New to RPGA: Have a few questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

New to RPGA: Have a few questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dembark
10-31-06, 08:06 AM Hello all!

I'm new to the RPGA, and had a few questions as I go about creating my first character. Some of these questions are entirely unrelated, and just some random ideas.

1.) I read that you can choose the PHBII alternate class features with an expansion slot. So then it would be possible to use the alternate shapeshifting abilities in PHBII for a druid with this choice, correct?

2.) Are dragonmark feats (least, lesser, greater) available in the game? I noticed there were campaign cards in one of the cards lists for the dragonmarks. Are they needed for XE?

3.) I noticed there was a drow fastplay sorcerer for Cabal of Shadows, the faction my DM is going to run. Can other drow characters be made, or only the fastplay? When you start with a fastplay character to begin with but level it can you make your own choices when they level or do you have to stick to the Wizards created ones when they update them with level kicks?

Thanks for responses ahead of time. The Campaign Standards book seems a little light on some of the rules and I need some clarification so I don't make a mistake.
Skerrit
10-31-06, 09:20 AM 1.) I read that you can choose the PHBII alternate class features with an expansion slot. So then it would be possible to use the alternate shapeshifting abilities in PHBII for a druid with this choice, correct?

2.) Are dragonmark feats (least, lesser, greater) available in the game? I noticed there were campaign cards in one of the cards lists for the dragonmarks. Are they needed for XE?

3.) I noticed there was a drow fastplay sorcerer for Cabal of Shadows, the faction my DM is going to run. Can other drow characters be made, or only the fastplay? When you start with a fastplay character to begin with but level it can you make your own choices when they level or do you have to stick to the Wizards created ones when they update them with level kicks?

1) Yes
2) You need a rewards card unless you are a member of the Blackwheel faction which unlocks them for free.
3) You need a drow rewards card in order to be a drow, unless you are using that fastplay. If you make it your own, you have to keep what the fastplay has, but you can level up as you see fit from there.
Dembark
10-31-06, 09:29 AM Thanks for the quick responses, I have a few more questions. Mostly about expansion slots.

How do you know the cost of certain things? Perusing the boards I've heard people mention that putting a class on your expansion slot costs 3 slots? Is there a list, or atleast a slightly more in-depth discussion on expansion slots somewhere?

Can you add a class, like say the Warmage class to your character, even if your not from the faction that gets it? Do you need a card, or can you spend an expansion slot(s) on it?
quizboy
10-31-06, 10:05 AM Ah, those people are referring the expansion slot clost in a draft version of the Campaign Standards. You can find the link to the draft in these forums. I should answer your questions, but I can try to give a stab at it.

There is a table of expansion slot costs in the draft CS, and the draft is not official until announced and posted on the Xen'drik RPGA page.

The new CS allows adding a class for the cost of three expansion slots (I think). You can also add a class via a reward card. There is also a list in the forums of possible classes and ways to get them:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=689990

Since you specifically mention Warmage, I'll point out something left out of the list above. The "off the beaten path" card that allows warmage takes up three action point slots. There is also an "expansion" card, "Aundairian Arcanist," that also allows the warmage, but at the cost of only one action point.

Please remember the following distinction: action point slots and expansion slots are compeletly different.

--Steven
pedr
10-31-06, 10:35 AM IIRC 'Aundarian Arcanist' has a prereq: Able to cast arcane spells. Which is a very badly thought out prereq because it means all warmages/spellthiefs with it are Wiz1/Wmgx or Sor1/SpTx which are significantly sub-optimal builds.

See http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebmoh/20050701a for the text of the card. It might not be that Expansion cards cannot be used to unlock classes at first level, but the requirement of being able to cast arcane spells before you have the card would seem to make it the case here. Except possibly in the case of gnomes, tieflings and other races which give arcane spellcasting ability. They might be able to argue that they satisfy the pre-req before choosing their class so can make use of the expansion card at that point. Gnome spellthief, anyone? :D
Butterface
10-31-06, 10:47 AM IIRC 'Aundarian Arcanist' has a prereq: Able to cast arcane spells. Which is a very badly thought out prereq because it means all warmages/spellthiefs with it are Wiz1/Wmgx or Sor1/SpTx which are significantly sub-optimal builds.

