Runecarving Index & General Discussion

[Stratovarius]

I haven't started it, I was waiting for Tandda to be done with major revisions.

Updated Tandda and the Spiraling Emptiness feat in the PDF.

[Stratovarius]

Added two new monsters.

[Stratovarius]

And a template.

[Stratovarius]

And another monster.

[Stratovarius]

One more monster and half a template. When the template is done it's just items left.

[Nanshork]

Okay, time to look at this more.

Your table on Page 35 has one line on that page.  You should probably start it on the next page.  This should also fix the space for Contest of Cripples.

For Contest of Cripples, what happens if the target had a lower score than 10?  What if it was a non-score?

Does Death May Die bypass a ghost rejuvination?  What about a lich's phylactery?  Also, this feat that can be taken at level 1 overcomes DR/Epic.

For the last ability of Dwarven Shield Specialist, how does this interact with being able to make multiple attacks with your off-hand weapon?

For the last ability of Empty-Handed, is missing three times in a row two sets of two consecutive misses or does the count reset after the AoO?

Enhanced Self-Repair says staggering and should say staggered.

Did you make Dwarven Defender into a feat?

Last Ditch also feels a little powerful.

Mounting Concentration feels extremely meh.

One for All + Constructed fast healing feat = free healing out of combat for everyone.

Does the Sweeping Axe second ability stack with Cleave?

Throwing Savant's third ability should remove the reference to "a human".  Looks like a copy/paste leftover.

[Stratovarius]

Don't worry about the formatting yet, I don't bother fixing things like that until all the content is done, otherwise I just have to go back and do it again.

Cripples - scores below that/non-existent aren't affected.

Death May Die - It can, but DR/Epic isn't really an issue until high levels, at which point it's an appropriate ability anyway. And the Ghost/Lich would be dead, yes, although a DM could rule otherwise.

DSS - It doesn't. You can use either TWF, or DSS, not both.

Empty-Handed - Count resets after the AoO.

ESR - Sorted.

Last Ditch - Only works if you have a good Fort save and the damage isn't that bad. Otherwise you're dead, regardless. Plus, it doesn't protect against any other form of death.

Mounting Concentration - It's up to +3/+3/+3 on attacks (for instance) with only an easily passed skill check, so it's not that bad.

One for All - Constructed racial trait only allows them to heal 1/2 their damage in total in a day. If you're getting hit that little as the tank? Maybe something is wrong in the campaign. Plus, free out of combat healing is all around (see Dragon Shaman as an example, which is also more effective).

Sweeping Axe - Doesn't stack, it's basically Supreme Cleave.

Throwing Savant - Sorted.

PDF is updated. BTW, think I should include player-race Wolven into the book? Right now they're there as an NPC race/monster.

[Stratovarius]

In terms of new material for Runecarving, only some items (Rings, Rods, Wondrous, Artefacts) are needed, and then there's the question of the Wolven as playable race part.

[Nanshork]

Death May Die will completely fuck over campaigns with the permanent killing, I'm definitely not a fan.

All official free out of combat healing caps at half-hp.  I didn't notice the Constructed healing limit though, which makes the construct fast healing feat very meh.  It might save your ass during one combat a day and I'm sure there are feats that will save your ass better.

I don't really see the point of Wolven as a race unless people really want to play an intelligent wolf.

[Stratovarius]

The DM is free to rule that it doesn't apply. It's what I'd do if it was a campaign critical npc.

I was debating increasing the healing cap, but decided being able to act during healing was benefit enough. I assume not so?

Wolven are pretty much a sentient telepathic dire wolf. They exist mostly because they seemed to fit the setting and be different.

[Nanshork]

DM fiating the feat to not work doesn't make me happy with it, you know that.

Also since killed created undead can't be raised again I'm not sure what the point of the bonus is  except for ghosts and liches.

Since you can only heal a handful of HP I don't see why it would be done in combat anyway. The feat is an of shit button, it isn't bad but wouldn't be what I'd go after when it comes to spending resources on in combat healing.

I don't think that the wolven are bad, I'm just not seeing their purpose as a player race (as opposed to an NPC or cohort).

[Stratovarius]

Let me guess, you'd like me to remove the line about undead being permanently destroyed? 

And it was mostly for vampires or undead that can float away and reform.

Would you say that the feat needs to be further enhanced?

I see where you're coming from, especially as I'm currently in the middle of cutting out a number of the Arhosan races, so introducing another minor one seems a bit backwards.

Edit - Added 8 new magical items. Just have the rest of wondrous items left to go.

Edit #2 - Done enough magical items that I'm calling it. Stone and Symbol content complete.

[Nanshork]

I did forget about vampires. I get where you're coming from with that part of the feat, I just don't like the broadstroke implementation. I'll think about a good substitute.

In fact I'll give the feats another lookover when I can and compare the rune feats to each other power wise to see where everything sits.

[Stratovarius]

I can see the future, and it involves more work for me

[Stratovarius]

Currently going for my editing pass through Runecarving. Nothing mechanical yet.

[Stratovarius]

Formatting and editing complete up to the end of Chapter 2 (base classes).

[Nanshork]

I still don't like Death May Die.  However, after some digging that part matches up with the Hunter of the Dead PrC level 5 ability so I'll leave it alone.  Vampires don't die when they turn to mist, ghost is a toss-up because the Rejuvination ability implies that it isn't destroyed after all.  The lich phylactery srd text says "apparent death" which also implies not-destroyed.  All three validly fall under DM fiat upon close reading.  No extra work for you (on this feat)!

With the low cap on Constructed self-healing the Enhanced Self Repair feat feels meh.  I see two easy options: have it increase the healing cap up to full hp total OR remove the cap but instead have it heal up to half-total hp and then stop healing (as standard for normal D&D free healing abilities).

Last Ditch - The word healthiness feels really awkward.  Hardiness feels like a good substitute given the benefits, as do the following: health, vigor, stamina.

There are a lot of "increase runecarving level by 4" feats.  Any chance of having runecarving level +12 (or more) being a huge issue?

Reshape Terrain feels like it could gain the ability to ignore the difficult terrain that it creates.  That isn't required, just a feeling.

Greater Runebreaker should say roll once per rune effect.

Wickedness feels like it could be simplified by saying that you gain the bonus when you successfully deal damage to an enemy.  I'm not sure if that goes against any specific intent though.

[Stratovarius]

I can see removing the cap on the Self-Repair mode, given the other negatives. Do you think it would overpower the race to do so?

Runecarving level +12 basically means 3x more of whatever benefit the given rune effect grants. For permanent boosts, there might be a few too many around. I haven't done the math to see how boosted someone can get quickly... This is probably what I should do soon.

Added to reshape terrain.

Runebreaker updated.

Wickedness updated.

Changes in the PDF.

[Nanshork]

At the cost of a feat gain infinite healing up to half hp that screws you over in combat feels okay to me. 

It's on par with Draconic Aura - Vigor IMO.

[Stratovarius]

Well, remember if you're a Constructed Sergeant with the ESR feat (expensive in terms of opportunity cost, of course), there's no drawback and you continually heal to half without a single penalty.