Warrior's companion: Cultural weapon

T

treeplanter

Mongoose
Hello; I'm talking about the alternative to versatility, cultural weapon (p.26).

Is'nt this ability a bit too powerful? I mean, +3/+3 to hit and damage is really huge. Sure, versatility is cool, but this is just plain destruction. A soldier have to spend 2 feat to get a +1/+2 with a SPECIFIC weapon, now the barb would get +3/+3 with a whole group...

I think a +1 to hit at first level and a +1 damage at 7th level seem more on par with the RAW versatility...
 
Yeah, a lot of the rules in the Warrior's Companion are broken as hell. About the only things of value I've gotten from it are the new weapons. :?
 
Yes. I even pointed that out to the editor when I playtested it. That alternative power completely takes away the only advantage the Soldier arguably has over the Barbarian. I don't recommend actually allowing anyone in a game to use that alternative. I can't think of a fix which actually doesn't tromp all over the Soldier.
 
wich other rule you think are broken? I dunno I feel the other alternative are pretty much ok. In fact most other I feel they are less powerful than the old powers. Most new feat are playable, while not powerful.
 
treeplanter said:
wich other rule you think are broken? I dunno I feel the other alternative are pretty much ok. In fact most other I feel they are less powerful than the old powers. Most new feat are playable, while not powerful.
Click to expand...

I discussed this book with a friend of mine when it came up and these are the conclusions we came to:

I am not a particular fan of the book. I think it has too much D&D flavour to it. Stuff like the definition of "Warrior" on page 6 is just unnecessary. Most of the crap from page 7 to 12 completely ignores race and culture in favour of a class-based culture.... Even when it goes to the cultural stuff - for example, the three paragraphs on "Hyrkanian/Turanian" on page 15 - does it say ANYTHING useful? Compare it to the Hyrkanian and Turanian sections in Hyboria's Finest.

Permanent damage - ugh. This will plague PCs much more than NPCs as NPCs don't have to deal with it for long. Players may think this is great when they look at it - until they realise they are the ones having to deal with it all the time. Called Strikes (page 34)- why would anyone do anything BUT a called shot? The penalties are ridiculously low and the payoff is fantastic!

The new class benefits? The "Cultural Weapon" alternative to versatility completely destroys the ONLY advantage soldiers have over barbarians - the ability to specialise in a weapon. Now there is no reason to play a soldier. None.

The weapon and armour modificatons is the best thing about the book - and the only thing I allow from it in my games.

To be fair, I haven't really looked at the prestige classes as far as mechanics, but in general I don't see the point in the ones chosen. I think multi-classing is a better way to go.

And the Martial Disciple is broken.
 
yeah I agree the flavour suff is really really bad compare to to the 3 F book.

Oh haven't really looked at the martial disciple, but I think the Axeman is also broken. But i've never really been a fan of prestige class anyway.

Ok just looked quickly at martial disciple, plainly stupid.

I still think this book have some thing to offer. Save for cultural weapon, other alternate are cool, some new feat are cool too. Rule for Narrative combat and duel of the fate can be usable too (more narrative combat than duel of the fate tough), Sharpen and Challenge skill are ok.

But it's true more than 50% of the book is useless...
 
I really really really wish i could get to read the Warrior´s Companion.
Unfortunately the shop of my choice doesn´t have it in stock and I have already read enough negative critic to ever consider paying money for it.

Just to emphasize this, here my thoughts on the rules from the preview:

Permanent Damage
Nice idea but the system is too cumbersome, unbalanced and doesn´t go well with Massive Damage.

Sharpen Skill
Purely for powergaming and rather dull.

Tactics Skill
Much too 4E Warlord and boring and unbalanced.

New Skill Uses
Just for powergaming.

Armor Modifications
I can imagine reasonable armor modifications, but the presented ones aren´t.

Headbutting Blade
Yeah, right!
 
I really like the sharpen skill. I would not define this as power gaming. Armor piercing is not a game-breaking stat. Most fighter-PC will have enough strenght to destroy armor, so this skill is basicly usefull to PC with not that much strength. However instead of a new skill I think it could have been included as a new use of Craft: weaponsmith or profession: blacksmithing.

Each time I use this skill I remember the scene in the movie where Conan sharpen his blade, then look at Subotai and Valeria without saying a word, then continue to sharp his sword. Truly a great scene.
 
I agree that sharpening a weapon has it´s use.
But the mechanic in the sourcebook is badly designed.

My first complaint matches yours, that it should be a use of Craft(Weaponsmith) instead of a new seperate skill.

Furthermore for me sharpening a blade is part of the normal weapon maintenance and not something to gain boni.

The gained Armor Piercing has the same potential of increased damage as Weapon Specialisation. While this may not be game-breaking, it is a significant boost.

While the hardness reduction is a considerable price for this gain, it is highly unrealistic that an axe is broken if you sharpen it 5 times.
This will only lead to mules carrying spare weapons, preferably pre-sharpened.

That the blade is dulled after every battle is another balancing, but makes it even more unrealistic.

The duration to sharpen a blade is a bit high, too.

Last but not least, when you mention Conan sharpening his sword, doesn´t it bother you that Sharpen is no class skill for barbarians?
 
It looks like my decision to not get this book was correct. At least for my play style, considering how many times I have to wean new players off the D&D mindset.
And that was just from the preview. I'll be sticking to the "F' series and the Players Guide.
 
In any sytem that does not have specific hit locations, a called shot system is broken. I find it odd that a trained warrior of any class would "aim for the HP" rather than whack something important to the defender.

Besides, I beleive if it is good for the players, it is good for the NPCs. Players may love called shots, right up to the first time it takes them out. Then they tend to howl.
 
treeplanter said:
I still think this book have some thing to offer. Save for cultural weapon, other alternate are cool...
Click to expand...

I don't know. The terrain tactics for the Borderer give an unnamed +2 bonus to attack rolls and Tumble skill checks to everyone who can hear the Borderer shout out directives on how to use the terrain. Since it is unnamed, it stacks with all other bonuses - which means if a military group has five scouts with this ability shouting out tactical advice, everyone has a +10 to attack rolls and Tumble checks (I guess the five Borderers would only get +8 since they can't listen to their own advice). One could hire some scouts and make one's army invincible!

I like the noble social abilities, though.
 
VincentDarlage said:
I don't know. The terrain tactics for the Borderer give an unnamed +2 bonus to attack rolls and Tumble skill checks to everyone who can hear the Borderer shout out directives on how to use the terrain. Since it is unnamed, it stacks with all other bonuses - which means if a military group has five scouts with this ability shouting out tactical advice, everyone has a +10 to attack rolls and Tumble checks (I guess the five Borderers would only get +8 since they can't listen to their own advice). One could hire some scouts and make one's army invincible!
Click to expand...
Just wondering... how does Mongoose QC?
 
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