Above all, what I cant understand is what exactly is an Incarnate supposed to do.
The only potential I see is in the use of the Shape Soulmeld feat for the non meldshaping classes, and perhaps the Soulcaster PRC.
Am I far from the truth? Is there anything in this site I should read before concluding?
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=551.0
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=2943.0
Enjoy your read
These might be able to help:
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=551.0
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=2943.0
Enjoy your read
Oh thanks for those - but, aren't there some parts missing? The ones that he analyses which Melds to use? Cause I cant see them, at least not from this computer hehe
Look here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a
Variant Kobold Racial Traits
Natural Weapons: Kobolds have two primary claw attacks that deal 1d3 points of slashing damage plus Strength bonus, and a secondary bite attack that deals 1d3 points of piercing damage plus 1/2 Strength bonus. Despite possibly being the weakest reptilian humanoid, kobolds retain a connection to their feral nature.
Okay, that's four. Hmm...
First level: Whirling frenzy barbarian. With pounce. Feat: extra rage. That's five.
Second level: Chaos monk. Feat: two-weapon fighting. (martial monk, yay!)
That's a potential eight attacks. Always at least six. What does totemist ever do that a dip into barbarian and a feat can't?
Now, that being said, I'm playing an Incarnate right now and absolutely rocking it. As for power relative to the other classes out there, they are just as strong as the average 3.5 base class (that is to say, weaker than full casters, stronger than most straight melee types). Incarnates have lots of daily options to change their focus, Totemists can rock out as natural attack beasts, and Soulborn are relatively strong. If you just want the book to boost other classes out there, the feat section has some great stuff to help get characters into PrCs, to get extra power for psionic characters and spellcasting characters.
I'd recomend getting Tome of Magic over MoI any day of the week. There's WAY more flavor in that book, and although the Shadowcaster and Truenamer are kind of weak, they still are really awesome for flavor. Binders are REALLY strong without too much tweaking.
I'd recomend getting Tome of Magic over MoI any day of the week. There's WAY more flavor in that book, and although the Shadowcaster and Truenamer are kind of weak, they still are really awesome for flavor. Binders are REALLY strong without too much tweaking.
I don't know about that. Binders and Truenamers have some pretty cool flavor, that much I'll concede. But Trunaming doesn't really work... Pact magic is all Tome of Magic has, really.
As for MoI, the flavor is there, in fact, Totemists are really interesting. I'd play a Totemist, or an Incarnate well before a Binder. But I am much more acquainted to MoI, and haven't siphoned through all the online material yet, and have heard that it's critical to Binders.
What I enjoy about MoI is that you can do so much of it with only feats. Not to mention I'm a bad pun away from being romantic comedy in love with the Umbral Disciple.
I don't find Totemists all that interesting... They're essentially like managing the Wildshape forms for a Druid but without the spellcasting, to me...
Five attacks a round? At level two? Wow, that's a toughee.
Look here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a
Variant Kobold Racial Traits
Natural Weapons: Kobolds have two primary claw attacks that deal 1d3 points of slashing damage plus Strength bonus, and a secondary bite attack that deals 1d3 points of piercing damage plus 1/2 Strength bonus. Despite possibly being the weakest reptilian humanoid, kobolds retain a connection to their feral nature.
Okay, that's four. Hmm...
First level: Whirling frenzy barbarian. With pounce. Feat: extra rage. That's five.
Second level: Chaos monk. Feat: two-weapon fighting. (martial monk, yay!)
That's a potential eight attacks. Always at least six. What does totemist ever do that a dip into barbarian and a feat can't?
Except you're playing a kobold as a melee damage class without relying on finesse.
I'm not saying that what the totemist can do via attacks is particularly amazing, but having those 8 attacks isn't going to matter when its hard to hit them due to -4 str, and numerous penalties. Even rage doesn't bring it up much.
That being said, I find incarnum works best in flavor and effectiveness when you use it via feats. Shape Soulmelds can result in some fairly nice benefits(Shape Soulmeld Planar ward is delicious) and it actually fits very nicely thematically - this strange new form of power that you can slowly learn to tap into and activate, in addition to your normal previous abilities.
There are definitely a lot of effective incarnum builds out there, but in any build for any character, as long as they have a relatively free feat I'm sure theres a soulmeld out there that fits it.
