Vex can be a Ranger without visible magic. Rangers are not full casters like Druids, or Wizards, so in this particular instance she may not have been able to help open the portal. Also Hunter's Mark could be viewed as something where she simply needs to concentrate to deal the extra damage. There have been a few instances in the show where she is seen holding her shot which could indicate her target has Hunter's Mark. Just because a video game indicates Hunter's Mark with some glowing indicator does not mean this show should too.
@@scottcampbell9515 I do agree with most of the stuff you've said. My video is being picky and snarky on purpose after all. One part I don't agree on is the portal. Kima is definitely a Paladin, which mechanically has the same amount of magic / spell slots as rangers (in DND.) So the fact she was able to help open the portal shows that half-casters can do it. But Vex isn't a spell caster.
@@Just.Westin Kima could be multiclassed in Cleric. We don't know because she's an NPC, and thus the DM can hand wave things to progress the story in a fair way if needed. The Everlight could have also offered assistance to Kima in that moment (which would be a DM inspiration, and also on an NPC thus the hand wavyness of it). ...also Rangers who don't cast spells is not that uncommon. They are still Rangers.
@@Just.Westin For what it is worth, Canonically if we're looking at the original campaign Vex ends up being a multiclassed Ranger/Rogue. Looking back at the show (which is what your video addresses afterall), it's clear they were leaning into this vision long term. Shes clearly setup to have a similar skillset to Vax that is more focused on archery and cooperative tactics (with vax, trinket, and later other characters turning her into the leader role) I support your arguement that she isn't the "wizards of the coast" ranger fully as she does seem to have dropped all spellcasting (Which she did have in the campaign) and we got "some of it" back with her bow being "Exagerrated" in the show (this happened with all vestiges except arguably The Deathwalkers Ward [vax's] which actually just is that crazy.) That being said, ranger is the "Worst" designed class in 5e and many versions of it drop spellcasting in favor of combat manuever type mechanics, wilderness mechanics, or pet mechanics (or some mish-mash of these depending on the homebrew) which it seems like they went for the "combat manuever" approach for Vex in the show. Which... honestly just lines up with her characterization from the campaign better anyway. Unrelated to Vex but to the video: I didn't really think about it but your argument for Pike being turned into a paladin is very compelling. Honestly it's probably what Ashley would have wanted to be if they hadn't been brand new to it all at the time! The way she played Pike was very "Paladin" so it makes sense that she comes across this way. Scanlan is definitely still just a bard. Just because they don't make the "Bardic Inspiration" look "magical" doesn't mean it isnt happening. Not to mention that everyone in the party consistently performs everything better when he is playing music (whether that is fighting or some sort of skill challenges). Example proof: Season 1 when they are stuck in the acid trap. Season 2 when fighting Kevdak + Clan. etc. The list goes on but it is consistent that when the music is playing Vox Machina performs better. This is likely their way of showing "Bardic Inspiration". Also doubles as the shows backtrack so that's a cool way to meta-joke the "music backtrack when things are about to get epic" stigma.
@@scottcampbell9515 , For this animated continuity at least, it seems to some degree, titles like Paladin and Cleric have more to do with their profession and station than strict capabilities, though Clerics seem to still have more uses of their powers than Paladin's either way. Also of note, Kima being able to her powers to help with the rift despite her saying it wasn't her "forte" suggests that despite there being different types of mages, they all can use their powers in more generalized ways not bound by specific effects and structured spells, like lending their energy aid a affect like opening a portal (or closing one, as shown when both Kima and Allura were aiding in closing the Fire Plane rift).
@callmev3531 scanlan does plenty of notable stuff. He just doesn't "inspire" since it is a nebulous concept and doesn't translate to non gaming as a resource. For example He soloed that distraction house in whiterun,He destroyed orthanks vessel. He is great but let's the cast shine.
That might me it. Works great when you think about his vestige Mythcarver. It's a god-damn sword and he actually (sometimes) uses it to slice up things
@@Kantilvih Sorry, that was a writing error on my part. I meant to say the only notable feat "akin to the Inspiration effect" that he performs. Besides that, he mostly uses his energy hand (which is just Bigby's Hand), physical illusions, the items he used to Blink, the scroll incantation he used to Polymorph and of course, his crotch lightning.
I'd say Percival is actually a duel class of gunslinger and warlock, then reclassed to gunslinger and artificer; (spoilers) he literally made an unwitting pact with a patron in order to make the pepperbox operable, because he failed to make it work so many times (because he wasn't an artificer) and the patron was the one who made it work properly. Then after they had the fight against the patron, he successfully created a new one (albeit not as good) because he 'leveled up' and reclassed into artificer
@@ServantofBaal very interesting. You make a fun case. I wonder what warlock powers he would have used. Maybe Hex whenever he saw a person on his List?
I think they're actually not D&D classes in the show at all, but classes from Critical Role's own RPG Daggerheart. Pike's abilities in the show for example remind me of what I've read of the Seraph class from Daggerheart.
