Update 7/25/21
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 5:11 pm
We've been in testing hell the past few weeks, but behold! The update arrives at last. Today's changelog:
- Most base races have been reworked to be more consistent and to remove the outliers from the old special race system. For more details, see below. (Eldwen)
- The Favored Class system has been removed – all races now benefit from “Favored Class: Any” – note some races may also say “Favored Class: None” – this is effectively the same. (Eldwen)
- Divine and Arcane spells that deal damage have been assigned a base damage guideline to keep in mind for the majority of spell design - for more details, see below (Gadwin)
- To make Maximize more desirable, Maximize Spell has been changed to boost the effectiveness of a spell, as empower does, but with a higher modifier of 75% instead of 50%. Maximize loses effectiveness with lower die values, hence the change. Please keep in mind that metamagic scripts are (extremely annoyingly) applied per-spell, so not all spells will take this into account. Those that do will have their descriptions updated accordingly. (Gadwin)
- Psions were overperforming in AC, with their whopping +15 dodge AC attainable by psionics alone for no real reason. They capped out on dodge just with boots and their own powers whereas other classes' features are typically exceptionally lucky to reach +8 dodge bonuses. This has been addressed. (Gadwin)
- New PrC: Nature's Warrior (Edmaster)
- Removed Wisdom requirement for Epic Animal Companion (Edmaster)
- Palemasters are now 7/7 spell progression, from 4/7. (Gadwin)
- Golem Masters are now 10/10 spell progression, from 4/10. (Gadwin)
- Liches are now 10/10 spell progression, from 9/10. (Gadwin)
- Demonologists are now 10/10 spell progression, from 7/10. (Gadwin)
- Bard has been reworked to be more consistent across the board instead of really good in certain areas and lacking in others.
While Bard's ability to boost their own effective AB exceptionally high has been reduced, they have been given love in other areas that should make them all the more enjoyed and well-rounded in a party setting. (Gadwin)
- Mage Slayer has been buffed to be a more effective anti-spellcaster class. Witch's bane grants immunity to movement speed reduction and their SR has been increased by 7. (Gadwin)
- Frenzy will no longer grant 2 extra attacks + haste. Instead, it will grant one extra attack + haste. Frenzy will also grant immunity to movement speed slowing for a duration 1 round longer than the duration of the frenzy itself, thereby negating the fatigue bugging out hasted movespeed permanently. (Gadwin)
Area Changes
- Outlands bridge should no longer cause crashes. (MimiFearthegn)
- Minauros has received a facelift (Wierwood)
- Outlands boss monster should now perform closer to original expectations (Weirwood)
- Enemy Saves in the following areas have been adjusted (by and large decreased), alongside evasion and HiPS removals from non-boss monsters. This is to make leveling zones more friendly to casters. (Gadwin)
Miscellaneous Changes and Fixes
- The language granter on first character entry should function properly now, giving 1 language for every base INT modifier. (Gadwin)
- Staves of air now cast Chain Lightning at CL15 instead of CL11. You will need to get a new one if you have an old one. DMs will not replace them for you. (Gadwin)
- Item Editor (Unlimited) is now sold for ~400 gold at the Bouldertanks' Beginner Equipment Shop in the bazaar. (Gadwin)
- Dragon’s can now wear armor in any of their forms, their Draconic Scales have been changed to just +1 stacking AC to compensate.(Edmaster)
- Dragons also can no longer use normal weapons while in their Dragon forms. (Edmaster)
- Added Extra bonus feat to Psychic Warriors so they can grab two more powers at level 2. (Edmaster)
- Added Metamagic and spell focus feats for Half Outsider Magic Variant (Edmaster)
- Guild Thieves should now have Simple wepaon and light armor proficiency. (Edmaster)
- Supernatural sight fix (Edmaster)
- Night Hags should now be able to change self (Edmaster)
- Gave Epic Foresight and Epic Mage Armor access to Mystic Theruge (Edmaster)
- Custom icons for Nature's Warrior (Taurus Daggerknight)
- A few player house edits
