Caster Kits are Dead. Long Live Blessings.

Here lies the casters kits. The dancer, the rook, the frigid, and many others who served us well, though they never truly accomplished what we needed from them. Now it’s time to bury them and make room for wards, blessings, enchantments, and mind focuses.

Hey folks! It’s James. You may have read my post from few weeks ago where I talked about the problems with caster kits. To recap, there were problems both narrative and mechanical with caster kits. Narratively, caster kits don’t present as clear of an archetype as martial kits, and so people don’t really know what they’re getting from a Rook or Ward Weaver kit the way they do with a Cloak and Dagger or Shining Armor kit. While we understand the difference between a cloaked knife-wielding assassin and a heavily armored warrior with a broadsword and shield, it’s less clear what the difference between a staff and a wand (or an orb for that matter) is. Sure, we could (and did) make up different fantasies about implements (over in many, many versions of Draw Steel), but those differences don’t tap into iconic archetypes, so folks really struggled with knowing what to pick for their characters and many never found anything that was quite right.

The mechanical issues was that many martial heroes wanted to take a caster kit simply to get the benefit of the ward. This was especially true for tacticians, who get to combine (but not stack) the benefits of two kits. Many tactician players reported feeling like they HAD to take a caster kit as part of their Field Arsenal feature because the siren song of the ward was too great. Many of these players didn’t feel that a caster kit fit their hero, but they felt they had to take it or they were leaving something on the table. It brings to mind that old game-design phrase, “Given the opportunity, players will optimize the fun out of a game.”

The truth about caster kits is that we created kits to give martial heroes a way of selecting equipment in an evocative, story-first package. It was a hit! We just assumed the idea would work for caster classes as well, but we were applying a solve to a problem that didn’t exist. In doing so, we created problems of our own. We’re keeping martial kits (now just called kits) and giving casters something else to customize their heroes. It’s three something elses—wards, signature abilities, and statistical bonuses. Honestly, they’re not that different from caster kits, it’s just that now you can select each piece individually instead of buying them as a package deal.

Before I get into all the specific changes and examples, I want to say that one goal here was to preserve what people love about kits, which is the customization and flavor they bring to a hero. The old version kits allowed a fury to get a little magic onto their sheet or the elementalist to wear some armor. A conduit could become more mobile or harder to force move thanks to their kit. A talent could grab a sword! I think we’ve achieved this goal while also solving the problems we created with caster kits. Will there be others? Testing will tell!

More (Martial) Kits

With caster kits out, we wanted to make sure that all the classes who do get kits, like the fury, shadow, and tactician, had a way to get a little magic or psionics into their life for players who want that. So we added four new kits, the Arcane Archer, the psionic Battlemind, the Spellsword, and the Warrior Priest. (Since we had some room, we also added the Dual Wielder and the Sword and Board just for fun and variety.)

Each of these new supernatural kits has a signature ability that allows a player to tap into magic or psionics. Let’s take a look at the Spellsword kit below and its Leaping Lightning signature ability.

Spellsword

The Spellsword kit combines melee attacks and a little bit of magic for warriors who don’t want to have to choose between the incantation and the blade.

Equipment

You wear light armor and wield a shield and a medium weapon.

Kit Bonuses

• Stamina Bonus: +6

• Speed Bonus: +1

• Stability Bonus: +1

• Melee Damage Bonus: +2/+2/+2

Signature Ability

Leaping Lightning 

Lightning jumps from your weapon as you strike to harm a nearby foe.

Keywords: Attack, Magic, Melee, Weapon  Type: Action

Distance: Melee 1                 Target: 1 creature or object

Power Roll + Might, Reason, Intuition, or Presence:

• 11 or lower: 5 lightning damage

• 12–16: 9 lightning damage

• 17+: 12 lightning damage

Effect: A creature or object within 2 squares of your target takes lightning damage equal to your Reason, Intuition, or Presence score (your choice).

What Casters Get

So what do casters like the conduit, elementalist, and talent get to replace their kits? They get a lot more customization!

Well, even before the customization, their ranged abilities (which is most of their abilities) all get a little boost. The default distance of most caster abilities has risen from ranged 5 to ranged 10.

Then you also get to customize your caster in three different ways to make up for the fact that they don’t choose a kit.

#1 Wards

First, wards are still an important part of being a caster in Draw Steel. Now instead of being tied to a kit, you get them through your class. Your choice of subclass doesn’t restrict your ward at all. Each caster class has four wards to choose from in the core rules. Let’s take a look at what the elementalist has.

Elementalist Ward

You create an elemental ward that protects you. You can choose one of the following wards. You can change your ward along with your enchantment (see Enchantment) by performing a complex ritual spell as a respite activity.

Absorption Ward

Your ward stores the energy of incoming harm and allows you to hurl it back at your enemies. When you take damage, the next magic ability you use that deals damage before the end of your next turn deals additional damage to one target equal to your Reason score. This effect isn’t cumulative.

Elemental Immunity Ward

Your magic protects you from the elements. You have immunity to acid, cold, corruption, fire, and lightning equal to your level.

Explosive Ward

You make yourself an invisible ward of explosive fire energy. When an adjacent creature deals damage to you, you can push them a number of squares equal to your Reason score as a free triggered action.

Vine Ward

You store green energy within your body. When a creature within a number of squares equal to your Reason score deals damage to you, you can pull them up to a number of squares equal to your Reason score as a free triggered action.

#2 Statistical Boosts

You know those numerical bonuses that kits gave to you? Well, you still get those, now they’re just independent of your subclass, ward, and signature abilities. Like your ward, these boosts are part of your class. Right now every caster class has the same statistic boosts available because we didn’t want to shortchange anyone in the customization department when it comes to flat numerical bonuses. For the elementalist, these bonuses are enchantments! Let’s take a look.

