Unearthed Arcana!

[vagabundo]

I like the curses. It is one of their more interesting articles. Let's hope they continue as they mean to go on.

I still don´t like medium checks to improve on the disease track. I want hard checks there.

I believe it is possible for Hard checks to be impossible for some characters (with a low stat and untrained in the skill) with the new DCs. Probably why they went with medium.

 

[Aegeri]

I thought this was worth posting from a Wizards employee over on the official forums:

I can expand slightly on the editorial.

PE on the calendar stands for Player Essentials.

There are quite a few reasons for slotting things into UA, but the big one is the one laid out in the editorial. 4E places rigid mechanical requirements on material, and the character builder software adds even more. Anything which breaks that template can't be official.

There are, however, all sorts of ideas floating around (or not yet formed) that are exciting and fascinating but don't fit the template. It's not that we're saying simply, "we're not sure about this, so don't put it in the character builder." Some of what we want to present stretches or pierces the 4E envelope to the point that it can't be placed in the character builder; the database can't accomodate material in such an unusual form. Some of it breaks the power curve (up or down) to the point where turning it loose would cause havoc, yet it has lots of potential for exciting play if it's kept properly sequestered. Some of it, like tomorrow's Curses article, is so story-oriented that calling it "official" doesn't make sense; either it's not really rules in the first place, or it calls for so much tailoring to each DM's campaign that there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

 

[Scribble]

You could really do a "mental impairment" thing with this... Like being drunk or otherwise not sober.

Just change how often you get to make a check, and make the end stage after an extended rest...

 

[scylis]

I'd buy that for a dollar!

(this is a pop culture reference, not a statement of what I actually think it's worth; oh, and give me a Knowledge [pop culture] roll, while I'm thinking of it)

 

[Bagpuss]

I believe it is possible for Hard checks to be impossible for some characters (with a low stat and untrained in the skill) with the new DCs. Probably why they went with medium.

You mean the new DCs that are part of Essentials but not part of 4th Ed yet?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I would not mind someone to not beeing able to impove on its own... there is a break disease ritual. Also you can be helped with a heal check. Which is now trivial.

I would not have minded hard check: improve - easy check: worsen.

 

[Scribble]

Although obviously we've only seen one article, this is the kind of stuff it seems to me like 3pp should have been doing if they wanted to make stuff for 4e...

Don't try to compete with the CB. I don't need your book of powers/feats and classes.

Make stuff that doesn't need to be in the CB at all- like these curses.

That I would gladly give you money for (obviously provided your stuff doesn't suck...).

 

[Zaukrie]

Nice layout. Now, not only are we getting less pages, the pages have only half the page filled in with content. Super.

edit: If this is so story driven, how is there less than half a page of fluff?

 

[JoeGKushner]

Get outta my brain.

Seriously WoTC, if you cant' support it, don't write it.

People need to let them know how you feel for both positive and negative
dndinsider[MENTION=17465]Wizard[/MENTION]s.com

So Dragon/Dungeon have gone from decently developed full articles and adventures to smaller bite sized articles, and "encounters" that need less development, and now to half-baked ideas that have little or no development, that won't even get Character Builder support if I find them interesting and want to use them.

And this is sold as a good thing?

Seems WotC have found a way to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

If you are going to make optional rules make them actually optional, if all the players are using the Character Builder for their character sheets and you introduce an unoffical class or feat that a player/DM want to use how can they use it if there is no support? All the existing stuff published by Dragon/Dungeon and WotC is optional already. A Player can opt to use it or not, the DM can opt to allow it or not. This new unearth arcana stuff you won't be able to opt to use it in the character builder, or adventurer tools, which is why people pay for the D&DI and an invaluable tool for players and DMs.

This isn't "It's all experimental, optional, and unofficial." as if that is something cool and exciting. The only thing is, is rushed out (without development) to fill the rapidly thinning content of the magazine and unsupported.

 

[Fifth Element]

Seriously WoTC, if you cant' support it, don't write it.

Please, WotC, please don't the character builder not being able to support a new design idea prevent you from publishing said idea. New ideas are good, and they're what I give you money for.