Couatl - It seems that Eberron's vision of the couatls has become core for 4E. Their stats connect them to radiance, making them perfect servants of the Flame, and their fluff even mentions binding demons!
Duergar - They're pretty different to 3E. It makes me wonder whether they're still appropriate as allies to the dwarves in Sarlona, since they're much more closely tied to devils in this edition. Nothing a bit of a fluff change can't fix, though.
Lizardfolk - The Poisonscales are back! Although this time they're medium rather than small.
Slaughterstone Construct - These things make great warmachines left over from the pre-warforged era, or even current models, given how formidable warforged titan are now.
Warforged Titan - Seems this guy has had quite the promotion, as he's now a 19th level Elite. That surprised me, but I think I like the change. Warforged titans are now something to be truly feared, and their appearance on a battlefield is bound to make the most seasoned of generals shake in their boots. I think it emphasises the power the dragonmarked houses (in this case Cannith) really hold on Khorvaire. I'll still be using them in low paragon and high heroic tier, but I'll probably build the encounter as some sort of non-combat challenge.
So, does anyone else have any thoughts?
Warforged Titan - Seems this guy has had quite the promotion, as he's now a 19th level Elite. That surprised me, but I think I like the change. Warforged titans are now something to be truly feared, and their appearance on a battlefield is bound to make the most seasoned of generals shake in their boots. I think it emphasises the power the dragonmarked houses (in this case Cannith) really hold on Khorvaire. I'll still be using them in low paragon and high heroic tier, but I'll probably build the encounter as some sort of non-combat challenge.
All I really could think about when you mentioned the non-combat challenge was the shadow of the colossus game... I haven't had a chance to read the statistics for the Warforged Titan yet, but it would seem like a fun skill challenge if it was huge or something . 1 or 2 PCs keeps its distracted while 1 or two others find a way to disable it... hmmm now I have to create one just for the heck of it.
All I really could think about when you mentioned the non-combat challenge was the shadow of the colossus game... I haven't had a chance to read the statistics for the Warforged Titan yet, but it would seem like a fun skill challenge if it was huge or something . 1 or 2 PCs keeps its distracted while 1 or two others find a way to disable it... hmmm now I have to create one just for the heck of it.
I once made a Talenta Halfling based on the Wanderer who served Karrnath and came to specialize in "Warforged Titan slaying".
Couatl - It seems that Eberron's vision of the couatls has become core for 4E. Their stats connect them to radiance, making them perfect servants of the Flame, and their fluff even mentions binding demons!
That's great. I was getting worried that they weren;t coming back. And from what you said they sound better than ever. Colud you provide a little information on them?
Lizardfolk - The Poisonscales are back! Although this time they're medium rather than small.
Although I'm happy that they're back, they aren't something we could not live without.
Speaking of Halflings what are they supposed to ride now that we don't have dinosaurs? Drakes?
We'll probably be getting more dinosaurs in the ECG. Also, the MM1 had "behemoths" which were dinosaurs without the real-world latin names. (Just like the sidebar in the 3e ECS)
That would be nice. *facepalm* I forgot about the behemoths. So does that mean we'll be getting more behemoths, rather than dinosaurs?
But yeah, I'm guessing we'll at least see the Fastieth with a mount ability.
That's great. I was getting worried that they weren;t coming back. And from what you said they sound better than ever. Colud you provide a little information on them?
Sure.
There are two varieties in the book, the Couatl Cloud Serpent (18 artillery), and the Couatl Star Serpent (15 elite controller (leader)).
Mechanically they have a few similarities - their bites deal ongoing poison and radiant damage, and if they take radiant damage it boosts their own damage on their next turn. The star serpents abilities allow it to turn insubstantial and gain phasing, and heal any allies it passes through, as well as a couple of abilities to do with constricting a foe. The cloud serpent has a bunch of lightning/radiant spells.
