Core and PrC ?? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Core and PrC ??

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
mordin
Jul 07, 2005 9:43:07 I notice the introduction for the Soulknife you mention that it would be only natural for the Soulknife to evolve in a material poor world.

So my question really is: If this kind of training and that of the Monks would only come natural in a world like Athas then the only reason they are not in your rules as Core or otherwise is for game balance purposes only am I right?

And are Soulknife questions inapplicable since the new rules are out? Is what I mean are you going to update the PrC’s and keep the Soulknife as a PrC or is it gone for good as far as DS3 is concerned.

Any response would be welcome thanx.
#2
ruhl-than_sage
Jul 07, 2005 20:36:31 The PrCs are already designed for 3.5 even though they came out before the DS 3.5 release.

You are indeed correct about the game balance issue for Monks.
#3
lurking_shadow
Jul 08, 2005 0:48:53 (From ds3_r6)
Some DMs choose to run Dark Sun as a low-magic, low treasure campaign. In such games, the Monk and Soulknife could become unbalanced because of their lack of dependence on treasure.
DMs are free to include any of the above core classes in their Dark Sun games, but these classes will not appear in any official Dark Sun
releases.

While the quote above might indicate otherwise, I believe the actual reason why the Soulknife and the Monk didn't make it to ds3.5 is given elsewhere in the same Behind the Veil sidebar:

(From ds3_r6)
Monk: There are several monasteries on Athas, though little evidence in previous Dark Sun material supports the martial artist variety of monk portrayed in the Player’s Handbook. Monks are too few in number to warrant a core class.
Soulknife: There is no precedent of a concept such as the soulknife in any previous Dark Sun material. However, in a metal-poor, high psionic world, the ability to manifest a weapon using the mind has its place. There would probably not be enough soulknives to warrant a core class, which would need to be shoehorned into the existing campaign world.

Balance issues probably aren't overwhelming factors in the equation. (I'm not particularly convinced they are even minor factors, but others disagree.)
I think athas.org’s stance on the Soulknife is that there are no soulknives on Athas except for a few oddballs. If that is the case I mostly agree with them.

As for the Monk, on the other hand, I do not. Rather, I believe that a full PC class focused on psionics-enhanced unarmed combat would fill an important niche on DS-based campaigns, even if the Shaolin-type Monk would not. Should the Athasian version of the Monk be divorced from the PHB Monk’s mandatory monastic background, such a core class could apply to numerous peoples and stereotypes, from Draxan brawlers to Villichi nuns, Balican wrestlers, Raamite yogis and beyond, yadda, yadda, yadda. I've argued this to death, already, and will refrain from nauseating boardmembers all over again.

Well, check out these threads: [DS3] including the Soulknife and Psionic Monk prestige class. There were others on the Soulknife, but I'm having trouble finding them.

And are Soulknife questions inapplicable since the new rules are out? Is what I mean are you going to update the PrC’s and keep the Soulknife as a PrC or is it gone for good as far as DS3 is concerned.

My guess is that the soulknife will remain only as a PrC in DS3. However,

(From ds3_r6)
DMs are free to include any of the above core classes in their Dark Sun games, but these classes will not appear in any official Dark Sun releases.

#4
mordin
Jul 09, 2005 23:45:15
My guess is that the soulknife will remain only as a PrC in DS3. However

That dosn't bother me at all actualy I think it makes more sense as a PrC anyways.

Now dose anyone think the PrC presented in the DS3 is a bit overpowered?
#5
zombiegleemax
Jul 10, 2005 12:54:33 I don't think it's overpowered when you compare it to the original Souknife PRC in the 3.0 psionics handbook.
#6
glacialis
Jul 10, 2005 22:09:49 I don't think they're saying that there are very few Soulknifes, simply not enough to warrant a core class. A common prestige class, I would think. But then again, think about how many people there are with adventurer-level character classes on Athas. Then how many have prestige classes.

