| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| The Sage |
Posted - 08 Feb 2004 : 12:18:29
WotC have posted to their site a number of updates concerning the soon-to-be released D&D accessory, Unearthed Arcana. On offer is UA Team Interview which is a spotlight on the authors involved with producing the tome. Also, there is an excerpt from the new book which details a 'Prestige Paladin' class, a totem barbarian variant, as well as the new optional rules on vitality and wound points. Finally, also available for those interested is a web enchancement that details the variant rule checklist which allows DMs to ascertain the new options to the existing rules.
Enjoy...
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| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 14 Mar 2004 : 03:07:55
Hmmm...tell us a little about the 'tweaking' you did to the Druid class Mr. Seaotter?.
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| the psychotic seaotter |
Posted - 13 Mar 2004 : 19:28:39
Got mine yeaterday. So far I have tweaked a Druid class, added in Spell points and the new XP system, and am going to phase in the contacts system.
I definatly see myself doing something with the Generic classes combined with the simpler skill system in the flavor of a basic style game...
Over all there were somethings I won't use but It was worth the $$ |
| Arivia |
Posted - 05 Mar 2004 : 10:17:19
There are essentially three large groupings of feats in this book:
- Weapon Group Feats-Replacing normal weapon proficiency with Weapon Group: Spears, for example.
- Spelltouched Feats -You can only take each one after being affected by a different spell. Each grants you a different ability.(For example, Naturalized Denizen: Prerequisite: Exposure to dimensional anchor Benefit: You never gain the extraplanar subtype, no matter where you travel.)
- The rest of them are a grab bag of a few for some of the options, like the Craft Masterwork item feats for the Craft Point system, and the Skill Knowledge feat for one of the variant skill systems.
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| Lady Kazandra |
Posted - 05 Mar 2004 : 10:00:44
Sage, I'd read (at the EN World site I believe) that Arcana Unearthed was already available in Australia. Why haven't you received your order yet?.
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| The Sage |
Posted - 05 Mar 2004 : 09:08:13
Hmmm...certainly a nice mixing of alternate rules.
Arivia, what can you tell me about some of the new feats?. Are they anything new, or is it just a case of rehashing older material...?
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| Arivia |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 21:23:12
Now my whole dollar's share...
Races-As I've said, the elemental and environmental races are horrible. However, Reducing Level Adjustments and Bloodlines are enough to save the chapter. I'm ambivalent on the paragon races.
Classes-Absolutely wonderous. I quite like what's there for all the classes, ranging from Domain Wizards to something resembling a resurrection of the Avenger kit for Druids...
Building Characters-Same goes here. I've been looking for the Complex Skill Check system for a while.
Adventuring-A grab bag. There's bound to be a variant here to appeal to everyone...I'm not likely to use Combat Facing, the hex grid rules or Players Roll All The Dice for quite a while, but I'm sure someone else will...
Magic-Another grab bag. I'm not one for the Item Familiars or Legendary Weapons myself, but oh well...
Campaigns-The only thing I'm not liable to use here is the Level-Independent XP Awards bit.
Oh, and there's an appendix on some cross-setting campaigns...
I'm already using some of these...
*Snips list of optional rules off latest two campaigns*
1.
Reducing Level Adjustments, page 18, Unearthed Arcana
Fractional Base Bonuses, page 73, Unearthed Arcana
Complex Skill Checks, page 81, Unearthed Arcana
Action Points, page 122, Unearthed Arcana
Metamagic Components, page 139, Unearthed Arcana
Daily Spell List, page 153, Unearthed Arcana
Incantations, page 174, Unearthed Arcana
No Spell Resistance Against Energy Damage, page 174, Unearthed Arcana
Contacts, page 179, Unearthed Arcana
Reputation, page 180, Unearthed Arcana
Puzzles and Hints, page 207, Unearthed Arcana
Test-Based Prerequisites, page 210, Unearthed Arcana
2.
Sanity
Bell Curve Rolls
Contacts
Reputation
Taint
Spell Points
Incantations
Generic Classes
Alternative Skill Systems(possibly)
Weapon Groups
Bloodlines
Traits and Flaws
Complex Skill Checks
Injury
Action Points |
| Alexander Heppe |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 13:32:09
Well, I just received my copy of UA, and -all in all- I have to say that I am slightly disappointed to have bought it for that kind of money.
I donīt say that it isnīt a good book, but most of the variants used therein would have been better placed as web-enhancements or variants on the WotC Webpage.
But now my views on UA:
Chapter 1 (races)
is an interesting read, but looking at the amounts of race-specific stuff in nearly all the FR-sourcebooks already, for a FR campaign you will pretty much have reached the "I like variety, but this is e n o u g h!!" point. The only exception are the UA racial paragons, which are quite good to "flavour" a certain PC or NPC.
Chapter 2 (classes)
No variant in here makes really sense to me. Sorry, this ainīt my favourite chapter. Not gonna happen in my game...
