Shifter, Doppelganger (not changeling) and Warforged stats scooped! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Shifter, Doppelganger (not changeling) and Warforged stats scooped!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ieattrollsforbreakfast
May 17, 2008 4:58:27 Well...almost.

I'll be adding these the Dragon Above later, but I'll report here too:

Tidbits from PHB Viewing

Of interest:

Bestopholes wrote:
"Shifters are actually cool. Once the hit bloodied, they get an ability that kicks in and last the last of the encounter that adds +2 spd and I believe + dmg (for shifter: razorclaw). The other shifter had another + ability that kicked in at bloodied and lasted the whole time."

"Doppelgangers get a "look like another humanoid" ability that's at will effectively."

"Yeah, there are at least 2 shifters in the MM (I only looked through it for 10 mins or so), and the general reaction from my friend and I (who are both total power gamers). was...yeah, ok, this is finally a race we'd like to play.

Warforged were in the book too, but stripped down a bit. Less immunities. And their encounter ability felt to me a bit meh...once per encounter when blodied you heal con mod + 1/2 level. Still, not a bad race...but not so zomg overpowered as they once were."

Thalmin wrote:
"I did get a bit on the Warforged
+2 STR, +2 CON
Speed 6
Vision Normal
+2 to Endurance Skill
Can wear armor"
#2
mort_q
May 17, 2008 9:15:41 I hope they write some suitable fluff to explain the can wear armour thing. I mean, have it cost the same (or reasonably close) for the 'forged to have equivalent armour added, grown via ritual, whatever.
#3
ieattrollsforbreakfast
May 17, 2008 10:23:14
I hope they write some suitable fluff to explain the can wear armour thing. I mean, have it cost the same (or reasonably close) for the 'forged to have equivalent armour added, crown via ritual, whatever.

I think the idea of warforged being able to wear armour makes sense without much need for fluff changes or rituals.
Just think of it as adding material to their composite plating, rather than them actually wearing the armour like a human would.

It'd finally solve the problem of 'can I rip the metal off that dead warforged'? All the DM needs to do is say 'yes, it's just full plate'.

You'd have to sacrifice the adamantine/mithral plating at 1st level idea, though, unless there are other racial options for that.
#4
snarky_monkey
May 17, 2008 22:02:05 Since there is supposed to be an article that expands the warforged for regular PC use coming up soon after the release, don't be surprised of any changes, especially for the Eberron setting warforged, as it should be different then your basic world one. Least that is what I am hoping for.
#5
RedRider
May 18, 2008 7:55:54 Part of the problem with composite plating is that it wouldn't really work for the "Sweet spot" element of 4e.
As is, in 3.5 at level 1 an adamantine warforged is awesome but isn't quite as useful past a certain level.

Still, I'm hoping there's still ways to directly enchant a warforged as if he was a magic item. That was a cool element.
#6
Vael
May 18, 2008 14:04:13 I hope the PC Warforged in MM was a simple writeup, maybe with Unarmoured Body as the standard model. Because the ability to enchant a 'Forged is one of my favourite things about them.
#7
dark080matter
May 19, 2008 0:48:45 Personally, I'm hoping that we see some diversity in the way that Shifting (the racial ability, not the new 5-foot step :P) is triggered.

Specifically, I think that becoming bloodied makes great sense for the more aggressive, physical types of shifting, like Razorclaw and Beasthide say, but where does this leave Dreamsight or Wildhunt shifters, or the movement based ones?

I do like the package deal of +movement and +attack! In fact, this may be my answer to the above question...

If the "Wildhunt" (smell) that Shifters could get is simply incorporated into some kind of universal skill bonus (whatever is being used to follow tracks these days, for example) and the movement bonuses are already going to be built in to the other shifting types, then I guess that narrows my concerns to the Dreamsight trait... which I still hope doesn't go away! The whole mystical, druidic side of Shifter society was something I really loved that I felt separated them a good bit from the typical "barbarian woods-people" cliche. I just don't really picture getting hurt as being a trigger for that.

What does everyone else think about the previewed change for Shifters?
#8
ddraig_goch_dup
May 19, 2008 12:58:09
What does everyone else think about the previewed change for Shifters?

I am a shifter fanatic and I actually really like the previewed mechanic. It is clean, simple, and seems to scale nicely.
With the new emphasis on racial feats I am quite excited to see shifter feats enhancing (and stacking new powers on top of) the shifting power. A heavily invested shifter could become quite dangerous once bloodied.
I agree that traits like wildhunt don't mesh well with this system, but I actually find that fact encouraging. I am hoping that all basic traits provide combat enhancements with room to spend feats on non-combat additions. That would seem to reflect current design focus anyways.

