http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/257022-i-have-eberron-players-guide-kingdom-ghouls.html
The book is divided into 5 chapters:
1. Life in Eberron
2. Races (Changeling, Kalashtar and Warforged)
3. Classes (Artificer, 9 PP's, 13 Dragonmarked PP's, 4 Epic Destinies)
4. Character Options - around 50 heroic feats (dragonmark, channel divinity, artificer and racial feats) but only 4 paragon and 4 epic feats. Also equipment, magic items, rituals and the like.
5. The World of Eberron
Dragonborn originally originate from Aragonnessen, where it is rumored that there are dragonborn city-states ruled by their dragon overlords, warring with each other over interpretations of the Draconic Prophesy. Otherwise, they are associated with Q'barra, where it is said they for a brief time had an empire which was on the brink of becoming a big player - but then crumbled for unknown reasons.
Most tieflings come from the corrupted bloodlines of Ohr Kaluun (Sarlona), from before the Inspired struck.
Just a quote from the ENWorld thread regarding Tiefling and Dragonborn origins...
Personally, I'm curious about Aberrant Dragonmarks...
I got a really good idea in my head for an Elf Rogue of House Tarkanan, but I'm waiting to see hwo they do the Aberrant Marks...
Otherwise, I got a Half-Elf Bard House Lyrander sky-captain-to-be.
...
EDs
...
Mourning Savior
Discuss/Speculate :P
The Gatekeeper Mystagogue, and the Exorcist of the SF are back! I was expecting the latter but not the former. Wait, there's the Alchemist Savant too!
It's good to see a Ghorad'din paragon path.
I suppose Chameleon and Lightwalker are the PPs of Changelings and Kalashter respectively.
I wonder what the "dispossessed champion" is.
Changelings get +2 dex or +2 int, +2 cha. +2 bluff, +2 insight, +1 will, changeling disguise at will (change self) and changeling trick (minor action, get CA until the end of your next turn)
Kalashar - +2 wis, +2 cha, +2 insight +2 skill of own choice, save at the beginning of their turn against daze and dominate effect, and a racial encounter power that gives you and all allies in a close burst 5 a +4 bonus to Will as an immediate interrupt.
So even though the prophecy will be able to mark PCs not of the proper line, the houses are still the Dragonmarked Houses, and they are badass.
See, that's what you get for those terrible previews. Now we know all about those Tieflings and Dragonborns. ... Obvious histories, but they'll do.
Yours,
Lord Dreadman
from the above post...
Wow! The kalashtar rock!!
Still I don't see why you'd be upset with WotC if the release date was the 1st you'd have been whining about lack of information a month ago. They don't need to preview material.
Yours,
Lord Dreadman
Races
"Changelings get +2 dex or +2 int, +2 cha. +2 bluff, +2 insight, +1 will, changeling disguise at will (change self) and changeling trick (minor action, get CA until the end of your next turn)"
"Shifters get 3 new feats, from what I can tell."
On Kalashtar: "+2 wis, +2 cha, +2 insight +2 skill of own choice, save at the beginning of their turn against daze and dominate effect, and a racial encounter power that gives you and all allies in a close burst 5 a +4 bonus to Will as an immediate interrupt."
"Devas: Former allies of the couatls in the old battles against the demons and rashakas, persisting despite the couatls being long gone."
"Eladrins: Have always been there, but kept to themselves, only coming out of their 7 great cities when they occasionally world-falled. But after the Day of Mourning, they found themselves severed from the Feywild and stuck on Eberron. From what I read, they are still trying to get back."
"Goliath: Originate from Xen'drik, but left when the giants rose to power. They exist as always, spread out in the mountains, living as they always have, with traditions etc etc."
"Genasi are extremely rare and no one knows what they are, not even themselves! They could be everything from dwarves warped by the volcanic eruptions of the fist of Onatar or creations of the Arcane Congress. They have no homeland and live on the frindge of society."
Artificers
"The second Artificer build is called the Tinkerer, a build that focuses on building constructs. From a quick glance, he works much like a summoner."
"Only 4 at-wills, sorry mate. As for the artifices, they follow the rules of summoned creatures."
On healing:
"Curative Admixture: target regains hit points equal to its healing surge value + your wisdom modifier, scaling up to surge + wisdom + 10 at level 26.