Fluff-wise, they're pretty much as we know them - benevolent and single minded in the pursuit of their goals. The core setting says they were born of "the first light in the world", and that they fought in the war between the gods and primordials. Interestingly, they can also travel to the Astral Sea at will as if using the Planar Portal ritual.
I think that covers the whole 2 pages they get! :D
Speaking of Halflings what are they supposed to ride now that we don't have dinosaurs? Drakes?
AvonRekaes covered this already, but I just thought I'd note that scytheclaw drakes don't have a mount ability, so we may see some more drakes in the ECG to resolve that.
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Sphinx Mystery - This monster's merging of role-playing abilities with combat is perfect for creatures like Flamewind, who are mostly non-combatants. I'll definitely be using it the first chance I get.
Another question: what new PC race write-ups do we get?
Bullywugs, duergar and kenku.
The duergar stats are the only ones that I'd consider a safe PC option, though. Bullywugs in particular are pretty much worthless as PCs. They only work as NPCs since their ability relies on the enemy spending healing surges. Kenku lie somewhere inbetween the two. They're playable, and make pretty good rogues, but not spectacular.
Bullywugs, duergar and kenku.
The duergar stats are the only ones that I'd consider a safe PC option, though. Bullywugs in particular are pretty much worthless as PCs. They only work as NPCs since their ability relies on the enemy spending healing surges. Kenku lie somewhere inbetween the two. They're playable, and make pretty good rogues, but not spectacular.
Bullywugs and Kenku... and still no Lizardfolk? Really? Thanks though.
I know this wont bother... well practically anyone but me. But I'm a little sad at the direction they took the Barghests.
Barghests have served as key foes in at least two of my Eberron campaigns, playing up their fiendish origins and their connection to the plane of Mabar. In 3rd edition they were outsiders, and I used them as such.
In my Eberron (thanks to some conversation on this board), barghests became mythical creatures of Dhakaani legend, occupying the same space as the boogieman, the big bad wolf, and general thing that goes bump in the night for their culture. I actually wrote a little Dhakaani 'Children's story' called "The Big Bad Barghest" as the success of a knowledge history check. "You remember reading this story in school while studying the history of the goblin empire". I really liked the idea of extraplanar fiends divorced from 'human' culture. Seems that so many demons, devils, fiends, and immortals look like humans more or less... I liked the idea of fiends that haunted a completely different culture.
Later when I had Mabar try to one up Dal Quor and Xor'iat with its own interplannar invasion the ravenous barghests were its vangaurd.
I wont choose until I see the new cosmology in the 4e ECS, but I'm going to be hard pressed to use them as little more than goblin shape shifters.
*EDIT Bless google, I decided to search for yon thread of yore which inspired my first barghest adventure turns out I stole the big bad barghest story from Klinger. Threads like this are why I love this board.
I actually wrote a little Dhakaani 'Children's story' called "The Big Bad Barghest" as the success of a knowledge history check
Could you post this little tail? I would love to read it. Somehow my head has made it up to be a bit like "stupid stupid rattails" by Jeff Smith...
Sure.
There are two varieties in the book, the Couatl Cloud Serpent (18 artillery), and the Couatl Star Serpent (15 elite controller (leader)).
Mechanically they have a few similarities - their bites deal ongoing poison and radiant damage, and if they take radiant damage it boosts their own damage on their next turn. The star serpents abilities allow it to turn insubstantial and gain phasing, and heal any allies it passes through, as well as a couple of abilities to do with constricting a foe. The cloud serpent has a bunch of lightning/radiant spells.
Thank you Trolls! I think I'll have to buy this book now.
But yeah Metallic Dragons are unaligned now and kick all kinds of ass.
I'm actually disappointed that they took away the bronze dragons. Or are they in their? Do any of the dragons have the shape change ability? I was disappointed when none of the chromatics had it. So disappointed that when I use any dragon I give it the option to have shape change rather than some other power. Sort of like the power exchange options in dracoconomicon or however you spell it.
