The only thing I really new about Hammerfast was from the DMG and the podcast game sessions. It really surpised me. It totally expanded my view on Gruumsh. And Hammerfast totally reminded me to the excavated city from R A Salvatore's The Orc King.
As for the PHB3, I'm a big old school aesthetic guy. I've never been a fan of drow PCs, dragonmen PCs, infernal/tiefling PCs, the Gith or any other "monstrous" PCs.
Reading the race descriptions in the PHB3 definitley made me want to loosen up on that.
What I don't understand is why the product catalogue lists them as not yet available. Harrowing Halls was also on the shelf, but I want to see some picures or video of the 3d tiles before I grab it.
I love the expanded Hybrid Class rules that includes every class released to date.
And boy can that Strength secondary Monk can sure put out the damage to a single target.
I was a bit weirded out, as the release is two weeks away. I thought maybe that particular store had a street date mishap, but i guess not.
Apparently there is now such a thing as "Premiere Stores" who are allowed to release the books more than a week early...
I was a bit weirded out, as the release is two weeks away. I thought maybe that particular store had a street date mishap, but i guess not.
Apparently there is now such a thing as "Premiere Stores" who are allowed to release the books more than a week early...
Or stores are releasing early no matter what. I know this used to be a big issue, don't know if it still is.
Yeah, i got to see the new player's handbook today. A buddy of mine picked it up at our CLGS. I was a bit weirded out, as the release is two weeks away. I thought maybe that particular store had a street date mishap, but i guess not. I was actually coming to the forum to see if it had happened to anyone else :P I gotta say i like the Shardmind though. Another "construct" race is pretty sweet, and i love the concept of crystalline life.
Wizards has changed release policy. Any CLGS that falls under the "Core" status or higher with regards to the WotC premiere store program now gets new D&D products two weeks in advance, and are allowed to sell said product with that two week head start.
This is WotC's way of ensuring that local gaming stores with gaming space aren't at the severe disadvantage they previously were with regards to big box stores, who ALWAYS release their product the moment their private distribution networks get the product (and my understanding from those working higher up in those big box stores is that unlike some companies, WotC does NOT put a hard release date on those products for such stores...some companies do, however, put notices with their product that early release is a violation of terms, and can lead to contractual breach).
So, get used to it. Brick and mortar LGSs with dedicated gaming space are going to be getting D&D products two weeks before everyone else from now on.
Personally, I think this is a fantastic move on the part of Wizards. Absolutely wonderful.
ETA: I am curious about something, though. Since the product is technically RELEASED, does this mean that it instantly qualifies as legal product to use for LFR?
I could see the store ebeing a premier store. They stock and sell a lot of D&D. They have regular games and run all the organized play events. I hope the books are LFR legal as what's the point of rewarding with organized play with books that can't be use in that very organized play they are being rewarded for?
I really like the shardminds as well. It's definitlely the least human race to be released so far. Atleast Warforged are made by humans/human-like beings and thus have a human-ness about their consciousness, but the Shardminds.. they're literally the living sentience of a shattered gate to the Far Realm.
When I read the backgrounds for them, I knew they were out there. If a human had the Shard Slayer backgrounds, we'd honestly consider him a serial killer.
I know the Wilden were a previewed race, but their presentation in PHB3 really warmed me up to them. I like how they can reproduce both sexually and new ones also emmerge spontaneously out of nature.
Minotaurs are a pretty classic race. While I definitely like them in their monstrous representations, I've been a fan of civilized minotaurs since the old "Kaz the Minotaur" Dragonlance Novel (1990). The times I've run games with Minotaurs in them, it's always worked out fine. A minotaur who acts noble and serene definitely puts people in a state of rest because of the pastoral assocation with cattle, whom many, many humans are already comfortable with. They'd certainly be accepted more readily than a dragonman or a devilman. All it takes is getting over the initial reaction.
I love the widening of the stat bonuses a Minotaur can take. Str/Con or Str/Wis is far better than the inflexible Str/Con.
