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1 year ago ::
Mar 06, 2012 - 1:41AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Oct 12, 2011
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A thread about my favorite part of D&D, character Themes.
I took the outlaw theme and I'm lovin' that dazing sneak. The utility powers though I just don't really care about, they seem a lot less useful than what normal class options provide.
The Wizard's Apprentice also seems neat, but haven't tried it in play.
Are you overall happy with what themes provide though? Do you feel that there's still something missing?
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1 year ago ::
Mar 06, 2012 - 2:45AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Oct 28, 2010
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The better themes from HotEC (e.g. Ironwrought (rules debate aside, if you assume it does what it seems to be intended to), Vezzuvu, Earthforger, Windlord) are hitting about the right level. Some of the earlier ones (Sohei, Guardian, Fey Beast Tamer) are just a little too strong, whilst many of the early ones (Animal Master) are just so weak that they might as well never have existed.
I think there's an awful lot more design space open for them. It's a shame that it won't get filled.
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1 year ago ::
Mar 06, 2012 - 3:43AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Apr 29, 2006
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Do you feel that there's still something missing?
I think themes are awesome for filling out niche concepts that don't require a full class write-up. So I've taken the liberty to homebrew a few for my group, including, but not limited to, a Gunslinger theme (to support my homebrew firearms), a Knight of Hyrule theme, Chocobo Knight, and Soulknife with additional paragon paths (Elocator, Phrenic Slayer, and Soulbow). And I'm currently working on updating my 3.5 Familiarist prestige class as a theme. Yay, themes!
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1 year ago ::
Mar 06, 2012 - 7:51AM
#4
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Date Joined:
Jun 30, 2008
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I agree with spacedinvader about the power levels.
There need to be a few more themes for implement and ranged weapon users. A lot of the best themes out there tend to be designed for melee weapon users.
Another good addition would be some more that have powerswap options for attacks. Hardly any of the post dark sun ones have that, they almost all have utility swaps instead. And some of the ones that we have gotten don't have the correct math, like the the Firecrafter, since they decided to not give the implement keyword for some reason.
my handbooks & builds
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1 year ago ::
Mar 06, 2012 - 9:19PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Mar 19, 2004
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A good mount theme would be nice. I'd also like to see a familiar and a ritual centric theme.
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1 year ago ::
Mar 07, 2012 - 4:06PM
#6
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Date Joined:
Jun 12, 2011
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The big deficiencies, as I see them, are the lack of good psionic themes (outside of Dark Sun) and the lack of good controller and non-divine leader themes. Renegade Red Wizard is incredibly good, but where is the controller theme for the Druid or the Invoker? What about the warlord and artificer?
Also, the themes that hand out CA like candy (FBT and Pack Outcast, off the top of my head) should probably be fixed. There's so much less strategy in 4e now that those are available. It's gotten so bad that I'm cosidering dropping themes entirely from the next campaign I run.
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1 year ago ::
Mar 07, 2012 - 5:12PM
#7
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Date Joined:
Aug 30, 2007
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Themes just did not get enough love. I think the werewolf theme was a good start. Vampire should have been a race with feats, theme, and paragon path support, depending on how much the character wanted to focus on developing his powers.
They also should have made a multiclass theme to replace hybrids and power swap feats.
Owner and Proprietor of the House of Trolls.
God of ownership and possession.
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1 year ago ::
Mar 07, 2012 - 7:55PM
#8
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2010
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Vampire should be a theme.
Oh...I very much like the idea of multiclass themes in the Dark Sun style.
D&D Next = D&D: Quantum Edition
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1 year ago ::
Mar 08, 2012 - 9:28AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Sep 19, 2007
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Spellscar (actually, i think the neverwinter book did this) and the Dragonmarks being done as themes would have worked well too.
Vampire should have definitely not been a class.
But there needs to be more ranged/primal/divine/psionic themes. Most of them right now are martial or arcane, and predmoniantly granting melee powers. The Ordained Priest (i think thats it) was right in giving the choice of a melee or ranged power.
A mount theme would be nice, but unfortunately it'd make the cavalier pointless, kind of like the feat to get a hexblade they pulled before compilation.
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1 year ago ::
Mar 08, 2012 - 5:14PM
#10
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Date Joined:
Sep 29, 2009
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Themes I would like to see-
1) A duelist theme usable with ranged weapons and implement attacks.
The guy who pvoves he is better then the other guy in a one on one challenge.
It could be german and russian snippers stalking each other through Stalingrad or Boris Karlof and Vincent Price casting magic spells while sitting at the dinner table or it could be two swordsmen in a back alley.
it could have a not called mark power where you get a + to hit your opponent a - to hit anyone else and they get a - to anyone but you. ( maybee extra stuff if you have the same power source and same or oppisit roles
2) A self-taught magic study theme
we have aprentice mage and guild mage what about the guy who learned magic alone reading ancient books. It might be more apropriate for warlocks then wizards but who cares the reverse is true for the two themes that already exist.
not sure if the powers should be metamagic change up your powers be cause your more open or if they should be toughness defense powers because you are more independant. could also give tome implement proficiency.
3) An entertainer or performer theme
For people that can wow the crowds with music or oratory with out being a bard.
The leader / social skill challenge powers for this almost right themselves.
4) do we have a Spy/Inflitraitor theme yet?
5) as there are vehicle rules a Teamster or Pilot theme would make as much sense as a mounted theme
Yes I know the vehicle rules are bad but I like large lists of options for completeness even if I would not use them.
6) we have themes that give free magic items and themes that give discounts for buying items how about a theme giving free followers from mordenkenins?
The Prince. A note worthy asset of the character is all the little people that help him and his friends get things done ( Richi Rich, Nero Wolf, the many 7Sea characters with noncombat henchman and brute squads)
Some of the Bard influences from feywild would be a good place to go after the free followers.
7) Amazon
Again I don't plan on playing a strong female forced to travel a man's world but I want it to be there if I ever do.
Just as long as they don't try copying the abillity from the 2nd edittion kit where you got a bounus against a male by makeing them underestimate you and if the DM said they were too smart to fall for it you got nothing.
Why yes I had been thinking of making a thread like this one my self why do you ask.
The sea looks at the stabillity of the mountian and sighs.
The mountian watches the freedom of the sea and cries.
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