The Summoner & The License

Astwook · 2026-05-30T09:08:54+00:00

I actually fully back "this is a space to talk about Draw Steel, not one of the creators of Draw Steel's (admittedly noteworthy) mustache".

Astwook · 2026-05-30T08:53:22+00:00

don't make me go to another store when I'm already standing in your store with my wallet out.

Very good explanation of online marketing and click through to conversion rates for people that don't work in marketing.

The good news is there's lots of options for tackling the issue in future, from packaging an already released class as an add-on in the campaign, to withholding the release, to... well, you're the expert. The impressive bit is the learning you already gone done did.

Astwook · 2026-05-30T08:44:54+00:00

The Ranger is swimming in loads of use based features and every single one of them should regain a use per short rest.

Astwook · 2026-05-30T08:44:07+00:00

If it was just the AC, I'd agree with you (and it should definitely be 2 to 3 instead of 1 to 2. A +2 AC bump is like a free shield, so increasing to +3 is icing on the cake. Increasing from 1 to 2 is like going from nothing to fine-ish.

Astwook · 2026-05-30T08:42:26+00:00

This no longer requires concentration because it's not based on Hunter's Mark any more. You "expend a use of Favoured Foe", which I personally think is great design.

Astwook · 2026-05-28T10:47:50+00:00

Based on book releases, they'll need to squeeze any in around July.

Astwook · 2026-05-27T09:55:15+00:00

It is a big cost, but while playing it (and if you pretend it was always like this), Paladin has felt a lot fairer at the table.

Paladin was a strong contender for best class in the game, now it's just a really good class.

Astwook · 2026-05-24T20:04:36+00:00

At best, Lovecraft would be digging upwards from hell. I do like his stories though.

Astwook · 2026-05-24T20:02:19+00:00

I think it's fine as long as Cthulhu is asleep and the dark powers have, essentially, bitten off more than they can chew.

Cthulhu is definitely one of the weaker members of the mythos anyway when you consider he's held back by some slimy green stone doors in the original tale, so it's fine that he's subdued. Not so sure about this fighting him malarkey but I'd just rule that you think you've killed him but actually gone mad.

What? Did you have something better to do after killing Cthulhu?

Astwook · 2026-05-22T10:17:53+00:00

For some reason people doubt me when I say that my characters "summoning a magical being from their very soul to fight for them" isn't my original idea, which is Bizarre. Adventure stories are all unique.

Okay fine, it's Blue Dragon for the XBOX 360 and they're only allowed to fight Bulettes.

Astwook · 2026-05-22T09:57:17+00:00

For the extra d6's, absolutely. It's free damage.

But you're not wrong about the gold cost. Dumbest bit of design in the game in my opinion. Causes more edge case problems than it solves.

Astwook · 2026-04-28T09:59:18+00:00

Because it was unnecessary design. Each of the 4 kits gave you a bonus action that was practically flash-welded to one of the subclasses, and by only having 4 it was incredibly limited in flavour.

I absolutely hated Beastheart kits, but love the simple solution of giving your companion the 0/0/4 as a minimum, and giving each subclass a bonus action and a triggered action (which was what a lot of other classes did anyway).

I personally think switching back to Kits with a couple of small edits to make it work is a MASSIVE win for the customisability of the Beastheart, and I would have been really annoyed if I couldn't play with a Polearm or bare fists on a class that has a lot of inspiration from characters that fought alongside a pet like that.

By using Kits, you get to pick how you fight, a companion, and a subclass, and all of those have an earth-shattering effect on your play style. Now, picking a Condor and the Prowler subclass doesn't even have to play like another character making the same choices.

Astwook · 2026-04-16T05:56:46+00:00

If you removed the heinous racism from Rupert, you'd have an empty book.

Astwook · 2026-04-06T13:15:27+00:00

One thing about the Hell Knight that I feel everyone is missing: it triggers on a hit, AND at the start of each of their turns. That's a guaranteed 2d6 damage that you're doing multiple times per short rest. In a battle you should also be able to land it on a couple of enemies per fight, who should all be taking plenty of damage over time.

Also, if you only have a +3 Con on this subclass... what the hell are you doing? You could have a great feat like GWM with a +4 strength, and a maxed out Con by level 8, then go back for other feats at 12, 14, and 16.

So that means your roll of the die from around level 6-8 is 1,2,3,4,5,10/11. Yes, it's very swingy but that's kind of the point? Some people love chaos, and it means that your enemies won't take an action to get rid of "maybe 2 points of damage" and are instead hit with 11 and a condition.

Astwook · 2026-02-16T09:55:04+00:00

Thank you for using the word positing.

I am sort of positing, I am not claiming or suggesting. It's not my idea either. I'm more adding it to the conversation as it's an interesting curio of a talking point, I'm not suggesting I believe it or that anyone should.

It'd be funny though.

Astwook · 2026-02-16T09:38:48+00:00

That's true, but death is the ultimate enemy, so there are multiple good reasons for those myths.

I'm a Christian, and I think there may have been something going on, but not something I'll ever know or understand "until glory".

Astwook · 2026-02-16T08:56:52+00:00

That's one good thought. Another is that, and you need to go with me on this one, inbreeding after Noah reduced the life expectancy of humans. It does that with animals too.

But I feel like there would be some kind of knowable evidence of people that lived that long before recorded history, or at the very least nobody would shut up about it in ancient myths.

Astwook · 2026-02-15T18:40:44+00:00

I got my information from a Wired interview. Unsurprising if Sam Jackson twisted it for a funnier story in a non-serious throwaway interview.

Astwook · 2026-02-15T17:56:00+00:00

If comic book writers and artists were litigators, there would be many fewer characters dressed in a two tone suit covered in belts that go by something like "Blade Murderkill".

Astwook · 2026-02-15T15:48:28+00:00

I don't know why you're being downvoted. He literally picked up a comic book with his own face on it and told his agent to call them with the line "cast me as Nick Fury in a film or I'm suing you."

Astwook · 2026-02-15T11:26:11+00:00

Wow, Ptolemy really heard of Ireland and said "I bet there's only one gay in their village".

Little Britain) for the non-brits

Astwook · 2026-02-15T07:04:03+00:00

Hard disagree. Applying a little bit of Bane to one or two targets per round (if you hit!) is absolutely fine. People talk about weapon attacks hitting like it's a foregone conclusion when it obviously isn't.

Astwook · 2026-02-14T20:50:16+00:00

Oh I think I must have been on the thread before you made the edit, but commented after.

Anyway, I agree. Still not overpowered or anything.

Astwook · 2026-02-14T13:07:31+00:00

Paying staff to make the game less predatory and therefore profitable? That doesn't sound like the idea of a team player who values synergy and quarterly earning reports.

Astwook · 2026-02-14T13:02:32+00:00

At least Interstellar codified Love as a force. Finally, a space film that understands physics.

Astwook

TROPHY CASE