Githzerai. I don't know too much about what was done with them in 3rd edition, but they are the creatures I like least as PC races of those in a PHB so far. It might be my Darksun prejudice where the Gith are a single race and definitely play a monstrous role there. As far as appearances and the way they act, the Githzerai are definitely not very monstrous.
Wizards has changed release policy. Any CLGS that falls under the "Core" status or higher with regards to the WotC premiere store program now gets new D&D products two weeks in advance, and are allowed to sell said product with that two week head start.
ETA: I am curious about something, though. Since the product is technically RELEASED, does this mean that it instantly qualifies as legal product to use for LFR?
Is there a way to find out what stores these are online? I live in the Bay Area, and we have three very big games stores that run big LFR games sessions every week. You can find a LFR game almost any day of the week, and I have not heard of this. I would think they would let us know, so they can sell their product. I these stores don't qualify as Core CLGS stores I don't know what would.
For example, if you're going to spend a feat to take Leather Armor Proficiency, you can instead take a feat that simply gives you +2 AC to cloth and no armour. Some might say this creates the same problem the Avenger had when they could use their Armour of Faith with Leather and Hide, but I think it was the Hide thing that went over the top, not leather.
I love the staff/polearm feat that gives you a +1 shield bonus to AC and Reflex for using one of those weapons.
Avenger with Improved Armor of Faith, +2 AC with Cloth and the Polearm AC bonus = nice. 22 (or even 23) AC at level 2. Wow. I guess that's back!
Stone Fist Fury of Blows - Nothing like 5 + Str damage you can apply to the same target as you hit with the attack or 3 + Str mod on another creature. Definitley a damage rider worthy of a striker.
Psionics -- the big thing of PHB3. I've been a fan of Psionics in D&D since Darksun was original published back in 1991. I was a little wary of it befor ethen, but Darksun showed me how it could fit on a larger scope.
The 4E implementation of psionics is by far the best so far. I don't know too much about 3.x psionics, but I love that finally-- FINALLY, it's just completely integrated into the basic mechanics of the game.
What's your overall impression of the product? I had put it out of my mind (and my pre-orders) because I thought it was coming out in April.
How's the Hammerfast poster map? Does it have a lot of utility, or is it really specific locations? Is it compatible with the tiles at all (like, if it portrays any kind of "urban" area, would the Streets of Shadow tiles work with it at all)?
What's your overall impression of the product? I had put it out of my mind (and my pre-orders) because I thought it was coming out in April.
One side of the map is a map of the city. It's in reduced scale with small squares. Excellent for general position plotting during urban adventuring, but the wrong scale for combat.
The other side is one specific building. Looks like some sort of inn/ale hall. There's a main floor and an upper balcony type level.
I would have prefered a street map with 6 or so buildings rather than one larger building with maps for two floors.
I *love* postermaps. So I'm happy with it. It's not going tobe universally useful as an urban map to plunk down. Had such a map been included with the ~$27 adventures that have come with one map, I'd have been very disappointed. Being that it was a $15 product, I don't feel so bad.
The overall product is decent. The interior booklet is entirely black and white. If you look at the detailing of Fallcrest in the back of the DMG1, you'll see the kind of content that's in there. But it's larger. There's 50 "key locations" detailed rather than Fallcrest's 29. The booklet makes up 32 pages.
1 - cover, credits and picture of the city.
2-4 history, general information
5-6 overview of the surrounding area
7 Important figures in Hammerfast
8-20 The 50 Key Locations
21-22 The Foundation Stone (the tavern on the map)
23-25 A level by level list of villians/quests/ideas that would take you through the heroic tier
26-31 Descriptions of the main bad guys and whatnot for the campaign
32 Other ideas for Hammerfast adventures.
As you might imagine, having a 10 level campaign described over 10 pages can't be very in depth. It's certainly an interesting framework/jumping off point. There's not really a mini adventure like Kobold Hall, but there is more general information.
Review: I'm glad I bought it and will find a use for it. If Wizards keeps putting out $15 items that come with a 32 page booklet and a poster map, I'll keep buying them. Hammerfast is very self contained and portable and can be plunked in to almost any world.