Could you post this little tail? I would love to read it. Somehow my head has made it up to be a bit like "stupid stupid rattails" by Jeff Smith...
Yes, please show us this story. I hunger Eberron fan made stories of all stiles.
I'm actually disappointed that they took away the bronze dragons. Or are they in their? Do any of the dragons have the shape change ability? I was disappointed when none of the chromatics had it. So disappointed that when I use any dragon I give it the option to have shape change rather than some other power. Sort of like the power exchange options in dracoconomicon or however you spell it.
Alas, there are no bronze dragons. Which is a shame, because they were my favourite of the metallic dragons. There are adamantine, copper, gold, iron and silver dragons.
None of the metallic dragons have a change shape ability in their stat block, although the gold dragon entry notes that some know a ritual that allows them to assume humanoid form.
On entirely unrelated note, and I'm saying this just because I can:
Spriggans are awesome! :D
I'm actually disappointed that they took away the bronze dragons. Or are they in their? Do any of the dragons have the shape change ability? I was disappointed when none of the chromatics had it. So disappointed that when I use any dragon I give it the option to have shape change rather than some other power. Sort of like the power exchange options in dracoconomicon or however you spell it.
Bronze and Brass dragons are removed from the "core 5" of metallics, replaced by Iron and Adamantine. Part of the rationale is the Iron and Adamantine aren't alloys. Also, personally, I was never able to diferentiate between Coppers, Bronzes, and Brasses. For me, the metallics have always been "Gold, Silver, and those other guys"
I have a feeling we'll see Bronze and Brass in Draconomicon 2: Metallic Dragons, just like we got Gray, Purple, and Brown dragons in Draconomicon 1: Chromatic Dragons.
As for shapechanging, Golds are known for frequently using a shapechanging ritual. But since any monster can have any ritual you want, and I believe dragons were noted as being skilled ritual casters, you could have any dragon have a shapechanging ritual.
Could you post this little tail? I would love to read it. Somehow my head has made it up to be a bit like "stupid stupid rattails" by Jeff Smith...
Well I gotta give Klinger the credit for giving me the idea, but after some digging into my various flash drives I have sitting around (I've changed computers since I originally wrote it) I found the story I wrote and had one of my players read after he made a successful history check. Mind you this was 3.5 and written using their old abilities, they can't blink through doors anymore (but in my campaign any barghests I run will probably have access to the dimension door ritual)
The Big Bad Barghest
In the time before the rise of the six kings, four goblin brothers built homes within a ravine. There the four brothers raised families. All was well for them until the time came when the nights grew dark and the shadows long.
The big bad barghest found their ravine and stalked its shadows. First he made his way to the door of the forgetful brother, whose door was strong but whose bolt was left forgotten. The barghest entered the home of the forgetful brother, and consumed him and his family, yet the barghest's hunger was not sated.
Next the barghest made his way to the door of the trusting brother, who had remembered to lock his door. The barghest took on the aspect of a goblin and rapt the door, "Let me in," called the barghest, "For the shadows are long and the night is cold."
The trusting brother looked through his spy hole and saw a goblin whose face he did not know, whom none the less was dressed as one of his clan. The trusting brother opened his locked door, so the barghest entered the home of the trusting brother, and consumed him and his family, yet the barghest's hunger was not sated.
Soon after the barghest made his way to the door of the cautious brother, again wearing the guise of a goblin the barghest called "Let me in, for the shadows are long and the night is cold."
The cautious brother looked through his spy hole replied "No, I do not know you and will not let you into my home." The barghest was still hungry, so he stepped through the shadows into the cautious brother's home catching him unaware, and consumed him and his family, yet the barghest's hunger was not sated.
The barghest made his way to the final door, the home of the prepared brother. He found the door locked, when he rapt the door and said "Let me in, for the shadows are long and the night is cold." the prepared brother did not answer. The barghest was still hungry, and he could smell goblins behind the door, so he stepped through the shadows into the home of the prepared brother.
