I am going to be honest here. The class name is not going to change at this point.
When designing the class, I made sure to build at least one divinatory revelation into each list, although they have a widely different agenda depending on the focus.
Perhaps that is not a strong enough link... I am open to discussion, but not on the name.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
Ok, here are some suggestions, give the oracle a more specific spell list with greater focus on deviations. I don't really like the shared spell list concept anyway. Next change the revelations so they require a knowledge check to perform. Lastly give the oracle a versatile performance like ability only with knowledge checks instead of performance checks.
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Personally, I hope that the Oracle does not go into a Divination Focus. Many Divinations, especially the higher level ones are very expensive, or require the character to have a stationary spell component Focus, such as a holy water font. Also, Divination is one of those areas that really puts too much power into a DM's hands, so can either be:
Too Good, (DM isn't sure what to say or tell)
Good, (Dm does it right)
Not Good, (probably the largest group as many DMs basically screw the player out of what the spells should do because they don't want their precious story revealed to much when a player has by all rights earned such info).
BronzeSparrow, I'm not sure I understand your objection. How is the Oracle not a divine version of the sorcerer? And how could you justify giving the class more spells per day when it already has six per spell level per day at 20th level? (Or did you mean more spells known? My response is the same either way, I suppose, but I'm not sure which you meant.)
Yes, more of both. I don't think the cleric's spells have as much punch as the sorcerer. And to definitively differentiate between cleric and Oracle they should have glaring differnces or you're just playing another version of cleric. Lose the armour and add more spells. I do see it as a spell casting class, just not a powerful one, so why would we want the ability to use armour/combat ability? It seems just a nod back to the originating class, the cleric.
As for the comments other people have made on changing the name, I believe the easiest thing would be to change the name, not the best thing.
Giving the class more divining type abilities/spells would easily change the class too, but not as easily as changing the name. I like the idea of the class and like the name too, but to me there is no fit with the two without the above mentioned changes.
And for those of you who like to quote definitions and historical facts, that's wonderful, you're very knowledgeable, but I borrow from the more common use and meaning of the word and how it is used in today's vernacular. To point if you have every watched the TV show "Eli Stone", you'll easily follow what I'm getting at.
I think given the current abilities and available spells the Oracle does match what I feel is the common use meaning of the word. While I think that more focus could be given on the knowledge gathering/insight revelations and spells like augury, I think that the class does what the name implies.
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I think given the current abilities and available spells the Oracle does match what I feel is the common use meaning of the word. While I think that more focus could be given on the knowledge gathering/insight revelations and spells like augury, I think that the class does what the name implies.
Available spells as in what? If you mean the spells they can select from( the cleric spell list ) i would have to disagree. How many fire/ice/electric spells are in the cleric spell list? Your first level Oracle of Fire/Water/Wind is screwed if they want to select spells that are thematically relevant. A first level Oracle of Fire can cast 0 fire spells. Kind of breaks the concept.
Available spells as in what? If you mean the spells they can select from( the cleric spell list ) i would have to disagree. How many fire/ice/electric spells are in the cleric spell list? Your first level Oracle of Fire/Water/Wind is screwed if they want to select spells that are thematically relevant. A first level Oracle of Fire can cast 0 fire spells. Kind of breaks the concept.
I meant spells that would be getting informations that would be prophetic to those receiving it.
While I'm sure that it would be helpful for more elemental spells to be added to the Cleric spell list, I'm not really certain it is concept breaking. I felt as if I could make a Cleric of Fire before even though their spell list meant that I could fill only one of my spell slots with a fire spell. The revelations and domain powers, for me, some what cover the desire to have the character tap into the element.
But again, more elemental spells for Clerics would be expected and very helpful to making elemental focused Clerics and Oracles.
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When I first heard about Paizo choosing to make an Oracle class, I wasn't too excited because I assumed it would simply be a spontaneous divine caster with a divination focus.
Boy was I pleasantly surprised to see the play-test version of the Oracle! I love the idea of curses and revelations, which bring considerable options for character development (unlike the static and boring Favored Soul).
While some posters with levels in the "Nitpicker" class will argue the somatic nuances, I think "Oracle" works for me just fine.
Keep on going Paizo! You're making me proud!
Well, it's kind of strange that those who voice their reservations about the name are kind of ridiculed quite a bit in this playtesting thread. Nigh any other class has some sort of telling name that gives away what you would expect from a class behind that name. As has been pointed out above, "oracle" as a class name will suggest something to the gamer that is not exactly in there. It is fair enough of Paizo to define their own "oracles" and if the latter (in general) lack what "oracle" traditionally meant, people should be able to voice their concerns. That's the topic of the thread.
Now, since the lead designer has already said that the name will not change, there ain't no need for blue/red mustang snipes. It would be more constructive to either stay away or add ideas to turn the oracle as they are into something more traditionally oracle-ish by adding this or that description or class ability. If the latter will not come into the plans either, this topic is done ...
You keep using that word (somatic). It does not mean what you appear to think it means. In fact, it entirely changes the meaning of your most recent post and turns it into something dramatically less appropriate for these boards.
somatic
–adjective
1. of the body; bodily; physical.
I believe the word you were looking for was "verbal". In both posts.
I still would prefer "paragon" or something. Oracle just doesn't fit. Unless they want to give the class a feature a divine sight
I'm probably alone in this, but I don't think the oracle class lives up to its name.
I'm not a history buff, so I could be wrong, but when I think of oracles I think of people who can see what others cannot. They're noncombatants (like the wizard) and gifted with vision (not to be confused with sight) and perhaps spell heavy (and by that I mean spell casters).
This class didn't do it for me.Though I can see that the combat capabilities of the class are not high, to me the class should be more of a spell caster, perhaps a cleric version of the wizard or sorcerer and to do that it would need far more spells and less armor. Perhaps the class should have more visual abilities like see invisible or some kind of permanent detect magic (osirons already do something like that). The curses I have to say are nice and spot on for the flavour of the Oracle, but overall I have to say the class doesn't follow its name sake.
Agree.
Manuals of the Plane there is a class called Divine Agent. They get stuff like Commune and Contact.
- Contact (Su): A divine agent of 2nd level or higher may be contacted mentally by her deity or its agents, usually to impart particular knowledge and orders to the divine agent. This contact only functions one way; the divine agent cannot initiate the contact, question the orders, or ask for clarifications. The nature of the contact depends on the deity: Dreams, ghostly visions, and illuminations from above are all possibilities. Contact from the deity rarely interrupts the divine agent's normal actions.