Resistive Formula: taget gets +1 ac until the end of the encounter. The target can end the bonus and gain temporary hit points equal to its healing surge value + your constitution modifier, scaling to surge + 3 times your constitution modifier."
Dragonmarks
"Take the appropriate feat, gain benefits. Benefits include some bonus (roll twice for perception rolls or extra shifts under certain circumstances) and the ability to cast certain rituals, no matter your class/skills or ability to otherwise cast rituals."
"Mark of passage gives a +1 bonus to all shifts and teleports granted by a power. The Orien Swiftblade has quite a few teleport powers, including a daily that lets you attack, teleport to another target, attack and then teleport again to a third target and attack that."
Paragon Paths
Alchemist Savant
Battle Engineer
Chameleon
Clockwork Engineer
Exorcist of the Silver Flame
Gatekeeper Mystagogue
Lightwalker
Self-forged
Warforged Juggernaut
Cannith Mastermaker
Deneith Protector
Ghallanda Sanctuary Guardian
Jorasco Jadehand
Kundarak Ghorad'din
Lyrandar Wind-rider
Medani True-seer
Orien Swiftblade
Philarlan Phantasmist
Sivis Truenamer
Tharashk Wayfinder
Thuranni Shadowkiller
Vadalis Griffonmaster
Epic Destinies
Champion of Prophecy
Dispossessed Champion
Mourning Savior
Sublime Flame
[u]BRAND NEW INFO[/u]
Mourning Saviour
Your destiny is to remove the Mourning
Chapters 1 and 5
19 pages for Chapter 1 alone. 38 pages for Chapter 5 as well.
[u]My Comments.[/u]
Dopplegangers
Interesting how they get to choose between a +2 Cha or a +2 Dex. They seem pretty identical to Dopplegangers so while I don't understand why they've gotten a name change (it could be they actually haven't and the Enworld poster is simply calling them Changelings because the first person to ask about them did), they're not a distinct race.
Kalashtar
How many saves would a Kalashtar Warden get at the start of their turn if they're dazed? 2?
Devas
Huzzah! I was right (at least to a degree) as to my speculation on how Devas fit into Eberron :D Although I proposed they're humans advanced into Devas. It could be their angels modified to devas.
Eladrin
Now that's interesting. Why can't they simply travel to the Eldeen Reaches and head back to Thelanis?
Genasi
I'm surprised Genasi were even mentioned. Those proposed origin stories are fairly obvious.
PPs
I'm glad they didn't try to do a generic Dragonmarked Paragon Path. That would have satisfied no-one.
Mourning Saviour
Your destiny is to remove the Mourning
Which, btw, is the most exciting thing to me.
Which, btw, is the most exciting thing to me.
Eh. First campaign someone takes it, it doesn't matter how much you've featured the Mourning in your current campaign, you'll never be able to use it in future ones. So if it isn't something you're going to stress and highlight in your first campaign, you might lose the chance to use it at all.
Having said that, I'm not particularly heartbroken over that (although it could be because I will heavily feature the Mournlands in my first campaign. Who knows ;)). But I can see where some DMs might be annoyed by it.
Eh. First campaign someone takes it, it doesn't matter how much you've featured the Mourning in your current campaign, you'll never be able to use it in future ones.
Well I don't foresee myself playing many follow-up campaigns. We usually don't make it to epic levels as it is. I guess it would be less exciting if you planned to use the same world as a multi-campaign sort of thing. Even then it can be interesting for the future campaign to feature the rebuilt cyre.
Otherwise, I got a Half-Elf Bard House Lyrander sky-captain-to-be.
What, you don't already have one? I've got one alrdy in play, with DM's permission to change whatever feats/background need changing once the book is out. :P
Questions: What is the prereq for Lyrandar Wind-rider? Mark of Storm info plz!
Thank you, thank you very much.
I want to know how they are going to nerf the changling. I mean seriously the 4e Doppleganger is basicly the 3.5 changling. I figured they were just going to get ride of changling and replace it with the doppleganger. If they are going to actualy keep changling as an offshoot of Doppleganger then it's going to have to be seriously nerfed.
The changeling and doppelganger is the same. Its just that the doppelganger name is reserved for the changelings you don't like. So its sort of a racist thingie stuffy. At least that was Keith Bakers take on it when the MM was first released... who knows it might have changed.
* Changelings and Dopplegangers appear to be used interchangeable. Possibly an editing mistake.
