Go to Ampersand to see it for yourself: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dramp/2009June
But to be able to play the Assassin, and to play Revenants, and to play Shadow in general as early as September - I'm glad I'm a subscriber! It's about time that WotC decided they weren't going to **** around!
This is a very good thing.
Since D&Di is core, but separate from the rest of the core, I assume that the core support will come in Dragon articles (since Dragon will be supporting Player Characters, while Dungeon takes up the DM's goodies).
Should be interesting to see how they flesh out the class and I doubt it'll have any alignment restrictions and therefore you can still be good (or even LG) though it'd require a bit more roleplaying to justify it. After all alignment in 4e is more about your intentions and your choice of 'team' more than your actual actions, after all killing an orc in the name of Pelor shouldn't be any less 'evil' than killing a villager by act alone, it's the intent behind the action that matters.
I think the revenant will be aimed more at unaligned due to the tie with the Raven Queen but being 4e they could choose to be any alignment.
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Should be interesting to see how they flesh out the class and I doubt it'll have any alignment restrictions and therefore you can still be good (or even LG) though it'd require a bit more roleplaying to justify it. After all alignment in 4e is more about your intentions and your choice of 'team' more than your actual actions, after all killing an orc in the name of Pelor shouldn't be any less 'evil' than killing a villager by act alone, it's the intent behind the action that matters.
Wrong. Alignment restrictions still exist for divine characters - they must match their deities, lest they be unaligned, whereas they can be of any alignment. What this means for characters who's alignments shift, I can only think that they'd be forced from their religion, and would have to roleplay getting their power in a new way (i.e. a new deity).
Revenants and Assassins most likely won't have true alignment restrictions, but you'll have to work hard to deal with roleplaying a LG Assassin, as you said. I wouldn't be surprised if they heavily suggest in a sidebar that you don't play a G or LG character if you're an Assassin.
Wrong. Alignment restrictions still exist for divine characters - they must match their deities, lest they be unaligned, whereas they can be of any alignment. What this means for characters who's alignments shift, I can only think that they'd be forced from their religion, and would have to roleplay getting their power in a new way (i.e. a new deity).
Revenants and Assassins most likely won't have true alignment restrictions, but you'll have to work hard to deal with roleplaying a LG Assassin, as you said. I wouldn't be surprised if they heavily suggest in a sidebar that you don't play a G or LG character if you're an Assassin.
I worded things poorly. I meant a class isn't restricted in WHOLE to a certain alignment (like Paladins and Druids in older editions). There are clerics of all alignments though their choice of god does limit their alignment. I don't see this as a class-based restriction but a player-choice restriction since the player chooses the diety they wish their cleric to worship.
I think the hurdles on LG (especially more so than G) assassin's will be people's concepts of what an assassin is. Various movies and tv shows have played on this conception, where you have a guy who makes his living killing 'bad people' for a good cause but others and even himself sometimes view him as evil because of the actions instead of the intent.
Unfortunately based on the descriptions of "true assassins" back in Drgaon 373 the upcoming assassin class is probably going to be what I most fear. It's going to be the ninja (melee oriented shadow striker). I can forgive WotC the name, even though I hate it (assassins are killers and nothing about the name implies mystical abilities), but to place such an anticipated archetype as an online subscriber exclusive? It will surely draw in ever more subscribers (and I'm already a commuted subscriber anyway), but I must still protest (see my first disappointment). I just can't realistically see this class ever getting the same kind of support as a PHB class, and the last thing I want to see is for this anticipated concept linger in mediocrity.
I hope that all my worries are unfounded, but at this point prospects look grim. I don't intend to let it spoil my enjoyment of the rest of WotC's fine D&D products, and I fully intend to make the most of it, but that's poor comfort at the moment
Color me disappointed. Firstly, while I love insider exclusive content, an entire class? I just can't imagine that such an exclusive class will ever be able to get the kind of support that it needs to equal the main line classes. Secondly, assassin? I'm all for darker and edgier heroes, but assassins are a rather extreme jump from the typically expected heroic charterer. I guess if there is ever to be a class by the name assassin than DDi is the place for it, but I'm still doubtful that it's a good idea. Finlay, new power source? I hope it isn't shadow. I'm as psyched for the eventual release of shadow as the next guy, but I'm willing to wait until it can get full PHB quality coverage. Further more, I would be exceptionally disappointed to see Assassin as the first installment of the shadow power source.
Unfortunately based on the descriptions of "true assassins" back in Drgaon 373 the upcoming assassin class is probably going to be what I most fear. It's going to be the ninja (melee oriented shadow striker). I can forgive WotC the name, even though I hate it (assassins are killers and nothing about the name implies mystical abilities), but to place such an anticipated archetype as an online subscriber exclusive? It will surely draw in ever more subscribers (and I'm already a commuted subscriber anyway), but I must still protest (see my first disappointment). I just can't realistically see this class ever getting the same kind of support as a PHB class, and the last thing I want to see is for this anticipated concept linger in mediocrity.
