|
1 year ago ::
May 20, 2009 - 10:21PM
#1
|
|
|
I read these forums pretty frequently, but have not posted very often. So first off, I want to say, great job on 4E. I think the game has gone in a good direction and I generally enjoy most of the changes.
I have been playing since 2E, and one of my favorite classes/kits has always been the bladesinger. I know that a lot of people have a lot of hate (especially for the 2e version). The thing that has always hooked me about the bladesinger is the flavor text. I know it is a bit retarded, but I have since bought any book I could find with bladesinger. Tomb and blood, FRPG, Complete Warrior, etc.
So when the announcement came out about 4e, I was super pumped to see what treatment it would receive. I heard about the new multiclassing rules, and how the devs wanted to make gish a viable option. I bought the preview books and read with bated breath about the swordmage and how that could represent a graceful eladrin bladesinger. I bought FR Player's Guide to get this new class and I was hoping to see the bladesinger as a paragon path.
I eagerly read Rich Baker's quote on ENWorld about how the bladesinger and battlerager would be coming soon (he said battlerager was not slated yet, but bladesinger would be coming out soon). Martial Power? No, but it does have a battlerager! Well that's ok since the bladesinger is more of an arcane thing. Arcane Power? Swing and a miss. . .
So I buy MM2 (barghest was one of the things I was looking forward to seeing), and what do I see? Eladrin Arcane Archer and Bladesinger! For lack of a better analogy, this feels like waiting around for a really attractive supermodel, only to find out that she plays for the opposing team!
Now, please allow me a moment to say that I am fully aware that I can just reflavor existing content to be a bladesinger, or I can create my own, or use one from the threads (using those options could also grant me an astronaut character if I desired) - that is not the point.
Just as people have eagerly awaited the barbarian or the monk class, I've been waiting for the bladesinger (and the arcane archer as well). And not only do I not get one, I get one I could fight against instead. (I guess maybe so many people hate bladesingers that WoTC figured people would enjoy killing one more that playing one).
Does anyone else have any thoughts on this topic? Is there news that I haven't heard that says it is coming out this year or something? If I knew that I would just have to wait until a specific time, that would make it easier. Hell, I don't even need a new book, just put up an article in Dragon and make it legit and I'll be happy.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
May 20, 2009 - 10:31PM
#2
|
|
|
Bladesinger = Bard with a Songblade
So what if it isnt called Bladesinger, isn't it the same class?
There was also an article out before on how to make an Arcane Archer with existing classes. Isnt there also a bow bard in Arcane Power?
Feed my new Dragons --->>   Feed them, but not too much or else it will make them sick. My deceased Dragons --->>   Don't let this one die. Think of the dragonlings!
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
May 20, 2009 - 11:07PM
#3
|
|
|
Bladesinger = Bard with a Songblade
So what if it isnt called Bladesinger, isn't it the same class?
 oh gods. That was amusing. Cute and amusing.
Bladesingers aren't bards with song blades. Don't take the class name so literally. Sure you CAN call yourself a bladesinger while being a bard + songblade, but the class is actually a swordmage trained in the ancient blended art of sword and sorcery (sworcery?) of elves.
Alot of people assumed bladesingers will be printed due to one of the AP designer's earlier promises, but it didn't happen. It's likely due to the fact that bladesingers are just a racial term for swordmages (by the elves). Here is a list of synonymous terms ...
Bladesinger
Duskblade
Eldritch Knight
Spellblade
Swordmage
Daylight comes Daylight goes Darkness stays Darkness grows My Tru Colors
Show
 I'm not surprised by the result. But this kitteh sure is. Praise Shar.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
May 20, 2009 - 11:16PM
#4
|
|
|
frakkin double post. forums is acting screwy.
Daylight comes Daylight goes Darkness stays Darkness grows My Tru Colors
Show
I'm not surprised by the result. But this kitteh sure is. Praise Shar.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
May 21, 2009 - 12:29AM
#5
|
|
|
If they're ever running out of ideas for things to print, they might write up a particularly elfy swordmage PP and call it Bladesinger, but yeah - pretty much, bladesingers are swordmages.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
May 21, 2009 - 6:46AM
#6
|
|
|
The bladesinger class can now be simulated either with the swordmage or bard classes (bard either needs a feat or a songblade to use a sword as an implement). Either one allows you to wield a blade with skill and use magic, which is the heart of the bladesinger concept. Swordmage is probably closer to the original PrC.
We don't *need* another class based on blade-wielding mages-we already have two!
Arcane archer can now be simulated with the bard class if you have Arcane Power, which provides tons of new missile weapon based spells for bards. There was actually a dragon article on how to do this recently.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
May 21, 2009 - 8:31AM
#7
|
|
|
We don't *need* another class based on blade-wielding mages-we already have two!
Agreed. Bladesinger might make a decent Paragon Path for Swordmage, or Bard, or maybe both. Doesn't need to be a class unto itself.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
May 21, 2009 - 8:55AM
#8
|
|
|
There are many ways to make a Bladesinger.
-Make a bard PMC swordmage with combat virtuoso. (I like my Bladesingers to actually sing!)
-Just a normal swordmage works perfectly, or even MC into bard for some music related powers.
-Swordmage MC wizard who takes that spiral tower PP.
-Ranger MC Swordmage who becomes a Blade Banshee or a Stormwarden (or whatever that lighting ranger PP is). I know, traditionally Bladesingers needed a free hand, but who says their can't be a two weapon style.
-Heck, even a Fighter MC wizard or Wizard MC fighter could work.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
May 21, 2009 - 11:03AM
#9
|
|
|
There are many ways to make a Bladesinger.
-Make a bard PMC swordmage with combat virtuoso. (I like my Bladesingers to actually sing!)
-Just a normal swordmage works perfectly, or even MC into bard for some music related powers.
-Swordmage MC wizard who takes that spiral tower PP.
-Ranger MC Swordmage who becomes a Blade Banshee or a Stormwarden (or whatever that lighting ranger PP is). I know, traditionally Bladesingers needed a free hand, but who says their can't be a two weapon style.
-Heck, even a Fighter MC wizard or Wizard MC fighter could work.
Or an eladrin warlock that uses a pact sword and multiclasses to swordmage to pick up the umbriri paragon path...
...what? 
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
May 21, 2009 - 11:14AM
#10
|
|
|
-According to Rich Baker:
Sorry for the slow answer, I've been out of the office for a week.
I'm rather embarrassed to admit it, but we can't get a consensus around the office of what a bladesinger *is*. Some people say it should be a swordmage paragon path, some people say it needs to be a multiclassed fighter/wizard, and other folks say that we shouldn't "use up" such a powerful and evocative concept by making it just one thing and not having three or four different "XX bladesinger" or "YY bladesinger" options. However, I haven't given up on it yet; I'm sure we'll get to it soon, most likely in a Dragon article at this point. We know there's a demand for it.
-THIS is a homebrew Bladesinger PP.
-Given the way multiclassing and leveling works in 4e, it should be easier than ever to make a Bladesinger, especially with the Swordmage being a playable character class, than ever. The Bladesinger can very easily be converted to a PP, on both the Heroic and Epic tiers. This also ties back to the explanation that Swordmagi were initially trained by Bladesingers, and are an offshoot of Bladesingers, in a roundabout way.
-The Swordmage would have to multiclass in Wizard, to gain an enhanced collection of usable spells. Once this is done, the Bladesinger is open as a PP. It's abilities would include the Celerity powers, as well as tying magical power and casting to song and dance. On the Epic tier, the abilities would be similar to the abilities on the Heroic tier, but on a larger, more powerful scale befitting of those levels.
|
|
|
