If you haven't heard, (and you might have), we'll be getting a D&DI exclusive class in September 2009: the Assassin (complete with a new power source -- probably Shadow)!
Additionally, on the 15th of this month (June 2009), we get a D&DI exclusive undead race: the Revenant! Both the Revenant and the Assassin have been promised to only appear in Dragon Magazine and only for subscribers, though whether or not that means they'll eventually be published in Dragon Annual 2010, I don't know.
Finally, next month (July 2009), we get our first playable preview of finished material from PH3: one complete build for the new Psion class! (I probably don't have to point out that it's probably Psionic. :P) This material won't be available in stores until March 2010.
D&DI rocks!
Finally, next month (July 2009), we get our first playable preview of finished material from PH3: one complete build for the new Psion class! (I probably don't have to point out that it's probably Psionic. :P) This material won't be available in stores until March 2010.
There is absolutely no evidence in that article to support your claim that the psion is psionic.:P
It's actually of the Black Pudding source.
Are we talking about the blood sausage black pudding or the relative of the gelatinous cube black pudding? Either way, that makes the class seem like nightmare fuel right there.:P
Are we talking about the blood sausage black pudding or the relative of the gelatinous cube black pudding? Either way, that makes the class seem like nightmare fuel right there.:P
Both. :D
There is absolutely no evidence in that article to support your claim that the psion is psionic.:P
"As a D&D Insider, you're going to get to start playing with the psionic power source way earlier than the rest of the D&D gaming world. In July, the psion player character class debuts, complete and fully loaded in theD&D Character Builder so you can dive right in and start making psion characters for your next game session"
Read closer.
"As a D&D Insider, you're going to get to start playing with the psionic power source way earlier than the rest of the D&D gaming world. In July, the psion player character class debuts, complete and fully loaded in theD&D Character Builder so you can dive right in and start making psion characters for your next game session"
Read closer.
Both. :D
I'm scared.:P "As a D&D Insider, you're going to get to start playing with the psionic power source way earlier than the rest of the D&D gaming world. In July, the psion player character class debuts, complete and fully loaded in theD&D Character Builder so you can dive right in and start making psion characters for your next game session"
Read closer.
We already can play with the psionic power source before the rest of the world due to the monk. The psion using the martial power source would not change that in the slightest. I was of course just joking around earlier(as I hold no delusions that the psion isn not psionic), but that doesn't mean that I was lying when I said that either.
I really hope that the psion preview gets an actual article and not a D&D Character Builder only thing.
I wouldn't be surprised to see it talked about in a corresponding Design & Developments article.
I wouldn't be surprised to see it talked about in a corresponding Design & Developments article.
Eh. Poop. I just want something to use at the table.
There is absolutely no evidence in that article to support your claim that the psion is psionic.:P
I'm placing a bet on Chi (its not Ki!), for him and the Assassin.
Keeping the name Psion means drawing maaany players far from the class, because of the "sci-fi" sound of it. Even Psychic would have been better than Psion, for the masses.
Assassin is a bad change because it is a profession, not a class. A warlock can be an assassin (hell, they often are), a wizard can be an assassin. So why call a class "Assassin"? Want to get rid of the name Ninja? Brainstorm more than 5 minutes and come up with something more creative than Assassin. I know it's also a D&D legacy, but please, 4e is about destroying meaningless legacies, and now I feel like it's reaching that kind of state many legendary videogame series reach, where they start playing with cameos from previous editions way too pervasively.
Originally Posted by Ranadiel View Post
There is absolutely no evidence in that article to support your claim that the psion is psionic.Originally Posted by vikentushka View Post
"As a D&D Insider, you're going to get to start playing with the psionic power source way earlier than the rest of the D&D gaming world. In July, the psion player character class debuts, complete and fully loaded in theD&D Character Builder so you can dive right in and start making psion characters for your next game session"
Read closer.
Hahahahah!! :D
Assassin is a bad change because it is a profession, not a class. A warlock can be an assassin (hell, they often are), a wizard can be an assassin. So why call a class "Assassin"? Want to get rid of the name Ninja? Brainstorm more than 5 minutes and come up with something more creative than Assassin. I know it's also a D&D legacy, but please, 4e is about destroying meaningless legacies, and now I feel like it's reaching that kind of state many legendary videogame series reach, where they start playing with cameos from previous editions way too pervasively.