* Aberrant marks appear to be limited to 3 feats. Each apply a penalty on an enemy when you hit the enemy with a daily power.
I'm intrigued by aberrant marks. It looks like the Spellscarred powers, Dragonmarks and Aberrant marks will each be a distinctive mechanic. I'm all for that as it means more stuff for players to choose from. Although I'm somewhat surprised.
Eh. First campaign someone takes it, it doesn't matter how much you've featured the Mourning in your current campaign, you'll never be able to use it in future ones. So if it isn't something you're going to stress and highlight in your first campaign, you might lose the chance to use it at all.
I also feel that one of the charms of Eberron is the very fleshed out starting point that you can keep starting from over and over and over again. That way, your players get to know the world better and they can challenge you as a DM coming up with new and logical things that happen according to their actions.
It's a bit like starting again in a good Bioware RPG but with more choice than a computer game can give ya :P
After the good-savior game, make your players play an evil game where they have to create another Mourning. Or make it a long Delve where in the end, another huge or world-wide catastrophe occurs.
Maybe the Prophecy said something about the Mourning being a thing that when healed/prevented it only comes back worse? Or, by healing the Mournland, the PC activated some sort of series of events that will lead to something else. Example, heal the Mournland, who gets the territory? New Cyre? Warforged? 4 Nations? Darguun? Valenar? Maybe healing the Mournland is what will start the Next War. Maybe Eberron or Khorvaire is cursed that to preserve the peace, you need a Mournland?
Rekko
Superior one-handed weapons:
Cutting Wheel, +2, 1d6 | light blade | defensive, off-hand.
Drow long knife +3, 1d6, 5/1 | heavy blade | heavy thrown, off-hand.
Talenta tangat, +2 1d8 | heavy blade | high crit, versatile, can be used 1-handed by small characters.
Superior 2H weapons:
Talenta sharrash, +3, 1d8 | heavy blade, polearm | high crit, can be wielded two-handed by a small character.
Superior Double Weapons:
Double Scimitar, +2, 1d6/1d6 | heavy blade | defensive, high crit, off-hand.
Zulaat +2, 2d4/2d4 | heavy blade, polearm | defensive, off-hand.
Superior one-handed ranged weapons:
Talenta boomerang, +2, 1d4, 10/20, | light blade | light thrown
Xen'drink boomerang, +2, 1d6, 6/12 | light blade | light thrown
There are also cool heroic feats:
Aerenal Arcanist: Elf, any arcane class, Aerenal background.
Basically spellbook for any arcane utility powers.
Aerenal Half-Life: Elf, Aerenal background. +1 feat bonus to damage rolls with necrotic powers. +2 at paragon, +3 at epic. In addition, spending an AP gives you this bonus to attack rolls until end of next turn.
Master Crafter: Artificer. Create magic items of your level + your Int mod or lower with the Enchant Magic Item ritual.
One really powerful Dragonmark feat is the Mark of the Storm:
Benefit: Whenever you hit an enemy with a thunder or lightning power, you can slide that enemy 1 square. You gain +1 bonus to speed when flying. You can master and perform the Endure Elements, Enhance Vessel, Summon Winds and Water Walk rituals as if you had the Ritual Caster feat.
Mark of Hospitality:
Benefit: Whenever you or an ally within 10 squares of you uses a healing power during a short rest, that power restores the maximum number of hit points possible. You can master and perform the Eye of Alarm, Fantastic Recuperation, Secure Shelter and Travelers' Feast rituals as if you had the ritual caster feat.
Mark of Hospitality:
Benefit: Whenever you or an ally within 10 squares of you uses a healing power during a short rest, that power restores the maximum number of hit points possible. You can master and perform the Eye of Alarm, Fantastic Recuperation, Secure Shelter and Travelers' Feast rituals as if you had the ritual caster feat.
Aw, man, I was hoping I could continue to go through life pretending that heal powers couldn't be used during short rests, just to avoid turning a "5-minute" rest into a 25-minute rest as everyone waits for the cleric to continue re-popping Healing Word... but I don't want to screw over the Mark of Hospitality. Maybe I'll just assert that healing out-of-combat, at least without the Mark or the Restful Healer feat, always restores half of the maximum possible for each die (so every d6 becomes 3 hp.) That way we can at least avoid rolling the dice repeatedly.
