Whirtlestaffs Wizards Academy-Recruiting Now Complete, 7:06am 05/07/08

[Leif]

Rules and Misc. Garbage

Players Handbook II is also fully used, not just for spells. ON THE OTHER HAND, the SRD is NOT to be used when it contradicts the ph (or any other book for that matter), so no longswords for elves without martial weapon proficiency. (This means you, Scotley.)

To reiterate: Full Usage:
Players Handbook
Players Handbook 2
Dungeon Masters Guide
Complete Arcane
Complete Mage
Spell Compendium

NOT used if it condradicts/conflicts with/adds to any of the above: SRD


Sylvanoptera is definitely in. Sylvanoptera is the ancient language (in the same language family as Elvish) that is used for the casting of spells, spellbooks, scrolls, etc. (Sometimes other ancient writings, too.) To know more Sylvanoptera than is absoutely necessary for the use of your spells, you must take it as one of your allowed languages based on your intelligence, but all wizards have the option to do that if they so choose.

Shayuri: Please note that the skill Use Magic Device is CROSS CLASS for wizards! That's a rogue skill because the whole point of the skill is to be able to use devices that you are not SUPPOSED to be using because you're the wrong class.

 

[FreeXenon]

About the trading Summon Familiar for another ...

Fair enough

Sylvanoptera is definitely in. Sylvanoptera is the ancient language ...

Will this language be effectively replacing Draconic in importance to Wizards or does it site along side it somehow?

 

[Zurai]

the SRD is NOT to be used when it contradicts the ph (or any other book for that matter), so no longswords for elves without martial weapon proficiency. (This means you, Scotley.)

I'm confused. Elves getting proficiency in longsword, rapier, shortbow, and longbow are from the PHB. Grey Elves are PHB elves with +2 int -2 str. Literally that's the only extra thing; if you take out the PHB elf from them, they're a noticeably underpowered race because they lose the low light vision, alertness, auto-search, immunity to sleep, trance, save bonus, etc. Even without the SRD, the Player's Handbook specifically grants those four weapons to all elves.

 

[Scotley]

Players Handbook II is also fully used, not just for spells. ON THE OTHER HAND, the SRD is NOT to be used when it contradicts the ph (or any other book for that matter), so no longswords for elves without martial weapon proficiency. (This means you, Scotley.)

To reiterate: Full Usage:
Players Handbook
Players Handbook 2
Dungeon Masters Guide
Complete Arcane
Complete Mage
Spell Compendium

NOT used when it condradicts/conflicts with/adds to any of the above: SRD

I would not steer you wrong. The bonus martial weapon feats for elves can be found at the bottom left hand column of page 16 of the player's handbook. I only reference the SRD because it is easier to copy and paste from there rather than from the book itself.

The SRD is in fact official and should not be found in conflict with the other books. It often lacks some of the exposition of points found in the primary source and thus may cause confusion. Wizard's of the Coast put it out and the only changes you should see on the web are errata released later by wizards. The only changes the websites should otherwise be making are in formating for easy access.

Also note that for specialists at least, there is a 'swap out the familiar for a power' option in players handbook 2, bottom of page 68 right hand column. There may be others in complete mage too. Tylara wants her familiar, but I thought it might be useful to your decision making process.

 

[Scotley]

Thanks Zurai, looks like you beat me to the point.

 

[Leif]

Crestfallen DM

Apparently, then, I stand corrected on several points. Dang, I gotta read that deal about elves tonight. That just seems like it is too powerful, but if it's in there, it's in there!

SRD is official? Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit!

Sylvanoptera replaces Draconic as far as wizards are concerned. For everything except talking to dragons, that is.

And evidently, ph2 contradicts me about switching out summon familiar. If so, then we'll go with what ph2 says.

 

[Shayuri]

I dunno about too powerful. They're just a handful of proficiencies.

Without that, elves would be a pretty weak choice, I think...on par with half-orcs and half-elves. As it is, they're a solid middle-ground race...in the same neighborhood as humans and gnomes, but not as solid as dwarves. They make good wizards, clerics and druids though because of those innate weapon profs which can give non-warrior classes a bit of extra oomph.

 

[Leif]

I dunno about too powerful. They're just a handful of proficiencies.
Without that, elves would be a pretty weak choice, I think...on par with half-orcs and half-elves. As it is, they're a solid middle-ground race...in the same neighborhood as humans and gnomes, but not as solid as dwarves. They make good wizards, clerics and druids though because of those innate weapon profs which can give non-warrior classes a bit of extra oomph.

But, isn't the idea to have all the races equal to each other?? Why don't dwarves get proficiency with axe?

 

[Zurai]

But, isn't the idea to have all the races equal to each other?? Why don't dwarves gat proficiency with axe?

They do get weapon familiarity with the dwarven waraxe and dwarven urgrosh.

 

[Shayuri]

And, it's worth pointing out, that the races are supposed to be 'balanced.' Not 'equal.'

The idea is that the sum total of elf abilities, including proficiencies, weighed against the sum total of dwarf abilities, should give neither race a decided advantage over the other in the long run.

How well this is accomplished is open to debate, but most of the posts I see howling about overpowered races names Dwarf as being the #1 race in terms of abilities.

I rank elves personally like I do halflings. Excellent at certain niches, but not good generalists.