Themes, where do you want them to go? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lizardmage Jul 29, 2010 21:28:37	So we've been seeing the themes for Dark Sun, and the previews have implied they should be sticking around. I would easily say you have a fair amount of generic and specific to dark sun with the setting coming out. So like the topic says, where do you want to see them progress to? Would it better for themes to take a more generic approach say "Academic" "Trickster" etc. Or would you prefer to see more setting specific such as "Wizard of High Sorcery (DL)" "House based themes for Eberron" etc. Last part of the question, what other themes would you like to see? Personally, I'd prefer broad and generic themes, but the thought of setting specific seems fun, especially adding in Paragon Paths that link up with those themes. Granted the generic themes can still have Paragon Paths, but I am thinking of just story based link ups like the Red Wizards of Thay and The Wizard Orders of Dragonlance.
#2 Duke5150 Jul 29, 2010 22:04:28	I'd like to see themes expand out into other settings and general PoL. As to dragonlance, I'v been saying themes work great with that setting since first hearing about them in more detail. Show For example (rough examples) I'v not given this much thought as I'v had no time. Arcane spellcaster - Blackrobe wizard of high sorcery theme - Renegade Hunter Paragon Path (req a WoHs theme) Base class (say a fighter) - Crown/Sword knight theme - Rose knight paragon path. Themes could also be a req for EDs, like Highmage or Grandmaster. Darksun's Elemental ED could require the elemental priest theme. Hell, you could even do something like themes with races, for those folks who like "sub" races. Which would work for settings like dragonlance. Although, that probably won't be met with open arms unless wotc introduces the idea first, so I'll leave it alone.
#3 GMforPowergamers Jul 29, 2010 23:37:17	I really want to see: Knight Dabbler Clergy Mercenary Batman (ok mostly a joke...but only mostly) Tomb raider Spy/Ninja Swashbuckler Theif Scout edit: wizards of the tower, and Knights of the X from dragon lace sound good too
#4 lizardmage Jul 30, 2010 7:45:03	What about Racial themes? Things that help you define/expand on your race. This came up as I was looking through the Wizards Presents previews and their mention on wanting the races to be more then just a choice at the start of the game and matter at higher levels of play.
#5 VaultDweller Jul 30, 2010 8:29:01	I'd like to see more generic themes come first, but once we've got some bases covered, I'd love to see them expand further into themes that have their fluff more tied to specific settings. I doubt that will happen, though.
#6 MacEochaid Jul 30, 2010 21:31:40	I see Knight is going to be a fighter build, which I think was a dumb move. Storywise knight orders would be a great theme for fighters, warlords, and paladins for conventional characters, while swordmages, wardens, battleminds, warpriest clerics, would also have a very welcome space outside of that.
#7 efutch Jul 30, 2010 21:36:32	I really want to see: Knight Dabbler Clergy Mercenary Batman (ok mostly a joke...but only mostly) Tomb raider Spy/Ninja Swashbuckler Theif Scout edit: wizards of the tower, and Knights of the X from dragon lace sound good too All of these. INCLUDING Batman!
#8 Matthew_AC Aug 03, 2010 15:15:52	I love the concept of themes. And while I want to see generic ones for our own Homebrew systems, I'm far from adverse to seeing Eberron or FR - specific themes. Truth be told, I'm hoping and praying that backgrounds and themes get merged together a bit or at least become standard for D&D PC creation going forward.
#9 lizardmage Aug 08, 2010 9:10:58	Hmm well we found out that themes are sticking around and the next phb will include plenty more. I will say that the announcement of a Blacksmith sounds interesting, betting it will be a leader like the Artificer. Still time to wait and see.
#10 Marandahir Aug 08, 2010 11:09:21	Hmm well we found out that themes are sticking around and the next phb will include plenty more. I will say that the announcement of a Blacksmith sounds interesting, betting it will be a leader like the Artificer. Still time to wait and see. I wouldn't assume "Blacksmith" is a class. I'd say it's more likely a Theme. >__> I like it that they're migrating to Nentir.