Lots of Artificer stuff, Aberrant marks, a Channel Divinity feat for il-Yannah (i.e. the Kalashtar's "Path of Light")...
Is there any info on the Mark of Siberys?
So far these leaks are pretty exciting. Even more exciting than the previews, which have pretty much been blah.
Weapons: looks pleasing. I'm really interested in this Drow Longknife. I can’t wait to have a Lyrander ranger multiclass watchamajig with one or two Drow Longkifes. Lets you maximize the ranged abilities of a ranger and the melee.
Dragonmark feats: Ehh. It's all right.
You know I have the same question as Avon. Any info at all?
No Paragon Path for the Mark of Siberys? Really? What the hell.
Is there any info on the Mark of Siberys?
Personally, I've been rather hoping that they did away with the whole tiered marks and special mark system that was in 3.5. I always felt constrained as both a player and a GM when a level minimum was forced on certain marks. I never got why if I wanted a teenager to have a mark of Siberys he had to be level 13 or higher. Now some of these problems have been alleviated for the GM since NPCs don't follow the same rules as players, but I really don't like it all around.
For me I have been hoping for one benefit, one feat, flavor is up to the player/GM. Who knows how it will actually be, but that's my personal hope.
I want to know how they are going to nerf the changling. I mean seriously the 4e Doppleganger is basicly the 3.5 changling. I figured they were just going to get ride of changling and replace it with the doppleganger. If they are going to actualy keep changling as an offshoot of Doppleganger then it's going to have to be seriously nerfed.
Not at all. Basically the dopple is the changling in 4E. They may just refluff it a bit.
Guess that's the reaction for giving us rehashish and fluff and then calling it a preview...
I love that no one, including Hellcow on the enworld boards, is like "This is piracy this madman must be stopped!"
Guess that's the reaction for giving us rehashish and fluff and then calling it a preview...
Why would it be piracy? The poster there is from Holland and international Amazon.com's tend to send the books earlier than in America. Over at the Star Wars RPG forums someone in Japan always gets the book 1-2 weeks early and previews it.
Just because someone has a book before you doesn't make it piracy.
Just because someone has a book before you doesn't make it piracy.
Exactly. Its not piracy. Thank you for reading what I said carefully. ;)
Exactly. Its not piracy. Thank you for reading what I said carefully. ;)
Sorry. I mistook what you said as sarcasm. You know how it is on the internet. I read it:
[sarcasm]I love how...[/sarcasm]
Again sorry for that.
So it's true then. No racial restrictions on the dragonmarks.
And behold... I appear from an internet hotspot at UK Games Expo to attempt to soothe fears.
There are no racial restrictions on the dragonmark feats themselves. However, both the EPG and ECG have a lot of text discussing the significance of race, highlighting the fact that the marks are tied to race, but "as a player character, you can choose to be an exception, because player characters are uniquely significant individuals." The ECG goes into this in more detail, noting that such a character might be one of the first in history to develop such a mark, and could potentially be targeted for extermination by the houses. So if you take the marks in isolation - stripping setting away - they have no restrictions. However, within Eberron there ARE racial connections and consequences for ignoring them.
In short, what you're getting now are just glimpses of a big picture. People posting things often haven't read through all the information or are only presenting part of it. I won't say any more, because *I'M* under NDA and because I'm traveling and really don't have the time. But bear in mind that brief spoilers may miss the greater depth of the book.
And behold... I appear from an internet hotspot at UK Games Expo to attempt to soothe fears.
Once again ... Keith shoots, he scores for the WIN!!!!
Once again ... Keith shoots, he scores for the WIN!!!!
How right you are.
I wish I had a summon Hellcow scroll...
And behold... I appear from an internet hotspot at UK Games Expo to attempt to soothe fears.
You need a beam of radiant silver light to illuminate you when you appear :D
It's like Family Guy and Star Trek.
So, Hellcow, what's it like on the set? lol
I wonder if he 'feels a disturbance in the force' on occations like these.
You don't know the Power of His Infernal Bovinity
How right you are.
I wish I had a summon Hellcow scroll...
Well I keep one handy ever since the old days...
Summon
(Sorry. It was the only video of it I could find. Not the greatest, but I used to love that spell.)
Symbionts are back. There are 4 in the free gameday adventure, including a tongueworm and the coat of eyes (a artifact).
Huzzah!
