Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rerednaw 10-11-06, 01:04 PM	Just out of curiousity. With Book of Nine Swords, Races of the Dragon, Dragon Magic, Complete Mage, Hordes of the Abyss and more released this year I was wondering what was likely to be included or not for next year play or writing. Anyone got the scoop? Cheers.
Arvagor 10-11-06, 01:12 PM	With Book of Nine Swords, Races of the Dragon, Dragon Magic, Complete Mage, Hordes of the Abyss and more released this year I was wondering what was likely to be included or not for next year play or writing. Races of the Dragon is already a "legal" source for writers (and is listed as such on page 62 of the current LGCS). I have seen one item from that book show up on an AR, the memento mori (functions like a pearl of power for spontaneous casters). As far as the others, I would suggest to expect nothing more than Limited access at best. (Hordes is a good writer resource, but IMO, there's not much there for the typical LG PC...)
trollbill 10-11-06, 01:24 PM	I suspect all of them will see some Core access in the next LGCS. Especially the PH II. Races of the Dragon is already a "legal" source for writers (and is listed as such on page 62 of the current LGCS). I have seen one item from that book show up on an AR, the memento mori (functions like a pearl of power for spontaneous casters). I definitely gotta find that mod. My 4th-level Sorcerer has already gotten access to FOUR Pearls of Power. Talk about frustrating.
twells 10-11-06, 01:53 PM	I definitely gotta find that mod. My 4th-level Sorcerer has already gotten access to FOUR Pearls of Power. Talk about frustrating. What would REALLY be useful to Sorcerers would be something like the Knowstones (from Dragon 333), which allows the Sorcerer to "know" the specific spell inscribed on the stone. Pearls of Power turn Wizards into semi-spontaneous casters - this would even the score a bit. I know this is just a pipe dream in LG - but I can dream, can't I?
JohnduBois 10-11-06, 06:26 PM	I wouldn't be surprised to see Complete Mage in the new LGCS. I picked up a copy today, and nothing seemed to unusual or broken (although I think a LOT of wizards will go after some of the Reserve feats if they're allowed).
Arvagor 10-11-06, 07:03 PM	I wouldn't be surprised to see Complete Mage in the new LGCS. I picked up a copy today, and nothing seemed to unusual or broken (although I think a LOT of wizards will go after some of the Reserve feats if they're allowed).Which is why those feats will be Limited at best ;) Seriously, anything that allows for essentially unlimited casting of spell-like effects will not (should not?) be allowed, IMO.[15th level mage thinking to himself...] Hmmm.... I could cast my fire storm spell and deal 15d6 to all my enemies once today, or I could hold off and cast an 8d6 mini-fireball an unlimited number of times today... And get a +1 boost to my caster level for any other fire spell I cast... * I try to see all sides when debating whether a spell/feat/class should be "in play", and I really try never to use the term "broken", but... That's BrokenŽ with a capital 'B', especially when the feat that is supposed to effectively give you a spell-like ability -- Innate Spell -- requires you to permanently sacrifice a spell slot 8 slots higher than the spell you want to turn into a spell-like ability. * Yes, that's what the Fiery Burst [Reserve] feat will do for you...
JohnduBois 10-11-06, 11:28 PM	Yeah... I was referring more to the PClasses (at least the ones that don't require Warlock levels) and spells. In particular, the Resurgence for skill checks (Immediate Assistance) looks pretty fun and balanced.
The_Jester 10-12-06, 01:34 AM	I just want to know if rebuilding a character (from the PHBII) would be allowed...
Arvagor 10-12-06, 02:03 AM	Doubtful -- since the last rebuild, I seem to recall several times that the Circle has stated no more rebuilds unless and until a new version of the (D&D) rules is released...