Anyway, is a totemist going to do more damage than a swift hunter TWF build? They both seem to fill the same niche-- it's just the swift hunter seems to have lots of skill points and spells and... a lot less bookkeeping. Sure, the totemist can grapple, but Freedom of Movement is cheap. I'm not impressed.
I don't know about that. Binders and Truenamers have some pretty cool flavor, that much I'll concede. But Trunaming doesn't really work... Pact magic is all Tome of Magic has, really.
Well, no. Tome of Magic's 3 new systems all work. Truename just needs some tweaking and some really careful consideration. There's a CO Diary for one somewhere aroung here... And Shadowcasters are quite effective. Not as powerful as a Wiz/Clr/Drd, but then hardly anything is. Again, you just need to plan your advancement. Binders are awesome with or without the web enhancement. The web enhancement is just plain broken.
As to Magic of Incarnum, it is a very interesting book. At first, I was extremely skeptical about it, but gradually warmed up to it. I am currently working a Rilkan Incarnate and he's doing quite well. Lightning Gauntlets (or whatever it's called... Away from books) are his attack of choice, though he may start using Dissolving Spittle, since the party lacks a ranged attacker. And he protects himself with a Lammasu Mantle. That +2 Deflection against Evil has come in handy more than once, and gives him 21 AC at level 2. I know, not optimized, but still effective and able to stand in toe-to-toe quite well at this point. Which is very helpful if the party lacks a real tank (which this one does).
Of all the 3.5 alternative system books out there, I would not suggest MoI... It just isn't cool enough for me, flavorwise.
Now, that being said, I'm playing an Incarnate right now and absolutely rocking it. As for power relative to the other classes out there, they are just as strong as the average 3.5 base class (that is to say, weaker than full casters, stronger than most straight melee types). Incarnates have lots of daily options to change their focus, Totemists can rock out as natural attack beasts, and Soulborn are relatively strong. If you just want the book to boost other classes out there, the feat section has some great stuff to help get characters into PrCs, to get extra power for psionic characters and spellcasting characters.
I'd recomend getting Tome of Magic over MoI any day of the week. There's WAY more flavor in that book, and although the Shadowcaster and Truenamer are kind of weak, they still are really awesome for flavor. Binders are REALLY strong without too much tweaking.
The Incarnate is the class that could intrigue me the most.
I think I'd like to play one as as melee/support ... What I am thinking about though is the fact that he has a Terrible BaB, just 2 attacks per round..
Did you get feats like 2WF to counter that or? What else can an Incarnate do besides damage dealing?
Feats so far are
Able Learner, Improved Soulmeld Capacity, Shape Soulmeld: Totem Avatar
I'm 5th level. I use
Incarnum Weapon (+1 cap), Totem Avatar, Lightening Gauntlets (Arms), Lucky Dice, Bloodwar Gauntlets
Which, given my 18 Str
Gives me +10 to hit, d8+12+3d6 damage
Alternatively, I've removed Lightening Gauntlets and bound Necrocarnum Circlet to my crown for a zombie. Currently I just have a Sahaugin zombie, but the natural attacks (2 claw, bite, slam) are pretty nice at +5 damage each (and +6 / +1 to hit).
I've got 55 HP right now thanks to Con.
I might retrain to TWF later from Totem Avatar... Its not an ideal setup now, but is working pretty well w/ this team.
Ah, and as far as stats go I am guessing it's something like Con>Str>dex/int, wis and cha dump. (?)
for sale on Amazon for $2.
TWO BUCKS !!
C'mon, it'll keep you going longer than a $2 Succubus. Really. :D
It's worth it now.
Too bad I bought at the top of the market.
C'mon, it'll keep you going longer than a $2 Succubus. Really. :D
C'mon, it'll keep you going longer than a $2 Succubus. Really. :D
I hate to break it to you, but at two bucks, that wasn't a succubus.
I've found Magic Of Incarnum
for sale on Amazon for $2.
TWO BUCKS !!
C'mon, it'll keep you going longer than a $2 Succubus. Really. :D
It's worth it now.
Too bad I bought at the top of the market.
Daaaaayim. Thing is, I live in Greece, Europe. So the shipping costs would make it like ... +10 dollars?
And I am against credit cards and **** :>
DISCLAIMER: I have nothing against *'s.
So your role is dmg dealing plus some minor support then?
Ah, and as far as stats go I am guessing it's something like Con>Str>dex/int, wis and cha dump. (?)
Yah, although this game uses the Unearthed Arcana AD&D rolling method, so I didn't really dump anything except Cha.