The close proximity of Orcs and Dwarves and Followers of Gruumsh and Moradin living in such close proximity with violence only sort of broiling over rather than out and out war reminds me a lot of the political situation in real world Jerusalem. There's definitely a lot of potentail in such a situation.
Sounds like a good product. I'm looking forward to it (even more) now!
How big is the poster map? How much outside area did they leave around the tavern on the map?
The poster map is the same size as the ones that came with Keep on the Shadowfell. Same as the D&D Miniatures poster maps. I think WotC has only been making one size.
The tavern side has two maps on it, first floor and second floor of the tavern. There's exactly one square of space around the outside of the tavern.
I got to check the PH3 out last night, so far I think it's the worst 4E product WotC has published so far.
By what criteria?
It's just more of what the PHB2 was. So if you're looking for a few more races, a new power source, some new classes, sone new feats, Hybrid classes, that's what you get.
I can't really see anything about it that would make it stand out as either the best or the worst.
I got to check the PH3 out last night, so far I think it's the worst 4E product WotC has published so far.
Would you... care to explain why?
It's definitley a melee fighting leader. And you constantly are choosing between two "states" that boost your allies in different ways. Whenever you use a runic power, you choose between the rune of destruction or the rune of protection. When you do so, you enter the state of that ruin until you use another power with the runic keyword or the end of the encounter.
Every power has a different ride for the two states. So you need to be deciding between the benefits of those riders and which state you want to be in. You can't do a rune of destruction power and stay in rune of protection.
It's definitely a tactically interesting class. Definitley not like the cleric or warlord.
ETA: I am curious about something, though. Since the product is technically RELEASED, does this mean that it instantly qualifies as legal product to use for LFR?
More appropriate for the LFR forum... but since the CCG says that material is legal upon release, since these stores are officially able to release material early, then by the campaign rules, yes, it's legal for LFr use.
Would you... care to explain why?
I feel less effort and thought went into the book than others; specifically, the top 5 are: Runepriest(Cleric + Runes = boring, poorly written), Seeker(steps on Warden's toes, Primal X, poorly written), Wilden(E.T., walking contradiction), Battlemind(Psionic X, no writing whatsoever) and Ardent(Psionic X).
It's really just an issue of quality is all; It's a lower quality product.
specifically, the top 5 are: Runepriest, Seeker, Wilden, Battlemind and Ardent.
It's really just an issue of quality is all; It's a lower quality product.
I definitely disagree about the Runepriest. The runic state mechanic is quite elegant and involves a very interesting decision making process where the player is always thinking about the balance between offense and defense and the implication of that choice on one's current action as well as future actions.
Seeker - Another magic archer. When 4E first came out people complained about how their archer-ranger-cleric-mage-whatever of Correlon couldn't be represented in D&D. I think a natural based magic archer fits well in most fantasy settings. Mechanically I think it's fine. Nothing amazing, but certainly as mechanically sound as the PHB1 classes were.
Wilden - I had a very negative reaction to these guys at first. I was like "oh, here we go, another freaky/monster type race for all the "I'm so special players" to choose when they get tired of their drow." I've softened up on them a bit and am beginning to see how I can make them fit. They're interesting enough from a mechanical perspecitve. Having a racial power that you can shift between different expressions make it a bit more versatile for different classes.
Battlemind - It's the 3.x Psychic Warrior in 4e form. It's pretty much what everyone was expecting. I don't see anything unsound in it's mechanics. It's certainly higher quality than the non-defender that was the PHB1 Paladin. Or the PHB1 Star Pact Warlock and his three stat dependancy.
Ardent - This one I'm a bit meh on. Mechanically it's all fine, but another melee leader? Not my first thought when it comes to a psychic leader.
As for quality of product, I bought the PHB1, I gave the PHB2 a pass, and bought PHB3. It's more of the same of what was in PHB2, but it's stuff I'm interested in more (big Darksun fan from when it first came out in 1991, so I like psionics in fantasy). I think about the same amount of effort and thought went into both of the last two PHBs. The Runepriest is an excellent example of design with a lot of thought given to the kind of decisions participants have to make during play.
Given the problems in PHB1 with multiple stat dependancies and other similar issues, I think the design team has given a lot of thought to things since then. If we're picking a TV Trope for PHB3, I'd pick this one:
tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Surp...