Chapter 3 (building characters)
As chapter 1, interesting read, but nothing much else. Mostly tables for character-background, quite useful perhaps for the "imaginationally challenged", but then perhaps D&D is not their game. Might be useful for a quick NPC, probably. Character traits and flaws sound interesting, but keeping in mind that some of my players tend to min/max in the extreme (not to say they are munchkins), no, again, not in my game...
Chapter 4 (adventuring)
Armor as DR? Defence rolls. Vitality and Wound points? Hey, D&D combat was supposed to be (more or less) simple and abstract. Now they offer you to throw that simple approach overboard. Go on and do it, I wonīt... I am playing in the Realms to tell a story - and I love challenging fights (which are -sometimes- allowed to last quite long), but with the rules presented in this chapter, I beleive most players will need a mathematician to accomplish a short skirmish with a band of kobolds... not in my game...
Chapter 5 (magic)
see above, to complicated, I love keeping things basic and keep the game moving...
Chapter 6 (Campaigns)
Well, oops, this is quite a good chapter. I especially like the parts about contacts, reputation and honor. But, on the other hand, this IS something you donīt need special rules for, īcause you can roleplay it. But I think that my players would love to see (in numeric terms) how famous and/or honorable their characters are...
maybe in my game...
All in all: good read, nice ideas, but taken way over the top, slowing the game down
But if you are gonna use more in your game than me, please let me know how it turned out. Some of the variants presented in that book might actually help to give a campaign a flavour of some sort (especially the sanity system... "eye of vecnulhu" or "bigbotheps interposing hand", anybody?)
If the text above sounds to agressive, I would like to apologize beforehand, but see, I just payed 40 Euros for it, and am still wondering why... |
| Arivia |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 10:59:44
Essentially, when a character is hit, they make a Fortitude save. If they succede, then they suffer no ill effects. If they fail by 1 to 9, they take a "hit". Each "hit" applies a -1 cumulative penalty on the aforementioned Fortitude save. If they fail by 10 or more, they become disabled. A disabled character who fails another Fortitude save to resist damage becomes dying. A dying character must make another Fortitude save or die(the version of stabilization). That's essentially the core of it. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 10:47:33
Injury variant...?
Tell us a little about that.
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| Arivia |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 10:25:31
It's...interesting. I'll likely give it a try one of these days, but not right now. As of now, I'm more liable to just keep the old hp system, or use the Injury variant(Quite reminiscent of damage in Storyteller games.). |
| The Sage |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 10:18:59
Ah, that sounds more accurate...
Now tell me, have you have the opportunity to look through the option for 'Wound Points'...What do you think...?
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| Arivia |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 10:10:34
MotF dwarves, definitely. About the only new thing with the Unearthed Arcana version is that they can apply their stonecunning traits to ice. That section is really nothing groundbreaking; just retread bits for those too busy to do it right, themselves. Nothing on the scope of any history or anything is included, which is a marked contrast from most of the new races they've created; at least those have had some reasoning behind them.
Oh, and the components are quite well costed for the feat to be applied, and to what spell. By the way, there's only one possible component for each spell-and it automatically enhances it with a specific metamagic effect. Sorry if I gave the impression that it was wide open. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 09:59:25
Hmmm...those metamagic components sound interesting, although I certainly hope there is some restriction on their usage as I can see a potential for inbalance in a campaign already...
Now, for the race variants - Arctic Dwarves...better or worse (in terms of stats) than those presented in Monsters of Faerun?.
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| Arivia |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 08:53:28
I collected a copy two days ago. I'm quite enjoying it, and I'm already making use of some of the options contained within. Two of my favorite options are metamagic components(You replace the normal components of a spell with a costly component, and the spell has some metamagic feat applied to it.), and daily spell lists(When preparing spells, a spellcaster chooses a number of spells equal to what they can cast at each level, than they can actually cast any combination of these spells during the next day.). The last variant is an especially nice way of giving some more flexibility to spellcasters that have to prepare spells without going the way of spell points(The system for that is also included, just in case anyone's wondering.).
Overall, this has been one of WotC's best releases in quite a while, in my opinion.
Is anyone here interested in a complete go-over of the new variants? I might do so...
Oh, and confirming thoughts from the rest of this book...
Cantrips-No, unfortunately not.
Desert Elves-Yes, in addition to desert dwarves, arctic dwarves, fire elves...they took the time to do them all. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 08:24:22
Hmmm...you'll probably receive your copy before me then. I've just received an email from my online store (about thirty-minutes ago) that shipment has been delayed for at least a week...
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| Lord Rad |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 08:12:04
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Since there seems to be a slight delay in the delivery of my copy of Unearthed Arcana I was just curious as to whether any of the assembled scribes here at Candlekeep had received their copy yet...?
Let's hear your thoughts on this new accessory...
