Excerpts from the PHB II
BOUNDING ASSAULT
You can move and attack with superior speed and power.
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, base attack bonus +12.
Benefit: When using the Spring Attack feat, you designate two foes rather than one. Your movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity from either of these foes. While using an attack action with the Spring Attack feat, you can make a second attack with a -5 penalty. You can use both attacks against one of the opponents targeted with this feat, or split your attacks between them.
CROSSBOW SNIPER
You are skilled in lining up accurate, deadly shots with your crossbow. Perhaps you add custom-made sights to your weapon, or you have learned to maximize the stability and precision the weapon offers.
Prerequisites: Proficiency with hand, heavy, or light crossbow, Weapon Focus with hand, heavy, or light crossbow, base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: When using a crossbow for which you have the Weapon Focus feat, you gain a bonus on damage rolls equal to 1/2 your Dexterity bonus.
If you have the skirmish or sneak attack ability, the maximum range at which you can make such attacks increases to 60 feet when you are using a crossbow for which you have the Weapon Focus feat.
Special: A fighter can select Crossbow Sniper as one of his fighter bonus feats.
CUNNING EVASION
When an area attack detonates around you, you use the chaos and flash of energy to duck out of sight.
Prerequisites: Hide 9 ranks, evasion.
Benefit: If you are caught within an area attack whose damage you avoid completely due to your evasion or improved evasion ability, you can make a combined Hide check and a 5-foot step as an immediate action. You can attempt this check only if there is cover suitable for a Hide check, and you can take your 5-foot step into cover before making your Hide attempt.
Special: If you have the hide in plain sight class feature, you do not need cover near you to attempt the Hide check allowed by this feat.
ELVEN SPELL LORE
You have studied the mighty arcane traditions of the elves, granting you insight into the intricate workings of magic and the theoretical structures behind spells.
Prerequisites: Int 17 or elf, Knowledge (arcana) 12 ranks.
Benefit: Your understanding of the elven secrets of magic grants you two benefits. When you cast dispel magic or greater dispel magic, you gain a +2 bonus on your caster level check. Your understanding of magic allows you to more easily unravel the power that sustains a foe's spell.
In addition, your knowledge of magic grants you rare insights into forgotten spell lore. Choose a single spell in your spellbook when you take this feat. When preparing that spell you can alter the type of damage it deals to a single type of your choice. You must make this choice when preparing the spell (those who do not prepare spells cannot benefit from this aspect of the feat). You can prepare the spell multiple times, selecting the same or a different energy type for it with each preparation.
You can gain this feat multiple times. The caster level bonus does not stack, and each time you take the feat, a different spell must be chosen.
MAD FOAM RAGER
You fight with the rage that only a rabid badger or a beer-addled dwarf can bring to bear. In combat, you shrug off attacks and continue fighting even in the face of horrific injuries and effects.
Prerequisite: Rage or frenzy ability.
Benefit: When fighting, you can endure tremendous blows with little visible effect. As an immediate action, you can choose to delay the effect of a single attack, spell, or ability used against you. The damage or effect does not take hold until the end of your next turn. You can only use this ability while under the effect of your rage or frenzy ability. You can activate it once every time you use your rage or frenzy ability.
TWO-WEAPON REND
You wield two weapons with an artisan's precision. Each strike builds on the next, allowing you to deal more damage.
Prerequisites: Dex 15, Two-Weapon Fighting, base attack bonus +11.
Benefit: If you successfully hit an opponent with both of the weapons you wield, you deal extra damage equal to 1d6 + 1-1/2 times your Strength bonus. This extra damage is treated as the same type that your off-hand weapon deals normally for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction and other effects related to damage type. You can gain this extra damage once per round against a given opponent.
Special: A fighter can select Two-Weapon Rend as one of his fighter bonus feats. A ranger who has chosen the two-weapon combat style can select Two-Weapon Rend as long as he has a base attack bonus of +11 and is wearing light armor or no armor.
What about the new Erudite? Tell me that isn't an awesome pic!
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20060406b&page=1 (//hyperlinkurl)
(http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/dx0406iw_96403.jpg)
-Nasty-
just reading the previews now... It says the PH II will have options for cleric's sponataneously casting domain spells instead of cure spells... hmm, what a good idea. I wonder where they could have thought of it...
I saw that too, and chuckled.
-Nasty-
i suspect it was an idea on message boards 3 weeks after the 3e phb came out. :)
i mean, seriously, it's not that hard to come up with. (it's also in Unearthed Arcana, fyi and all.) if they flesh it out more, it might be something, but otherwise it's something i could, rather obviously, get off a dnd fan board ;)
there's been a couple things like that. i know i saw 'alternate rangers specializing in archery' on wotc boards like, a year before 3.5
What about the Erudite? any thoughts on the new fixed version? Congrats to WotC for finally making a cool looking psionic character too.
