Feb 16th News - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Feb 16th News

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
mudbunny
Feb 16, 2009 9:53:43 Playing Shadar-kai
by Chris Sims

Once humans who hoped to cheat death, the shadar-kai, natives of the Shadowfell, have forged an identity all their own. Thrill seekers and devotees of the Raven Queen, they have spread across the Multiverse, even to the mortal realm. With "Playing Shadar-kai," you can now play this fully supported race with new racial feats, paragon paths, and more. Learn about the culture of the shadar-kai in detail, and decide whether you will fight for the glory of the Raven Queen or turn your back on your heritage and seek another route to glory and adventure.

* See it now! (720 kb PDF)

Long eons in the Shadowfell have shaped the shadar-kai into a fiery and, some say, cruel people. Fighting the apathy pervasive in their home plane, shadar-kai live passionately and fearlessly, if grimly. They see themselves as instruments of death and dissolution, the bringers of the righteous end to complacency, stagnation, and life itself. Theirs is a harsh society of self-interest. Among shadar-kai, the strong of body and mind excel and create legends. The weak molder to dust, passing into eternity unremembered.

Discuss this article here.
#2
mudbunny
Feb 16, 2009 9:55:35 Playtest: Primal Power
We Want Your Feedback!

Another exclusive playtest opportunity is here for D&D Insider subscribers! This time, explore two concepts that will appear in Primal Power. While you don’t have the complete druid yet (it appears in Player’s Handbook 2, out in March), you’ll be able to get a start playtesting this content using the level 1–3 druid we’ve already provided on Insider. Send us your playtest feedback at [email]dndinsider@wizards.com[/email] with Playtest: Primal Power in the subject line and help shape your game!

* See it now! (585 kb PDF)

Many practitioners of the mystic arts can draw forth the power to summon a creature to fight at their sides. Wizards summon elemental creatures and lesser demons. Invokers call angels to their sides and bid them fight in the name of a god. Druids and other primal magic-users take a slightly different approach. When a druid calls an animal to fight at his side, the creature is there as a willing participant and ally. A druid can rely on his summoned animals to fight on without direction.

Discuss this article here.
#3
mudbunny
Feb 16, 2009 10:00:44 Excerpt - Players Handbook 2
Racial Paragon Paths

Most paragon paths are specific to particular classes. Chapter 1 of the Player's Handbook 2 presents racial paragon paths, which are specific to races included in this book and in the Player’s Handbook. The only prerequisite for any of these paths is that you be a character of the appropriate race. Only a dwarf can be a firstborn of Moradin, for example, and you must be a half-orc to take the bloodfury savage path. A racial paragon path is an exemplar of a race’s defining characteristics. A scion of Arkhosia is not just any dragonborn hero: He or she is one of the finest examples of certain qualities that set dragonborn apart from other races.

In today’s Player's Handbook 2 preview, we introduce racial paragon paths, including a look at one for humans: the adroit explorer.

Racial Paragon Paths (356 Kbs PDF)

Discuss this article here.
#4
mudbunny
Feb 16, 2009 10:04:37 Love for the Undead
Steal This Hook
by Robert Wiese

The relentless thud of unliving feet sounds behind you. As fast as you run, you cannot lose them because they never sleep, never tire, never stop. Claws and teeth bared, they seek your blood, your life force, or—perhaps the worst fate of all—they seek to make you into one of them.

Undead have always been a true horror of the Dungeons & Dragons game; one of the reasons is that players are subtly bothered by enemies that are already dead (and thus don’t have the same outlook on… life). Face it, undead are just creepy. And some, like vampires, are downright terrifying because they’re so hard to destroy and they… just… won’t… die!

In this month of love in the real world, Steal This Hook delves into the horrors of the undead. Introduce these hooks into your campaign when you need a jolt to heat up the lives of your PCs!

Read the rest of the article here.
Discuss this article here.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 mudbunny Feb 16, 2009 9:53:43	Playing Shadar-kai by Chris Sims Once humans who hoped to cheat death, the shadar-kai, natives of the Shadowfell, have forged an identity all their own. Thrill seekers and devotees of the Raven Queen, they have spread across the Multiverse, even to the mortal realm. With "Playing Shadar-kai," you can now play this fully supported race with new racial feats, paragon paths, and more. Learn about the culture of the shadar-kai in detail, and decide whether you will fight for the glory of the Raven Queen or turn your back on your heritage and seek another route to glory and adventure. * See it now! (720 kb PDF) Long eons in the Shadowfell have shaped the shadar-kai into a fiery and, some say, cruel people. Fighting the apathy pervasive in their home plane, shadar-kai live passionately and fearlessly, if grimly. They see themselves as instruments of death and dissolution, the bringers of the righteous end to complacency, stagnation, and life itself. Theirs is a harsh society of self-interest. Among shadar-kai, the strong of body and mind excel and create legends. The weak molder to dust, passing into eternity unremembered. Discuss this article here.
#2 mudbunny Feb 16, 2009 9:55:35	Playtest: Primal Power We Want Your Feedback! Another exclusive playtest opportunity is here for D&D Insider subscribers! This time, explore two concepts that will appear in Primal Power. While you don’t have the complete druid yet (it appears in Player’s Handbook 2, out in March), you’ll be able to get a start playtesting this content using the level 1–3 druid we’ve already provided on Insider. Send us your playtest feedback at [email]dndinsider@wizards.com[/email] with Playtest: Primal Power in the subject line and help shape your game! * See it now! (585 kb PDF) Many practitioners of the mystic arts can draw forth the power to summon a creature to fight at their sides. Wizards summon elemental creatures and lesser demons. Invokers call angels to their sides and bid them fight in the name of a god. Druids and other primal magic-users take a slightly different approach. When a druid calls an animal to fight at his side, the creature is there as a willing participant and ally. A druid can rely on his summoned animals to fight on without direction. Discuss this article here.
#3 mudbunny Feb 16, 2009 10:00:44	Excerpt - Players Handbook 2 Racial Paragon Paths Most paragon paths are specific to particular classes. Chapter 1 of the Player's Handbook 2 presents racial paragon paths, which are specific to races included in this book and in the Player’s Handbook. The only prerequisite for any of these paths is that you be a character of the appropriate race. Only a dwarf can be a firstborn of Moradin, for example, and you must be a half-orc to take the bloodfury savage path. A racial paragon path is an exemplar of a race’s defining characteristics. A scion of Arkhosia is not just any dragonborn hero: He or she is one of the finest examples of certain qualities that set dragonborn apart from other races. In today’s Player's Handbook 2 preview, we introduce racial paragon paths, including a look at one for humans: the adroit explorer. Racial Paragon Paths (356 Kbs PDF) Discuss this article here.
#4 mudbunny Feb 16, 2009 10:04:37	Love for the Undead Steal This Hook by Robert Wiese The relentless thud of unliving feet sounds behind you. As fast as you run, you cannot lose them because they never sleep, never tire, never stop. Claws and teeth bared, they seek your blood, your life force, or—perhaps the worst fate of all—they seek to make you into one of them. Undead have always been a true horror of the Dungeons & Dragons game; one of the reasons is that players are subtly bothered by enemies that are already dead (and thus don’t have the same outlook on… life). Face it, undead are just creepy. And some, like vampires, are downright terrifying because they’re so hard to destroy and they… just… won’t… die! In this month of love in the real world, Steal This Hook delves into the horrors of the undead. Introduce these hooks into your campaign when you need a jolt to heat up the lives of your PCs! Read the rest of the article here. Discuss this article here.