I always get my D&D products from the same store, it wasnt there last weekend (the book, not the store ) but im going down again this weekend in the hope that it (along with a slim chance of Venom's Taste) will be there. Im particulary looking forward to Unearthed Arcana, hope it doesnt disappoint else ill find myself harking back to the good old days of 1st edition AD&D  |
| The Sage |
Posted - 04 Mar 2004 : 07:28:03
Since there seems to be a slight delay in the delivery of my copy of Unearthed Arcana I was just curious as to whether any of the assembled scribes here at Candlekeep had received their copy yet...?
Let's hear your thoughts on this new accessory...
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| The Sage |
Posted - 18 Feb 2004 : 08:50:16
Well either way...I'll be happy, and so will Mournblade I think...
There is supposed to be another Web Enchancement for the tome soon anyway. I think it will be presenting more material that was cut from the tome.
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| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 17 Feb 2004 : 12:35:38
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Athas is the world of Dark Sun yes...As for borrowing the idea, I've simply put it down to the fact that since both 'Dragon' and 'Dungeon' magazines are about to bring us Dark Sun 3.5e, it would only be a short hop to also bring us some of the races from the setting - detailed in a future number of WotC D&D accessories.
Hey, as long as people enjoy the material, doesn't matter where it came from. I was just a little amused because when this item was announced, a poster on ENWorld got upset because I suggested Unearthed Arcana would have material from other sources that would just be updated to 3.5 ed. You'd have thought I had suggested that he had rolled a 1 on his perform bedroom check. And what is the end result.....Unearthed Arcana at least has some material from a previously published D20 item and now perhaps Dark Sun material as well. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 17 Feb 2004 : 09:11:10
Athas is the world of Dark Sun yes...As for borrowing the idea, I've simply put it down to the fact that since both 'Dragon' and 'Dungeon' magazines are about to bring us Dark Sun 3.5e, it would only be a short hop to also bring us some of the races from the setting - detailed in a future number of WotC D&D accessories.
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| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 17 Feb 2004 : 05:40:04
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
As far as I remember Desert elves were a rather small branch or offshoot from the standard elven race on Athas...I believe they are detailed in one of the earlier adventures from the 'Pentad' series.
Athas? Dark Sun, correct? So, they most likely took this from Dark Sun and used it again within Unearthed Arcana after updating it for 3E? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 17 Feb 2004 : 03:59:27
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
The 'Desert Elf' subrace has been around for a while...if that is what you're talking about...Otherwise, are you just limited that question to the Realms only...?
What product first featured the Desert Elves? I know they aren't featured in any Realms product so no wonder I missed their initial publication.
As far as I remember Desert elves were a rather small branch or offshoot from the standard elven race on Athas...I believe they are detailed in one of the earlier adventures from the 'Pentad' series. They did not possess any psionic talents however, nor did they have access to the kinds of resources their standard cousins do...Well, as much resources as can be had on a world like Athas of course...
I have also read of a race of 'sand' (desert) elves living among the sandy wastes of the Quasielemental Plane of Dust.
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| The Sage |
Posted - 17 Feb 2004 : 03:57:24
It's something Sirius wrote -
quote:
Otherwise, I don't see me purchasing any RPG items until March.
I was simply asking if the 'until March' meant Player's Guide to Faerun...
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| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 16 Feb 2004 : 17:22:37
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
And, I'm assuming by 'RPG items until March' [...]
What are you refering to? |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 16 Feb 2004 : 14:53:40
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
The 'Desert Elf' subrace has been around for a while...if that is what you're talking about...Otherwise, are you just limited that question to the Realms only...?
What product first featured the Desert Elves? I know they aren't featured in any Realms product so no wonder I missed their initial publication. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 16 Feb 2004 : 04:18:03
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
...I see we also have another elf subrace. How many does that make now?  ...
The 'Desert Elf' subrace has been around for a while...if that is what you're talking about...Otherwise, are you just limited that question to the Realms only...?
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| Arivia |
Posted - 15 Feb 2004 : 09:55:02
Well, this will help with one of the campaigns I've currently got going. The players are Storyteller system converts, and they've been complaining about a few of the quirks of D&D(especially parts of the combat rules). The generalized classes and action points should help to resolve that(with a few obligatory house rules). I was hoping there would be a point-based spellcasting system, but oh well...Now to finish my kuei-jin for Tuesday...*pops fangs* |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 15 Feb 2004 : 03:52:26
WOTC has an art gallery up for this product. Check it out at:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ag/20040213a
I liked the Urban Ranger but that's the only one that stood out to me. I see we also have another elf subrace. How many does that make now? |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 14 Feb 2004 : 16:37:30
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
And, I'm assuming by 'RPG items until March' would mean the Player's Guide to Faerun...?
Yes, unless Green Ronin's Wood Elf Village product beats them to release. Given how Green Ronin's products that I want always seem to be delayed in layout or printing, I doubt it. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 14 Feb 2004 : 07:45:02
And, I'm assuming by 'RPG items until March' would mean the Player's Guide to Faerun...?
I'd like to do that, but I have three other settings to buy supplements for between now and when the PGtF is released.
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