The vampire starts with just 2 healing surges

[UngeheuerLich]

Let's have some examples:

The original PHB Wizard (Can choose between a couple of dailies each day, being more flexible than others somewhat)
The Barbarian (Daily Stance Rages, trades additional rages for fixed large [W] damage)
The Monk (With his movement + attack powers)
Psionics (Replacing encounter powers with a power point system - it's not perfect by any means but it works well enough now with the odd wonky power. But then again everything has wonky powers somewhere)

None of these needed to ignore balance to get terrific unique flavor and interesting new mechanics to the game. Why since essentials has the "brains" behind the design of classes been thrown out with the baby AND the bathwater? Classes have been adding interesting new mechanics while still being balanced for several years now. Why are the current designers suddenly incapable of doing this?

And most importantly, why are PCs getting worse and monster design keeps getting better?! There is only ONE conclusion. An anti-PC Illithid has taken over Wizards and is deliberately trying to spite players and give DMs more brutal ways to dispatch them. This is the only logical explanation.

I can´t follow your reasoning against the vampire... I guessed that the vampire only has 2 surges 2 weeks ago...

 

[wedgeski]

This is one of the more interesting concepts I've seen out of the game lately. I doubt I'll ever get a chance to play one but I'd certainly want to try.

 

[Nullzone]

You all haven't fought enough werecreatures if you think Regeneration isn't enough to make up for the low surge count. Regeneration makes stuff insanely powerful for its level; I've TPK'd more than once on what was otherwise a really strong party just due to the staying power it created for those creatures.

 

[ragingpeanuts]

So would you allow the bloodsucking ability on a bloodless creature, for example a skeleton, ooze, metal golem or wraith? How would that work storywise? The vampire would respectively suck bonemarrow, jello, oil or simply (dark) air?

I do think it's a fun mechanic though. And the regen is probably pretty good. Vamps are lurkers, not meant to be hit all the time (or atleast, that's how I imagine them in this class). Hide, strike and move.

 

[Obryn]

Like with so many other things, I will withhold judgment until we're looking at the actual class, but color me skeptical. If this class out-sucks the Seeker, I will be disappointed.

A strong rate of regeneration would probably do the trick, honestly. Regen 5 won't cut it, but Regen Surge would. Add in a way to avoid some missile attacks, and then it's up to the player to avoid the enemies ganging up on him.

-O

 

[webrunner]

I dunno, the flavor's good but they could take it further.

Where's the "toss goblet of blood on floor" power?

Where's the "open cape and shoot three fireballs out of it" power?

Where's the Vunerable 15: Whips?

Mankind ill needs a class such as this. It doesn't belong in this world.

 

[Nullzone]

I dunno, the flavor's good but they could take it further.

Where's the "toss goblet of blood on floor" power?

Where's the "open cape and shoot three fireballs out of it" power?

Where's the Vunerable 15: Whips?

Mankind ill needs a class such as this. It doesn't belong in this world.

What is a man? A miserable little pile of secrets.

Edit: Hmm, I posted because my xp comment didn't seem to take, but now that I added the post I see the xp...

 

[Zaran]

Don't forget that the first preview said that other party members can share surges with a vampire.

 

[Kinneus]

Don't forget that the first preview said that other party members can share surges with a vampire.

"Other party members can pick up the slack!" is not a selling point for a class.

 

[brehobit]

I think it will work.

With the ability to use a surge from a party member to get to full HP, I think things will be largely okay. Toss in the Regin when bloodied (I'm guessing it will be an amount equal to the primary or secondary stat so 3-5 at first level and probably +3/+6 or so at each tier) I think the character will be playable--it's pretty rare that some character isn't doing just fine on healing surges you can steal. I do worry about only being able to steal one surge in combat at 1st level though...

That said, a number of other issues arise.

• Can we subdue monsters to "eat" them later?
• Can we steal from undead? The unliving (constructs?), etc?

We'll see...