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2015-03-10, 04:29 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2010
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- Western Washington
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Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
Totally unimportant complaint here...why for the love of Mystra are the spells out of alphabetical order? Ice Knife before Earth Tremor, Create Bonfire before Control Flames...agh!
Now back to your regularly scheduled forums.
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2015-03-10, 04:32 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2014
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
Agreed on the weird distribution of spells across classes. But am I the only one who finds most of them rather underwhelming? Most are not bad, but neither especially awesome.
I suppose one could argue that this is evidence of correct balancing. :)
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2015-03-10, 04:40 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Sep 2014
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- San Jose, CA
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Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
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2015-03-10, 04:54 PM (ISO 8601)
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- May 2012
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Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
So... what purpose does create bonfire serve? It only lasts a minute with concentration.
My only guess is that it can create a bonfire in conditions that would otherwise be impossible, maybe? I don't know.
Even the caster in the picture has this expression like, "Why am I doing this? This fire'll be snuffed in a minute, and I'm just standing here like a freaking dolt."
EDIT: I realize it has combat utility but the name implies... you know... making a bonfire, not a five foot square of flame to hurt enemies with.Last edited by Rallicus; 2015-03-10 at 04:57 PM.
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2015-03-10, 05:33 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2007
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Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
Well, it's a cantrip, so as long as you maintain it every minute, it will last as long as you like. I'd imagine it'll also set fire to actual logs you put in.
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2015-03-10, 05:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2010
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
I get the same feeling, but some of them feel great in certain situations.
Absorb Elements feels unique and gives melee like Eldritch Knights a way to be tankier against spell damage.
Beast Bond is a buff to Beastmasters, which is welcome.
Catapult is another one of those enablers for sweet character concepts. I can imagine a spellcaster chucking vials of acid or better with this.
Dust Devil seems straight-up powerful to me etc.
I suppose one could argue that this is evidence of correct balancing. :)
Also question about Melf's Minute Meteors:
Each creature within 5 feet of the point where the meteor explodes must make a Dexterity saving throw.
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2015-03-10, 06:11 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2007
- Location
- The Land of Cleves
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Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
"Within five feet" is a radius.
Time travels in divers paces with divers persons.
—As You Like It, III:ii:328
Chronos's Unalliterative Skillmonkey Guide
Current Homebrew: 5th edition psionics
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2015-03-10, 06:54 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2010
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- Western Washington
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Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
Another minor flaw:
Originally Posted by EE Player's Companion pg.17
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2015-03-10, 07:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2013
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
5e Invoker
http://tinyurl.com/5e-Invoker
Geomancer
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showt...pe-(Geomancer)
Rodeo Master (5e Build)
http://tinyurl.com/Rodeo-Master
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2015-03-10, 07:30 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2013
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Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
Maybe now when I start shouting "C-CAW C-CAW" at my teammates because they didn't hear my earlier bird calls, they won't stare at me like I'm a chicken without a head.
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2015-03-10, 07:38 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2015
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
I'm sure an undead Aarakocra could be made without a head...
Or I'm sure there is an illusion spell that works for that...
They should have added a trait, if the Aarakocra is decapitated (vorpal weapon or other) then their body runs around for 1d4+1 minutes in random directions.
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2015-03-10, 08:12 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
i find it interesting that people would complain that there are few bard spells.
you couldn't be more wrong. they are *all* bard spells (or at least, the best ones are at any rate). if any of them are more worthwhile than current options, you just take those. if they aren't more worthwhile than current options, who cares if you get them or not?
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2015-03-10, 08:24 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2012
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
Now all my skelly bros are shooting flaming arrows at earthbound targets.
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2015-03-10, 08:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
that's fairly surprising considering both are concentration...
(besides, the real fun with minions is magic stone, which lets others use your casting modifier as their attack attribute, and being a ranged spell attack probably always applies their proficiency bonus whether they are proficient with a sling or not. also, being a spell attack, it is therefore not a nonmagical weapon, or indeed any sort of weapon at all).
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2015-03-10, 08:56 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2010
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
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2015-03-10, 08:58 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2015
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
There is no grid by base rules, so it is within 5'. These squares you speak of, I know not what they are!
Basically lay out your stuff on a table and use a ruler (I prefer a small stick with notches/sharpie lines) and measure 5' from the center point.
I haven't used a grid since 2e, my 3e/4e/5e games have never really used them when I run a game.
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2015-03-10, 10:00 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2014
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
Have my homebrewed feat that does just that.
Elemental affinity
- You learn the firebolt cantrip and can cast it at will.
- When you gain this feat, choose one of the following damage types: acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder. Any spell or class feature you use that would ordinarily deal any of any of these damage types now deals damage of the type you chose when you gained this feat.
- In addition, you gain resistance to your chosen damage type.
For all you Elsa wannabe's out there.
Let it go.Last edited by Malifice; 2015-03-10 at 10:01 PM.
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2015-03-10, 10:14 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2014
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
A better comparison can be made between Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting and sunburst, since they are both 8th level spells. ADHW deals 10d8 (avg. 45) damage. Sunburst deals 12d6 (avg. 42) damage, which is slightly less, but it's radiant, which very few creatures are resistant or immune to. Sunburst affects undead and constructs (ADHW does not), it affects a 60 ft. radius sphere (so it's area of effect is several times larger than Horrid Wilting) and it also blinds creatures. Sunburst puts Horrid Wilting to shame.
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2015-03-10, 10:47 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Sep 2014
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
ADHW is a con save rather than a dex save like many AOE spells.
aside from targeting a different save, that also means that enemies in cover don't get advantage against itLast edited by TheDeadlyShoe; 2015-03-10 at 10:48 PM.
