Unearthed Arcana Variant Rules - Previews and Questions

[Kai Lord]

I'm one of them... You may post your questions and I'll try to answer some in about 9 hours from now (because I need some sleep first). Good Night!

Can you give us as many details about the "Bloodlines" as possible, such as which ancestors are available and the effects they bestow? Thanks.

 

[JoeBlank]

I wonder if the action points will be the same as they will be in Eberon.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Okay, if this is actually an excerpt from UA, then I concede that it looks correct. Perhaps you've got an advance copy that allows you to know that -- but the WOTC web page communicated something different, calling it a "web enhancement", and implying it had been created separately from the book.

As I'm in the Eastern US, not Germany, I don't have a copy -- but maybe Tarril can clear this up for us? In any case the license itself is formatted to look like it's from the book...

 

[Olive]

The archetypal paladin have always been the mounted knight in shining armor. IIRC, the original Unearthed Arcana designated the paladin as a cavalier sub-class.

I know that. I just don't like it.

 

[Swack-Iron]

I'm one of them... You may post your questions and I'll try to answer some in about 9 hours from now (because I need some sleep first). Good Night!

Could you tell us what material was used from Green Ronin's Mutants & Masterminds? Our best guess is that it's the Damage Save mechanic. If so its most likely located in chapter 3 or 4. Thanks!

 

[buzz]

"...the totem barbarian variant..."

This pic on this page looks like David Roach's work.

So far, that's the only disappointing thing I've seen in relation to UA. I can't fathom why WotC keeps using him; I guess his rates must be, uh, "reasonable."

Sorry... back to the thread.

 

[Alzrius]

I don't remember an Honor system in Oriental Adventures, and in OA taint is more of a setting-specific mechanic than a rules variant.

The honor system was in Oriental Adventures, just not the one you're thinking of. The original OA, the one for 1E, had an honor points rule. That's what was being referenced.

Likewise, taint was referenced only on the 3E OA, but while it was only used for that setting (Rokugan), it's not so setting-specific that you can't just lift it and drop it into another campaign with virtually no work.

Dollars to doughnuts, this is the honor and taint system presented a year or so ago in Dragon. There were also Tainted prestige classes.

Which issue was that?

 

[storyguide3]

Okay, if this is actually an excerpt from UA, then I concede that it looks correct. Perhaps you've got an advance copy that allows you to know that -- but the WOTC web page communicated something different, calling it a "web enhancement", and implying it had been created separately from the book.

The website does give that impression, however the page numbers on the bottom of the checklist would be a giveaway that it is an excerpt from the book itself.

 

[buzz]

Strangely enough, these are the variants I'm most intrigued by:

• Level Check Turning
• Generic Classes
• Hex Grid
• Bell Curve Rolls
• Damage to Specific Areas

Number of times counting diagonal squares has made me wish D&D used a hex grid: Lots.

 

[Krieg]

The archetypal paladin have always been the mounted knight in shining armor. IIRC, the original Unearthed Arcana designated the paladin as a cavalier sub-class.

More than a few fans weren't exactly thrilled with UA's change to the Paladin at the time either.