What is wrong with Epic Material?

[Infernal Teddy]

Mongoose did an book on Immortals and Sword and Sorcery (advanced players guide maybe3...) had levels 21-30 for the core classes like the 2ed high level book.

Wasn't that just monsters?

 

[Crothian]

Wasn't that just monsters?

Nope. One was paths to immortality and the other was alternate 20+ levels

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Little surprised Power of Faerun hasn't been mentioned here at all. Sure its designed with FR in mind, but the whole book deals specifically with using Leadership/Epic Leadership in order to found empires, forge armies, become a spiritual leader, etc.

It is a great book, and one that realizes you don't actually have to be epic to do all that stuff. (It helps, of course!)

Brad

 

[S'mon]

Wasn't that just monsters?

Mongoose is releasing Upper_Krust's Epic Bestiary in print form 11th June:
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=1290&qsSeries=

 

[Vrecknidj]

I'm currently DMing a 25th-level campaign and playing in a 22nd-level campaign. Both started at 1st level.

We're still enjoying the game, but it's definitely got its quirks.

The campaign I DM started at 1st level, and is currently around 25th as well. My reaction is about the same as yours.

For starters, the death from massive damage rule has to go. Quickly.

I threw it out at the beginning.

As others have pointed out, no one is interested in investing in the epic spellcasting system because it is too pricey and too much of a hassle.

Ditto. This is one reason why I spent so much time making up spells higher than 9th level. It gives people something to do, it isn't tied to the cumbersome epic spell system, and there are plenty of spell slots to use.

I've found the CRs to be just fine. The problem, as always, lies with humanoids with class levels not being on par with monsters of the same CR. Of course, this has been a problem since about level 1, so I don't fault the epic rules for that one.

Ditto.

Union is no Sigil, that's for sure.

Another ditto.

The magic item pricing is indeed nutty.

My campaign lacks many of the regular features of D&D (the characters are on an isolated settlement, and things like teleport and plane shift don't get them out) so it's not a problem for me--but, I've played in epic campaigns where it's a problem.

I really wish the ELH had included information on how items become artifacts (no, not a Craft Artifact feat, god forbid, just some decent flavor on what it takes for something to gain the minor or major artifact designator).

Yeah, I find the minor/major artifact thing a bit tiresome. I wish there were more details, and I wish artifacts were, generally, less underwhelming.

A handful of feats are great, but the rest are underwhelming (and most of those have been pilfered for non-epic books, anyhow). 99% of the feats in the PHBII trump the epic feats in power. Devastating Critical is one of the few "must haves" if the prereqs can be met.

Overall, epic's got some serious flaws, but I still prefer it to the alternative (having the campaign die at 20th level). We're still having fun, just having to work harder to get around the "bugs".

Agreed.

Dave

 

[Aegir]

The system has been discussed elsewhere, but I figured I'd toss it out there: you might consider replacing Epic Spellcasting with the True Sorcery system. Its something I've considered should I ever run a more standard D&D game again (right now I'm setting up an IH game, using TS as its magic system), and I love the versatility of the ruleset.

 

[mcrow]

I'll just echo that the D&D Epic book was just stale.

I have to admit though that I hate Epic level play. Generally in my games by the time the PC's begin to get close to epic we retire them. They go out to pasture as legends and hero's, maybe great leaders.

If I wanted to play god like characters I'd pick up Exalted.

 

[Arkham]

I'd have rather someone went for Devastating Critical. Instead I got the cleric going for Ignore Material Components, and now he can cast True Ressurrection for free.

 

[frankthedm]

Sword and Sorcery (advanced players guide maybe3...) had levels 21-30 for the core classes like the 2ed high level book.

I have that one! Does the system work well?

 

[Pants]

Yeah, I find the minor/major artifact thing a bit tiresome. I wish there were more details, and I wish artifacts were, generally, less underwhelming.

Dave

With the revamped Magic Items in MiC I'm hoping that an Artifact Compendium gets published sometime soon. I remember really liking the old 2e Artifact book, mostly for the massive amounts of ideas it spawned.

*sigh* Why did I sell all those 2e books I used to own?