Would you... care to explain why?
I feel less effort and thought went into the book than others; specifically, the top 5 are: Runepriest(Cleric + Runes = boring, poorly written), Seeker(steps on Warden's toes, Primal X, poorly written), Wilden(E.T., walking contradiction), Battlemind(Psionic X, no writing whatsoever) and Ardent(Psionic X).
It's really just an issue of quality is all; It's a lower quality product.
How exactly does the Seeker step on the Warden's toes? Thematically, it's a weapon-using controller which is new, and mechanically it's pretty much the opposite of the Warden. Warden's are also all about Guardian forms, whereas the Seeker doesn't have a polymorph mechanic.
And how is the Wilden a contradiction? Personally, it sounds like a pretty interesting race to me (and I like spontaneously choosing between 3 different encounter powers). If it's the aspects that are contradictory, then I'm not sure what the problem is as that's kind of the point.
I don't know enough about the Runepriest to comment yet, but as far as I can tell it's what the battle cleric should have been. It sounds mechanically different from the Cleric, though fluff-wise I can see where you're coming from.
I completely agree with you on the Ardent and Battlemind. There was a lot of speculation about the Psionic Leader being the Empath, and it sounded great (plus there was precedence with the Empath build of the Psion in 3rd edition). Instead we got (in the developer's own words) a Psionic Warlord. And the Battlemind is...I don't even know. Sounds just as boring as the Psychic Warrior was. To be fair though, I can't really think of an archetype that a Psionic defender could fill all that well (re-inventing the Soulknife may have worked better).
Runepriest(Cleric + Runes = boring, poorly written)
Poorly written? We must not have read the same class. I think it is the most interesting in the PHB 3 (from a fluff and mechanics perspective). Saying it's a cleric + runes is a disservice to the class and shows that you gave it a glance at best.
Poorly written? We must not have read the same class. I think it is the most interesting in the PHB 3 (from a fluff and mechanics perspective). Saying it's a cleric + runes is a disservice to the class and shows that you gave it a glance at best.
I didn't like they made them out to be all scholarly, librarian, artisan types; yet their stats do very little to reflect this. I just think it should have been more Unique by making it more of a Archivist or something or just making it a Cleric build.
The Seeker and the Warden; the Seeker seems to have hijacked the Warden's job, I had thought that when the Spirits enlist a brave soul to protect the Natural world from threats, it was called a Warden, but it seems there are two classifications of the same thing with only superficial differences.
The Wilden contradiction; basically comes down to the whole Fey ≠ Primal thing.
And let me just say that I have no problem with the mechanics of anything in the book, that seems to be the only thing that WotC puts any thought into.
The Seeker and the Warden; the Seeker seems to have hijacked the Warden's job, I had thought that when the Spirits enlist a brave soul to protect the Natural world from threats, it was called a Warden, but it seems there are two classifications of the same thing with only superficial differences.
They are as similar as paladins and avengers. One protects the homefront and the other goes out and hunts down threats before they reach home. Yes they are both chosen by primal spirits to protect the world, but both paladins and clerics recieve their powers from recieving divine rights by their church. That doesn't mean the classes are identical fluff wise.
I didn't like they made them out to be all scholarly, librarian, artisan types; yet their stats do very little to reflect this. I just think it should have been more Unique by making it more of a Archivist or something or just making it a Cleric build.
I thought they made them out to be artistic, strong and devoted. I got no sense from the text that their power came from how clever they were with the runes, but from teh runes themselves.
The Seeker and the Warden; the Seeker seems to have hijacked the Warden's job, I had thought that when the Spirits enlist a brave soul to protect the Natural world from threats, it was called a Warden, but it seems there are two classifications of the same thing with only superficial differences.
I got the sense that Wardens defend the Primal from incurssions and Seekers hunt those who have already defiled it. They seem thematically closer to Avengers to me.
The Wilden contradiction; basically comes down to the whole Fey ≠ Primal thing.
