May 2000

Again, two things on the list as we get closer to the release date. This time, the online character is Tordek, the Dwarven Fighter. He's got the usual 1st, 4th and 7th-level writeups. His first-level sheet shows that he's using an Exotic weapon, the dwarven waraxe. He had to take the proficiency for it as a separate feat. He also took Weapon Focus (dwarven waraxe), which according to the previous Countdown article means he's getting a +1 to his attack rolls with it.

We get the dwarven special abilities here of darkvision (replacing infravision, but different from what the elves got), Intuit unusual stonework (+2), which is undefined at this time, as well as a saving throw bonus vs. poison and spells and a +1 bonus to hit goblinoids and orcs. Other than that, not much else of interest here.

On his 4th-level writeup we see how the fighter bonus feats add up quickly; he now has five feats, adding Improved Initiative, Dodge, and Specialization with his dwarven waraxe. His 7th-level writeup adds a couple more, and now he's Focused and Specialized with composite longbows, which is an unusual choice for a dwarf. He also has a stack of magic items (10 of them) to boost his AC to 25, his Strength to 20, and a pair of magical weapons which he happens to be really good at using already.

So, we've now seen the 'core four' classes. There are three months left to introduce other classes, so we'll see what they do. In the meantime...the Countdown continues.

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Dragon #271 (May 2000)

This month's Countdown article is about monks and multiclassing. The art of the monk on the first page looks more like a linebacker than a lithe martial artist. Maybe he's a sumo wrestler. Anyway, monks are back for the first time (officially) since 1989. Their list of special abilities will be familiar to 1e players, although they mostly have different names (the Quivering Palm is still there in all its glory). Monks now get d8 instead of d4 hit dice, which is a desperately-needed improvement. They also get really good saving throws across the board, and gain special abilities every level from 1st to 20th. So, players dreaming of recreating Jet Li and Jackie Chan might actually be able to do it now.

At first level, monks gain unarmed attacks, Stunning Fist, and Evasion (like a rogue). They can also do a flurry of blows to make multiple attacks at a penalty. As they move up in levels, they can deflect arrows, slow their fall, trip opponents more effectively (sweep the leg!) and eventually get the Quivering Palm. They also get spell resistance, immunity to disease and poison, and don't age as they advance in levels. And that's just from the teaser; there's even more in the upcoming Player's Handbook. This should be interesting.

The one drawback they mention is related to multiclassing, so I'll segue into that part of the new rules. Dual-classing is gone, multi-classing is completely different. In the original editions, multiclassing meant advancing in two or three classes at the same time, taking forever to move up in levels but having lots of different abilities to develop. It also meant that you had to be a demihuman, which is no longer the case; all races can multiclass without limits, except that monks and paladins who multiclass can't go back to those classes to improve them later on.

The basics of multiclassing are then explained: You just add a level of whatever class you want, gaining all of its benefits, class skills, hit points, etc. The biggest issue with multiclassing is that there's an experience point penalty of 20% if you don't keep your different classes within one level of each other. However, each race has a 'favored class' where this penalty doesn't apply; a 10th-level dwarven fighter who decides to dip into a level of cleric for whatever reason isn't going to pay the penalty, because dwarves have 'fighter' as their favored class.

And that's it for this month's Countdown. Next up...barbarians and rangers. This should be interesting.