@@SomeGuyFromAustria very good find. I knew they purposefully don't mention DND abilities or stuff, but I never considered they might be mimicking daggerheart. Nice!
Do you know whats fun. If you are using your pbone to type a comment and the next video autoplays, you comment posts to the next video. Crazy stuff. Could be inconvenient for some people. 🎉
@@derekboman2010 okay. 2 solutions. First is you could pause the video or stop auto play after it's done. But that's super inconvenient So I would instead comment halfway through the video once you know how it'll end. I'm sure that won't ever be annoying?
No mention of the idea about Percy multiclassing into warlock? Even to dismiss it? His lore fit into that, the mask could be the spellcasting focus and that black fog his own magic other than only the demons magic.
Mechanically speaking, perhaps these characters don't always fit into their class archetypes, though in regards to this being an animated series specifically inspired by the campaign's story and not the game of Dungeons & Dragons as a whole, characters like Vex could be considered a Ranger specifically in regards to her survival skills, not her possessing them in addition to nature magic, within the context of this continuity, just Kima's profession is that of a Paladin, Scanlan's profession is that of a Bard (come to think of it, I'd imagine to normal people living in this setting, characters like Scanlan would probably be considered simply mages or be mistaken for Sorcerers or Wizards unless they specifically knew how spell casters and magical practitioners worked or about other esoteric phenomena outside of magic like qi, psionics and divinity) and Grog would be considered by most people in civilized areas a Barbarian...because he is one. In general, in some areas, these characters have been limited or simplified in terms of their capabilities (such as Scanlan requiring items to Blink and an incantation he learned from a scroll to Polymorph, while otherwise seeming mostly capable of illusions and his energy appendage constructs inspired by Bigby's Hand) or, alternatively, certain attributes were heightened to be more prominent than others (Pike's shield and morningstar are now just energy constructs she can create, the latter two apparently being inspired by Shield Of Faith and Spiritual Weapon, while she can either create or summon armor from her amulet similar to what she had in astral form, suggesting it's also an energy construct able to fully resemble actual materials).
@@callmev3531 I do know that many changes were made because it's a show. The video is taking it too seriously as if it has to translate 1 to 1 with something. I did like your explanation for Pikes weapons and armor. Good thinking
@@Just.Westin , Thank you. It wasn't my intention to suggest this video took the series too seriously, just presenting observations regarding how the show adapts the power system of the game. Took me a while actually to really notice the armor Pike manifests in Season 2 is the same exact one she has in her astral form and question where it really came from, same with realizing her energy weapons (and by extension, other Clerics in the show like Kashaw) are inspired both by those spells and by her in-game combat equipment, simplified into being constructs she can make. It's one of my favorite details of this show how they adapted these characters abilities and the power system of the game into a show format.
@@Just.Westin He technically did get powers from it becouse he managed to think about the schematics for his gun and make the first working prototype after "making a deal" with it
@@HyperPotato0888 yes that was there "arrangement" But I mean an ability from the Warlock DND. I wouldn't consider his guns to be Eldritch blasts or anything. Would you?
@@Just.Westin not really but maybe they got hexed when their name was written on his gun ? I know a pretty far fetched but i think a cool concept also A+ video a very enjoyable watch
@@SomeoneTookMyOldName , It certainly seems inspired by by that spell, just in a more simplified, visually beefed up form fit for an action-packed fantasy, like how her energy mace is just her Spiritual Weapon.
Vex can be a Ranger without visible magic. Rangers are not full casters like Druids, or Wizards, so in this particular instance she may not have been able to help open the portal. Also Hunter's Mark could be viewed as something where she simply needs to concentrate to deal the extra damage. There have been a few instances in the show where she is seen holding her shot which could indicate her target has Hunter's Mark. Just because a video game indicates Hunter's Mark with some glowing indicator does not mean this show should too.
@@scottcampbell9515 I do agree with most of the stuff you've said. My video is being picky and snarky on purpose after all.
One part I don't agree on is the portal. Kima is definitely a Paladin, which mechanically has the same amount of magic / spell slots as rangers (in DND.) So the fact she was able to help open the portal shows that half-casters can do it.
But Vex isn't a spell caster.
@@Just.Westin Kima could be multiclassed in Cleric. We don't know because she's an NPC, and thus the DM can hand wave things to progress the story in a fair way if needed. The Everlight could have also offered assistance to Kima in that moment (which would be a DM inspiration, and also on an NPC thus the hand wavyness of it).
...also Rangers who don't cast spells is not that uncommon. They are still Rangers.
@@scottcampbell9515 And Vex could be a fighter.
@@Just.Westin For what it is worth, Canonically if we're looking at the original campaign Vex ends up being a multiclassed Ranger/Rogue.
Looking back at the show (which is what your video addresses afterall), it's clear they were leaning into this vision long term. Shes clearly setup to have a similar skillset to Vax that is more focused on archery and cooperative tactics (with vax, trinket, and later other characters turning her into the leader role)
I support your arguement that she isn't the "wizards of the coast" ranger fully as she does seem to have dropped all spellcasting (Which she did have in the campaign) and we got "some of it" back with her bow being "Exagerrated" in the show (this happened with all vestiges except arguably The Deathwalkers Ward [vax's] which actually just is that crazy.)