What's a symbiont? :P
(yes I know what a symbiont is in real life, but I don't know what the fluff is in Eberron ;) Are they native to sewers only? Can they be bought at your local store along with a holy symbol and a flint and steel?)
Huzzah!
What's a symbiont? :P
Daelkyr creations. Good to see them back.
Huzzah!
What's a symbiont? :P
(yes I know what a symbiont is in real life, but I don't know what the fluff is in Eberron ;) Are they native to sewers only? Can they be bought at your local store along with a holy symbol and a flint and steel?)
As posted above, it's a daelkyr creation. These are Power (healing surge) items, as you have to spend a surge to recharge them. There are also negative effects if your roll a 1 when using them. On a 1 the some daze or dominate you.
As posted above, it's a daelkyr creation. These are Power (healing surge) items, as you have to spend a surge to recharge them. There are also negative effects if your roll a 1 when using them. On a 1 the some daze or dominate you.
Eww! How juicey! I wonder if their will be any new Symbionts. I just get tired of the same old three.
As posted above, it's a daelkyr creation. These are Power (healing surge) items, as you have to spend a surge to recharge them. There are also negative effects if your roll a 1 when using them. On a 1 the some daze or dominate you.
Oooh nice. How did a PC get one in 3.5e? Being a daelkyr creation I can't imagine they're particularly common.
The thing about symbiotes is they were intelligent, and had an ego score... thuse would generally try to take over their hosts. Daelkyr Halfbloods not so much though.
Oooh nice. How did a PC get one in 3.5e? Being a daelkyr creation I can't imagine they're particularly common.
kill someone wearing one and take it.:D
Oooh nice. How did a PC get one in 3.5e? Being a daelkyr creation I can't imagine they're particularly common.
Black market. Honestly.
the Daelkyr Halfblood race, which wasn't really its own race so much as the fetus was corrupted in the womb and was 'born' with a symbiote.
Sounds like a bloodline feat path to me :D
And thanks for letting my know how to get symbionts :D
Even more so since I read this thread after reading the Gods Preview, which unfortunately fell flat. "How do we hammer Points of Light into every aspect of Eberron ?" Yeah... [/rant]
Sounds like a bloodline feat path to me. :D
A Bloodline feat path you say. Hmm.It's possible, but I highly doubt it. It's just something extra and I really don't think they will go through all that trouble to put them into the EPG. Their not necesary.
I really don't think they will go through all that trouble to put them into the EPG. Their not necesary.
I agree. But I've heard a few mention interest in half-daelkyri and by their description it sounds perfect for a Dragon article.
What sort of level are symbiotes?
3-5
3-5
Absolutely perfect.
It's like everything about Eberron wants to make sure it fits with my numerous campaign ideas.
No prereqs, other than being level 21.
Mournland Dedicate (21): You gain a +5 bonus to all skill challenges related to the Mournland, are immune to Mournland disease, and you ignore obstacles and fantastic terrain relating to the Mournland. Allies within 5 of you can benefit from healing powers in the Mournland. When you're outside the Mournland, healing powers that target you or an ally within 5 restore an extra 2d6 hp.
Memory of Cyre (24): When you spend an AP, non-construct, non-undead enemies adjacent to you take a -2 penalty to attacks and defenses (save ends).
Cyran Vengeance (30): When you first become bloodied during an encounter, you gain an AP that must be spent before the end of your next turn that doesn't count toward your AP usage. If you use the AP to attack an undead or aberrant creature, you get your charisma bonus to attack and damage rolls against it.
Cleansing Presence (Daily Utility 26): Standard Action; Close burst 20. Each ally in the burst can spend a healing surge. Any excess hp healed become temp hp. In addition, you permanently negate the effects of any fantastic terrain in the burst that has a magical or supernatural origin, including but not limited to blood rock, fonts of power, illusions, loadstones, mirror crystals, pillars of life, sacred circles, permanent portals, and teleporters. Woah.
I think I agree with the poster's sentiment
.Here are the Mourning savior's abilities(originally posted on rpgnet)
I think I agree with the poster's sentiment
Yeah I'm glad I asked about that one. As I said on the thread, I was a little worried after seeing the Champion of Prophecy, but the Mourning Savior looks so very nice. Its even the icing on the cake that it seems to have great mechanical synergy with the character that I want to take it.
It's very good though. Nice idea and interesting abilities.