I agree here. I think they should have picked one and went with it. I think they are best handled as fey creatures and I'll be chucking out the whole "we've spawned to fight abberations" thing. They'll be full on fey and cousins of Dryads and Nymphs in my games.
The Seeker and the Warden; the Seeker seems to have hijacked the Warden's job, I had thought that when the Spirits enlist a brave soul to protect the Natural world from threats, it was called a Warden, but it seems there are two classifications of the same thing with only superficial differences.
And the fighter, ranger, and warlord are all well trained fighters using only natural abilities with superficial differences by you arguements.
Wardens' are protectors to the Seeker's hunter. They may both be chosen by spirits (much like how some shamans and druids are), but what they are chosen for, and the qualities they are chosen for, are quite different. It's not about where you get your power, all primal characters are given power by the spirits in one way or another, it about how you weild that power that makes classes distinct.
-N
Poorly written? We must not have read the same class. I think it is the most interesting in the PHB 3 (from a fluff and mechanics perspective). Saying it's a cleric + runes is a disservice to the class and shows that you gave it a glance at best.
I didn't like they made them out to be all scholarly, librarian, artisan types; yet their stats do very little to reflect this.
I heard this from someone else, but I think their stats reflect things correctly. From their fluff, I don't get the sense that they're scholarly at all. They may research to try to find a rune to use, but unlike something like arcane magic, the rune magic isn't a serious scholarly pursuit. Arcane is all about magical formulae and wizards pouring over dusty tomes and experimenting to create new spells. Int makes sense from that perspective.
Runepriests (and it's easy to see they really had Dwarves in mind when creating the class especially since they have always been tied to runes even if just in their language) on the other hand toil away in physical labor in apprenticeships to masters. They channel power from the runes rather than manipulate magical forces like an arcane practitioner. Once you know a rune, you know it, you just have to find out what the rune is. You fight on the front lines with weapons and wear heavy armor.
Strength as primary makes much more sense with Con and Wis as secondaries. Con is for Wrathful hammers who channel the runic power in displays of brute force. It makes sense fromt he perspective that they channel more through themselves and have to be heartier to handle the amount of power that passes through them. Wis for Defiant Words indicates they have more restraint in the amount of power they channel as they work to hinder foes instead of making raw displays of power.
That's what I took away from my initial read of it.
Could you go into some more detail on the Shardmind fluff? The idea of a sentient Far Realm gate fragment sounds awesome.
-N
From before the Dawn War, when the gods and primordeals waged war on one another, there was a gate in the Astral Sea. It was alive but sleeping. And an unknown guardian kept everyone from it.
Three gods became curious about the gate. Pelor, Ioun and an unnamed/nameless god [likely Tharziduun in my opinion). Pelor wanted to know what was through the gate because it might be another place where he could banish darkness. Ioun was curious and saw it as hidden knowledge. The distracted the guardian, awoke the gate and looked through it.
What they saw there was beyond even their understanding. They promised one another to never seek out or speak of the gate again. But the nameless god broke his promiss, returned and killed the guardian. He then opened the gate.
The Gate was to the Far Realm. And it's malign energy flooded into reality. It destroyed much of the Astral Sea before Ioun and Pelor destroyed the gate and sealed the passage to the Far Realm.
The Shardminds are being made of the fragments of the Living Gate. As the living gate is beyond space and time, the shards are not just physical but also psychic and living.
While Ioun keeps the passage to the Far Realms sealed, some Shardminds want to restore the gate. There are three schools of thought on the best way to restore the gate. Some want to create a new Living Gate. Some see the way to accomplish this is to contually be elevating themselves until they have the power of gods. A third group believes that Shardmind consciousness returns to the point where the gate existed upon death. So they actively hunt and kill other Shardminds to speed the process of them reforming into the Living Gate.
PH2 was full of win for me. It touched on the classes/races I was missing and then some.
PH3 at least got me a little bit more into psionics, I am more open-minded on psionics in 4th than even before.
I think it's good to allow races to choose between two scores but I fear that races from PH1 and PH2 are now a little behind by not having the same flexibility because honestly PH3 races are on par with the power level of PH1 and PH2 races.
However, my group plays classic fantasy and PH3 is the least "classic" of the PH series.
