Playtest Data for Skald, Bloodrager

[nightdeath]

I ran a game of Reign of Winter Book 2 "The Shackled Hut". Homebrew but using much of the adventure path.

Party:
Ulfen Skald 6
Ulfen Invulnerable Barbarian 6
Ulfen Bloodrager 6
Ulfen Cleric 6
Ulfen Rogue 6

Encounters were pretty much fine except that we noticed a couple of things during combat.

Skald:
Rage song is nice and can be opt out but once the Skald is knocked out or runs out of Juice, the party is fatigued which nearly killed the rogue since he couldn't make his stablisation checks.
The barbarian & Bloodrager were the only ones who loved the Skald when they ran out of Rage.
Also If I'm running this right, The Skald gets no other bardic performances am I right?

The ragesong also Gives the meleee ppl a boost but with debuffs which be not so good. The cleric was abit miffed when he realised he couldn't cast spells as he was in a 'rage'. I'm not so sure about the Bloodrager though. He seemed fine.

Weapon proficiency doesn't fit the fluff. A Skald should be versed in well the barbarian weapons is my players opinion.

Spell Kenning is awesome but seems abit too powerful for its level. The casting time seems to balance it out but it takes too long to do so according to my players.

Scribe Scroll also doesn't fit the class as a whole. I for one can't see this Viking sitting down holding a feather scribing a scroll. Combat Casting might be better for a Skald.

Bloodrager:
A Melee Sorceror is what my player summed him up as.

Bloodlines seem abit underwhelming but then again it could be because my player chose undead.

Spell Casting limited by Rage. my Player generally has more spells left before running out of rage. Buffing during Rage seems underwhelming and being that the bloodrager cannot Spell strike like a magus, offensive spells don't seem much of a point either especially when in melee.

MaD (Multiple Attribute Dependant) is quite heavy. Being that this class seems to call upon his blood, maybe using con as a casting stat instead? Needing Str, Dex, Con, Cha is abit much. I suppose Int and Wis can be dumped.

Poor will save? Semi Melee with spell casting? Could be better with better will save.

Is there a better name other than bloodrager (Player feedback lol)
Suggestion for alternate names:
Channeller?
Blood Caller?
Ritualist?

[true_shinken]

I understood that the Bloodrager could cast spells even out of rage.

[Skaldi the Tallest]

true_shinken wrote:

I understood that the Bloodrager could cast spells even out of rage.

The developers confirmed that in the Bloodrager thread over in class discussion.

The Devs have also said they aren't changing the names of the classes and really hope that folks can focus their creative energies elsewhere.

[Stephen Radney-MacFarland]

Skaldi the Tallest wrote:

The Devs have also said they aren't changing the names of the classes and really hope that folks can focus their creative energies elsewhere.

Not entirely what we said. We said that we were relatively happy with the names, with some caveats and dissenting opinions on the matter, but we want to hear your thoughts on the classes. Don't feel that you can't bring something up, or that you have to edit your or your players thoughts on the matter, as long as you are constructive and follow the rules of the boards, we want to hear it.

[Sean K Reynolds]

Thanks for your playtest feedback, nightdeath! :)

[nightdeath]

My players have updated their characters for the next session.
Will post update once it's done.

They'll be going after Goblin Raiders, troll and orcs as well. {home brew side quest)