Do you know what I need for the journey yet to come?

SHIFTER STATS!!!!!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ieattrollsforbreakfast May 17, 2008 4:58:27	Well...almost. I'll be adding these the Dragon Above later, but I'll report here too: Tidbits from PHB Viewing Of interest: Bestopholes wrote: "Shifters are actually cool. Once the hit bloodied, they get an ability that kicks in and last the last of the encounter that adds +2 spd and I believe + dmg (for shifter: razorclaw). The other shifter had another + ability that kicked in at bloodied and lasted the whole time." "Doppelgangers get a "look like another humanoid" ability that's at will effectively." "Yeah, there are at least 2 shifters in the MM (I only looked through it for 10 mins or so), and the general reaction from my friend and I (who are both total power gamers). was...yeah, ok, this is finally a race we'd like to play. Warforged were in the book too, but stripped down a bit. Less immunities. And their encounter ability felt to me a bit meh...once per encounter when blodied you heal con mod + 1/2 level. Still, not a bad race...but not so zomg overpowered as they once were." Thalmin wrote: "I did get a bit on the Warforged +2 STR, +2 CON Speed 6 Vision Normal +2 to Endurance Skill Can wear armor"
#2 mort_q May 17, 2008 9:15:41	I hope they write some suitable fluff to explain the can wear armour thing. I mean, have it cost the same (or reasonably close) for the 'forged to have equivalent armour added, grown via ritual, whatever.
#3 ieattrollsforbreakfast May 17, 2008 10:23:14	I hope they write some suitable fluff to explain the can wear armour thing. I mean, have it cost the same (or reasonably close) for the 'forged to have equivalent armour added, crown via ritual, whatever. I think the idea of warforged being able to wear armour makes sense without much need for fluff changes or rituals. Just think of it as adding material to their composite plating, rather than them actually wearing the armour like a human would. It'd finally solve the problem of 'can I rip the metal off that dead warforged'? All the DM needs to do is say 'yes, it's just full plate'. You'd have to sacrifice the adamantine/mithral plating at 1st level idea, though, unless there are other racial options for that.
#4 snarky_monkey May 17, 2008 22:02:05	Since there is supposed to be an article that expands the warforged for regular PC use coming up soon after the release, don't be surprised of any changes, especially for the Eberron setting warforged, as it should be different then your basic world one. Least that is what I am hoping for.
#5 RedRider May 18, 2008 7:55:54	Part of the problem with composite plating is that it wouldn't really work for the "Sweet spot" element of 4e. As is, in 3.5 at level 1 an adamantine warforged is awesome but isn't quite as useful past a certain level. Still, I'm hoping there's still ways to directly enchant a warforged as if he was a magic item. That was a cool element.
#6 Vael May 18, 2008 14:04:13	I hope the PC Warforged in MM was a simple writeup, maybe with Unarmoured Body as the standard model. Because the ability to enchant a 'Forged is one of my favourite things about them.
#7 dark080matter May 19, 2008 0:48:45	Personally, I'm hoping that we see some diversity in the way that Shifting (the racial ability, not the new 5-foot step :P) is triggered. Specifically, I think that becoming bloodied makes great sense for the more aggressive, physical types of shifting, like Razorclaw and Beasthide say, but where does this leave Dreamsight or Wildhunt shifters, or the movement based ones? I do like the package deal of +movement and +attack! In fact, this may be my answer to the above question... If the "Wildhunt" (smell) that Shifters could get is simply incorporated into some kind of universal skill bonus (whatever is being used to follow tracks these days, for example) and the movement bonuses are already going to be built in to the other shifting types, then I guess that narrows my concerns to the Dreamsight trait... which I still hope doesn't go away! The whole mystical, druidic side of Shifter society was something I really loved that I felt separated them a good bit from the typical "barbarian woods-people" cliche. I just don't really picture getting hurt as being a trigger for that. What does everyone else think about the previewed change for Shifters?
#8 ddraig_goch_dup May 19, 2008 12:58:09	What does everyone else think about the previewed change for Shifters? I am a shifter fanatic and I actually really like the previewed mechanic. It is clean, simple, and seems to scale nicely. With the new emphasis on racial feats I am quite excited to see shifter feats enhancing (and stacking new powers on top of) the shifting power. A heavily invested shifter could become quite dangerous once bloodied. I agree that traits like wildhunt don't mesh well with this system, but I actually find that fact encouraging. I am hoping that all basic traits provide combat enhancements with room to spend feats on non-combat additions. That would seem to reflect current design focus anyways. Do you know what I need for the journey yet to come? SHIFTER STATS!!!!!