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2015-03-11, 05:10 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2014
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
I love that we finally have Genasi.
The only thing I think is missing is that the Earth and Air Genasi don't get any cantrips, when the features they do have aren't really much more powerful than Fire/Water. Personally, I'd give Gust to Air Genasi, and Mold Earth to Earth Genasi. That'd put them more on par with Fire/Water. And possibly allow players to choose between Control Flames and Conjure Flame for Fire genasi.
More fluff is better. Air Genasi even have the fluff text about being accompanied by minor gusts of air all the time.
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2015-03-11, 07:29 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2011
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
Good call on cantrips for all genasi. The 5e Powerful Build feature feels underwhelming. Being considered a size larger in all occasions it would be an advantage for the goliath is not overpowering, and is a nice and defining trait. Right now they feel more of a somewhat weaker orc.
I would have liked to see some elemental-themed equipment (and not only spells), and a more even distribution of spells, but on the whole the playable races are all a welcome addition.
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2015-03-11, 08:51 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2007
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- The Land of Cleves
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Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
A couple more points: First, someone said that they were glad to see that this supplement didn't have powercreep in it, but supplements like this are exactly how powercreep happens. It introduces some new stuff, some of which is a little worse than what came before, and some of which is a little better than what came before. Overall, it's at about the same power level as core, so it looks balanced. Except that's not the way it's actually going to work out: The things that are underpowered, nobody's ever going to take, so they're irrelevant. The things that are more powerful, everyone's going to take, so everyone (or at least, everyone with access to this material) will get a little bit more powerful. Repeat with every new supplement, and eventually you start noticing that everything's a lot more powerful than it used to be.
Second, this confirms something I was worried about as soon as I saw 5th edition: In what directions can it expand? You can always introduce new spells, but there's not nearly as much you can give to mundanes. In 3rd edition, you could at least hope for new prestige classes and feats, but in this edition there are no prestige classes, and feats are somewhere between rare and nonexistent. But spells? Yeah, we're getting plenty of those, and so the already overpowered casters just get even more overpowered.Time travels in divers paces with divers persons.
—As You Like It, III:ii:328
Chronos's Unalliterative Skillmonkey Guide
Current Homebrew: 5th edition psionics
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2015-03-11, 08:56 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2014
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
There is actually one feat in the supplement. The Deep Gnomes have racial spellcasting that they have to expend a feat to learn.
I sympathize with your concerns, but Elemental Evil was pretty much always going to be magic, magic, magic, magic.
Though I am surprised there were no subclass expansions, honestly.Last edited by TheDeadlyShoe; 2015-03-11 at 08:59 AM.
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2015-03-11, 09:06 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2009
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Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
It can give the "mundanes" more archetypes, combat oriented races, and in the cases where they can choose from a list of abilities (like battle master) more things to choose from.
I think/hope that the main reason this particular expansion is mostly spells is because more spells fits into the theme of dealing with elements and stuff. With any luck the next expansion will focus more on the martial character.
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2015-03-11, 09:13 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2010
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
I agree, more options always means more power. I accept that. If it's a decision between power creep or more options, I'll choose more options.
The sticking point is the rate of power creep. If design is aware of it and trying their best to avoid it then hopefully it happens at a slower rate. That's all I wish for.
What really excites me are new options that don't buff the best options, but rather are niche options that help neglected archetypes or offer make new ones viable.
Beast Bond is a buff to Beastmasters, but the subclass could use buffs anyway, so I approve of that power creep.
Then there's spells like Catapult that stir my imagination in wonderful ways. I'd love to play a caster that hurls dangerous objects at opponents, and this would be a key spell to make such a character viable crunch-wise.
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2015-03-11, 09:23 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2010
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
A couple more points: First, someone said that they were glad to see that this supplement didn't have powercreep in it, but supplements like this are exactly how powercreep happens. It introduces some new stuff, some of which is a little worse than what came before, and some of which is a little better than what came before. Overall, it's at about the same power level as core, so it looks balanced. Except that's not the way it's actually going to work out: The things that are underpowered, nobody's ever going to take, so they're irrelevant. The things that are more powerful, everyone's going to take, so everyone (or at least, everyone with access to this material) will get a little bit more powerful. Repeat with every new supplement, and eventually you start noticing that everything's a lot more powerful than it used to be.
Power creep happened in 3.x because splatbooks specifically created new mechanics with the intention of changing balance, and feat choices that were actually designed to increase the power of certain kinds of characters (in addition to being terribly balanced). Also, 3.5 balance was arguably at its worst in Core, and WotC clearly tried to fix that in splats, which means that they were intentionally engaging in power creep.
Finally, the intention isn't that every option from every supplement is available in every campaign. The last sentence of the first paragraph in the EE supplement even says that these are character creation options if they're allowed. Several other parts of the supplement also offer similar disclaimers - for example, the druid spells list has a disclaimer that the DM will probably at most give access to a small subset of the new spells, and that you probably don't have full access to everything.Last edited by Demonic Spoon; 2015-03-11 at 09:25 AM.
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2015-03-11, 09:31 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2015
Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
Races are not an option for martials, they are an option for every class. Goliath Sorcerer, Warlock, or Cleric all seems fun.
The core noncaster archetypes for most martials (Beserker, Battle Master, Champion, Assassin) suck already, so any new option will be "balanced" with the already suck of the core options. So anything new will either be perceived as over powered or will suck just as much.
Wooo, totally looking forward to this!
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2015-03-11, 09:39 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Apr 2011
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2015-03-11, 09:47 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2012
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- Curse word for the galaxy
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Re: Elemental Evil Player's Companion PDF released, for free
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2015-03-11, 09:47 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2009
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