I don't do psionics(yet), so I can't really say anything.
Well, besides the fact that it does look cool.
Quote from: nastyCongrats to WotC for finally making a cool looking psionic character too.
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/EPIC_Gallery/Gallery1/44244_C1_psychicwarrior.jpg (mmm, epic)
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/roe_gallery/88247.jpg (*I* think it's cool. it's a soulknife, man)
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/roe_gallery/88215.jpg
ironically, i think that erudite looks kinda silly. :)
What was wrong with the erudite before, anyway? i never got that copy of dragon magazine...
Quote from: brainfaceQuote from: nastyCongrats to WotC for finally making a cool looking psionic character too.
I'm not a big fan of the first or the second pic you've got there, but the pic of the kalashtar soulknives fighting the evil priest is really cool. I can't fathom not liking that pic of the erudite though, dark, gothic scholarly, very D&D meets Victorian England in my eyes.
The old dragon mag version of the erudite got a free psycrystal, and the ability to learn an unlimited number of powers, with the same power points as a psion. It was like playing a psion without a specialization who could use any power in the XPH given enough time to learn them all. Busted!
-Nasty-
Quote from: Nastydark, gothic scholarly
yeaahhh, that's pretty much why i don't like it ;)
There Is Such A Thing As Too Much Black. And Purple Highlights.
There was another good pic of a soulknife somewhere, but i couldn't find it. that one had SOMETHING wrong with his face. ;)
I don't really like those Psionic pics...these are my favs:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/roe_gallery/88252.jpg
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/moe_gallery/91472.jpg
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/moe_gallery/91455.jpg (Psiforged)
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/xph_gallery/80453.jpg
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/xph_gallery/80476.jpg
yeah, honestly--i didn't feel like searching too hard for pics.
not that BIG a fan of tentacle-psi. more the 'my eyes glow' psi-pics.
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/xph_gallery/33175.jpg
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/xph_gallery/80489.jpg
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/xph_gallery/80455.jpg
i like the last guy, cuz he's all like "i got me a heeaad, i got me a heeaadd, i ain't even clean'n my sword"
but this guy has ALWAYS looked stupid:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/EPIC_Gallery/Gallery1/44249_C1_psion.jpg
Quote from: brainfacei like the last guy, cuz he's all like "i got me a heeaad, i got me a heeaadd, i ain't even clean'n my sword"
That last one's a chick.
Oh, and I've always hated that picture. I spent about two months thinking she had only one leg bent at a really odd angle before I realized her legs just trailed off...
My favorite has always been the psywar from 3.0 psi hb. The sword and shield and hair...awesome!
The new erudite picture does look like he could blend into a standard setting without looking out of place though. That's important to me. Put him next to Lidda and Redgar, and he looks normal. Put the psion from the XPH next to any other core character, and he looks alien. I prefer psionic people look like a regular part of the world, not a whole alternate universe.
The whole series of art, with crystals, and strange glowing eyes, and unusual style of dress, from 3.0 and 3.5 really turns people off, and makes them not want to use psionics at all. Eberron has broken away from this stereotypical look (and most of the pics people have shown that they like are Eberron pics), I hope that complete psionic tries to bring the art closer to the look of the rest of D&D too. If the Erudite pic is telling of what kind of art is inside this book, I'll be very pleased.
-Nasty-
yeah, the erudite does look like a wizard (albeit a stupid wizard!), instead of 'weird crystal guy', which is a plus i guess.
i think the shaper in psi hb looked pretty dnd though (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/xph_gallery/80489.jpg).
The psiwar in psi hb looked fairly dndish, with a twist. kinda as different from the norm as a prestige class pic or something,
(on a tangent, i swear monks have ALWAYS had that problem. The phb reads like: medieval fantasy pic, medieval fantasy pic, medieval fantasy pic, KUNG FU MOVIE PIC, medieval fantasy pic, etc.)
this is totally off topic, but i used to play dnd with a friend of mine who seemed to constantly think outside of the stereotype-boxes we put ourselves into.
if he was playing a mage, he always dressed like a rogue. his reasoning: 'why would you want everyone to know you cast magic?'
if he was playing a rogue, he would dress like a priest. reasoning: 'people trust a priest.'
... thats some solid[/b] roleplaying imo.