Shardminds meh, hybrids no thank you plenty of classes to play with already, and the psionic leader won't be for our games. Not that it will be banned, just that I know it won't reach any of my players.
So I like about 50% of the book a lot and about 50% won't be used.
Wizards has changed release policy. Any CLGS that falls under the "Core" status or higher with regards to the WotC premiere store program now gets new D&D products two weeks in advance, and are allowed to sell said product with that two week head start.
ETA: I am curious about something, though. Since the product is technically RELEASED, does this mean that it instantly qualifies as legal product to use for LFR?
Is there a way to find out what stores these are online? I live in the Bay Area, and we have three very big games stores that run big LFR games sessions every week. You can find a LFR game almost any day of the week, and I have not heard of this. I would think they would let us know, so they can sell their product. I these stores don't qualify as Core CLGS stores I don't know what would.
THIS. I have an inexorable need for the Runepriest and need to find one of these stores immediately!
I think the Hybrids are my favorite part of PHB3. Sure, there already are tons of options with the existing classes and all, but there's a few classic fantasy and D&D archetypes that they make possible.
For example, I think now there's lots of options for making the Elf from Mentzer's BECMI D&D.
A third group believes that Shardmind consciousness returns to the point where the gate existed upon death. So they actively hunt and kill other Shardminds to speed the process of them reforming into the Living Gate.
Here we are, born to be a Gate, we're the Portal to the Far Realm?
that doesn't work as a Queen song.
I never did expect DnD to release good class, race, or power fluff.. It almost seems bad enough to be intentional so we would make our own. I love psionics and monks and am curious about all the new options in the PHB3. The price is not going to kill me, but it would be nice if they would stay with this system for longer than D20 since it has more potential. The new utility skill powers are a start to give more out of comabt flavor and they should keep running in that direction. The psionic power source shows that they can still make neat mechanics for classes aswell.
idc about hybrids so I pretty much skipped that chapter but the rest is pure awesome sauce. Superior implements? nice!
My only beef (no offence to the minotaurs) is the lack of psicrystals. I miss having a pet rock.
Also note, the Shardmind are pretty much walking psicrystals.
It's not about where you get your power, all primal characters are given power by the spirits in one way or another, it about how you weild that power that makes classes distinct.
Obviously It's not about where you get your power, they're all from the same power source...
"one way or another", that's what I'm saying needs to be different; the classes relation to the source.
"how you weild that power", I'm going to assume you mean something other than just role, because I believe you need more than just a new role to have a distinct class. Let's assume you mean *what they use their powers for*, the principle of the class if you will.
What sets Divine classes apart, as well as Martial classes, is their principles, each class has a very different purpose and/or philosophy which is even more set apart in the case of Divine once you throw in the differences between the gods; on the other hand, most Divine classes and all the Martial classes have the same relation to the source, with only superficial differences.
What sets Primal classes apart, and Arcane classes, is their relation to the source, they all have different origins that explain why their powers are different; while their principles are either the same, as in the case of Primal where all the classes share the same values, or it has nothing to do with the source like with Arcane where the power is both the means and the end.
And I feel Avengers and Paladins have more contrast than that; same relation to the source, different principles. If the only god you could pick for Divine classes was Melora, then I would agree that they're along the same lines as Seeker and Warden but even then they would not be quite as bad IMO
IMO the whole hunting vs. defending thing is the superficial part; not all Wardens are guardians, some are hunters, vise versa for Seekers.
IMO the whole hunting vs. defending thing is the superficial part; not all Wardens are guardians, some are hunters, vise versa for Seekers.
Well if you are going to apply that logic, then the differences between paladins and avengers are also all superficial because some paladins hunt down enemies of the church and some avengers defend sacred sites.
I'd love (LOVE) to see a Ship or Airship product in this line, with a full map depiction, and the booklet describing the routes and ports the ship uses. Or just one port-city, maybe.
Yeah, i got to see the new player's handbook today. A buddy of mine picked it up at our CLGS. I was a bit weirded out, as the release is two weeks away. I thought maybe that particular store had a street date mishap, but i guess not. I was actually coming to the forum to see if it had happened to anyone else :P I gotta say i like the Shardmind though. Another "construct" race is pretty sweet, and i love the concept of crystalline life.
