Comments on: Inq. of the Week: Sources of Power? http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Fri, 25 May 2012 09:20:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Michelle http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66456 Michelle Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:36:54 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66456 I go with Martial because all 4 classes are solid. Primal is really mixed -- I LOVE the Barbarian, kind of like the Warden, and shriek vehemently that WotC butchered the Druid and Shaman. Arcane is good overall, but Warlocks are a mess, and Wizards are still just *slightly* bland. Divine is fine (!), especially with Invoker and Avenger to spice things up, and Divine Power gave a lot more interesting options to Clerics and Paladins. I think Adventurers' Vault 2 will put a lot of new options into play. Items can make a huge difference -- e.g., Feral Armor (Dragon 369) is awesome for a Barbarian looking for some added punch a bit of style. I go with Martial because all 4 classes are solid.

Primal is really mixed — I LOVE the Barbarian, kind of like the Warden, and shriek vehemently that WotC butchered the Druid and Shaman.

Arcane is good overall, but Warlocks are a mess, and Wizards are still just *slightly* bland.

Divine is fine (!), especially with Invoker and Avenger to spice things up, and Divine Power gave a lot more interesting options to Clerics and Paladins.

I think Adventurers’ Vault 2 will put a lot of new options into play. Items can make a huge difference — e.g., Feral Armor (Dragon 369) is awesome for a Barbarian looking for some added punch a bit of style.

]]> By: Inquisition of the Week: Your Steam is Punk | Critical Hits http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66455 Inquisition of the Week: Your Steam is Punk | Critical Hits Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:40:33 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66455 [...] week, we asked about the power sources of 4th Edition D&D, and which one most appeals to you. The results are in, and Martial was the most popular, powering [...] [...] week, we asked about the power sources of 4th Edition D&D, and which one most appeals to you. The results are in, and Martial was the most popular, powering [...]

]]> By: Teppesh http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66454 Teppesh Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:57:26 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66454 Personally, I think all the sources are fantastic, but if forced to choose, I would have to say Arcane is my favorite right now, just for the sheer diversity of options within the source. .-= Teppesh´s last blog ..<a href="http://agentofn0thing.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/thoughts/" rel="nofollow">Protected: Thoughts</a> =-. Personally, I think all the sources are fantastic, but if forced to choose, I would have to say Arcane is my favorite right now, just for the sheer diversity of options within the source.
.-= Teppesh´s last blog ..Protected: Thoughts =-.

]]> By: Thasmodious http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66453 Thasmodious Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:15:33 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66453 Yeah, I had to go with martial, too. Fighter has been a long time favorite class and the martial-caster divide of 3e was painful. The means to fix that turned out to be simple and elegant - give melee classes some moves. ToB was the experiment that has been fully realized in 4e and it's great. Yeah, I had to go with martial, too. Fighter has been a long time favorite class and the martial-caster divide of 3e was painful. The means to fix that turned out to be simple and elegant – give melee classes some moves. ToB was the experiment that has been fully realized in 4e and it’s great.

]]> By: The Game http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66452 The Game Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:12:05 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66452 As much as I love me some Psionics, I completely agree with The Main Event that Martial is just too badass to ignore, and it's awesome that they can finally stand toe to toe against spellcasters at higher levels. As much as I love me some Psionics, I completely agree with The Main Event that Martial is just too badass to ignore, and it’s awesome that they can finally stand toe to toe against spellcasters at higher levels.

]]> By: Kameron http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66451 Kameron Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:00:50 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66451 Voted Martial for the rogue. I haven't played more than four sessions as a PC, and all of those where divine classes (cleric and paladin), but the rogue is my favorite class and I WILL play one some day. Voted Martial for the rogue. I haven’t played more than four sessions as a PC, and all of those where divine classes (cleric and paladin), but the rogue is my favorite class and I WILL play one some day.

]]> By: Wyatt http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66450 Wyatt Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:39:20 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66450 I like the original three power sources best because they've been what's always encompassed power and influence in the worlds I've played D&D in. You've always had arcane magic that came from inherited power, or covenants, or the study of magic, divine magic from the gods or from powerful forces, and the inner strength of fighters and scoundrels which let them pull off amazing feats. I love all three of them best. .-= Wyatt´s last blog ..<a href="http://spiritsofeden.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/paradiso-behind-the-wyatt-i/" rel="nofollow">Paradiso: Behind the Wyatt I</a> =-. I like the original three power sources best because they’ve been what’s always encompassed power and influence in the worlds I’ve played D&D in. You’ve always had arcane magic that came from inherited power, or covenants, or the study of magic, divine magic from the gods or from powerful forces, and the inner strength of fighters and scoundrels which let them pull off amazing feats. I love all three of them best.
.-= Wyatt´s last blog ..Paradiso: Behind the Wyatt I =-.

]]> By: TheMainEvent http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66449 TheMainEvent Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:07:50 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66449 I love the Martial Classes because I feel as though they were a concept of character that often got short shrift in D&D, but now they're all pretty good. It's also awesome to think that people can use pure skill to keep up with the other guys... ...which didn't ever really happen until 4E. I love the Martial Classes because I feel as though they were a concept of character that often got short shrift in D&D, but now they’re all pretty good. It’s also awesome to think that people can use pure skill to keep up with the other guys…

…which didn’t ever really happen until 4E.