Very few Soulknifes with regards to the total population? Sure. But it's all relative.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 mordin Jul 07, 2005 9:43:07	I notice the introduction for the Soulknife you mention that it would be only natural for the Soulknife to evolve in a material poor world. So my question really is: If this kind of training and that of the Monks would only come natural in a world like Athas then the only reason they are not in your rules as Core or otherwise is for game balance purposes only am I right? And are Soulknife questions inapplicable since the new rules are out? Is what I mean are you going to update the PrC’s and keep the Soulknife as a PrC or is it gone for good as far as DS3 is concerned. Any response would be welcome thanx.
#2 ruhl-than_sage Jul 07, 2005 20:36:31	The PrCs are already designed for 3.5 even though they came out before the DS 3.5 release. You are indeed correct about the game balance issue for Monks.
#3 lurking_shadow Jul 08, 2005 0:48:53	(From ds3_r6) Some DMs choose to run Dark Sun as a low-magic, low treasure campaign. In such games, the Monk and Soulknife could become unbalanced because of their lack of dependence on treasure. DMs are free to include any of the above core classes in their Dark Sun games, but these classes will not appear in any official Dark Sun releases. While the quote above might indicate otherwise, I believe the actual reason why the Soulknife and the Monk didn't make it to ds3.5 is given elsewhere in the same Behind the Veil sidebar: (From ds3_r6) Monk: There are several monasteries on Athas, though little evidence in previous Dark Sun material supports the martial artist variety of monk portrayed in the Player’s Handbook. Monks are too few in number to warrant a core class. Soulknife: There is no precedent of a concept such as the soulknife in any previous Dark Sun material. However, in a metal-poor, high psionic world, the ability to manifest a weapon using the mind has its place. There would probably not be enough soulknives to warrant a core class, which would need to be shoehorned into the existing campaign world. Balance issues probably aren't overwhelming factors in the equation. (I'm not particularly convinced they are even minor factors, but others disagree.) I think athas.org’s stance on the Soulknife is that there are no soulknives on Athas except for a few oddballs. If that is the case I mostly agree with them. As for the Monk, on the other hand, I do not. Rather, I believe that a full PC class focused on psionics-enhanced unarmed combat would fill an important niche on DS-based campaigns, even if the Shaolin-type Monk would not. Should the Athasian version of the Monk be divorced from the PHB Monk’s mandatory monastic background, such a core class could apply to numerous peoples and stereotypes, from Draxan brawlers to Villichi nuns, Balican wrestlers, Raamite yogis and beyond, yadda, yadda, yadda. I've argued this to death, already, and will refrain from nauseating boardmembers all over again. Well, check out these threads: [DS3] including the Soulknife and Psionic Monk prestige class. There were others on the Soulknife, but I'm having trouble finding them. And are Soulknife questions inapplicable since the new rules are out? Is what I mean are you going to update the PrC’s and keep the Soulknife as a PrC or is it gone for good as far as DS3 is concerned. My guess is that the soulknife will remain only as a PrC in DS3. However, (From ds3_r6) DMs are free to include any of the above core classes in their Dark Sun games, but these classes will not appear in any official Dark Sun releases.
#4 mordin Jul 09, 2005 23:45:15	My guess is that the soulknife will remain only as a PrC in DS3. However That dosn't bother me at all actualy I think it makes more sense as a PrC anyways. Now dose anyone think the PrC presented in the DS3 is a bit overpowered?
#5 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2005 12:54:33	I don't think it's overpowered when you compare it to the original Souknife PRC in the 3.0 psionics handbook.
#6 glacialis Jul 10, 2005 22:09:49	I don't think they're saying that there are very few Soulknifes, simply not enough to warrant a core class. A common prestige class, I would think. But then again, think about how many people there are with adventurer-level character classes on Athas. Then how many have prestige classes. Very few Soulknifes with regards to the total population? Sure. But it's all relative.