See http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebmoh/20050701a for the text of the card. It might not be that Expansion cards cannot be used to unlock classes at first level, but the requirement of being able to cast arcane spells before you have the card would seem to make it the case here. Except possibly in the case of gnomes, tieflings and other races which give arcane spellcasting ability. They might be able to argue that they satisfy the pre-req before choosing their class so can make use of the expansion card at that point. Gnome spellthief, anyone? :D

Yeah, that seems a little silly. Surely they meant to simply unlock those two classes!
Dembark
10-31-06, 06:28 PM Okay, I've read the description of expansion slots in the draft and its much more concise. But I still have a clarification question. If I spent 2 slots on alternate class feature for the druid, do I gain the ability to take both of its alternates, or just one? Both alternate abilities, the healing and the shapeshifting take place at first level, so I assume you gain both of them if you want both.
Skerrit
11-02-06, 04:04 PM If I spent 2 slots on alternate class feature for the druid, do I gain the ability to take both of its alternates, or just one? Both alternate abilities, the healing and the shapeshifting take place at first level, so I assume you gain both of them if you want both.

You cannot. Each ability requires you to spend expansion slots at first level. Since you cannot do that more than once at first level, you may only pick one. I will make sure to clarify this in the XECS.
pedr
11-02-06, 08:37 PM Um, I can't find it now, but I seem to remember a Factionmaster suggesting the opposite - that unlocking the alternate features of your starting class unlocked them all, rather than just one. Is this a deliberate change?
Skerrit
11-03-06, 08:57 AM Um, I can't find it now, but I seem to remember a Factionmaster suggesting the opposite - that unlocking the alternate features of your starting class unlocked them all, rather than just one. Is this a deliberate change?

I don't recall that. I'm pretty sure that's the only way I have ever intended it in the XECS, so I don't believe it is a change. It's always possible a different FM thought something different, but I don't recall anything like that.
catsclaw
11-03-06, 01:18 PM I don't recall that. I'm pretty sure that's the only way I have ever intended it in the XECS, so I don't believe it is a change. It's always possible a different FM thought something different, but I don't recall anything like that.It works that way for racial substitution levels. Which is good, since you can only spend slots on them at first level.
Skerrit
11-05-06, 10:03 AM It works that way for racial substitution levels. Which is good, since you can only spend slots on them at first level.