Heir of Siberys
Deneith Warder
"Swift Charge" (feat?)
http://benwootten.deviantart.com/
Goods news that the Heir of Siberys is there. I was worried it had been left out after the list of PPs and EDs was leaked. Maybe it's a paragon or epic feat instead.
Goods news that the Heir of Siberys is there. I was worried it had been left out after the list of PPs and EDs was leaked. Maybe it's a paragon or epic feat instead.
Full-body tat ftw :D . Glad to see some info (finally) on EPH (that isn't rumour and conjecture). So looking forward to my delivery...
Goods news that the Heir of Siberys is there. I was worried it had been left out after the list of PPs and EDs was leaked. Maybe it's a paragon or epic feat instead.
I wouldn't get your hopes all the way up just yet. There's been plenty of times where an art order was placed, but the art was never used.
I'm looking at you, Tribex.
I wouldn't get your hopes all the way up just yet. There's been plenty of times where an art order was placed, but the art was never used.
I'm looking at you, Tribex.
Ah, good point.
At the very least it means they must have done some design work on the Heir of Siberys, otherwise there'd be no reason for the art order. So even if it isn't in the EPG, it might show up in a Dragon article.
Ah, good point.
At the very least it means they must have done some design work on the Heir of Siberys, otherwise there'd be no reason for the art order. So even if it isn't in the EPG, it might show up in a Dragon article.
It could end up being an ED in a "Destinies of Eberron" Article for sure. Guess we'll see soon enough.
What about the Sivis Dragonmark? I have a gnome in my party and he might want to take it eventually. Any word on what it does?
I saw it somewhere out there. Let me see if I can find it again...
EDIT: Found it! It's Literacy on steroids:
Dragonmarks Feats
* Mark of Detection: You roll twice for Perception checks. You can sense magic and can use Perception in place of Arcana to detect magic.
* Mark of Finding: An enemy granting combat advantage shifts you can shift into the square he just vacated.
* Mark of Handling: Benefits of Mounted Combat feat and while mounted +2 to speed and +1 AC. The same benefits apply to your beast companion.
* Mark of Healing: Allies can make a save whenever you heal them.
* Mark of Hospitality: Allies within 10 restore maximum hp possible during a short rest.
* Mark of Making: Use Enchant Magic Item ritual and make Alchemical items as two levels higher.
* Mark of Passage: When a power lets you shift or teleport, +1 square.
* Mark of Scribing: Gain fluency in four new languages and +2 to Diplomacy.
* Mark of Sentinel: When making an opportunity attack shift 1 as a free action before or after.
* Mark of Shadow: Remain hidden or invisible if you miss with your attack.
* Mark of Storm: You gain +1 to speed when flying and thunder or lightning powers slide enemies 1 square.
* Mark of Warding: +1 AC to powers that provide defense bonuses and marked enemies suffer -3 to attacks when targeting others.
All from here: http://dungeonsmaster.com/2009/06/review-eberron-players-guide-part-2/
Thinking about getting it for my Talenta Barbarian for giggles.
This obviously doesn't work well if pressed for time.
I may have said this in this thread, I can't remember, but I can't wait to make a Half-Elf Lyrander, Two-Blade Ranger, who wields to Drow Longknives. :D
Heir of Siberys
Goods news that the Heir of Siberys is there. I was worried it had been left out after the list of PPs and EDs was leaked. Maybe it's a paragon or epic feat instead.
It might still be left out. I remember a pic of a tiny warforged holding up a book or something, and it was supposed to be something in a 3.5e Eberron book, but it never came to fruition (and now we'll never know).
Bear in mind that brief spoilers may miss the greater depth of the book.
From a review: All the dragonmarked feats are heroic tier. I can’t find any reference to distinction between least, lesser, greater and Siberys Dragonmarks. Looks like that mechanic was removed during the 4e revamp.
Is there a greater depth this review is missing on the Least, Lesser, Greater or Siberys status of Marks?
I saw it somewhere out there. Let me see if I can find it again... (Dragonmarks Feats)
I'll just note that these are brief summaries and don't fully detail the mark abilities. There's a few important details missing from the Mark of Scribing, for example.
Is there a greater depth this review is missing on the Least, Lesser, Greater or Siberys status of Marks?
Yes, where are all these different calibers of Dragonmark? Are they gone? Because that would be very disappointing. And if they are gone then how is it made up for?
