Woo-hoo! Heroes of Horror preview!!

[Kobold Avenger]

Divine Spells just require belief and that's all that matters. Honestly the Archivist is a somewhat weak class compared to many of the others, but as far as its flavour goes, I like it better than many of the other classes. I find it amusing that no one thinks of the Archivist replacing the Wizard instead of the Cleric...

As for the Archivist/Wizard method for Mystic Theurge, it's quiet potent in that it uses the same power stat AND can use the metamagic feats between both of its spellcasting classes, giving them an advantage over both the Cleric/Wizard Mystic Theurge and the Psion/Wizard Cerebemancer.

 

[Jack of Shadows]

Nope. The similarity in names is unfortunate, but purely coincidental. The demigod's name is, indeed, "Cas."

For very solid reasons, that maybe I'll go into at a later date, it couldn't be anything else.

So do his worshippers get the Cas trait?

Jack

 

[Vocenoctum]

Divine Spells just require belief and that's all that matters. Honestly the Archivist is a somewhat weak class compared to many of the others, but as far as its flavour goes, I like it better than many of the other classes. I find it amusing that no one thinks of the Archivist replacing the Wizard instead of the Cleric...

I can't see much overlap with the wizard in stats. There's always some overlap in theme, but not too much really. Wizard spells are much better for their intended purpose than cleric spells.

As for the Archivist/Wizard method for Mystic Theurge, it's quiet potent in that it uses the same power stat AND can use the metamagic feats between both of its spellcasting classes, giving them an advantage over both the Cleric/Wizard Mystic Theurge and the Psion/Wizard Cerebemancer.

I think it's potent for the same att's, but I can't see how it's more potent than Psion/Wizard. Psion Wizard also uses Intel.

Archivist has fewer spells than cleric, and less choice in spells. (both for having to learn them, and for not having Cure spells available at will, plus they get less spells per day, though I didn't compare.) Also, the Archivists buffing abilities are significantly more important than Turn Undead, for the most part.

So, something to watch, but I don't think it'd be horribly broken.

 

[Michael Tree]

Okay, a several people have stated they like the archivist. My question is why? Isn't the point of divine spellcaster to gain their spells, domain powers and such from a divine source? Doesn't the archivist totally short circut the point of divine spellcasters?

Seriously, I am having trouble seeing the value of this class as written. If it were arcane or even psionic based, I can buy it. But a godless cleric?

Archivists are basically European hermetic occultists. Occultism casts spells by invoking the various secret names and titles of God, angels and demons, ancient deities, and other divine beings. It channels knowledge of secret divine lore through force of will to create magic. It also extremely syncretic, combining Jewish mysticism and angelology with Christian prayers and saint lore, with a bunch of old pagan names, rituals, and mystical legends as well.

The archivist is my new favorite class.

 

[Michael Tree]

I find it amusing that no one thinks of the Archivist replacing the Wizard instead of the Cleric...

I was thinking the same thing. It's a really good jack of all trades. It's not as good as being a cleric as a cleric, and not as good at being a wizard as a wizard, but it's a good seonc choice for both.

Adepts are the most common spellcasting class in the game, and they get scorching ray, web, lightning bolt, and polymorph on their divine spell list, and druids also have decent offensive spells, so a resourceful archivist could be almost as good offensively as a wizard.

 

[davidschwartznz]

Archivists are basically European hermetic occultists. Occultism casts spells by invoking the various secret names and titles of God, angels and demons, ancient deities, and other divine beings. It channels knowledge of secret divine lore through force of will to create magic. It also extremely syncretic, combining Jewish mysticism and angelology with Christian prayers and saint lore, with a bunch of old pagan names, rituals, and mystical legends as well.

Isn't that what Madonna is into now?

(PS Multiclassed Bard/Archivist fails Ride check... news at 11.)

 

[pogre]

I may have to mine this book for other games, but D&D and horror really don't mix for me. It's about as scary as S.C.T.V.'s Count Floyd hosting Monster Chiller Horror Theater screening such epics as Dr. Tongues 3D House of Pancakes. "Ooooooh, pretty scary stuff, eh kids?!"

 

[Klaus]

Nope. The similarity in names is unfortunate, but purely coincidental. The demigod's name is, indeed, "Cas."

For very solid reasons, that maybe I'll go into at a later date, it couldn't be anything else.

Cas... God of Spite...

[italian]

CASPITE!

[/italian]

 

[Mouseferatu]

yeah, when's this hitting the selves?

I believe the official street date is the 14th, but don't quote me on that.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I suppose someone could houserule 2 different sorts of archivists, those that use divine based magic and those that use arcane. Just don't allow players take both versions.