Post originally by Chris Aylott at 2003-05-19 10:58:53
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I don't think it was too badly mangled -- I got what you meant, at least.
And I actually tend to agree with you on prestige classes -- I don't use them all that much for my own PCs. I do like them as convenient ways to create specialized characters and NPCs, though.
Of the prestige classes in this book, I think my favorites are the bodyguard and the religious leader. The bodyguard is fun enough that even with my non-specialist leanings I'd enjoy building a PC around it, and a high-level religious leader makes for an awesome NPC villain.
Post originally by yongi at 2003-05-19 12:32:53
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Chris (since you're here) or anyone else, how is Dynasties and Demagogues going to hold up when D&D 3.5 is released? Are the crunchy bits going to require reworking or will they still function with little to no tweaking?
The books sounds great (so did the review) but I'm leery of plunking down the cash for something that might not fit so well with 3.5.
Post originally by David at 2003-05-19 12:45:00
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This book sounds like it would be an amazing resource for the Riddle of Steel RPG, where combat is deadly and the setting is riddled with well-defined nations providing lots of political intrigue. Likewise, this could be a great companion for running games in AD&D's Birthright setting, or even in Hyboria, the setting of Conan the Barbarian.
Post originally by Eric Lofgren at 2003-05-19 12:45:39
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I'll reply, hopefully Chris will as well:
DnD 3.5 represents, at least from my understanding, a clarification and expansion of things that have arisen since 3rd Edition was published, but isn't much of a major system change.
Dynasties and Demagogues is full of information that supplements 3e, and I can't imagine any of it is big enough, from the Wizards of the Coast perspective, and with the tone most of their products take, to get serious attention in a rules revision.
Feats and Prestige classes should still work. As should the new rules presented in here.
If they don't, I imagine there are alot of large RPG companies that will have to make serious changes to their lines. I can't really see Wizards "updating" the system so much that previously published material is unusable.
Post originally by REG at 2003-05-19 12:57:12
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Personally, the character kit appears to be too unbalanced as you simply attach the "goodies" on it. Granted, it has Special Hindrances, but IME with 2nd edition AD&D, those Hindrances are not the greatest of equalizer, when you try to compare a kit PC with a non-kit PC, which is prominent in many (A)D&D games (unless you're the sadistic type of DM that force-feed your player's to take a kit or else).
PrC offers the benefit of a kit while paying for it in experience level.
As to the flexibility of multiclassing, it is flexible but in 3e, the flexibility ends after acquiring a second core class. From then on, you need to balance the class levels of every core classes you have if you have more than two or else face a multiclass XP penalty. Fortunately, PrC waive that restriction.
I used to like character kits (which somehow evolved into 3e templates) but after having acquired many of the Complete Handbook series, I find the kit concept and design went in totally differently scattered directions, as no one person is overseeing the rules continuity.
Post originally by Chris Aylott at 2003-05-19 13:05:53
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I'll pretty much second Eric's judgment here. I haven't looked that hard at the 3.5 changes, but I really can't imagine any change that would have a significant effect on the book.
All the rules stuff builds on bedrock concepts like skills, ability bonuses, et cetera, so I have to think that any change significant enough to make the book less useful would wreak havoc on every book they or any other publisher has done in the last 3 years.
cheers,
Chris Aylott
Writer and Retailer
The Space-Crime Continuum
http://www.spacecrime.com/
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