Black Flag Tales of the Valiant is out! What do people think?

[fettpett]

I did!

It seems to be an issue with the packaging with everyone who has gotten the GM screen from the packager. Multiple people have had the same damage after opening.

 

[Southpaw Soldier]

Got my books! Also got DM screen.

Damage to sleeve they talked about was really minor, but I understand collectors being miffed at "not mint" condition. Good on KP to do what they could to make amends.

Folks with copies; look up the Flinderbeast in the creature book, and tell me that's not an adorable critter.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Those are very pretty books.

 

[Southpaw Soldier]

Those are very pretty books.

Individual creature art is also very pretty.

 

[TheHand]

I got my books (Player Guide, Monster Vault, and Screen). I’m glad to report I had no damage in shipping! The production quality is very high and the books have great art throughout.

I’m now looking through the classes, most I wouldn’t say are -radically- different than their 5e counterparts, but they have nice tweaks and options here and there.

Looking at the warlock in particular, it appears it gets both Pact Magic and half casting slots, which is a pretty significant boost. For those who’ve done a more complete analysis, was there any trade off for the extra spell slots (comparing it to 2014 warlock)? Or just a power shift?

 

[Marc Radle]

Here is an excellent review / breakdown

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=laKTvg21jB0

 

[Baumi]

You can only cast Pact Spells (from the Subclasses) with your Pact Magic. All other spells are powered by your half-caster slots. At first level you cannot even cast any spells except the Eldritch Blast Cantrip (which scales with Warlock Levels, so Multlass Dip ist not so usefull anymore ).

You are more an arcane Warrior than 5E, since less spellcasting but gain medium armor+shield.

Btw. one thing I really dislike is that the Cleric is a better cantrip damage dealer than the Arcane Casters (except Warlock with agonizing blast)

 

[Weiley31]

it appears it gets both Pact Magic and half casting slots,

I like it A LOT.

Although, it's nuts that ya gotta wait til Level 13 for Pact Magic. (But both subclasses get Pact Magic Fireball/Fiend and Spiritual Weapon/Reaper).

But I'll probably use it as the default Warlock or it's spell slots set up as the spell set up for any class that use the Warlock chassis for its spell slots.

 

[fettpett]

You can only cast Pact Spells (from the Subclasses) with your Pact Magic. All other spells are powered by your half-caster slots. At first level you cannot even cast any spells except the Eldritch Blast Cantrip (which scales with Warlock Levels, so Multlass Dip ist not so usefull anymore ).

You are more an arcane Warrior than 5E, since less spellcasting but gain medium armor+shield.

Btw. one thing I really dislike is that the Cleric is a better cantrip damage dealer than the Arcane Casters (except Warlock with agonizing blast)

My biggest annoyance with Cantrip Wizard is them not being able to add INT mod to their cantrips until level 11. However they DO get to cast more cantrips in a turn than any other class, save a quickened Sorcerer.


I do like that Clerics have the option of being a caster or martial and focus that direction, regardless of subclass.

 

[TheHand]

You can only cast Pact Spells (from the Subclasses) with your Pact Magic. All other spells are powered by your half-caster slots.

Ahh okay. I'm used to the term "Pact Magic" referring to all Warlock spells, but here ToV is actually differentiating between "Wyrd Spells" (half-caster slots) and "Pact Spells" (from Subclass). Huh. Yeah, not sure I like those being separated like that. (Then again, I'm probably only going to be cherry-picking features I like out of ToV and adding them to my already 3pp modded 5e campaign).

Although, it's nuts that ya gotta wait til Level 13 for Pact Magic. (But both subclasses get Pact Magic Fireball/Fiend and Spiritual Weapon/Reaper).

I think you actually get it at level 3... but yes, I see Pact Magic is specifically only listed on the summary chart at Level 13. If you look under "Subclass" heading, you see Pact Magic listed as a subheading where it explains you get 2 uses per rest, which then bumps up to 3 at level 13.