What do you expect from the Epic Level Handbook?

[Rinndalir]

What I hope to see is rules that bring my 20+ level NPCs and TWO (yes, two) parties of 20+ level PCs into line with what kind of power they should weild - world shaking spells/psionic powers, leading of armies and kingdoms and churches, etc...and advice on how to create a REAL campaign for characters who can move mountains (and not by just throwing bigger and tougher monsters at them, either...this is where the old "epic" books for 2nd ed shined, Dragon Kings for Dark Sun and High Level Campaigns for generic 2nd, they had great advice on how to run epic games involving *gasp* actual roleplaying).

What I'm afraid I'll see is DBZ style "bad guy trumping" to provide challenges (thought Freeza was tough? Wait till you see Cell!!! Oh, you beat him? Well, now Buu shows up - he could've crushed Cell without blinking! Beat him too?!? Evil Shenron makes them both look like pussies! etc...) instead of advice on how to actually RP and run an in depth campaign for these characters. Not to mention Diablo II style powerups with the items. Yearg.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Rediculous power levels, anime style gaming, a lot of unnecessary crap. Basically I would have to be really amazed by the book to buy it, or it would have to have stats for the demon lords and such. If the PC's in the party get to 20th level I'm probably just going to continue the standard progression instead of buying the rules. This is just based on what I've heard and read about the book. I'll reserve final judgement until it's out.

 

[Piratecat]

To me, it's simply just not necessary. I can perfectly understand why someone would get a thrill out of having a character progress in power until they are a force to be reckoned with. However, I just fail to see how a 20th level character doesn't fill that need. All this talk of epic spells and hideously high save DCs seem like flavorless piling on of numbers to me.

Two years ago, I would have heartily agreed. I'm not sure I do any longer. As my campaign approaches 20th level (the longest-running PC is 19th lvl), I find that I'm not having the least bit of trouble challenging them... and to be frank, there's a whole lot more stuff I can do without the game getting boring. But what happens after the PCs hit 20th level? I'd have to stop pretty much by default.

Thus, I'm looking forward to the book.

The initial stuff (old playtest docs) I've seen has impressed me. I'm dying for the more difficult skill DCs, for one thing. I regularly have PCs rolling in the mid-40's for skills, and it's a shame I can't quantify what special effect that has.

I doubT I'll use most of the really extreme stuff; no one is going to be making a DC 100 skill check in my game any time soon. But I think it will add depth to the world, while being a goldmine of ideas. I hope so!

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Anything in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon can be done with characters below 20th level, use the Psionics Handbook and OA and a few other books and it can be done. Since all you need is feats like Speed of Thought, Mental Leap, Up the Walls, Deflect Arrows, and some psionic powers.

Now on the other hand the Epic Level Handbook is needed if you want characters more like the ones from Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain and it's (in my opinion, not as great) sequel Legend of Zu. The characters there are immortals who live in floating fortresses and buildings, possess the ability to fly, are armed with powerful magic weapons, and in some cases possess strange powers such as using eyebrows as weapons.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hello!

Now on the other hand the Epic Level Handbook is needed if you want characters more like the ones from Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain and it's (in my opinion, not as great) sequel Legend of Zu. The characters there are immortals who live in floating fortresses and buildings, possess the ability to fly, are armed with powerful magic weapons, and in some cases possess strange powers such as using eyebrows as weapons.

I was looking forward to getting Legend of Zu on DVD (as soon as the 2nd run is available in Hong Kong) - your saying its not as good!

Ah well.

 

[Dark Psion]

Hello!



Sure no problem:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/arcana/47

That's the flying monkey I was looking for last night, but everytime I asked my computer to find the 71st level character I got this, click here