- Most base races have been reworked to be more consistent and to remove the outliers from the old special race system. For more details, see below. (Eldwen)
- The Favored Class system has been removed – all races now benefit from “Favored Class: Any” – note some races may also say “Favored Class: None” – this is effectively the same. (Eldwen)
- Divine and Arcane spells that deal damage have been assigned a base damage guideline to keep in mind for the majority of spell design - for more details, see below (Gadwin)
- To make Maximize more desirable, Maximize Spell has been changed to boost the effectiveness of a spell, as empower does, but with a higher modifier of 75% instead of 50%. Maximize loses effectiveness with lower die values, hence the change. Please keep in mind that metamagic scripts are (extremely annoyingly) applied per-spell, so not all spells will take this into account. Those that do will have their descriptions updated accordingly. (Gadwin)
- Psions were overperforming in AC, with their whopping +15 dodge AC attainable by psionics alone for no real reason. They capped out on dodge just with boots and their own powers whereas other classes' features are typically exceptionally lucky to reach +8 dodge bonuses. This has been addressed. (Gadwin)
- New PrC: Nature's Warrior (Edmaster)
- Removed Wisdom requirement for Epic Animal Companion (Edmaster)
- Palemasters are now 7/7 spell progression, from 4/7. (Gadwin)
- Golem Masters are now 10/10 spell progression, from 4/10. (Gadwin)
- Liches are now 10/10 spell progression, from 9/10. (Gadwin)
- Demonologists are now 10/10 spell progression, from 7/10. (Gadwin)
- Bard has been reworked to be more consistent across the board instead of really good in certain areas and lacking in others.
While Bard's ability to boost their own effective AB exceptionally high has been reduced, they have been given love in other areas that should make them all the more enjoyed and well-rounded in a party setting. (Gadwin)
- Mage Slayer has been buffed to be a more effective anti-spellcaster class. Witch's bane grants immunity to movement speed reduction and their SR has been increased by 7. (Gadwin)
- Frenzy will no longer grant 2 extra attacks + haste. Instead, it will grant one extra attack + haste. Frenzy will also grant immunity to movement speed slowing for a duration 1 round longer than the duration of the frenzy itself, thereby negating the fatigue bugging out hasted movespeed permanently. (Gadwin)
Area Changes
- Outlands bridge should no longer cause crashes. (MimiFearthegn)
- Minauros has received a facelift (Wierwood)
- Outlands boss monster should now perform closer to original expectations (Weirwood)
- Enemy Saves in the following areas have been adjusted (by and large decreased), alongside evasion and HiPS removals from non-boss monsters. This is to make leveling zones more friendly to casters. (Gadwin)
- The Niflheim Caster and Carceri (not Colothys) have received boosts to their CR, making them the new highest CR zones to be in line with their difficulty. (Gadwin)Abyss (Main, Pazunia, Maze)
Beastlands (Brux, Krigala, Karasuthra)
Clangor
Colothys
Earth (All)
Ooze
Water (All)
Pandemonium
Ice (Mountain Peaks)
Slags
Undersigil (All)
Miscellaneous Changes and Fixes
- The language granter on first character entry should function properly now, giving 1 language for every base INT modifier. (Gadwin)
- Staves of air now cast Chain Lightning at CL15 instead of CL11. You will need to get a new one if you have an old one. DMs will not replace them for you. (Gadwin)
- Item Editor (Unlimited) is now sold for ~400 gold at the Bouldertanks' Beginner Equipment Shop in the bazaar. (Gadwin)
- Dragon’s can now wear armor in any of their forms, their Draconic Scales have been changed to just +1 stacking AC to compensate.(Edmaster)
- Dragons also can no longer use normal weapons while in their Dragon forms. (Edmaster)
- Added Extra bonus feat to Psychic Warriors so they can grab two more powers at level 2. (Edmaster)
- Added Metamagic and spell focus feats for Half Outsider Magic Variant (Edmaster)
- Guild Thieves should now have Simple wepaon and light armor proficiency. (Edmaster)
- Supernatural sight fix (Edmaster)
- Night Hags should now be able to change self (Edmaster)
- Gave Epic Foresight and Epic Mage Armor access to Mystic Theruge (Edmaster)
- Custom icons for Nature's Warrior (Taurus Daggerknight)
- A few player house edits