Yes, where are all these different calibers of Dragonmark? Are they gone? Because that would be very disappointing. And if they are gone then how is it made up for?
How about "As a character's level increases and they gain the ability to perform new rituals, their mark grows new strands of colour across the character's body. A DC 20 Arcana check can be made to estimate a dragonmarked creature's ritual capabilities."
We should all find out tomorrow when the design and development article on Dragonmarks goes live.
On that note:
Looks like Siberys is not in the book, but it may very well come in a Dragon article. No news on what it might end up being though.
* Mark of Shadow: Remain hidden or invisible if you miss with your attack.
Anyone else thinks this sort of sucks?
All the other marks get abilities that are persistent or at least key off relatively common conditionals (OA, frex), but this one is extremely conditional. To be useful, it really requires the character to have some sort of invisibility.
Anyone else thinks this sort of sucks?
All the other marks get abilities that are persistent or at least key off relatively common conditionals (OA, frex), but this one is extremely conditional. To be useful, it really requires the character to have some sort of invisibility.
Really? You can't see how this is going to turn Rogues, Avengers, Warlocks, and some Rangers into concealment death machines?It's not 'that' hard to get the hidden status.
Anyone else thinks this sort of sucks?
All the other marks get abilities that are persistent or at least key off relatively common conditionals (OA, frex), but this one is extremely conditional. To be useful, it really requires the character to have some sort of invisibility.
Its somewhat in line with the Mark of Passage, but even more specialised. I'm guessing its a balance issue. If you have a use for the invisibility portion, its extremely useful. If you don't have such a use for it, then its extremely useless.
If you take it for fluff instead of crunch, perhaps your GM would be okay with giving it to you as a free feat?
Its somewhat in line with the Mark of Passage, but even more specialised. I'm guessing its a balance issue. If you have a use for the invisibility portion, its extremely useful. If you don't have such a use for it, then its extremely useless.
You should read the design and development article, what you've wrote there is the entire point. It's meant to be useful for characters who would get a use out of it, it's not meant to be extra abilities for everyone else. This was the flaw they viewed with the 3E feats and sought to address in 4E. If you have a mark, it boosts the classes that are associated with that mark because that is how it should work logically.
It's not 'that' hard to get the hidden status.
In my experience superior cover or total concealment is a *****-and-a-half to get. At least in any way that doesn't block your own vision as well. YMMV ofc.
Which leaves invisibility and blinding.
In any case, I suppose maybe if you build a character specifically around this tactic it can be made feasible. Your average, run-of-the-mill Rogue certainly can't pull it off.
And BTW: how does an ability that at best simply makes missing your attack suck a little less turn you into a "death machine"?
Anyway there are rituals that goe with each mark it seems. So even if the static ability is somewhat useless to a pc the rituals might be very useful.
I guess you just cannot please everybody.
Anyway there are rituals that goe with each mark it seems. So even if the static ability is somewhat useless to a pc the rituals might be very useful.
From what the previews from the people with the book have said is that in this book there are only two rituals that require a mark and they are both for the Mark of Warding. The Design and Development article seems to imply that they would like to add more in the future though.
From what the previews from the people with the book have said is that in this book there are only two rituals that require a mark and they are both for the Mark of Warding. The Design and Development article seems to imply that they would like to add more in the future though.
That's requiring a Mark. What was being referred to is that there are rituals (some of which are in the PH, not the EPG) that you derive superior use from with a Mark, but don't necessarily require a Mark.
That's requiring a Mark. What was being referred to is that there are rituals (some of which are in the PH, not the EPG) that you derive superior use from with a Mark, but don't necessarily require a Mark.
Ah I see. I didn't think of that.
Looking forward to that secure shelter though.
For instance, the Mark could grant an extra action point to anyone who takes an extended rest in the presence of it. A PC can still only use one per encounter, so it would generally (assuming a 2:1 encounter-to-action point ratio) mean that PCs with a Ghallanda in the party would have one point to spend for each of the first three encounters in a day. This expresses the "well-rested" condition fairly effectively, IMO.
Ghallanda inns are specially designed to magnify this effect, rendering their guests completely refreshed and ready to face a long day of whatever work they have to do, even without their morning coffee.
That's the way I handle it in my games, at least.
You should read the design and development article
I did.
It's meant to be useful for characters who would get a use out of it, it's not meant to be extra abilities for everyone else.
