What is Shadow's schtick?

[mevers]

For more Shadowy goodness, you should checkout Open Designs Latest 4th edition project, Court of the Shadow Fey. We have already started brainstorming themes and feel, and there should be a preview coming in the next week or so.

 

[Rechan]

Mearls addressed this question in an interview at Critical-Hits:

CH: Which aspects of the Assassin class can we look forward to seeing echoed in future Shadow classes?

Mearls: The core concept of shadow, as applied to the Assassin, is the concept of a character giving up some part of his soul for a boon from the Shadowfell. Since the Shadowfell is the realm of death, a shadow magic practitioner allows part of himself to die, but in return the Shadowfell grants him a mote of shadow power. So, you can expect other classes that use the shadow power source to create similar bargains. The specifics, though, are a bit different for each class.​

 

[Wepwawet]

Mearls: The core concept of shadow, as applied to the Assassin, is the concept of a character giving up some part of his soul for a boon from the Shadowfell. Since the Shadowfell is the realm of death, a shadow magic practitioner allows part of himself to die, but in return the Shadowfell grants him a mote of shadow power. So, you can expect other classes that use the shadow power source to create similar bargains. The specifics, though, are a bit different for each class.

So, is that why the assassin is so fragile?

 

[mearls]

So, is that why the assassin is so fragile?

In part, yes. It definitely had an influence on that decision. There were also other design considerations, but this is a case where it was important for the story and the mechanics to blend together.

 

[Nifft]

Think more shadowfell conceptually, not shadowfell "home of the undead."

Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of critters I could find with the Shadow keyword were indeed undead.

Maybe I need to read about mortals who got stuck there... is there a Shadowfell version of "Hollowfaust" (or similar city) that I can go read about?

Thanks, -- N

 

[Shroomy]

Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of critters I could find with the Shadow keyword were indeed undead.

Maybe I need to read about mortals who got stuck there... is there a Shadowfell version of "Hollowfaust" (or similar city) that I can go read about?

Thanks, -- N

There is a planar metropolis called Gloomwrought. Its described in the 4e MotP.

 

[D'karr]

Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of critters I could find with the Shadow keyword were indeed undead.

Maybe I need to read about mortals who got stuck there... is there a Shadowfell version of "Hollowfaust" (or similar city) that I can go read about?

Thanks, -- N

For mortals that got "stuck" there, go look at the Dragon Article on Shadar-Kai.

 

[Cadfan]

Eh... I still maintain that the Shadowfell is a merging of the "Plane of Shadow" with a "realm o' the dead" feel, and that what we've seen so far has been mostly "realm o' the dead," and the Shadow power source is emphasizing some of the "Plane of Shadow" stuff. See late 3e Shadow material for reference: Shadow Hand Adept, Shadowcaster, related PRCs, etc.

 

[Rechan]

I was hoping that the next build for the Assassin (that we'll see next year) would have an int secondary (making Eladrin and Shadar-kai prime for that), but then I realized that Dex/int are under the same defense list. It's still a possibility (it never stopped the Str/Con combo classes), they certainly take a hit to their defenses.

I also would like to see the new build focus on ranged attacks (my preference thrown weapons). But that's just me. I can all ready see a power: using another person's shadow as the "origin square" of your ranged attack, fluffed so that you actually throw the weapon through the shadows (an offensive form of the Shadow Step power).

 

[Shroomy]

I was hoping that the next build for the Assassin (that we'll see next year) would have an int secondary (making Eladrin and Shadar-kai prime for that), but then I realized that Dex/int are under the same defense list. It's still a possibility (it never stopped the Str/Con combo classes), they certainly take a hit to their defenses.

I also would like to see the new build focus on ranged attacks (my preference thrown weapons). But that's just me. I can all ready see a power: using another person's shadow as the "origin square" of your ranged attack, fluffed so that you actually throw the weapon through the shadows (an offensive form of the Shadow Step power).

I can see that, especially since there's already an assassin melee attack power that does the same thing.