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First off, Erik, everyone, if there is any rule I am violating by talking about this, than please tell me. That said...
I recently got Iron Heroes and really like it. I think it is one of the best books to come out for D&D in a long time, even better than AE (which I don't think very highly of). But, I have not seen anything on these boards discussing it, besides one post on an AoW thread, so I would like to open up this thread to talk about what people think about it, how they will use it, etc.
For example, I am planning on running the FR adventure War of the Spider Queen using the Iron Heroes material. My players are eager to play drow, so I will have to find someway to make that work with IH. What about you guys?
Well, obviously nobody is a big fan of IH. :)
But, one question I did have for Erik and all the Dungeon/Dragon guys: I read on Malhavoc Press' website about Dragon having material about Iron Heroes. Is this true, and if so, what material would you be having and when would it appear?
WaterdhavianFlapjack
I've considered IH for a future campaign but have not purchased the book. I've seen the ad and it appeals to me...do you mind elaborating a bit on what you like about it?
Sure. No problem. To start with, I guess I'll just give you a run-down on the major sections of the book with some of my own opinions interspersed. Instead of races, everyone is human, with the ability to select two "traits" which give them unique abilities and help flesh them out as being unique. However, like the rest of the book, you can use it all by itself, or you can take bits and pieces you like.
Next is the classes: There are brand new classes, each of which has unique abilities and gives you more diversity than the standard classes (in my opinion). The classes are excellent, and definitely better (in my opinion) than the core classes. I believe there are 10 or 11.
The feat system is much improved. There is about 5 pages of just listing all of the feats and their corrosponding "masteries". For most feats (all except about 5-10 feats like Quick Draw and Armor/Weapon proficencies), you can spend more feat slots to take greater masteries. Each class has mastery ratings corrosponding to feats that go well with that class. This replaces prerequisites. You can take any feat with a mastery rating less than or equal to you mastery rating in that category. These changes serve to provide players with much more options without making things to complicated.
Equipment and armor have some slight improviments, combat has new stunts, which allow you to make skill checks to perform special actions, as well as "combat challenges", whcih allow you to take a penalty on attacks or defense in return for benefits, much like dumbed-down versions of feats everyone can use. Combat also has a simpler (and I think better) system for AoO.
Last, but not least, is the magic system. In IH, magic is unpredictible. So, with each casting of a spell, there is a chance something will go wrong. As an Arcanist (the only caster in IH), you pick schools which have mastery ratings mcuh like your feats. Each school has "spell methods", which are like recipes for spells, which allow you to customize what effects you want from the spells you cast.
Another major difference is the fact that there are no magic items and no wealth level the PCs have to stay at. The characters are defined by there abilities, and not by there magic items, although the DM can introduce magic items to the campaign, they will be rare and special occurinces.
Overall, I like all of it. It is a very balance package. I really like the free-form use of magic, and the fact that it is risky and something "special". I love the feats, which are all wonderfull and which give huge amounts of options, as well as the EXTREMLY well done classes, which make this book very good.
If there are any specific things you would like me to elaborate on, feel free to ask me. And, also check out www.montecook.com for more information and lots of information about IH.
Sorry if I bored you! :)
WaterdhavianFlapjack
No, you didn't bore me at all and I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my question! Sounds like it might be cool to get just for some "ideas" even if I don't adopt it outright.
I figure in about a year my current campaign will have run its course, since level advancement is so freakin' fast in 3rd edition and my players will probably have to retire their characters or end up getting wasted by some high level threat.
IK sounds like it's adopted several concepts that I was already toying with in my mind--no magic items, focus on combat, etc.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....Paizo sells this, don't they?
No, you didn't bore me at all and I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my question! Sounds like it might be cool to get just for some "ideas" even if I don't adopt it outright.
I figure in about a year my current campaign will have run its course, since level advancement is so freakin' fast in 3rd edition and my players will probably have to retire their characters or end up getting wasted by some high level threat.
IK sounds like it's adopted several concepts that I was already toying with in my mind--no magic items, focus on combat, etc.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....Paizo sells this, don't they?
Actually, no. It's sold by Malhavoc Press. As I mentioned, go to www.montecook.com for more. They're the people behind Arcana Evolved and Unearthed. Also, you might want to check out the Iron Heroes message boards at:
http://p222.ezboard.com/fokayyourturnfrm36
I hope you get IH and enjoy it as much as I have!
WaterdhavianFlapjack
Hey, I ordered it via the Paizo Store, they offer a discount on it,so with shipping it's about the same as buying it in a FLGS (none of which carry it here where I live).
This will give me plenty of time to work on a campaign to replace my current Saturday every 2 weeks game.
Thanks, Flapjack, I appreciate the info!!
Hey, I ordered it via the Paizo Store, they offer a discount on it,so with shipping it's about the same as buying it in a FLGS (none of which carry it here where I live).
This will give me plenty of time to work on a campaign to replace my current Saturday every 2 weeks game.
Thanks, Flapjack, I appreciate the info!!
Welcome. Always glad to help.
By the way, you might want to consider Amazon for D&D books. They offer a 30% (or greater) discount on all D&D books, including IH. I get all mine there. I don't know what discount Paizo has. Oh, and Amazon has free shipping on all orders above $25. (And, no. I'm not affiliated with them):)
Hope you enjoy it! Still trying to get some people in my group to buy it so I can run (and hopefully play) it.
WaterdhavianFlapjack
We've had some success on my end with players joining from remote locations using Yahoo IM (Webcam & Chat) and using a speakerphone for voice...my long distance provider charges me a monthly flat rate for long distance calls, so we end up having a weekly 3 hour phone call.
Send me your e-mail address and once my campaign starts, like I said, about a year from now if not a bit longer, I'll let you know and you might want to try playing over the 'net, assuming you haven't found anyone at that time.
I put the webcam right on the battlemat and move it around so that the remote players can "see" what's going on. My current remote players use the Chat feature in Yahoo IM to send me "secret" messages but the speakerphone thing has worked out real well. We ended up having to get a high (er) end speakerphone (AT&T 1475) to get adequate volume on our end, but the remote players use headsets and can hear us fine.
Anyway, my e-mail address is
farewell2kings (at) gmail (dot) com
Well, I got IH and I'm very impressed. It has a lot of really cool concepts and rule variants. The stunts and action tokens are really innovative ideas.
I'm going to start developing my next campaign now. IH seems really suitable for a Horseclans (Robert Adams) campaign, or even a Conan campaign.
Mine won't be either, but it'll be something similar, but on a very unique and different world, physically.
The play by webcam and phone is not working out very well. My friend is sticking with us for now, but his patience level at looking and hearing everything through a funnel is wearing thin.