I think that might be overstating it somewhat. I think the developers would have tried to make marks generally useful (so someone besides a defender has a reason to take the Mark of Warding), but that definitely took a back seat to being useful for the intended builds.
In my experience superior cover or total concealment is a *****-and-a-half to get. At least in any way that doesn't block your own vision as well. YMMV ofc.
Why not attack, get your total concealment and lose line of sight. And then next round stealth into attacking to keep your combat advantage?
Why not attack, get your total concealment and lose line of sight. And then next round stealth into attacking to keep your combat advantage?
My point was that to get total concealment in the first place, you would need either some power that grants it or naturally occuring darkness. In the later case, you also need your vision to be better than the opponent's. To get superior cover, you have to rely on it being available on the battlefield.
Besides, if you do manage to set up a situation where you can just pop into and out of concealment/cover when you wish, the Mark of Shadow becomes utterly meaningless: as soon as you break cover/concealment, it doesn't matter if your attack hits or misses, you're not hidden anyway.
Sniping from hiding is in general a pretty naff tactic in your typical D&D pitched battle. Unless you're specifically built for it, like if you're a Drow or something.
You need total cover or total concealment to become hidden.
You only need regular cover or regular concealment to remain hidden.
Thus, for example, you can duck behind a wall, make a Stealth check to have them lose track of you, and then on your next round shift to a position where you can see your enemy but you have cover against them. Congrats, you're still hidden and have combat advantage until you attack.
The rogue and ranger powers that allow movement as part of an attack make it fairly easy to do this every round.
I agree that it's still a limited tactic that fewer PCs will likely take advantage of, but if you do, the dragonmark practically translates into "Gain a +5 bonus to defenses whenever you miss with a ranged attack."
I would've liked it more if Hospitality's effect also had something to do with extended rests.
For instance, the Mark could grant an extra action point to anyone who takes an extended rest in the presence of it. A PC can still only use one per encounter, so it would generally (assuming a 2:1 encounter-to-action point ratio) mean that PCs with a Ghallanda in the party would have one point to spend for each of the first three encounters in a day. This expresses the "well-rested" condition fairly effectively, IMO.
Ghallanda inns are specially designed to magnify this effect, rendering their guests completely refreshed and ready to face a long day of whatever work they have to do, even without their morning coffee.
That's the way I handle it in my games, at least.
I'm thinking the ritual Fantastic Recuperation might have something to do with this. I have no idea what the ritual does but most rituals have a longer casting time than a short rest, yet extended rests are basically already a cure all, so something that gives you a boost for the first encounter after an extended rest like Hero's Feast of old maybe?
My point was that to get total concealment in the first place, you would need either some power that grants it or naturally occuring darkness. In the later case, you also need your vision to be better than the opponent's. To get superior cover, you have to rely on it being available on the battlefield.
Besides, if you do manage to set up a situation where you can just pop into and out of concealment/cover when you wish, the Mark of Shadow becomes utterly meaningless: as soon as you break cover/concealment, it doesn't matter if your attack hits or misses, you're not hidden anyway.
Sniping from hiding is in general a pretty naff tactic in your typical D&D pitched battle. Unless you're specifically built for it, like if you're a Drow or something.
I don't know if I've been in a single pitched D&D battle that hasn't had walls taller than the characters.
Anyone else thinks this sort of sucks?
All the other marks get abilities that are persistent or at least key off relatively common conditionals (OA, frex), but this one is extremely conditional. To be useful, it really requires the character to have some sort of invisibility.
I just wish the mark did something at all for an Illusionist Wizard. Which is completely a character concept that should make sense for House Phiarlan/Thuriani.
From what the previews from the people with the book have said is that in this book there are only two rituals that require a mark and they are both for the Mark of Warding. The Design and Development article seems to imply that they would like to add more in the future though.
I'd certainly like to see more, and I personally wish there were more in this book. In my opinion, this is an important parallel to dragonshard focus items in 3E - explaining how the dragonmarked houses hold power because of their ability to provide services other merchants simply can't provide.
I'd certainly like to see more, and I personally wish there were more in this book. In my opinion, this is an important parallel to dragonshard focus items in 3E - explaining how the dragonmarked houses hold power because of their ability to provide services other merchants simply can't provide.
I smell a post-travel (and post-travel exhaustion) Dragon article!