the Ranger or Rogue base classes-- but it sure makes the Armored Ease ability underpowered IMO! I mean, the flavor text says something like, "Dread Commandos are more heavily armored than the typical Ranger...", but any Ranger with access to Mithral armor that will effectively be light armor is going to wear it anyway!

I dunno... I guess I just feel like the description *sounds* cooler than the class abilities. *shrug* Anyway, thanks for clarifying stuff, guys!