Perhaps that's what pedr was thinking of.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dembark 10-31-06, 08:06 AM	Hello all! I'm new to the RPGA, and had a few questions as I go about creating my first character. Some of these questions are entirely unrelated, and just some random ideas. 1.) I read that you can choose the PHBII alternate class features with an expansion slot. So then it would be possible to use the alternate shapeshifting abilities in PHBII for a druid with this choice, correct? 2.) Are dragonmark feats (least, lesser, greater) available in the game? I noticed there were campaign cards in one of the cards lists for the dragonmarks. Are they needed for XE? 3.) I noticed there was a drow fastplay sorcerer for Cabal of Shadows, the faction my DM is going to run. Can other drow characters be made, or only the fastplay? When you start with a fastplay character to begin with but level it can you make your own choices when they level or do you have to stick to the Wizards created ones when they update them with level kicks? Thanks for responses ahead of time. The Campaign Standards book seems a little light on some of the rules and I need some clarification so I don't make a mistake.
Skerrit 10-31-06, 09:20 AM	1.) I read that you can choose the PHBII alternate class features with an expansion slot. So then it would be possible to use the alternate shapeshifting abilities in PHBII for a druid with this choice, correct? 2.) Are dragonmark feats (least, lesser, greater) available in the game? I noticed there were campaign cards in one of the cards lists for the dragonmarks. Are they needed for XE? 3.) I noticed there was a drow fastplay sorcerer for Cabal of Shadows, the faction my DM is going to run. Can other drow characters be made, or only the fastplay? When you start with a fastplay character to begin with but level it can you make your own choices when they level or do you have to stick to the Wizards created ones when they update them with level kicks? 1) Yes 2) You need a rewards card unless you are a member of the Blackwheel faction which unlocks them for free. 3) You need a drow rewards card in order to be a drow, unless you are using that fastplay. If you make it your own, you have to keep what the fastplay has, but you can level up as you see fit from there.
Dembark 10-31-06, 09:29 AM	Thanks for the quick responses, I have a few more questions. Mostly about expansion slots. How do you know the cost of certain things? Perusing the boards I've heard people mention that putting a class on your expansion slot costs 3 slots? Is there a list, or atleast a slightly more in-depth discussion on expansion slots somewhere? Can you add a class, like say the Warmage class to your character, even if your not from the faction that gets it? Do you need a card, or can you spend an expansion slot(s) on it?
quizboy 10-31-06, 10:05 AM	Ah, those people are referring the expansion slot clost in a draft version of the Campaign Standards. You can find the link to the draft in these forums. I should answer your questions, but I can try to give a stab at it. There is a table of expansion slot costs in the draft CS, and the draft is not official until announced and posted on the Xen'drik RPGA page. The new CS allows adding a class for the cost of three expansion slots (I think). You can also add a class via a reward card. There is also a list in the forums of possible classes and ways to get them: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=689990 Since you specifically mention Warmage, I'll point out something left out of the list above. The "off the beaten path" card that allows warmage takes up three action point slots. There is also an "expansion" card, "Aundairian Arcanist," that also allows the warmage, but at the cost of only one action point. Please remember the following distinction: action point slots and expansion slots are compeletly different. --Steven
pedr 10-31-06, 10:35 AM	IIRC 'Aundarian Arcanist' has a prereq: Able to cast arcane spells. Which is a very badly thought out prereq because it means all warmages/spellthiefs with it are Wiz1/Wmgx or Sor1/SpTx which are significantly sub-optimal builds. See http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebmoh/20050701a for the text of the card. It might not be that Expansion cards cannot be used to unlock classes at first level, but the requirement of being able to cast arcane spells before you have the card would seem to make it the case here. Except possibly in the case of gnomes, tieflings and other races which give arcane spellcasting ability. They might be able to argue that they satisfy the pre-req before choosing their class so can make use of the expansion card at that point. Gnome spellthief, anyone? :D
Butterface 10-31-06, 10:47 AM	IIRC 'Aundarian Arcanist' has a prereq: Able to cast arcane spells. Which is a very badly thought out prereq because it means all warmages/spellthiefs with it are Wiz1/Wmgx or Sor1/SpTx which are significantly sub-optimal builds. See http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebmoh/20050701a for the text of the card. It might not be that Expansion cards cannot be used to unlock classes at first level, but the requirement of being able to cast arcane spells before you have the card would seem to make it the case here. Except possibly in the case of gnomes, tieflings and other races which give arcane spellcasting ability. They might be able to argue that they satisfy the pre-req before choosing their class so can make use of the expansion card at that point. Gnome spellthief, anyone? :D Yeah, that seems a little silly. Surely they meant to simply unlock those two classes!
Dembark 10-31-06, 06:28 PM	Okay, I've read the description of expansion slots in the draft and its much more concise. But I still have a clarification question. If I spent 2 slots on alternate class feature for the druid, do I gain the ability to take both of its alternates, or just one? Both alternate abilities, the healing and the shapeshifting take place at first level, so I assume you gain both of them if you want both.
Skerrit 11-02-06, 04:04 PM	If I spent 2 slots on alternate class feature for the druid, do I gain the ability to take both of its alternates, or just one? Both alternate abilities, the healing and the shapeshifting take place at first level, so I assume you gain both of them if you want both. You cannot. Each ability requires you to spend expansion slots at first level. Since you cannot do that more than once at first level, you may only pick one. I will make sure to clarify this in the XECS.
pedr 11-02-06, 08:37 PM	Um, I can't find it now, but I seem to remember a Factionmaster suggesting the opposite - that unlocking the alternate features of your starting class unlocked them all, rather than just one. Is this a deliberate change?
Skerrit 11-03-06, 08:57 AM	Um, I can't find it now, but I seem to remember a Factionmaster suggesting the opposite - that unlocking the alternate features of your starting class unlocked them all, rather than just one. Is this a deliberate change? I don't recall that. I'm pretty sure that's the only way I have ever intended it in the XECS, so I don't believe it is a change. It's always possible a different FM thought something different, but I don't recall anything like that.
catsclaw 11-03-06, 01:18 PM	I don't recall that. I'm pretty sure that's the only way I have ever intended it in the XECS, so I don't believe it is a change. It's always possible a different FM thought something different, but I don't recall anything like that.It works that way for racial substitution levels. Which is good, since you can only spend slots on them at first level.
Skerrit 11-05-06, 10:03 AM	It works that way for racial substitution levels. Which is good, since you can only spend slots on them at first level. Perhaps that's what pedr was thinking of.