Do you realize how many of the other class names fall into the exact same problem? For starters, fighter. Every class is a fighter because they are all people who fight. Next up is barbarian, and basically every single person in the game is a barbarian because they aren't Roman citizens(or was it Greek citizens....bah I forgot). Rogue, pretty much anyone can be that(and most villians you face probably are). Avenger.....I'm not even sure where to begin with that one. Since I don't feel like listing off every single class in the game(and I'm sure I could make an argument for almost all of them if I tried), I'm going to stop there. Just remember Assassin is no where near as bad as some of the class names.The Psion is a very vague and generic name for a Psionic class. It feels a bit to me like having a Martial class called the Martial, or a Primal class called the Primalion.
You mean a martial class called the marshal.
The Psion is a very vague and generic name for a Psionic class. It feels a bit to me like having a Martial class called the Martial, or a Primal class called the Primalion.
Agreed. I'd expect WotC has had to chop up and divide out the abilities of the old psion across multiple psionic classes, much like how the old druid was divided out amongst the primal classes. Unlike with the druid though, I don't feel that the name psion has any weight on its own. Back when it was a ketch all for all the various powers attributed to psionics it was a good name. Now that all those abilities have hopefully been divided among multiple classes I would have preferred to see the name dropped in favor of the titles of the various psionic disciplines.
All that said, I'm not particular upset or surprised by this revelation. The name psion has a certain amount of legacy to it, even if I personally find the value of that legacy to be dubious at best.
The Wizard is a very vague and generic name for an Arcane class. It feels a bit to me like having a Martial class called the Fighter, or a Divine class called the Cleric.
Fixed it for you, :p
Fixed it for you, :p
Actually, it would be more like Arcanist for Arcane and Divinity for Divine. : p
Fixed it for you, :p
Yours,
Lord Dreadman
What are you people talking about!? The news that we're finally getting the Marshal, mentioned above, is the most exciting news. This means my theory of the 2010 campaign setting being the old west is true!
Obvious absurdities aside, I actualy find that the concept of cowboys vs. dragons could be rather cool.
Obvious absurdities aside, I actualy find that the concept of cowboys vs. dragons could be rather cool.
A big part of me wants the new setting to be Wild Wild West & Dragons.
As for the assassin, I'm sure they just kept the name for tradition's sake. If i'm not mistaken, this will be the first time since 1E that we have assassin as a base class. In fact, once psionics comes out this will be the first time that we will have the entire set of basic classes from 1E since...well...1E.
That being said, I had thought that the Psion would be split up into two classes (with one taking the subtle mind control and what not, and the other taking up the telekinesis and pyrokinesis). But that's really no big deal...and revenants promise to be very interesting.
Assassin, Revenant, and Psion, Oh My!
you left out that last part ;)
That being said, I had thought that the Psion would be split up into two classes (with one taking the subtle mind control and what not, and the other taking up the telekinesis and pyrokinesis).
It's entirely possible that that may be the case, with ONE of them called the "Psion" class.
Personally, I expect it to be more like different builds of the same class, as opposed to separate classes.
Ah...this is amazing. As someone who was extremely disappointed (at least at first) that the shadow power source was being delayed and as someone who was extremely annoyed by ThaX's insistence that "this is a game about heroes, not anti-heroes" I am overjoyed by the arrival of the assassin.
thaX does that to a lot of people... :P
That being said, I had thought that the Psion would be split up into two classes (with one taking the subtle mind control and what not, and the other taking up the telekinesis and pyrokinesis). But that's really no big deal...and revenants promise to be very interesting.
I suspect Psions likely have been split up into multiple classes, and one of them kept the name. (Something similar happened to Clerics and especially Druids from 3E to 4E.) I think that next to Arcane, Psionic is destined to be the next most bloated power source, given that there's a good six or seven different class concepts one can think of, just using previous editions as inspiration.
you left out that last part ;)
I'm on that like a fly on crap!
I suspect Psions likely have been split up into multiple classes, and one of them kept the name. (Something similar happened to Clerics and especially Druids from 3E to 4E.) I think that next to Arcane, Psionic is destined to be the next most bloated power source, given that there's a good six or seven different class concepts one can think of, just using previous editions as inspiration.
Yeah, it's practically confirmed that the psionic leader, named by developers some time ago the "Empath" (maybe renamed to Telepath? I hope not), is going to eat up some of the old psion, in the same fashion of the Druid - Shaman split of course. Mainly psychometabolism for healing and telepathy, I guess.
What I'm criticizing is that "Psion" as a name is much less attractive than, for example, Empath. Again, like for the Assassin, I guess it's not easy to find another name, but I feel in the case of the Psion it was really necessary, because it could throw off people not only from the class but from the whole psionic power source. Finding a more suggestive name was an opportunity to give credibility to the psionic power source among the "purists" of high-fantasy-only games. After all an "empath" fits in much more, as an individual who simply "supernaturally empathizes", perfect for figures like fragile but noble-of-heart and group-cohesive women, just to say one common fantasy archetype. A psionic leader based on empathy is actually the "class" most women in this planet chose since first level :-)
What are you people talking about!? The news that we're finally getting the Marshal, mentioned above, is the most exciting news. This means my theory of the 2010 campaign setting being the old west is true!