Well, I think the PBH 2 looks worth buying...while I doubt many campaigns will permit the new classes and variants, I bet those feats are going to come in handy
Quote from: SenkennomeiWell, I think the PBH 2 looks worth buying...while I doubt many campaigns will permit the new classes and variants, I bet those feats are going to come in handy
The mad foam rager is interesting...
I know a badger fan that will love it.
Quote from: CYMROQuote from: SenkennomeiWell, I think the PBH 2 looks worth buying...while I doubt many campaigns will permit the new classes and variants, I bet those feats are going to come in handy
The mad foam rager is interesting...
I know a badger fan that will love it.
I think
most DMs will permit the PHB II material in their campaigns, unless Wizzos screws things up royally, which is unlikely. From my experience (having played with dozens of different groups) material gets house-banned based upon how mechanically imbalanced it is, or how unfit thematically it may be, with the campaign. I doubt the knight class from the PHB II, for example, will be terribly difficult to incorperate.
The new TWF and spring attack feats are alright, and I'm sure there will be many more good ones in the book too.
-Nasty-
A kiniggit class? Why? I was excited about PHB II until I saw that..........
Quote from: CYMROA kiniggit class? Why? I was excited about PHB II until I saw that..........
I remember reading somewhere that in Old English knight was actually pronounced kiniggit...anybody else ever hear that?
Quote from: nastynateQuote from: CYMROA kiniggit class? Why? I was excited about PHB II until I saw that..........
I remember reading somewhere that in Old English knight was actually pronounced kiniggit...anybody else ever hear that?
THat is how they pronounce it in M.P.'s Holy Grail. What better hexperts could you want?
While I would never dispute the historical accuracy of Monty Python, I still wonder about this...
-Nasty-
I'm very excited about the PHB2; so excited that I'm not sure if I already exclaimed my state of excitement on this board, or this very thread.
I have been working on many high level feats myself, and have made my own Knight class, so if this new book saves me half the time I would have spent, it will be a great purchase. My only complaint is that it doesn't look like it will be OGL, which means I won't be able to claim compatability with it for my setting.
Darn.
Quote from: Xeviat TranionI'm very excited about the PHB2; so excited that I'm not sure if I already exclaimed my state of excitement on this board, or this very thread.
I have been working on many high level feats myself, and have made my own Knight class, so if this new book saves me half the time I would have spent, it will be a great purchase. My only complaint is that it doesn't look like it will be OGL, which means I won't be able to claim compatability with it for my setting.
Darn.
It would be nice if WotC would offer a little more OGL material...
You can't blame them for protecting copyrighted material. ;)
I'm a fan of OGL, but I also realize that it can only go so far.
I agree, but I think they should release some stuff, wait a year or two (enough for it to no longer be selling on the shelves that much) then make it OGL. Things like the Warlock, Incarnum, all of TOM, some of the Complete Classes that were really innovative. Or make a few things here and there from each book OGL, to keep it expanding.
EDIT: as for Complete Psionic, my girlfriend bought it for me off of Amazon.com, so I should have it by next Tuesday at the latest. I'll have a review posted as soon as I get it.
My Complete Psionic just shipped from Amazon; it says I'll get it between Thursday and Saturday, but sometimes shipping is faster.
So... Which one of you is gonna buy me Complete Psionic? What, I couldn't hear ya? Any takers? Oh c'mon, you know you want to...
Quote from: Natural 20So... Which one of you is gonna buy me Complete Psionic? What, I couldn't hear ya? Any takers? Oh c'mon, you know you want to...
My fantical love of psionics knows no bounds...the book could be
terrible and I'd
still buy it. I hope it's not too bad though. I suspect it will be about 50% hawtness, and about 50% worthless, but that's just my hunch.
-Nasty-
Quote from: Elven DoritosYou can't blame them for protecting copyrighted material. ;)
I'm a fan of OGL, but I also realize that it can only go so far.
Yes, but SRDing classes and races and featses only makes sense. Like movie trailers and those little sample trays at Sam's Club....
QuoteEDIT: as for Complete Psionic, my girlfriend bought it for me off of Amazon.com, so I should have it by next Tuesday at the latest. I'll have a review posted as soon as I get it.
Those are my favorite kind of girlfriends. A rare breed they seem to be. Hang on to her.
-Nasty-
Quote from: nastynateQuoteEDIT: as for Complete Psionic, my girlfriend bought it for me off of Amazon.com, so I should have it by next Tuesday at the latest. I'll have a review posted as soon as I get it.
Those are my favorite kind of girlfriends. A rare breed they seem to be. Hang on to her.
-Nasty-
Girls that buy you gaming gear are living gold. Or platinum. Take your pick.