I hope that all my worries are unfounded, but at this point prospects look grim. I don't intend to let it spoil my enjoyment of the rest of WotC's fine D&D products, and I fully intend to make the most of it, but that's poor comfort at the moment
Well, since the assassin class won't see any published support, there is still a possibility of a mystic ninja class in the PHB with the shadow power source. If I remember correctly, there was even a comment about the ninja being moved to a new power source. I'm just a little confused about how different they could make a ninja class from an assassin class. Maybe the assassin will be more focused on dark arts and killing while the ninja will be more focused on stealth and mobility (my problem with rogue = ninja is that rogues aren't stealthy enough, they need something like the warlock shadow step ability to be good ninja). Anyway, I'm not holding my breath for a separate ninja class, but I wouldn't count it out yet either (I am also looking forward to the assassin's class)
Well, since the assassin class won't see any published support, there is still a possibility of a mystic ninja class in the PHB with the shadow power source. If I remember correctly, there was even a comment about the ninja being moved to a new power source.
I hope so, but I now have doubts.
I'm just a little confused about how different they could make a ninja class from an assassin class.
THIS!
A class is just a package of abilities and has no fluff forced on it.
Septemeber? 6th by any chance? Really a good brithday present.
Couldn't agree more. :D
9/6!
Couldn't agree more. :D
9/6!
Doubtful. September 6th is a Sunday this year, which doesn't quite mesh with the currant article release schedule (unless you count the midnight update as the day rolls over to the 7th).
I'm more of a 9/28 guy myself, anyway (though as the last monday of the month that will be the compiled release, which is also good).
I really like the idea of the assassin but what I wonder is how they are going to do the striker damage (if we take it as fact that it is a striker, though it may not be). I worry that they will just copy the rogue's damage... no, what I worry about is how they are going to make it distinct. Only from stealth?
$20 says thaX is going to have a stroke.
More like an aneurysm from arguing til a blood vessel blows that since it's in Dragon, it doesn't count and isn't real.
I could see the Assassin being almost a Leader/Striker then anything. The Assassin can influence/trick enemies using his appearance altering, if he himself can move through walls then perhaps he can move enemies and or allies as well, the ability to manipulate shadows could cover allies and give them combat advantage and such, or blind enemies.
I could see the fluff/concept of the Assassin moving around the idea that he shoves aside/manipulates enemies to force them aside so he can focus on his primary assassination target.
More like an aneurysm from arguing til a blood vessel blows that since it's in Dragon, it doesn't count and isn't real.
Well, last I saw hi he was asking "what is this assassin [...] you are talking about?" I just replied so it won't take long to see how he reacts.
EDIT: Here it is:
Wow... a class that is not needed. Glad it is in the DDi and not infecting the PHB or a Setting Player's Guide. Hope it stays there.
Assassin's is a narrow defining class that is evil in nature and has a job that any class can do.
Anyone can kill targets for money. I also have my doubts for an Assassin that is at 1st level, the talents and expertise needing a lot more skill than a 1st level character.
The PP's is a better way to go, and it fits the Rogue to a T.
Well, last I saw hi he was asking "what is this assassin [...] you are talking about?" I just replied so it won't take long to see how he reacts.
EDIT: Here it is:
Yup. Typical thax black and white is the one true way rants in progress.
And the Assassin class will "embrace the dark side of being a hero." Looks like thaX and I were wrong about this being a game designed purely for heroes. But then again, Gnolls, Revenants, and Assassins aren't being reprinted elsewhere.
thaX gets a lot of stuff wrong. Ask him about Dragonborn and Half-Orcs. (Here's a hint: he thinks they're the same. :P)
Out of curiosity, can you confirm that they said Gnolls wouldn't be republished elsewhere? I did see the note about Revenant and Assassin being exclusive, but I can't remember about the Gnoll. (Currently, I'm also assuming that "won't be reprinted/republished elsewhere" excludes the Dragon Magazine Annual, which is really just a hard copy of the best of the magazine.)
And the Assassin class will "embrace the dark side of being a hero." Looks like thaX and I were wrong about this being a game designed purely for heroes.
This is a very good thing.
Well, I believe Zoe from Firefly/Serenity fame said it best:
Do you know what the definition of a hero is? Someone who gets other people killed. You can look it up later.
A totally baseless rumour just for fun: I heard that the Assassin is going to be the often sought Martial Controller!
Well, I believe Zoe from Firefly/Serenity fame said it best:
A totally baseless rumour just for fun: I heard that the Assassin is going to be the often sought Martial Controller!
Lol that would have worked if they'd not said that along with the class is the 'new' power source it is part of, all bets are on shadow (especially with the earlier Dragon article sidebar about 'true assassins').
thaX gets a lot of stuff wrong. Ask him about Dragonborn and Half-Orcs. (Here's a hint: he thinks they're the same. :P)
I refuse to believe in this level of stupidity.I'm so happy that Assassin and Revenant are exlusive tbh I was getting a bit fed up when I realised they where re-printing the minotaur (not so logical) and the warforged (I understand the logic here and so WotC are forgiven). I believe the Assassin will be shadow, but I also believe it will be receiving support through the magazines with class articles and the such.
Its a good time to be a subscriber me thinks.
Ask around, brothah! Lots of people saw it; it went on for months, in a variety of threads.
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1075956
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1098288
http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=18496480&postcount=210 <-- From less than a month ago.
I'm also 100% certain that more exist, but you'll have to find them on your own.