#11 lizardmage Aug 08, 2010 11:15:18	Hmm well we found out that themes are sticking around and the next phb will include plenty more. I will say that the announcement of a Blacksmith sounds interesting, betting it will be a leader like the Artificer. Still time to wait and see. I wouldn't assume "Blacksmith" is a class. I'd say it's more likely a Theme. >__> I like it that they're migrating to Nentir. Oh it is a theme, it's the only one revealed so far for next year. I'm saying that it's making for an interesting theme. Much better than as a class like the one that was presented in the Dragonlance campaign setting for 3.5. As a theme I am picturing that the Blacksmith will probably be offering more in the way of utility powers then encounter powers.
#12 Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi Aug 08, 2010 11:24:57	Hmm well we found out that themes are sticking around and the next phb will include plenty more. I will say that the announcement of a Blacksmith sounds interesting, betting it will be a leader like the Artificer. Still time to wait and see. I wouldn't assume "Blacksmith" is a class. I'd say it's more likely a Theme. >__> I like it that they're migrating to Nentir. I think LizardMage was saying Blacksmith is a theme. But a very artificer-like theme.
#13 The_Jester Aug 08, 2010 17:06:40	They'll probably end-up in one of the player books due out early next year. But this should totally be preview/playtest material we see early in DDI. It's the kind of thing people will want in their game yesterday, that people have being going "ohhh, I need that for my pirate character" back when they first mentioned them three months ago.
#14 Mcnancy Aug 09, 2010 0:05:58	I'm thinking something like "Trickster" might be a little too vague, Where something like "Jester" is more like what Themes should be for. Themes are for making your character iconic On the other end, "Wizard of X" is too specific, that's more where Paragon Paths come in.
#15 Janx_14 Aug 09, 2010 0:19:09	Pirate, Jester, Duelist, Samurai, 'knight' (mounted guy), Explorer, and all those other classes that dont exist yet that people argue over what class currently represents best because they really are to vague to stand as their own class.
#16 malisteen Aug 09, 2010 10:23:27	I'm hoping for some 'sold your soul for power' themes for non-warlocks that want a bit of that faustian feel without the hassle of multiclassing. Maybe something in Heroes of Shadow? From what little fluff the Assassin has, it sort of sounds like that's the Shadow power source's entire gimmick - you bind a bit of your soul to the shadowfell which lets you carry a piece of that plane around inside of you wherever you go that you can draw on to do shadowy things. That's a great concept for the fluff behind classes within the Shadow poer source, but also could work well as a theme to be used by other classes that want a piece of that flavor.
#17 AvonRekaes Aug 09, 2010 14:38:04	I very much want a slew of Eberron-specific themes, some of which would be usable as generic ones. Namely: Inquisitive, Spy, House Favored, and Thunder Guide The first two can be ported over to other settings with no work, while House Favored (dragonmarked) and Thunder Guide can be used, but maybe with a few fluff changes. (Thunder Guide, for those that don't know, was a PrC in 3.5 for Eberron, and was basically a pulp-adventure guide, that learned tricks based on exotic cultures and locations representing his wide travels. Like a Horizon Walker, except his powers were based on indigenous cultures instead of planes of existance.) Also, I want to see a theme like True Believer (for a non-ordained but divine character), which would be good for any setting that has Gods.
#18 Caeric Aug 09, 2010 14:50:00	Themes and Backgrounds occupy an overlapping aspect of character. As such, a great amount of the massive armada of existing Backgrounds would work as Themes too. And y'know, that's sort of how I see it. Themes are a better implementation of Backgrounds. Or, perhaps like multiclass and hybrid, one is more in-depth than the other.
#19 AvonRekaes Aug 09, 2010 15:29:45	Oh, right, I forgot another quasi-generic Eberron Theme I'd like to see. Something like "Adventuring Scholar". Like the iconinc Indiana Jones, who was an Adventuring Archeologist.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

