Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 asmodeuslore Feb 22, 2009 23:09:49	Excerpts Player's Handbook 2: Frenzied Berserker In today’s Player's Handbook 2 preview, we introduce a new paragon path for the barbarian: the frenzied berserker! Talk about this preview here.
#2 seifalmasy Feb 22, 2009 23:19:15	I'm sorry if this comes across as cynical, but... 1) This thread is mis-named. 2) Isn't this the paragon path we already saw in the Barbarian playtest article? I thought it might be cool to see how things changed from the test version to the published version, but... nothing really changed, except a couple passages made more clear. This doesn't feel very preview-y at all.
#3 asmodeuslore Feb 22, 2009 23:30:39	Already fixed the misnaming, but thanks for keeping an eye out for me. I did the same thing with the backdrop article too before I saw my own mistake and corrected it.
#4 urpok_dup Feb 22, 2009 23:49:44	already've seen it in Dragon 368. =( almost nothing new... exept some minor changes in the wording...
#5 redsnowdude Feb 22, 2009 23:51:15	I love when new previews have new stuff in them; someone should let wizards of the coast know that if they used that philosophy then their preview stuff might actually generate interest. I wish I didn't have the internet or DDI, then I would still be in love with WotC for how great the 4E books are, without having the disdain for their poor judgment on anything that shows up on their website.
#6 Lone_Wolf_02 Feb 23, 2009 0:20:41	I forget, was Dragon 368 one of the ones that they were still letting people read for free before switching over to paid service? If so, then I agree it was kind of a jerk move on Brand's part (or whoever's in charge of determining what goes in the preview articles) to show us something we've already seen. Now if they'd done significant revision to the paragon path to the point where some of the mechanics were changed? Then yeah, I'd be cool with it. But when the preview basically amounts to "Check it out, guys! We cleaned up the wording on this paragon path ability and this utility power!" it's hard not to feel slighted. You know what I'd like to see? I'd like to see an official preview of one of the new races. Yeah, I know, people on the boards have already reverse engineered stats for them from that event from awhile back, but it would be nice to see something official on them. Seriously, would have loved to have seen the writeup for the half-orc or the goliath or even the gnome. And instead, we got this disappointing preview of a paragon path that, honestly, didn't really impress me the first time I saw it a few months ago. Oh well, here's hoping that we get something better in the next preview article.
#7 Paulon Feb 23, 2009 0:30:32	The Barbarian preview was originally slotted for one of the free issues, but got delayed. There was enough backlash over what people took as bait and switch that it was left free. (Unfortunately they didn't do the same with the Eberron article they pulled the same stunt with at the same time.) So the Barbarian preview should still be accessible to a non-subscriber. But since it's in one of the pay issues, I suspect not many people who don't already know it's available for everyone will find it.
#8 DS.397 Feb 23, 2009 0:43:27	If any aspect of the path had fundamentally changed from the playtest I'd probably have been ok with it for a preview, but as is I definitely feel cheated. Is it so hard to show off something new in a preview?
#9 Artifact Feb 23, 2009 0:48:42	I'm a (mostly) happy subscriber but to be honest, the last couple of releases have felt like a cheat. First with the 'Dungeon Delve' use-this-book article (which should have been free) and now this, a paragon path we've already seen (essentially unchanged) from the free barbarian playtest (in Dragon #368). I wouldn't be so disappointed except that I honestly believe they are capable of doing better. This stuff isn't bad but neither is it great-- it's just hum-ho. I think Insider has the potential to be great but has yet to live up to that promise (at least on a consistent basis). I second Lone Wolf's suggestion of previewing one of the new races from PH 2. I'd love to get a glance at the half-orc, since I haven't been following the reverse engineering efforts here on the boards too closely.
#10 Cailte Feb 23, 2009 4:21:03	There is plenty of time for new things to be previewed from PHB2. I'm not concerned about the preview being in the play test, its good to see the final wording, though admitedly a 2nd Barbarian PP or better a Bard PP would have been better. (Somehow I suspect WotC forgot they already released this PP, and that its an honest mistake.)
#11 Mock Feb 23, 2009 7:24:26	I thought this is the one they'd already released. Deathless Frenzy has been reduced in its "immortality-ness," but otherwise. Eh.
#12 brotherjgizmo Feb 23, 2009 10:46:50	Maybe they released it to show that they actually listened to the playtest results? otherwise I see no reason for this to be previewed.
#13 ravennus Feb 23, 2009 16:09:44	So the whole 'previewing material that's already been previewed' aside... What gives? So basically, they fixed the few possible twinkable readings of some things, but left everything else the same? What incentive would I ever have, mechanically speaking, to pick this Paragon Path? As someone else said, it's very ho-hum. One of my major issues with it is it's Paragon Features... Frenzied Blood (Lvl 11) - This was interesting before, as there seemed the possibility to still get full damage on an attack that already had half-damage. Of course, they fixed that which isn't necessarily a bad thing.... but now it sounds like it will be rendered redundant and useless for many attacks that already have the half-damage on a miss feature. Bleh Warpath (lvl 11) - In my mind, this is the worst offender. Ok, so only 2 extra damage per attack... but with huge repercussions if you don't attack. That part I don't mind so much, even if the whole stunned punishment doesn't make a lot of sense to me.... but only 2 damage? Why couldn't it have just been linked to an attribute bonus instead. That way it would at least be competitive with other damage boosting paragon paths. If not linked to an attribute, it should at least be higher than 2. Come on, this is the Frenzied Berserker we are talking about. There have to be ways to give him more damage without making it unbalanced, especially if he takes certain penalties (which other Paragon Paths don't have to contend with). Unfeeling Rage (Lvl 16) - This is probably one of the most ho-hum and situational lvl 16 Paragon features I've ever read. At first, DR 5 sounds like a good deal.... but you need to be both bloodied AND have spent a daily to be raging already? I'm sorry, but a lvl 16 feature should be the capstone of a Paragon Path, and this one is only marginally useful... and only when very specific conditions are met. Very unfortunate. Sorry if this post seems more irate than intended. I'm just very disappointed. When the Frenzied Berserker was originally shown, I was put off by it but held out hope that all our feedback would lead to a much improved version which would preserve the flavor of the FB while still not making it overpowered. When I heard they were going to preview it again, I jumped for joy because I thought that meant they vastly reworked it and it would be better than ever. Instead, we get almost the exact same thing as before EXCEPT with some additions that just read to me as taunting from the R&D department for all us 'munchkins' ....... "neener neener neener! You thought you could get something good out of this?? Hahaha, NOT!" Just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. When I give feedback, I like to know that my concerns for the 'fun' factor is taken into account, not just the possible abuses. The sad thing, to me, is that the PHBII is likely already printed and ready to go. Oh well.