Puna'chong |
Just wanted to pop by and say that the Occultist (and really every class in OA, to be honest) is really cool. It feels a lot like a spiritual successor to the 3.5 Artificer without the crazy magic item creation stuff getting out of hand. I generated a Garundi treasure hunter/archaeologist whose family has been searching for generations to find proof that they're descended from the first pharaohs, and she uses her parents' and grandparents' old adventuring gear as her implements. There's really a lot you can do in terms of flavor and mechanics, and so far it's looking pretty balanced and dynamic.
That said, Medium touches a warm spot in my heart that loved the Binder, the Mesmerist looks fantastic (plus I play a Mesmer in Guild Wars, and the mechanics make me wonder...) and like a great take on illusionist/enchanter as a base class. Spiritualist seems like a really cool and versatile pet class with awesome options for role-playing and customization right off the bat, and Kineticist is exactly what I (as a DM) have been looking for to throw out blaster NPCs and to use for those new players who just want to be the human torch and are disappointed by how little blasting happens at lower levels with full casters. Psychic also seems like a fair and balanced approach to a class that's been rehashed a million times, and I like the "mental arena; FIGHT!" rules. The skill unlocks are exactly what I wanted Signature Skill to be (which I'll be reflavoring and handing off to the rogue!), and I'm still reading!
Really great job Paizo and staff. I've never been a fan of psychic stuff, but this book seriously hit a home run for me.
Puna'chong |
Puna'chong wrote:plus I play a Mesmer in Guild Wars, and the mechanics make me wonder...So I wasn't the only one that saw that! The vexing daredevil is practically a sword mesmer.
SHOOT DAH BUTTAHFLIES
And the fact that they get all of those Combat Expertise/Improved Feint discounts, and a lot of the Tricks do the whole "oh no, is me or my phantasm you can't even knooooow =D" stuff. I won't complain though, they did a great job with it and captured the kind of feel I'd like an illusionist/enchanter to have. A lot more finesse than a wizard or sorcerer, that's for sure. There are a few archetypes or bits of flavor that remind me of my favorite games, like the jin (djinn) Occultist that's yelling Golden Sun at me.
A kobold Occultist would be cool, yeah, and totally fitting. That's what I think is so great about the class, the whole "power item" theme can be taken in so many directions. A failed apprentice elf that can't get past a mental block to use foci. A Kelish Sha'ir trying to find his heritage in Kelmarane (maybe kill some gnolls with his trusty fire elemental Krrrkscklck). Kobold that found the corpse of an old adventurer, took a couple awesome shinies, but realized that the world is larger than just crappy trinkets; there are less crappy trinkets out there!
I hope one of my players picks an Occultist for the next campaign so I can live vicariously through them.