lizardmage

Jul 29, 2010 21:28:37

So we've been seeing the themes for Dark Sun, and the previews have implied they should be sticking around. I would easily say you have a fair amount of generic and specific to dark sun with the setting coming out. So like the topic says, where do you want to see them progress to?

Would it better for themes to take a more generic approach say "Academic" "Trickster" etc. Or would you prefer to see more setting specific such as "Wizard of High Sorcery (DL)" "House based themes for Eberron" etc.

Last part of the question, what other themes would you like to see?

Personally, I'd prefer broad and generic themes, but the thought of setting specific seems fun, especially adding in Paragon Paths that link up with those themes. Granted the generic themes can still have Paragon Paths, but I am thinking of just story based link ups like the Red Wizards of Thay and The Wizard Orders of Dragonlance.

Duke5150

Jul 29, 2010 22:04:28

I'd like to see themes expand out into other settings and general PoL. As to dragonlance, I'v been saying themes work great with that setting since first hearing about them in more detail.

Show

For example (rough examples) I'v not given this much thought as I'v had no time.
Arcane spellcaster - Blackrobe wizard of high sorcery theme - Renegade Hunter Paragon Path (req a WoHs theme)
Base class (say a fighter) - Crown/Sword knight theme - Rose knight paragon path.

Themes could also be a req for EDs, like Highmage or Grandmaster. Darksun's Elemental ED could require the elemental priest theme.

Hell, you could even do something like themes with races, for those folks who like "sub" races. Which would work for settings like dragonlance. Although, that probably won't be met with open arms unless wotc introduces the idea first, so I'll leave it alone.

GMforPowergamers

Jul 29, 2010 23:37:17

I really want to see:

Knight
Dabbler
Clergy
Mercenary
Batman (ok mostly a joke...but only mostly)
Tomb raider
Spy/Ninja
Swashbuckler
Theif
Scout

edit: wizards of the tower, and Knights of the X from dragon lace sound good too

lizardmage

Jul 30, 2010 7:45:03

What about Racial themes? Things that help you define/expand on your race.

This came up as I was looking through the Wizards Presents previews and their mention on wanting the races to be more then just a choice at the start of the game and matter at higher levels of play.

VaultDweller

Jul 30, 2010 8:29:01

I'd like to see more generic themes come first, but once we've got some bases covered, I'd love to see them expand further into themes that have their fluff more tied to specific settings. I doubt that will happen, though.

MacEochaid

Jul 30, 2010 21:31:40

I see Knight is going to be a fighter build, which I think was a dumb move. Storywise knight orders would be a great theme for fighters, warlords, and paladins for conventional characters,

while swordmages, wardens, battleminds, warpriest clerics, would also have a very welcome space outside of that.

efutch

Jul 30, 2010 21:36:32

I really want to see:

Knight
Dabbler
Clergy
Mercenary
Batman (ok mostly a joke...but only mostly)
Tomb raider
Spy/Ninja
Swashbuckler
Theif
Scout

edit: wizards of the tower, and Knights of the X from dragon lace sound good too

All of these. INCLUDING Batman!

Matthew_AC

Aug 03, 2010 15:15:52

I love the concept of themes. And while I want to see generic ones for our own Homebrew systems, I'm far from adverse to seeing Eberron or FR - specific themes.

Truth be told, I'm hoping and praying that backgrounds and themes get merged together a bit or at least become standard for D&D PC creation going forward.

lizardmage

Aug 08, 2010 9:10:58

Hmm well we found out that themes are sticking around and the next phb will include plenty more. I will say that the announcement of a Blacksmith sounds interesting, betting it will be a leader like the Artificer. Still time to wait and see.

#10

Marandahir

Aug 08, 2010 11:09:21

Hmm well we found out that themes are sticking around and the next phb will include plenty more. I will say that the announcement of a Blacksmith sounds interesting, betting it will be a leader like the Artificer. Still time to wait and see.

I wouldn't assume "Blacksmith" is a class. I'd say it's more likely a Theme.