.....Quick someone get me a pen, a writing assistant(or ten), and every western ever made. We're making the fantasy equivilent of Firefly!:D
http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=4803
You mean a martial class called the marshal.
And here I was thinking that the power source being called Martial got them to change Marshal.
Obvious absurdities aside, I actualy find that the concept of cowboys vs. dragons could be rather cool.
Indeed. It reminds me of a Stargate episode. A Stargate episode that I loved!
Archaon: "Empath" fits ... perfect for figures like fragile but noble-of-heart and group-cohesive women, just to say one common fantasy archetype.
Not just women. Jesus, Baldur, Professor X, Avatar and others are also fragile noble-of-heart group-cohesive archetypes.
Not just women. Jesus, Baldur, Professor X, Avatar and others are also fragile noble-of-heart group-cohesive archetypes.
I had forgot Jesus himself, oh my... I don't remember the story of Baldur though, gonna look in wikipedia.
Not just women. Jesus, Baldur, Professor X, Avatar and others are also fragile noble-of-heart group-cohesive archetypes.
I had forgot Jesus himself, oh my... I don't remember the story of Baldur though, gonna look in wikipedia.
Obvious absurdities aside, I actualy find that the concept of cowboys vs. dragons could be rather cool.
Cowboys on Dragons is a better idea though.
you that there is a pen and paper firefly right?
http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=4803
.....Yes but that isn't the fantasy equivilent of Firefly. It is the sci-fi equivilent of Firefly which is called Firefly that lacks Deva, Dragonborn, and Genasi.
Not sure how they're gonna explain the revnant tie-in with the Raven Queen (she's all about stamping out undead, after all); it should be interesting. Never paid assassins much attention (as a class at least). They've always had a place in D&D, so I can live with 'em. It will be interesting to see yet another take.
I doubt this stuff will stay exclusive (in the long run). I mean we're bound to see something in a D&D hardcover eventually. For right now though, I'm just happy for that good ol' feeling once again ;).
Not sure how they're gonna explain the revenant tie-in with the Raven Queen (she's all about stamping out undead, after all); it should be interesting. Never paid assassins much attention (as a class at least). They've always had a place in D&D, so I can live with 'em. It will be interesting to see yet another take.
I think that the Raven Queen allows revenants to go back and take care of unfinished business if their story is good enough or on the condition that they do something for her.
I played an assassin for a few years before he multi-classed into a cleric of Cyric and went insane. It was alot of fun.
Bel
At least this seems like the most obvious solution to me.
The revenants are likely those who died but something in themselves keeps them from passing over so the Raven Queen gives them a new body so they can hopefully find their peace in time and pass on.
This could explain why they don't remember much of their past life, and don't resemble their living body. It would also explain why they start over at level 1 and maybe even a different class.
Obvious absurdities aside, I actualy find that the concept of cowboys vs. dragons could be rather cool.
I am running that exact game right now. See: http://plothook.net/RPG/showthread.php?t=16744
After all an "empath" fits in much more, as an individual who simply "supernaturally empathizes", perfect for figures like fragile but noble-of-heart and group-cohesive women, just to say one common fantasy archetype.
So maybe D&D will finally have the option to play a Staff Chick? ;)
(Yeah, yeah, the article does specifically mention Goldmoon, but they shoehorned her into that, her class didn't really fit the concept out of the box.)
The Raven Queen is mostly opposed to souls forced back to the world as undead, and those who wish to cheat death (liches and such).
I thought she was just opposed to souls coming under the control of anyone but her. The only real beef she has with Orcus is that he's after her job.
In fact, the latest fluff I read (in some preview, I forget which) has her being rather PO'd that the other gods wouldn't let her keep Nerull's whole portfolio, and that she has to let souls pass beyond instead of keeping them under her thumb.
So maybe D&D will finally have the option to play a Staff Chick? ;)
(Yeah, yeah, the article does specifically mention Goldmoon, but they shoehorned her into that, her class didn't really fit the concept out of the box.)
Sir, you must be a warlock, cause you just inflicted a curse upon me. Now I'll have to read EVERYTHING in that magnificent wiki :D
I am running that exact game right now. See: http://plothook.net/RPG/showthread.php?t=16744
This is fantastic. I would love to play in it, but I'm still holding out for an Eberron game to play in.
I thought she was just opposed to souls coming under the control of anyone but her. The only real beef she has with Orcus is that he's after her job.