Madfox11 10-12-06, 07:25 AM	Which is why those feats will be Limited at best ;) Seriously, anything that allows for essentially unlimited casting of spell-like effects will not (should not?) be allowed, IMO.[15th level mage thinking to himself...] Hmmm.... I could cast my fire storm spell and deal 15d6 to all my enemies once today, or I could hold off and cast an 8d6 mini-fireball an unlimited number of times today... And get a +1 boost to my caster level for any other fire spell I cast... There are several reasons why this particular feat do not worry me. First of all, from a combat perspective a wizard should definitely pick the 10d6x1.5 empowered, heightened fireball above the 8d6 version. You want to kill your opponents as quickly as possible since each living opponent means one more round of pain (especially at high APL). 8d6 with a low DC for 1/2 damage is really weak at APL 10+. Secondly, being able to cast a spell unlimited times per day is only powerful if you actually get into long drawn out fights that drain all your resources. How often does that actually happen? Thirdly, from a fun perspective, making sure the wizard can always cast spells is actually a great idea. It makes sure that PCs are much less likely to rest after the first fight simply because the wizard is out of good spells, which is one of the most heard complaints by DMs I have heared on the various message boards I visit. In fact, Monte Cook stated that if there is one thing he would have done differently on retrospect it would be to give wizards more things like the eldritch blast of the warlock: abilities they could use an unlimited amount of time. I would be more worried about the use of such a feat on 10 min/level buff spells, although considering WotC places various mass spells at +2 levels, it also fits the bill... As for the real question at hand, virtually all new products that do not include completely new rule sets (such as Tome of Magic and The Book of Nine Swords) are limited. A few of the new books probably become integrated into the LGCS (PHB II being a likely candidate), but that is a discussion we will hold in a couple of months ;) Pieter Sleijpen RPGA Living Greyhawk Circle Member The Splintered Suns
JohnduBois 10-12-06, 12:00 PM	Where the reserve feats become powerful is at lower levels. With the mini-Fireball feat people are talking about, you can choose to use those 1 or 2 Scorching Rays you prepped as a 3rd-level caster - or you can prep one and do 2d6 damage to something every round. It's a no-brainer in the same way that the heightened empowered fireball is for the 15th level caster, as the spell slots are much more precious for lower-level arcane casters.
pedr 10-12-06, 12:29 PM	I've not seen the text of the feats yet, but from my point of view it has far better flavour for a 3rd level wizard or sorcerer to be throwing 2d6 (save for 1/2?) magic each round instead of running out of spells and then reaching for the trusty light crossbow. In game terms there's not much difference: 2d6 is better than 1d8, and if the effect is area or ranged-touch then that's an advantage, but then you are forgoing the casting of a powerful spell to get this round-on-round ability. And remember, you have to spend a feat to be able to do this, so you're choosing between that and sculpted grease or craft wonderous item, or all the other very very useful things that wizards and (to an even greater extent) sorcerers have to spend feats on.
Arvagor 10-12-06, 04:05 PM	8d6 with a low DC for 1/2 damage is really weak at APL 10+.It's actually not a low DC at all. According to the way the [Reserve] feats work, the save DC is set by the level of the spell that has been kept in reserve. So if the mage is setting aside the previously mentioned fire storm to power the feat, then the save DC is at least a DC 22 -- 10 + 8 (spell level) + 4 (Int bonus @ minimum of Int 18 to cast an 8th level spell). Since they are designated as a supernatural ability (Su), the have the following benefits: - don't require material components - can be activated even if bound and gagged - can't be countered or dispelled - arcane spell failure chance doesn't apply - unaffected by spell resistance I'm not saying that they aren't weaker than the reserved spell -- they are, and Complete Mage even points this out in a sidebar (probably 2-3 levels weaker, it states) -- just that the ability they granted seems incredibly high-powered compared to existing feats that are purported to grant very similar abilities (see Innate Spell, in Complete Arcane, as I pointed out earlier) Secondly, being able to cast a spell unlimited times per day is only powerful if you actually get into long drawn out fights that drain all your resources. How often does that actually happen?Well, I do know some players who have certain PCs that they only play them in battle interactives, an ideal scenario for their use... Thirdly, from a fun perspective, making sure the wizard can always cast spells is actually a great idea. [...] In fact, Monte Cook stated that if there is one thing he would have done differently on retrospect it would be to give wizards more things like the eldritch blast of the warlock: abilities they could use an unlimited amount of time.Pieter, sounds to me like we have an advocate on the Circle for getting the Warlock to be a playable class? ;) I would be more worried about the use of such a feat on 10 min/level buff spells, although considering WotC places various mass spells at +2 levels, it also fits the bill...None of the [Reserve] feats actually lets you "swap" a higher level spell for an unlimited lower level spell; I simply used the phrase "mini-fireball" as a way to describe the effect that Fiery Burst generates ("... a 5 foot burst of fire at a range of 30 feet"). For example, "Aquatic Breath" grants the following: "As long as you have a water spell of 3rd level or higher available to cast, you can breathe normally in both air and water. ...". Some of the [Reserve] feats grant damage dealing abilities (Fiery Burst), some are defensive (Dimensional Jaunt), some improve movement (Borne Aloft), some grant enhancements (Blade of Force), etc.