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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 5553419" data-attributes="member: 82106">I guess I don't understand why it is always bad when the devs adjust course a bit. They've had almost a year of experience with DS themes. I think this is a bad reading of the rules personally. Alchemical Items are NOT MAGIC ITEMS. The description of Alchemy in AV1 says that outright. Beyond that there is some 'advisory text' in the RC stating that Uncommon and Rare items not made in modern times. It isn't actually a RULE. Beyond that Essentials doesn't HAVE rituals, and thus has no way to craft items to start with, so that text really is more a fluff statement about how the world works. At most it says "you can't buy uncommon rare MAGIC items normally". Enchant Magic Item itself has NOT been errated to make any statement about rarity, nor has Brew Potion, nor has the Alchemy feat. Thus I disagree that you can't make uncommon Alchemical items. It would be reasonable to assume that the formulae for uncommon/rare Alchemical items are not available for sale, but even this is not clearly stated by any rule. What is clear is this kind of thing would be in the province of the DM (which it really always was anyway...).I don't think Animal Master is rubbish. The whole issue of the 'glass animal' IS an issue. It certainly is a mechanically marginal package, though. Still, it is quite thematic. As we discussed with the Vampire, game elements which can't fulfill their role in enabling a character option that provides the proper CONCEPT is worthless. Mechanics must take a second seat to concept. This theme would be great in a variety of settings (particularly a less combat-oriented game that featured a lot of intrigue and such).I think I pretty much have to agree with you here. Except I would say that there's no real ambiguity. If you are an Order Adept and don't have a spell book you can select wizard utility powers just like they were utility powers of your own class. Nasty, and obviously someone didn't think this through at all. Personally I'd restrict it to level 2. Still problematic, but not completely off-the-wall insane.This one I have mixed feelings about. It is not OP, but is reasonably nice. OTOH nothing in it really says to me "Apprentice Wizard". I think a cantrip instead of an item would have worked better. I think Order Adept aside the power level is OK. There are some very nice Alchemical items that are as useful as Color Orb. Wizards have other daze powers, and honestly at low levels daze is not that great. Non-wizards are not going to be using this at high levels anyway unless they are implement users, in which case they will have better things to do. A fighter picking it up? Yeah, kind of nifty but without an implement he won't be using it for that long, effectively, and if he had to burn his theme slot AND a feat for an implement just to use Color Orb? Meh. Animal Master is definitely lower in combat power than the others, but it really isn't a big deal, and the character DOES gain a LOT in out-of-combat utility. Order Adept is going to need to lose the +2 WILL and the unlimited utility swap. That's the main complaint I can accept. I really think you might want to go do a stint as a game designer Aegeri, it ain't easy, trust me....</blockquote>

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