There's something about Runepriests.

[Flipguarder]

and as for their powers, I would just assume that their effects scale well enough that the damage isn't that detrimental.

 

[DracoSuave]

and as for their powers, I would just assume that their effects scale well enough that the damage isn't that detrimental.

Maybe, but I don't think 1[W]+Mod, +mod to something else really scales well compared to Commander's Strike for damage, War Song Strike for temp hps, or what have you. While having rune-states might change things a little, I really doubt the intent for this class is to be 'worse at melee than a cleric' given that their entire class is melee-centric leader, even more than a cleric.

 

[Zinovia]

Should runepriests use Int?

Don't we already have the strength cleric for some of this stuff? I realize the runepriest is more about adding bonuses to their allies rather than healing, but Int seems to fit better in there than strength, plus we already have the str/wis cleric. How about a smart divine character? It seems to fit better with the fluff in some ways.

Int/Wis maybe? You'd have to redesign stuff to not be weapons based and use an implement instead, so it probably means a different class entirely. It's a shame, because I like the concept, just not the implementation (/insert rimshot here).

 

[DracoSuave]

Don't we already have the strength cleric for some of this stuff? I realize the runepriest is more about adding bonuses to their allies rather than healing, but Int seems to fit better in there than strength, plus we already have the str/wis cleric. How about a smart divine character? It seems to fit better with the fluff in some ways.

Int/Wis maybe? You'd have to redesign stuff to not be weapons based and use an implement instead, so it probably means a different class entirely. It's a shame, because I like the concept, just not the implementation (/insert rimshot here).

Cause the sorts of runes it's using ain't wizardy smart-artsy runes.

It's Odin/Thor/Aesir, go out and kick some ass because it's a hard hard world type runes. Strength Clerics are still heavy on the healing, where as Runepriests give up a lot of healing power for their ability to buff defenses and damage and such, and in the milieu of defenses and attacks, they're flexible and can do both with the same power.

It's definately a tactical class in a way clerics aren't.

 

[Deverash]

Can I go off on a tangent for a second and ask what the point of the runepriest class is exactly? There's already a pretty decent divine leader, and its design allows for Str-based melee attacks, so why isn't this just a cleric build option? I haven't been following official D&D commentary lately, but surely someone must have posed this question to them.

The rune priest is, bar none, the worst healer in the game right now. Compared to the cleric whose the best. They also do very little damage(I think only 1 of their encounter powers does even 2W, but I could be wrong). But their riders, and that constant buff depending on stance, make them probably the best buffer and debuffer. I mean, I can't think of anyone else who has an at-will which immobilizes, with other effects to boot.

 

[argonomics]

snip

 

[DracoSuave]

This just sold me on the class. I couldn't figure out how it all came together, man, until right there. This isn't one of those touchy-feely sorta lay on handsy pansy leader; it's that Nordic ass-kicking "even our holy men are armed (armored?) to the teeth" thing. I love it. They don't even channel divinity. How's that for a divine class?

I mean, you've got runes of Mending, Protecting and Destruction. How smart do you really need to be to distinguish between those? STR makes sense to me for the to-hit stat, at least. Maybe a secondary in WIS/INT, maybe. You're not finessing the tools of the divine, just sorta wrestling with them to do what you want, though. I'm happy with STR/CON myself.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

AHAHHHHHHHAHHAHHHHHHH!

We come from the land of the ice and the snow
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow!

 

[Walking Dad]

What exactly about the runepreist is supposed to be divine anyways?

Change the name, and fluff, and switch the keywords and it's clearly an arcane class.

I'm just saying it really doesn't seem to be divine, doesn't seem to fit anything really.

I think it is a problem that they 'have to' fit the classes to the existing power sources, with adding only one per Player's Handbook (ok, the first included 3).

There should have be a ki source with all classes using Full Discipline keyword, like the monk. There is nothing screaming psionic on him and he lacks the augment able shtick.

There should have be a runic source with all classes using Runic keyword, like the runepriest. There is nothing screaming divine on him and he lacks the divine channeling shtick.

Don't we already have the strength cleric for some of this stuff? I realize the runepriest is more about adding bonuses to their allies rather than healing, but Int seems to fit better in there than strength, plus we already have the str/wis cleric. How about a smart divine character? It seems to fit better with the fluff in some ways.

Int/Wis maybe? You'd have to redesign stuff to not be weapons based and use an implement instead, so it probably means a different class entirely. It's a shame, because I like the concept, just not the implementation (/insert rimshot here).

What you describe could have been the base for a runemage.

 

[DracoSuave]

I think it is a problem that they 'have to' fit the classes to the existing power sources, with adding only one per Player's Handbook (ok, the first included 3).

There should have be a ki source with all classes using Full Discipline keyword, like the monk. There is nothing screaming psionic on him and he lacks the augment able shtick.

There should have be a runic source with all classes using Runic keyword, like the runepriest. There is nothing screaming divine on him and he lacks the divine channeling shtick.

But 'the _____ schtick' isn't a defining factor in a power source. Primal, Arcane, and Martial characters don't have a 'schtick.' They just do what they do how they do it. Power source is a flavor thing.

The monk is using meditation and the power of combining his mental and physical mindscapes to create impressive effects. Sounds no different than a psionic warrior to me.

The runepriest is using the words of creation themselves. Sounds like a logical progression of how Invokers don't use holy symbols because they access diefic power directly. Runepriests go one further, and skip the god. It's not arcane because arcane magic doesn't involve itself in the Astral Sea or the god's toys--it's generally more interested in putting order to the Elemental Chaos or the world's magics itself. And it's definately not primal.

What you describe could have been the base for a runemage.

Absolutely.

The runepriest tho, is pretty easy to understand if you look at it from this standpoint: 'What would a divine class of Odin's do?' Whatever it is, it wouldn't resemble a cleric or a paladin. But it'd be in there meleeing it up. It'd resemble what you see here, a runepriest.

It's a priest, just not one of temples.

 

[Walking Dad]

Ok, mechanics isn't everything about classes. But an ascetic warrior honing his body, soul and mind to perfect harmony to open his ki flow (he by the rules uses a ki focus) to do the normally impossible doesn't scream to me far realm or defending from it. Doesn't sound like telekinesis or telepathy either.

And words of creation... hadn't the primoridals (primal source) something to do with it. And by 'skipping the gods' they earned their right to have an own power source, not divine...

BTW:

Ki Striker: Monk
Ki Defender: Sohei

Runic Leader: Runepriest
Runic Controller: Runeseer
Runic Defender:

...

They don't need to do every role for every source. They didn't do it with Martial, either.