Wizards has changed release policy. Any CLGS that falls under the "Core" status or higher with regards to the WotC premiere store program now gets new D&D products two weeks in advance, and are allowed to sell said product with that two week head start.
This is WotC's way of ensuring that local gaming stores with gaming space aren't at the severe disadvantage they previously were with regards to big box stores, who ALWAYS release their product the moment their private distribution networks get the product (and my understanding from those working higher up in those big box stores is that unlike some companies, WotC does NOT put a hard release date on those products for such stores...some companies do, however, put notices with their product that early release is a violation of terms, and can lead to contractual breach).
So, get used to it. Brick and mortar LGSs with dedicated gaming space are going to be getting D&D products two weeks before everyone else from now on.
Personally, I think this is a fantastic move on the part of Wizards. Absolutely wonderful.
ETA: I am curious about something, though. Since the product is technically RELEASED, does this mean that it instantly qualifies as legal product to use for LFR?
Wow. Kudos to Wizards for this. Way to know who your bread and butter retailers are.
Honestly, Barnes and Noble/Borders hardly even bother to stock the location books (Underdark et al.), X Power, or campaign settings. The only reason I go there is they tend to get the books earlier than the mom 'n pop places, but with this policy, I can just ignore the big retailers.
As I'm a player in our all dwarven Chaos Scar campaign (with Hammerfast as our 'base') but will definitely buy the booklet, I wonder if there is a section a player can read without possible spoilers (ie common knowledge a resident of the city has).
One questions for everybody who already has the PHB3: Is there any nice character portrait of a male dwarf with shield and hammer (and possibly cloak and Moradin's symbol somewhere)?
Well if you are going to apply that logic, then the differences between paladins and avengers are also all superficial because some paladins hunt down enemies of the church and some avengers defend sacred sites.
That specific difference is superficial, yes...
As I'm a player in our all dwarven Chaos Scar campaign (with Hammerfast as our 'base') but will definitely buy the booklet, I wonder if there is a section a player can read without possible spoilers (ie common knowledge a resident of the city has).
I don't think there's any single section that calls out "This is player knowledge," which is too bad really. That said, a lot of the info won't be a problem if players read it. Have a DM skim it first, and "flag" some things, but a lot of the info is "general info" - or close enough. Not the encounters, of course. And not really the NPCs. But at least some of the stuff in the beginning.
They really should have included a set of Knowledge tables. There's really plenty to go around. After looking it through... I really cannot understand why they didn't include Knowledge check lists.
Otherwise you don't know what people are doing with the setting. It would suck for a player to roll really high, you consult the table and he gets a bunch of info that is not directly related to the DM's current adventure and the players go down an unrelated tangent.
I think the DM would end up doing just as much work making sure any info on those tables fits their campaign as they have to do in coming up with their own.
Is it me or is Hennet the Sorceror in page 215 of the phb3?
I guess it could be him. Though I thought the picture was of a telekenetic psion. Could be wrong though.
What are the Racial choices in stats for the minotaur/githzerai? And, is the minotaur otherwise unchanged from it's previous debut? Thank you.
The Githzerai get +2 WIS and either +2 DEX or +2 INT
I honestly don't know if there's been any changes since the dragon mag article. I've never played a minotaur and only had a minotaur in a game right after 4E came out but before the Dragon article.
It looks the same to me.
Common and another language
+2 Nature & Perception
One additional healing surge
Make a basic attack as an immediate interrupt when you hit 0 HP
+2 AC against opportunity attacks during a charge
Goring Charge encounter power
As I dislike the Gith, I haven't ever paid any attention to them. Don't have any idea if they changed or not.
The minotaur gets +2 STR and either +2 CON or +2 WIS
The Githzerai get +2 WIS and either +2 DEX or +2 INT
I honestly don't know if there's been any changes since the dragon mag article. I've never played a minotaur and only had a minotaur in a game right after 4E came out but before the Dragon article.
It looks the same to me.