]]> By: Bartoneus http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66448 Bartoneus Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:41:14 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66448 I'm always surprised when I go to answer my own polls and cannot easily select an answer. I ended up choosing Arcane because the classes and powers for it interest me just a little bit more than others at the moment but really I'd have to say I'm pretty evenly split across the choices for preference. Highbulp: Ask, and you shall recieve! :) It makes me a bit sad because now the poll is not so daunting when you cannot make a choice at first because there's an "out" answer. I’m always surprised when I go to answer my own polls and cannot easily select an answer. I ended up choosing Arcane because the classes and powers for it interest me just a little bit more than others at the moment but really I’d have to say I’m pretty evenly split across the choices for preference.

Highbulp: Ask, and you shall recieve! :) It makes me a bit sad because now the poll is not so daunting when you cannot make a choice at first because there’s an “out” answer.

]]> By: highbulp http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66447 highbulp Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:33:49 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66447 I don't have a favorite power source. I think the Fighter might be my favorite class so far, but I'm not that into the other Martial classes atm (and the idea of "exploits" don't really do anything special for me). I also find myself designing a lot of Arcane characters, but that might just be because of the specific characters I'm working on. Again, the essence of arcane magic doesn't do much for me. I'm not personally a fan of playing religious-style characters, so I'm not into Divine (but I like the idea as a power source)--though I am trying to figure out if one Wizard concept will work better as an Invoker :p I also am not into the flavor for primal stuff--I don't dislike it, it just doesn't spark anything creatively for me atm. Psionics is not well enough developed to say much about it. I think up through Primal all the power sources are pretty much the same. It's hard to pick a favorite, since it really depends on what kinds of abilities you want a character to have. Looking to do weapon-based stuff? Go martial. Looking for elemental and teleportation effects? Arcane. With psionics (and my guess, with other upcoming sources) it looks like WotC might be breaking the mold, setting it more so each power source (more than each class) plays differently. Then the choice can be a bit of flavor and mechanics. This is interesting because there was wondering on how Elemental might survive as a power source. If it has a significantly different set of mechanics, it could easily fit side by side with Arcane. So yeah, I have no favorite, because each source is good for some characters and not for others. So I'm not voting. You should have a "none of the above"/"I like all of them"/"I like none of them" option or something :p I don’t have a favorite power source. I think the Fighter might be my favorite class so far, but I’m not that into the other Martial classes atm (and the idea of “exploits” don’t really do anything special for me). I also find myself designing a lot of Arcane characters, but that might just be because of the specific characters I’m working on. Again, the essence of arcane magic doesn’t do much for me.

I’m not personally a fan of playing religious-style characters, so I’m not into Divine (but I like the idea as a power source)–though I am trying to figure out if one Wizard concept will work better as an Invoker :p I also am not into the flavor for primal stuff–I don’t dislike it, it just doesn’t spark anything creatively for me atm. Psionics is not well enough developed to say much about it.

I think up through Primal all the power sources are pretty much the same. It’s hard to pick a favorite, since it really depends on what kinds of abilities you want a character to have. Looking to do weapon-based stuff? Go martial. Looking for elemental and teleportation effects? Arcane.

With psionics (and my guess, with other upcoming sources) it looks like WotC might be breaking the mold, setting it more so each power source (more than each class) plays differently. Then the choice can be a bit of flavor and mechanics. This is interesting because there was wondering on how Elemental might survive as a power source. If it has a significantly different set of mechanics, it could easily fit side by side with Arcane.

So yeah, I have no favorite, because each source is good for some characters and not for others. So I’m not voting. You should have a “none of the above”/”I like all of them”/”I like none of them” option or something :p

]]> By: Ken Marable http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66446 Ken Marable Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:05:43 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66446 That is a tough one! Which child is my favorite? ;) Well, going with the classes the I prefer, it's divine (avenger, invoker), and arcane (pretty much all but wizard). If it's which power source I like as a concept regardless of the actual class implementations? Psionics (all the way!!) and arcane. So, since arcane has both cool classes and the concept of the power source really jives for me, I had to vote for that. I'm still holding out hope for the other psionic classes and the rest of the psion's build (plus maybe trying to make my own "aberration summoning" build). But when sitting down to make an actual PC, the other classes just looked more interesting and more fun to me than the psion and monk. But we'll see. Besides, I figure I still have two PHB's to explore before 3 comes out, so might as well give them my attention for now. :) That is a tough one! Which child is my favorite? ;)

Well, going with the classes the I prefer, it’s divine (avenger, invoker), and arcane (pretty much all but wizard). If it’s which power source I like as a concept regardless of the actual class implementations? Psionics (all the way!!) and arcane.

So, since arcane has both cool classes and the concept of the power source really jives for me, I had to vote for that.

I’m still holding out hope for the other psionic classes and the rest of the psion’s build (plus maybe trying to make my own “aberration summoning” build). But when sitting down to make an actual PC, the other classes just looked more interesting and more fun to me than the psion and monk. But we’ll see. Besides, I figure I still have two PHB’s to explore before 3 comes out, so might as well give them my attention for now. :)

]]> By: The Chatty DM http://critical-hits.com/2009/07/21/inq-of-the-week-sources-of-power/#comment-66445 The Chatty DM Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:36:01 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4312#comment-66445 All Primal, all the time. The Warden and the Shaman are 2 characters that I like a lot. I'll also get to try a Barbarian in a few weeks, can't wait. .-= The Chatty DM´s last blog ..<a href="http://chattydm.net/2009/07/19/robin-laws-revisited-part-8-improvising/" rel="nofollow">Robin Laws’ Revisited, Part 8: Improvising</a> =-. All Primal, all the time. The Warden and the Shaman are 2 characters that I like a lot. I’ll also get to try a Barbarian in a few weeks, can’t wait.
.-= The Chatty DM´s last blog ..Robin Laws’ Revisited, Part 8: Improvising =-.

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