WoTC March 2009 Editorial Calendar

[Nymrohd]

I have to say I really wonder how the Assasin article will turn out. The gladiator one was huge, with tons of crunch on top.

 

[Zaukrie]

I like short articles with more variety rather than long articles. It increases the odds I'll use something from each article. As for the 1 pagers, I liked some, loved some, and didn't like some. But, it was a way to introduce small, new things, every month. As it is now, we get 5-6 long articles, which rarely reach across mulitple PC classes. If you could have some crunch or fluff for half of the classes every month, even if it was only 1-2 pages each, you wouldn't want that?

 

[Nymrohd]

Woo beastiary, assassin article, Betrayal. Also intrigued by the MP2/Arcane Power previews.


My hopes:

Int based Rogue
Archer Rogue
Warlord who can lead from the rear.

I want a warlord who does not use Strength as a primary. It really ruins the concept for me. I'd love to see Tactical Warlord who has more Int than Strength and works decently.

 

[Rechan]

I want a warlord who does not use Strength as a primary. It really ruins the concept for me. I'd love to see Tactical Warlord who has more Int than Strength and works decently.

The warlord in my group is constantly frustrated that he has to be adjacent to his ally or attack someone in melee to really do anything.

That, and I really do think there's a niche for the "General sitting on his Horse behind the army" type Warlord, as opposed to the "Rally around me and watch me kick ass" warlord.

 

[Nymrohd]

I like short articles with more variety rather than long articles. It increases the odds I'll use something from each article. As for the 1 pagers, I liked some, loved some, and didn't like some. But, it was a way to introduce small, new things, every month. As it is now, we get 5-6 long articles, which rarely reach across mulitple PC classes. If you could have some crunch or fluff for half of the classes every month, even if it was only 1-2 pages each, you wouldn't want that?

Those 1-2 pagers from Dragon were the bane of balance. Though Flaws for Commoners is still one of the best Dragon articles (Pig Bond!)

 

[Nymrohd]

The warlord in my group is constantly frustrated that he has to be adjacent to his ally or attack someone in melee to really do anything.

That, and I really do think there's a niche for the "General sitting on his Horse behind the army" type Warlord, as opposed to the "Rally around me and watch me kick ass" warlord.

I think MPII will probably have a lot of mounted goodness (just a guess).

 

[jephlewis]

Martial Power 2? Ugh.

I know they were going to do a new PH, MM, and DM Guide every year, but do they really have to do multiples of EVERY book now?

Do they have to? Eh, I kinda like the option, ya know?

Seriously, how many spells were there for 3.x? I'm not saying "wotc NEVAR gave any fighters/paladins/rangers/rogues ANYTHING before tome of battle", but with the exception of magic items, I feel that the martial classes were short changed a bit when it came to kewl stuff in 3.x. Now, we're getting multiple splat books seemingly for each power source.

I think this model works better; see, if they made "martial/arcane/divine power 2" in one book, it'd be bigger, more expensive, and some people would only use part of it. This way, people who want more "x power" get x, and just x.

To put it another way:
The 4E supplement model is more like a cafeteria ["I want the roast beef, two rolls, no veggies, and a chicken leg"].
The 3E supplement model is like a value meal ["I want the double meat burger, and i'm going to want a large soda, so make it a mega combo, even though I won't eat any of the fries, because it's cheaper if I just buy the combo; who wants my fries?"].

It seems like everybody gets more of what they want, and less of what they don't want this way, wouldn't you agree?

 

[RefinedBean]

My hopes:

Int based Rogue
Archer Rogue
Warlord who can lead from the rear.

I was talking with some friends just the other day about how tough ranged rogues are to do. It'd be nice to give them some love.

And yeah, a Warlord who can lead from the rear would be a nice touch, and really help "make" that class.

But what new things could they add to the Ranger? A 1-weapon build? Favored enemies? Hrm.

 

[Nymrohd]

Well they could add powers for a ranged beastmaster built (not at all supported in MPI) or a 2H built (MPI has some powers that can work 2H but are almost always intented for a beastmaster). I could see an archer rogue built, as well as a defenderish swashbuckler (like the paragon path but more of it), or at least more support for a DW rogue. Fighters, rangers and warlords could all have mounted combat builts (though I don't think mounted combat should be a full build tbh). And after that you could have weapon style feat chans.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I am quite looking forward to the Assassin article, lets hope it continues to amount of win that was the Gladiator one. I was hoping there be a second article related to running Assassin campaigns (I have run lots but good to have more options). Perhaps, "DRA: Codex of Betrayal" sounds sorta Assassin like.

As for Martial Power 2, well I am excited for it. Though Martial are my favourite Power Source currently available (when PHB2 Primal will be up there as well as when Psionics and probably Shadow comes out). As for what I would like to see for it:

• Some manner of Brawler build for Ranger, Rogue or Fighter. A non-Ki version of the Monk. Perhaps some weapons could work with it too like Spiked Gauntlets.
• A Spear oriented build for some of the classes. Same with Spiked Gauntlets (could see Spear but probably not Spiked Gauntlet).
• Perhaps a Tinkerer Rogue, for those of us who like clockwork gears, explosives, etc.
• A from-the-rear Warlord be also interesting.
• A specifically Urban-oriented Ranger be fun too. You can do this already pretty much but neat to see stuff specific for it.
• A Dirty Fighting build for Fighter or Rogue. Lets see lots of groin hits, eye gouging, knee cap shattering, curb stomping nastiness.

This is something I would probably more likely want in a overall book like a PHB, though would fit well in Martial Power. But (I am probably gonna get video-game calls from this) but a "combo system". Essentially what I think be neat is if certain bonuses or attributes could be accumulated by using Powers, Skills, Actions, etc. You could have say a "Move 5 squares gain a bonus when using a attack with a Shift". This could be built into the system as is, or individual/groups of these combos acquired through feats, PPs, etc.