Thoughts on these classes?

[MoogleEmpMog]

How do you feel about the cause fear or fear
spells?

They basically cause a player to completely run away from a fight...

This seems to be a subset of the Everything Is Okay As Long As The Fighter Can't Do It argument. To whit:

It's okay to tactically railroad PCs as long as it's using a spell. Allowing a non-caster to do it is videogamey and badwrong.
It's okay to have one character be able to 'reload' from a saved point, as long as it's using a spell (clone). Allowing the whole party to do it is videogamey and badwrong; after all, the whole party may include non-casters.

 

[Psion]

Which knight base class did you find appealing and what source was it?

The R&R Excalibur knight and the Heroes of Code knight both seemed pretty decent. The cavalier's handbook cavalier struck me as a bit too good. I guess it could work if I excised the fighter and put warblade in, though.

 

[Nightfall]

*still hopes Nightdawn chooses Scarred Lands*

 

[Nightfall]

The R&R Excalibur knight and the Heroes of Code knight both seemed pretty decent. The cavalier's handbook cavalier struck me as a bit too good. I guess it could work if I excised the fighter and put warblade in, though.

R&R's Knight eh. Might have to check that out too. Warblade man, I love those guys!

 

[Psion]

It's okay to tactically railroad PCs as long as it's using a spell. Allowing a non-caster to do it is videogamey and badwrong.

I don't really care so much about the knight's challenge ability, but I do find Paladins summoning otherworldly warhorses videogamey and province of a caster and badwrong.

But now I'm unearthing old bones...

 

[Nightfall]

Psion,

Hey that makes two of us. Me that's why I liked the Dragon suggestion found in Dragon #350, for summoning a magic sword instead of a magic horse/mount.

 

[Kafkonia]

Well, particularly if you're just using the mageblade, it's no more 'adding a new system' than the warlock is, and less than the XPH classes.

Still, I don't see any reason the class wouldn't work if you let the player pick any one of the core spell lists.

Perhaps I should go back and revisit the class, I haven't looked at that book in over a year.

And you've hit the nail on the head as to why I don't use psionics. And why I'm leery of picking up Tome of Magic, even at half-price at the FLGS.

 

[Nifft]

How do you feel about the cause fear or fear
spells?

They basically cause a player to completely run away from a fight...

You are absolutely right. I hate 'em.
However, the PCs have a lot of defenses against them:
- remove fear (1st level Cleric spell)
- bless grants a bonus
- Paladin's aura
- Bard's song
(etc.)

Charm and Dominate effects aren't as bad as Fear or Knight's Challenge IMHO -- at least the player can choose how he turns on his party and kills his former friends. That's fun. Running away? Way less fun. No choice about who I attack? Somewhat less fun.

And I'm not saying that the Knight's ability is 'broken' in any way shape or form. I just don't like what it does (when in the hands of an NPC... for a PC, it's fine).

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nightfall]

*cheers the fact Mageblade's abilities rock way harder than puny Duskblade*

 

[Agamon]

How do you feel about the cause fear or fear
spells?

They basically cause a player to completely run away from a fight...

Yeah, and Hold Person must really suck. And don't get me started on Slay Living. If the PC fails his Will save, he doesn't even get to choose whether he lives or not. Silly.