Common and another language
+2 Nature & Perception
One additional healing surge
Make a basic attack as an immediate interrupt when you hit 0 HP
+2 AC against opportunity attacks during a charge
Goring Charge encounter power
As I dislike the Gith, I haven't ever paid any attention to them. Don't have any idea if they changed or not.
Cool, thank you for the reply. I'm really looking forward to my copy getting here. Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't ship early and we don't have a good enough store in town to get them yet.
It is because that's a reprint of the "Cloud of Daggers" art from 3E.
> I honestly don't know if there's been any changes since the dragon mag article.
I see the following changes:
They can choose Wis instead of Con as the second +2 stat.
They gain a bonus language.
They gain an additional healing sure.
Ferocity's text is rewritten.
Goring Charge now allows you to use Str, Dex, or Con as its governing stat rather than being fixed to Str.
A few new minotaur racial feats also appear in the PHB3.
I haven't read up on the Battlemind and its PPs enough to give a good assessment of those yet.
and an unnamed/nameless god [likely Tharziduun in my opinion).
That was my thought too. Then I got to wondering exactly where Tharizdun got that "shard of ultimate evil" he used to create the Abyss. And then I realised that we already know that the shard in question was/is a glowing red crystal (because a fragment of it eventually became Asmodeus' "Ruby Rod"). And doesn't "glowing red crystal" sound exactly like what shardminds (and therefore the Living Gate) are made of?
That was when flashing lights and warning claxons started going off in my brain.
and an unnamed/nameless god [likely Tharziduun in my opinion).
That was my thought too. Then I got to wondering exactly where Tharizdun got that "shard of ultimate evil" he used to create the Abyss. And then I realised that we already know that the shard in question was/is a glowing red crystal (because a fragment of it eventually became Asmodeus' "Ruby Rod"). And doesn't "glowing red crystal" sound exactly like what shardminds (and therefore the Living Gate) are made of?
That was when flashing lights and warning claxons started going off in my brain.
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That is awesome. I appreciate this whole "meta plot" thing more and more, it seems.
I really really like that Wizards didn't make a "Campaign Setting" book for their implied/Points of Light setting. It's really awesome to see bits and pieces spread all over the place and how it's all related.
How does the Str Seeker keep his AC up? What's the class feature?
What's fun about the battlemind? Why should I want to play one over a fighter/paladin/swordmage?
What do already existing classes get as fun toys now?
How do superior implements work? Feat? What are some specific ones?
What are the primary/secondary scores for the Runepriest?
Str primary. Con/Wis secondary. It's not a V-class.
How does the Str Seeker keep his AC up?
Spiritbond seekers can use Str in place of Int/Dex for AC in light armour.
What's the class feature?
As above, plus throwing weapons automatically return when thrown, even if they're not enchanted. Plus you get an encounter power that lets you whack (and push) an enemy that misses you in melee as an immediate reaction.
What's fun about the battlemind? Why should I want to play one over a fighter/paladin/swordmage?
Err... pass. Personally, I don't think I would ever play one. But that's mainly because I really like fighters, paladins and swordmages. I'd put the battlemind below even the warden in my "defender classes I'd like to play" list. It's not a bad class as such, but it just seems uninspired compared to many others. It's a fighter with psionic powers.
What do already existing classes get as fun toys now?
Versatile Expertise obsoletes Implement Expertise entirely and makes Weapon Expertise useful only for characters who never use implements and want to do the Weapon Expertise/Weapon Focus/Weapon Mastery thing.
There are a lot of really cool feats in PHB3. My group's staff wizard will be very happy. His AC is going to go through the roof...
How do superior implements work? Feat? What are some specific ones?
You take the Superior Implement Training feat for the specific type of superior implement you want to use and it has to be of a basic type you're already able to use. For example, a wizard could gain access to crystal orbs or rowan wands, but not astral holy symbols.
There are specific types of superior implements, each with a different price and with one or two properties that mark it as distinct from a regular implement of its basic type. For example, accurate rods give a +1 bonus to attack rolls but are otherwise identical to normal unenchanted rods (but cost more, obviously).
Superior implements can be enchanted just like regular implements.