Hu ... I just swung by boarders and looked it over, and I noticed a ton of typos. One feat introduction was for an entirely different feat (which didn't seem to exist; it was the surging euphoria feat that gives you DR, and the description said it increased your use of skills).
I also didn't like how many of the feats were keyed to giving the psionic races additional uses of their 1/day psi-like abilities; they could have easily just made a feat called Extra psi-like ability that adds +2 uses (all of the extra feats add +2 uses).
One type of feat that was really cool, and was racial, were feats that allowed you to expend your psi-like ability usages to gain different effects. A Xeph, for instance, could expend a daily use of burst to gain an additional attack, or a gith could expend a use of dimension door to cast dismissal. Very cool.
I was also disapointed by the entire lacking of any "wuxai-like" feats, such as up the walls and mental leap. That's my favorite part of psionics, so it saddened me that they didn't make more. OH well, it's up to me then.
Quote from: nastynateQuoteEDIT: as for Complete Psionic, my girlfriend bought it for me off of Amazon.com, so I should have it by next Tuesday at the latest. I'll have a review posted as soon as I get it.
Those are my favorite kind of girlfriends. A rare breed they seem to be. Hang on to her.
-Nasty-
Don't worry, I plan on it.
Best part: It was her idea of an anniversary gift. :-D
Quote from: Xeviat TranionHu ... I just swung by boarders and looked it over, and I noticed a ton of typos. One feat introduction was for an entirely different feat (which didn't seem to exist; it was the surging euphoria feat that gives you DR, and the description said it increased your use of skills).
I also didn't like how many of the feats were keyed to giving the psionic races additional uses of their 1/day psi-like abilities; they could have easily just made a feat called Extra psi-like ability that adds +2 uses (all of the extra feats add +2 uses).[/quote]One type of feat that was really cool, and was racial, were feats that allowed you to expend your psi-like ability usages to gain different effects. A Xeph, for instance, could expend a daily use of burst to gain an additional attack, or a gith could expend a use of dimension door to cast dismissal. Very cool.[/quote]I was also disapointed by the entire lacking of any "wuxai-like" feats, such as up the walls and mental leap. That's my favorite part of psionics, so it saddened me that they didn't make more. OH well, it's up to me then.
[/quote]
I think WOTC was trying to move away from the wuxia feel psionics tends to have...and the futuristic feel...and, well, all the uniqe feel.
One question, Xeviat: how closely tied to divine powers are the ardent and the divine mind?
Doesn't WotC use spellcheck?
WotC uses spellcheck about as often as they use common sense.
Xathan, I didn't read up on the Ardent and Divine Mind enough to know. They seem to gain their power from divine concepts more than divine entities, sort of like godless clerics.
meh...it's less painful than I thought, then, but I'm still holding judgement untill I read it.
I have to read them well when I get the book, because they might be the only divine casters of sorts for my psi campaign. You know the one.
I'm already fairly sleep deprived, but there is far too little rum in the house right now.
Sorry to hear about the lack of rum. It truely is a pity.
I am also sleep deprived, and since I do have classes tommorrow, it is a situation I must rectify posthaste. Adios, mi amigo. Hasta lluego.
The Ardent and the Divine Mind Are presented like clerics are in the PHB, but in reverse. They usually just follow a philosophy, but they may follow a god and choose a philosophy that mirrors the god.
The Divine Mind is a super-buffer. His auras are huge party boosters. He's like a Marshal on steroids, with psionic powers.
The Ardent is like a godless cleric, who may only choose his powers from his mantles, but he gets more of them as he gains levels.
The Lurk is like a rogue with a psychic warrior power progression table. His class features are very powerful, but fueled with PP.
There are quite a few redundant feats, like the numerous mind blade weapon options or the psi-like ability feats, that could have been packaged into a single feat. The designers probably wanted to er on the safe side, rather than risk potential abuse with things like Yaun-Ti gaining oddles of psi-like ability uses, or spiked chain mind blade options.
The powers are pretty decent, although Astral Contruct has been neutered unfairly. Now you can only have one AC at a time...I don't really know why. It's not like it is any more abusable than Summon Monster.
I haven't read about the equipment or the hidden houses yet, but I'll probably get to that today. The typos were everywhere, and that really annoys me. There did seem to be a great deal of powers, feats, classes, and even PrCs drawn together from various other splat-books, dragon mags, and minds eye articles, which were given the Spell Compendium treatment (compilation and errata). That doesn't bother me too much though, because I wasn't about to buy races of stone and a bunch of OOP dragon mags for a handful of powers and classes. I don't have to now.
-Nasty-
Quote from: Xathan, Last Of The FallenWotC uses spellcheck about as often as they use common sense.
Alas, never then...
:D