When the barghest stepped into the prepared brother's home the floor fell out from under him. Sharp spikes pierced flesh and caused his blood to run. The prepared brother and his family came and filled the barghest's writhing form with javelins until the barghest moved no more, ending his hunger with death.
Remember always, the strongest door is useless when open, trust is given only to those who have earned it, and caution is impotent if one is not ready for action.
In the time before the rise of the six kings, four goblin brothers built homes within a ravine. There the four brothers raised families. All was well for them until the time came when the nights grew dark and the shadows long.
The big bad barghest found their ravine and stalked its shadows. First he made his way to the door of the forgetful brother, whose door was strong but whose bolt was left forgotten. The barghest entered the home of the forgetful brother, and consumed him and his family, yet the barghest's hunger was not sated.
Next the barghest made his way to the door of the trusting brother, who had remembered to lock his door. The barghest took on the aspect of a goblin and rapt the door, "Let me in," called the barghest, "For the shadows are long and the night is cold."
The trusting brother looked through his spy hole and saw a goblin whose face he did not know, whom none the less was dressed as one of his clan. The trusting brother opened his locked door, so the barghest entered the home of the trusting brother, and consumed him and his family, yet the barghest's hunger was not sated.
Soon after the barghest made his way to the door of the cautious brother, again wearing the guise of a goblin the barghest called "Let me in, for the shadows are long and the night is cold."
The cautious brother looked through his spy hole replied "No, I do not know you and will not let you into my home." The barghest was still hungry, so he stepped through the shadows into the cautious brother's home catching him unaware, and consumed him and his family, yet the barghest's hunger was not sated.
The barghest made his way to the final door, the home of the prepared brother. He found the door locked, when he rapt the door and said "Let me in, for the shadows are long and the night is cold." the prepared brother did not answer. The barghest was still hungry, and he could smell goblins behind the door, so he stepped through the shadows into the home of the prepared brother.
When the barghest stepped into the prepared brother's home the floor fell out from under him. Sharp spikes pierced flesh and caused his blood to run. The prepared brother and his family came and filled the barghest's writhing form with javelins until the barghest moved no more, ending his hunger with death.
Remember always, the strongest door is useless when open, trust is given only to those who have earned it, and caution is impotent if one is not ready for action.
Alas, there are no bronze dragons. Which is a shame, because they were my favourite of the metallic dragons.
They were my favourite too. :D They really were.
On entirely unrelated note, and I'm saying this just because I can:
Spriggans are awesome! :D
I hate to sound naive, but what is a Spriggan?
I have a feeling we'll see Bronze and Brass in Draconomicon 2: Metallic Dragons, just like we got Gray, Purple, and Brown dragons in Draconomicon 1: Chromatic Dragons.
I was thinking the same thing. Does anybody know the release date on that?
I hate to sound naive, but what is a Spriggan?
I was thinking the same thing. Does anybody know the release date on that?
November
They were my favourite too. :D They really were.
But not your favorite? (Wow, that word is strange to type!)
I hate to sound naive, but what is a Spriggan?
In folklore spriggans are evil fey which can grow to enormous size. In 4E they borrow the features of redcaps too, which are evil fey that dip their hats in the blood of their victims.
But not your favorite? (Wow, that word is strange to type!)
It's both. O.O (<--The "
" doesn't work in this situation.) And I'll have you know it's not easy for me either. :D
In folklore spriggans are evil fey which can grow to enormous size. In 4E they borrow the features of redcaps too, which are evil fey that dip their hats in the blood of their victims.
Ah. Thank you.
Several times the Brit cals it a lift which for some reason grates on the American's nerves, "We invented the darn thing, its called an 'elevator'."
"Ah, but we invented the language," replies the Brit.
If the answer is yes, its fine, if no, then L2English :P
Spelling purists just make me laugh :P