>__>

I like it that they're migrating to Nentir.

#11

lizardmage

Aug 08, 2010 11:15:18

Hmm well we found out that themes are sticking around and the next phb will include plenty more. I will say that the announcement of a Blacksmith sounds interesting, betting it will be a leader like the Artificer. Still time to wait and see.

I wouldn't assume "Blacksmith" is a class. I'd say it's more likely a Theme.

>__>

I like it that they're migrating to Nentir.

Oh it is a theme, it's the only one revealed so far for next year. I'm saying that it's making for an interesting theme. Much better than as a class like the one that was presented in the Dragonlance campaign setting for 3.5.

As a theme I am picturing that the Blacksmith will probably be offering more in the way of utility powers then encounter powers.

#12

Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi

Aug 08, 2010 11:24:57

Hmm well we found out that themes are sticking around and the next phb will include plenty more. I will say that the announcement of a Blacksmith sounds interesting, betting it will be a leader like the Artificer. Still time to wait and see.

I wouldn't assume "Blacksmith" is a class. I'd say it's more likely a Theme.

>__>

I like it that they're migrating to Nentir.

I think LizardMage was saying Blacksmith is a theme. But a very artificer-like theme.

#13

The_Jester

Aug 08, 2010 17:06:40

They'll probably end-up in one of the player books due out early next year. But this should totally be preview/playtest material we see early in DDI. It's the kind of thing people will want in their game yesterday, that people have being going "ohhh, I need that for my pirate character" back when they first mentioned them three months ago.

#14

Mcnancy

Aug 09, 2010 0:05:58

I'm thinking something like "Trickster" might be a little too vague, Where something like "Jester" is more like what Themes should be for.

Themes are for making your character iconic

On the other end, "Wizard of X" is too specific, that's more where Paragon Paths come in.

#15

Janx_14

Aug 09, 2010 0:19:09

Pirate, Jester, Duelist, Samurai, 'knight' (mounted guy), Explorer, and all those other classes that dont exist yet that people argue over what class currently represents best because they really are to vague to stand as their own class.

#16

malisteen

Aug 09, 2010 10:23:27

I'm hoping for some 'sold your soul for power' themes for non-warlocks that want a bit of that faustian feel without the hassle of multiclassing. Maybe something in Heroes of Shadow? From what little fluff the Assassin has, it sort of sounds like that's the Shadow power source's entire gimmick - you bind a bit of your soul to the shadowfell which lets you carry a piece of that plane around inside of you wherever you go that you can draw on to do shadowy things.

That's a great concept for the fluff behind classes within the Shadow poer source, but also could work well as a theme to be used by other classes that want a piece of that flavor.

#17

AvonRekaes

Aug 09, 2010 14:38:04

I very much want a slew of Eberron-specific themes, some of which would be usable as generic ones.

Namely:
Inquisitive, Spy, House Favored, and Thunder Guide

The first two can be ported over to other settings with no work, while House Favored (dragonmarked) and Thunder Guide can be used, but maybe with a few fluff changes.

(Thunder Guide, for those that don't know, was a PrC in 3.5 for Eberron, and was basically a pulp-adventure guide, that learned tricks based on exotic cultures and locations representing his wide travels. Like a Horizon Walker, except his powers were based on indigenous cultures instead of planes of existance.)

Also, I want to see a theme like True Believer (for a non-ordained but divine character), which would be good for any setting that has Gods.

#18

Caeric

Aug 09, 2010 14:50:00

Themes and Backgrounds occupy an overlapping aspect of character. As such, a great amount of the massive armada of existing Backgrounds would work as Themes too.

And y'know, that's sort of how I see it. Themes are a better implementation of Backgrounds. Or, perhaps like multiclass and hybrid, one is more in-depth than the other.

#19

AvonRekaes

Aug 09, 2010 15:29:45

Oh, right, I forgot another quasi-generic Eberron Theme I'd like to see. Something like "Adventuring Scholar". Like the iconinc Indiana Jones, who was an Adventuring Archeologist.