Ok, I was accused of writing a lack luster review with many ill-advised references. Fair argument! The previous was my first thought as I skimmed through the book. I will try to accommodate a more in-depth review, in which I try to show what each of the new classes are trying to achieve and my opinions and suggestions on how to make the classes more functional.
Arcanist
I am going to leave this class alone as it is already being retooled, and to what end, I am unsure. I look forward to seeing what the developers end up doing with this class.
Bloodrager
This interestingly little piece of work is attempting to accomplish with a mix of barbarian and sorcerer what the magus accomplished with a mix of fighter and wizard. First, I agree with the masses on this little tidbit, LEAVE THE BLOODLINE ALONE. That argument is the chief complaint with this class as similarly will be discussed and addressed in other classes, such as the shaman and warpriest. Bloodrage as is, is the rage mechanic. Point simple. No deviation was made to make this specially named rage its own unique ability. So I would advise simply naming this ability Rage, or adding some new element to the ability.
Bloodrage: As rage except as follows. Blood rage can’t be ended prematurely except by unconsciousness or any effect that would end a rage (such as a calm emotions spell). Unlike a barbarian’s rage, the blood rage doesn’t limit your actions in any way. However, a bloodrager takes 1 point of damage per round as its body suffers under the strain. (citation taken and modified from WotC’s Magic Item Compendium p. 203)
I will be the first to state that I am not the most creative in the purpose of creating a game mechanic so please be patient with me as I will use citations from other sources to articulate my point or argument. I am advocating for the arcane bloodlines not being changed or altered. I propose that instead of fast movement be replaced with the first level bloodline power. I will add that giving unhindered medium armor proficiency is a bit beastly and suggest an armor progression. I am for a diminished spell-casting ability, but allow the spells to come from first level similar to the magus and I realize that in time, this class may get its own custom spell list as the book comes closer to release. Last, albeit not the least of the new class abilities, blood casting. Maintain that while in a bloodrage, a bloodrager can only cast spells from the bloodrager spell list and not from any other class that allows spell-casting. Furthermore, I would be interested in seeing a Blood Pool similar to the magus’ arcane pool. Key difference would be that a bloodrager could sacrifice 1 hp in order to achieve said effect a number of times per day equal to the bloodrager’s level + charisma modifier (minimum 1).
*Note: I am not against raising the bloodrager’s hit die from d10 to d12 to better accommodate hp penalties, for blood based abilities.
Brawler
As a shift from my initial review of the class, I am going to try to add more positive feedback. With the Brawler, first and foremost, FEAT versatility! This may be the single most key feature to this class that will get people to playing, or at very least, be that initial draw to the class. My only suggestion is that the initial action to start as a standard action instead of a move. Then the reduction in time is a continuous bonus. And maybe the increases be leveled at 1st, 5th, 10th and 15th. Other than minor modifications this is a solid class ability. Bonus feats could also be levied at the same intervals as the monk bonus feats, albeit maintain that the feats all inclusive of all combat feats. Really my chief and only real complaint with the class is the sometimes, seemingly random interval at which a class feature increases (i.e. AC bonus is 4th, 9th, 13th, 18th instead of something more consistent like 4th, 9th, 14th, 19th or 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 18th and Brawler Strike being 5th, 9th, 12th, 17th instead of 5th, 9th, 13th, 17th). Overall a solid build and I am positive the name issues are going to get resolved.
Hunter
I really like the Druid class, but have not been all too fond of the animal shaman archetypes. Hunter takes this into a great adjustment with the animal focus. Animal Focus seems similar to the shapeshifter ranger’s shifter’s blessing ability and the animal shaman’s totem transformation. I would really like to see these abilities expanded more with added abilities or, if not added abilities, expanded durations. Is the class supposed to have the same armor restrictions as a druid or are they looser on which armors they are allowed to where (does the wooden shield info, relate to other armor)? Finally, was the intent to attempt to fill some class at nearly every level? The class doesn’t lose or gain much, by making track & wild empathy both 1st level class features. Overall this class has great potential, but is lacking some key element to really set it apart.
Investigator
Those that hate rogues, I’m sure will be all over this class, but I’m on the fence with. Sneak should be available at first level, but maybe increase at half the rate of the alchemist’s bombs or rogue’s sneak attack, as to not overshadow the earlier versions abilities. Also, I’m not so sure that the inspiration feature shouldn’t be a fixed number, maybe a bonus equal to the intelligence modifier (minimum 1), but I leave that up to further testing. Obviously a name issue, that I’m sure will be resolved, and this is one class I’ll be keeping a close eye on. Sherlock Holmes build anyone?
Shaman
I am really excited about this new upstart. The shaman class embodies what anyone wishing to play a tribal caster is all about. I’m not so sure that the “Spirit” couldn’t be fleshed out better or maybe mix hexes and revelation better. The versatility of wandering hexes and spirits may be a hic-cup, or overpowering, in what could be the best class in the grouping. Maybe a mix of revelations or bonus feats would do it better justice, but I don’t know for sure.
Skald
A barbarian’s, on anyone with the rage ability, best friend, but a potential scourge to anyone else. I as delve into that which is the skald, I see bard with incite rage at first level and rage powers. So I look beyond this this initial set of abilities and come to spell keening. Useful, possibly! Versatile, definitely! But overall a cheap trick, as some spells available to both wizards and clerics come at different levels. I’m still not so sure that this class wasn’t better done by the savage skald bard archetype. Best beneficial feature is the ability to apply rage powers to those in whom he incites rage. The one key element that would make this class over the top good, is a progression to raging song such as Greater raging song, Tireless raging song, and Mighty raging song, although the lesser improvements built into the raging song may be as not to overshadow a true rager's rage.
Thread closed. Please post any followup comments on this topic in the stickied threads for each appropriate class, otherwise we'll end up with a hundred parallel discussion threads. Thanks!