In fact, the latest fluff I read (in some preview, I forget which) has her being rather PO'd that the other gods wouldn't let her keep Nerull's whole portfolio, and that she has to let souls pass beyond instead of keeping them under her thumb.
From the PH:
Bring down the proud who try to
cast off the chains of fate. As the instrument
of the Raven Queen, you must punish
hubris where you find it.
Thie covers liches and other undead who deliberately try to stay around past their alotted time, but would also cover those who seek immortality without undeath. She's not opposed to the soul-less undead since there's no soul trapped within.
I must have missed the preview somewhere but I don't see them totally changing the Raven Queen from how she's talked about in the PHB and DMG, just expanding on it more. Of course the DMG doesn't have much to say about her at all other than to call her the Crone, the cutter of the thread of fate and that her domain is within the Shadowfell.
.....Quick someone get me a pen, a writing assistant(or ten), and every western ever made. We're making the fantasy equivilent of Firefly!:D
WOOT! I'm in!
I'm worried that assassins and revenants won't get a lot of support from non-DDI sources, like getting new feats and paragon paths and such.
Why would they? If they are DDI only, and won't be printed anywhere else, adding in feats or paragon paths in printed material would be like a slap in the face to everyone who buys that printed material but doesn't get DDI.
If the Assassin needs some new feats/powers/paragonpaths when the PHB with Shadow comes out, he should get an article in DDI with such updates to coincide with the book's launch.
Why would they? If they are DDI only, and won't be printed anywhere else, adding in feats or paragon paths in printed material would be like a slap in the face to everyone who buys that printed material but doesn't get DDI.
If the Assassin needs some new feats/powers/paragonpaths when the PHB with Shadow comes out, he should get an article in DDI with such updates to coincide with the book's launch.
Doesn't change the fact that they would probably get less support, like gnolls. I'm not arguing their motivations or its implications.
As for the assassin, I'm sure they just kept the name for tradition's sake. If i'm not mistaken, this will be the first time since 1E that we have assassin as a base class. In fact, once psionics comes out this will be the first time that we will have the entire set of basic classes from 1E since...well...1E.
Psionics in 1E (To my memory) were all wild talents, no class.
Psionics in 1E (To my memory) were all wild talents, no class.
Well, then we get the complete 1E set this fall!
Why would they? If they are DDI only, and won't be printed anywhere else, adding in feats or paragon paths in printed material would be like a slap in the face to everyone who buys that printed material but doesn't get DDI.
You mean just like adding feats and paragon paths for the swordmage in Arcane Power is a slap in the face to everyone who buys that book but doesn't get Player's Guide to Forgotten Realms? ;)
You mean just like adding feats and paragon paths for the swordmage in Arcane Power is a slap in the face to everyone who buys that book but doesn't get Player's Guide to Forgotten Realms? ;)
Yes, but only if you're paying a monthly subscription for your Forgotten Realms Player's Guide.
While some may get upset at seeing a DDi-exclusive class/race listed elsewhere it wouldn't be only useful for the DDi content and would allow them to support the DDi content without needing a long list of 'x from book y also works for DDI exlusive z' articles and supplments in DDi.
It would also serve to make people aware that there's stuff out there in DDi without giving them partial rules. Any new books that come out carry the potential of having material from a source the buy doesn't have since not everyone will have the PH2, FRPG, EPG, etc.
Why would they? If they are DDI only, and won't be printed anywhere else, adding in feats or paragon paths in printed material would be like a slap in the face to everyone who buys that printed material but doesn't get DDI.
If the Assassin needs some new feats/powers/paragonpaths when the PHB with Shadow comes out, he should get an article in DDI with such updates to coincide with the book's launch.
Your suggestion at the bottom isn't bad, but the red-highlighted part above is eighteen different kinds of silly.
Yes, but only if you're paying a monthly subscription for your Forgotten Realms Player's Guide.
But you can pay for a single month, at a third of the price of a Player's Handbook and then just download the info. So you don't need to pay for the subscription, and what you do have to pay is less then you had to pay to get any use out of the Bard chapter in Arcane Power. I really fail to see how that qualifies as a slap in the face. Then again I fully expect the Assassin to make it into the Annual, thereby putting it into a hardcover product.
Yes, but only if you're paying a monthly subscription for your Forgotten Realms Player's Guide.
You can buy a month of DDI without a subscription, just like you can by a single book without paying for another one each month.
Then again I fully expect the Assassin to make it into the Annual, thereby putting it into a hardcover product.
Great! Now you've just gone and summoned Thax
Great! Now you've just gone and summoned Thax
Oh, that would be great.