Enchantment

You weave an elemental enchantment into your body that enhances your statistics. You can change your enchantment along with your ward (see Elementalist Ward) by performing a complex ritual spell as a respite activity.

Air’s Enchantment

Your speed increases by 1, and when you take the Disengage move action, you can shift 1 extra square.

Flame’s Enchantment

When you deal damage with a Magic ability, the damage dealt increases by 1.

Stone’s Enchantment

Your Stamina increases by 3 and stability increases by 1.

Warrior’s Enchantment

You can wear medium armor and wield light weapons effectively, even though you don’t have a kit. While you wear medium armor, you gain a +6 bonus to Stamina. While you wield a light weapon, you deal 1 extra damage with abilities that have the Weapon keyword, including free strikes. You can use medium armor and light weapon treasures. If you have a kit, you can’t take this blessing.

Void’s Enchantment

The ranged distance of your abilities with the Ranged and Magic keywords increases by 5.

#3 Signature Abilities

Instead of casters getting one signature ability from their kit and one from their class, you now pick both from your class. Since we’ve doubled the number of abilities you get, we also doubled the number of options to pick from. Among those new options is usually one or two new melee abilities, so you can choose to be more up close and personal with your abilities (or simply save one for when enemies get too close for comfort). Each caster class has eight signature abilities to choose from! Take a look at the full complement of elementalist signature abilities from the core rules. You might recognize some old favorites from the caster kits now absorbed into their options as well as some totally new stuff.

Signature Abilities

Select two signature abilities from the options below. Signature abilities can be used at will.

Bountiful Decay

Your curse causes a foe’s flesh to rot off as spores that aid your allies.

Keywords: Attack, Green, Magic, Ranged    Type: Action

Distance: Ranged 10                            Target: 1 creature

Power Roll + Reason:

• 11 or lower: 2 corruption damage; a hero within distance can make a resistance roll to end an effect

• 12–16: 6 corruption damage; a hero within distance can make a resistance roll to end an effect

• 17+: 9 corruption damage; a hero within distance who is affected by an “(EoT)” or “(resistance ends)” effect has the effect end

Debris

A sudden storm of detritus assaults your foes and leaves them struggling to move.

Keywords: Area, Earth, Magic, Ranged        Type: Action

Distance: 3 cube within 10                Target: All enemies

Power Roll + Reason:

·   11 or lower: 2 damage

·   12–16: 3 damage

·   17+: 4 damage

Effect: The ground beneath the area becomes difficult terrain for your enemies.

Fire Lance

A jet of fire erupts with elemental fury where it strikes.

Keywords: Attack, Fire, Magic, Ranged       Type: Action

Distance: Ranged 10            Target: 1 creature or object

Power Roll + Reason:

• 11 or lower: 2 fire damage; push 2

• 12–16: 6 fire damage; push 3

• 17+: 9 fire damage; push 5

Grasp of Beyond 

You absorb the life energy of another creature and use it to teleport. 

Keywords: Attack, Magic, Melee, Void         Type: Action

Distance: Melee 1                                 Target: 1 creature

Power Roll + Reason:

• 11 or lower: 3 corruption damage

• 12–16: 7 corruption damage

• 17+: 10 corruption damage

Effect: You can teleport a number of squares equal to your Reason score.

Growing Pains

Whipping vines erupt from a foe’s body to grasp at another close by. 

Keywords: Attack, Green, Magic, Ranged    Type: Action

Distance: Ranged 10                            Target: 1 creature

Power Roll + Reason:

• 11 or lower: 2 damage

• 12–16: 6 damage

• 17+: 9 damage

Effect: A creature within 10 squares of the target is pulled 2 squares toward the target.

Split Flame 

Two jets of flame lance out at your command. 

Keywords: Attack, Fire, Magic, Ranged       Type: Action

Distance: Ranged 10         Target: 2 creatures or objects

Power Roll + Reason:

• 11 or lower: 2 fire damage

• 12–16: 4 fire damage

• 17+: 5 fire damage

Stone Pummel

Your fist turns to stone for a moment, allowing you to wallop a target.

Keywords: Attack, Earth, Magic, Melee       Type: Action

Distance: Melee 1                 Target: 1 creature or object

Power Roll + Reason:

• 11 or lower: 3 damage; push 2

• 12–16: 7 damage; push 3

• 17+: 10 damage; push 4

Void Ray 

A beam of energy corrupts and hinders whatever it touches.

Keywords: Attack, Magic, Ranged, Void      Type: Action

Distance: Ranged 10            Target: 1 creature or object

Power Roll + Reason:

• 11 or lower: 2 corruption damage

• 12–16: 6 corruption damage; slowed (EoT)

• 17+: 9 corruption damage; slowed (EoT)

Hybrid Classes

So what about classes that use martial might and supernatural power, like the censor and troubadour? They’ll get to pick a kit and their magic abilities will come with a little bit more oomph to make up for the fact that they aren’t kit-enhanced. If you want to be a censor or troubadour who mainly uses magic, you can pick a kit that gets you a lot of Stamina, speed, and/or stability and still greatly benefit from it.

And the Null?

The null, our psionic, unarmed warrior, is a bit of a special case. We’ve got ideas and Djordi is hard at work on executing it. It’s too early to say what we’ll do, but it’ll be cool!

That’s It For Now

All right folks. I gotta go because there is much to do before we get out the next Patreon packet. In the meantime, you can talk about this post on Discord with other Patrons. Don’t forget to link your Patreon account to Discord!

—James