Pool
of Radiance II & The Third Edition
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Classes and Races:
A new race has been added: The Half-Orc. The new classes available are: Barbarian, Monk, and Sorcerer. Some classes gain special abilities as they advance. In addition there are no race or class level restrictions. All races advance to any level in any class up to a maximum of 16 levels in any single class. The maximum combined level of any multi-class character is 32.
Classes:
Races:
The specialty priests from the 3rd Edition will not be making an appearance here. It's felt that basic clerics are better suited to the general adventure. Sorcerers are handled exactly as they are in 3rd Edition. They get new spell slots as they go up in levels and can cast any spell they know as many times as they have slots in that spell magnitude. Every time a sorcerer gains a level where they would learn a new spell, an interface screen pops up giving the remaining spells of that magnitude that they can choose from.
Skills
Skills in the New rules replace proficiencies and some class abilities from the previous rules. Pool of Radiance automatically assigns skill points when your characters advance in level, depending on their class and and intelligence.
Feats
Feats are a new feature for the latest D&D rules. Feats are special abilities that give your characters new talents or improve existing skills and character statistics they already have. Characters gain additional feats as they advance in levels.
Ability Scores
While the ability scores have not changed from the previous rules their bonuses have. In the previous rules, a character had to have a very extreme score, such as 16 or 5 to get either bonuses or penalties. Now ability scores give bonuses starting at 12 and penalties starting at 9.
Multi-Classing
The multi-classing system is significantly different than the previous system. Instead of starting experience between classes, characters choose what class they want to advance in when they gain a level. Its a more flexible system that allows players to carefully control the skills of their characters.
Magic
There are several changes to the spells system in the new rules but the most significant is the introduction of the Sorcerer class. Sorcerers dont need to memorize spells like Wizards do. They simply have a set number of spells of each level that they may cast before they must rest, and they may choose what spell to cast at any time, making them more flexible. In Pool of Radiance Sorcerers are available but Wizards are not. Additionally, Clerics arent required to pray for spells; they may choose what spells to cast at any time, like a Sorcerer. This departure from the new rules makes your Clerics very effective.
There will be over 100 spells including new ones such as Divine Power (cleric), Cats Grace (sorcerer), Searing Light (cleric), Repulsion (sorcerer), and Shield of Faith (cleric).
Combat Features:
Here's "a list of most notable mechanics from 3E D&D that have made it into the product."