So I talked to the GM from one of my groups to let me playtest the new classes. I picked bloodrager, with a level of brawler (and the GM gave me a level of Dragon Disciple for story reasons, but it didn't really come into play mechanically).
Now, due to other issues with the session (rule questions, player/GM arguments), I don't feel I collected that much in terms of raw mechanical data. I know my ranged touch attack spells (acid arrow, scorching ray) never missed, but I don't know if the lowered AC causes any issue because I was never attacked.
However, I can tell you this: This class was so much FUN to play. :D
I was an angelkin aasimar with the abyssal bloodline. That's the kind of thing I eat up with a spoon. And the look on everyone's faces when I finally got to bloodrage and grew to large size...I wish I had the camera in my phone ready.
I also ended up role-playing him as always struggling to keep the rage in check and that he could lose control at any time. The character became "real" for me when another one of the players was possessed by a sword that increased his aggression. I had Tobias march up to him, attempt to disarm and say something along the lines of "Your 'rage' offends me. You're doing it wrong. Would you like to see what real rage is?"
I failed both the disarm and intimidate check, but both the the player possessed and one of the other players seemed a little freaked out.
Tobias was so much fun to play that after game was called, I talked it over with the group and he is going to be my new permanent character for the campaign.
So in terms of mechanics and balance, I don't think this session was very useful. I don't think Tobias was beyond the power of the standard 14th level character with appropriate gear, but I'm hardly an expert in those areas, and I haven't played many casters.
However, in terms of role play....this is one of my new favorite classes. I've seen a lot of comments in the various threads that "new class X makes old class Y obsolete," and maybe it's true in terms of mechanics, but do the people making these comments take flavor and role play into consideration? I know I could have built a barbarian build that had very similar abilities, or a combat focused sorcerer, but it wouldn't have worked as well thematically. In fact, one of my very first characters was a barbarian/sorcerer mutli-class that was basically trying to do what the bloodrager does, and it didn't work too well.
In any case, I hope this thread proves useful in some way. If anyone has any questions about the specific build, feel free to ask and I'll answer.
In closing, thanks to Jason and the design team for a wickedly fun class. I'm looking forward to seeing it evolve as the playtest continues.
What sort of spells did you select?
Did you ever cast any during combat?
What sort of spells did you select?
Did you ever cast any during combat?
A) Mostly offensive, blast-y type ones. Here's the breakdown:
1st level (6 known/3 per day)
Magic Missile, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Bed Of Iron, Corrosive Touch, Snowball, Cause Fear (bloodline)
Forgot I picked Bed Of Iron before I picked my armor (light). I think I'm going to see about switching it out for something else.
2nd level (5 known/3 per day)
Scorching Ray, Elemental Touch, Shatter, Spider Climb, Acid Arrow, Bull's Strength (bloodline)
3rd level (4 known/1 per day)
Force Punch, Haste, Greater Animal Aspect, Fireball
...I used my Fireball to destroy the lab Tobias was tortured in.
B) Yes, I casted during combat and while raging. The session's "boss fight" was against a humanoid vulture with alchemist levels (I don't know how the GM built it). It stayed airborne and dropped bombs on us from above.
I hit it with two Scorching Rays and an Acid Arrow, using my brawler level to take "Weapon Focus: Ray." All three spells (including all three rays from SR) hit without any problems.
Though that brings up a question I have about Weapon Focus. If you can take "Weapon Focus: Ray" can you do the same with other offensive spells? Could I have used the "Martial Maneuvers" to take "Weapon Focus: Acid Arrow"?
Speaking of "Martial Maneuvers," I should mention that I like this ability a lot, though I agree the language needs to be clarified a little. I like that it allows me to take Weapon Focus as the situation warrants, instead of burning feats to take it multiple times (Tobias mostly uses his claws when raging, unarmed strikes when not).