That being said, ranger is the "Worst" designed class in 5e and many versions of it drop spellcasting in favor of combat manuever type mechanics, wilderness mechanics, or pet mechanics (or some mish-mash of these depending on the homebrew) which it seems like they went for the "combat manuever" approach for Vex in the show. Which... honestly just lines up with her characterization from the campaign better anyway.
Unrelated to Vex but to the video:
I didn't really think about it but your argument for Pike being turned into a paladin is very compelling. Honestly it's probably what Ashley would have wanted to be if they hadn't been brand new to it all at the time! The way she played Pike was very "Paladin" so it makes sense that she comes across this way.
Scanlan is definitely still just a bard. Just because they don't make the "Bardic Inspiration" look "magical" doesn't mean it isnt happening. Not to mention that everyone in the party consistently performs everything better when he is playing music (whether that is fighting or some sort of skill challenges). Example proof: Season 1 when they are stuck in the acid trap. Season 2 when fighting Kevdak + Clan. etc. The list goes on but it is consistent that when the music is playing Vox Machina performs better. This is likely their way of showing "Bardic Inspiration".
Also doubles as the shows backtrack so that's a cool way to meta-joke the "music backtrack when things are about to get epic" stigma.
@@scottcampbell9515 , For this animated continuity at least, it seems to some degree, titles like Paladin and Cleric have more to do with their profession and station than strict capabilities, though Clerics seem to still have more uses of their powers than Paladin's either way.
Also of note, Kima being able to her powers to help with the rift despite her saying it wasn't her "forte" suggests that despite there being different types of mages, they all can use their powers in more generalized ways not bound by specific effects and structured spells, like lending their energy aid a affect like opening a portal (or closing one, as shown when both Kima and Allura were aiding in closing the Fire Plane rift).
Scanlan is a bard but doenst use his inspiration on others often.
Sword bard?
@@Kantilvih that sounds good to me.
Sword Bard
The only notable feat Scanlan performs akin to the Inspiration effect that I can recall is his "We All Rage" song during the Herd Of Storms fight.
@callmev3531 scanlan does plenty of notable stuff. He just doesn't "inspire" since it is a nebulous concept and doesn't translate to non gaming as a resource. For example He soloed that distraction house in whiterun,He destroyed orthanks vessel. He is great but let's the cast shine.
That might me it. Works great when you think about his vestige Mythcarver. It's a god-damn sword and he actually (sometimes) uses it to slice up things
@@Kantilvih Sorry, that was a writing error on my part.
I meant to say the only notable feat "akin to the Inspiration effect" that he performs.
Besides that, he mostly uses his energy hand (which is just Bigby's Hand), physical illusions, the items he used to Blink, the scroll incantation he used to Polymorph and of course, his crotch lightning.
1:45 rangers and media often aren't portrayed as spellcasters
@@danielwolfe1587 correct. I was going on what class they would be in dungeons and dragons.
My fault. The premise isn't super duper clear.
Scanlan is a multiclass bard rogue arcane trickster. The giant magical hand makes me think of it.
Haha. Nice
thats just bigbys hand he get trhough magical seecrets at level 10
I'd say Percival is actually a duel class of gunslinger and warlock, then reclassed to gunslinger and artificer;
(spoilers)
he literally made an unwitting pact with a patron in order to make the pepperbox operable, because he failed to make it work so many times (because he wasn't an artificer) and the patron was the one who made it work properly. Then after they had the fight against the patron, he successfully created a new one (albeit not as good) because he 'leveled up' and reclassed into artificer
@@ServantofBaal very interesting. You make a fun case.
I wonder what warlock powers he would have used.
Maybe Hex whenever he saw a person on his List?
@@Just.Westin It’s been a while since I watched it but I remember it mostly made him much harder to kill when possessed
@@Just.Westin He became something like a revenant; able to just keep getting up after being put down
@@ServantofBaal certainly. That was his powers when possessed by Orthax. I was brainstorming abilities when Percy was (mostly) Percy.
@@Just.Westin Ah. Well, I remember the bullets all had the names on them, so some argument for hex or something sounds plausible
I think they're actually not D&D classes in the show at all, but classes from Critical Role's own RPG Daggerheart.
Pike's abilities in the show for example remind me of what I've read of the Seraph class from Daggerheart.
@@SomeGuyFromAustria very good find.
I knew they purposefully don't mention DND abilities or stuff, but I never considered they might be mimicking daggerheart. Nice!
Do you know whats fun. If you are using your pbone to type a comment and the next video autoplays, you comment posts to the next video. Crazy stuff. Could be inconvenient for some people. 🎉
@@derekboman2010 okay.
2 solutions.
First is you could pause the video or stop auto play after it's done. But that's super inconvenient
So I would instead comment halfway through the video once you know how it'll end. I'm sure that won't ever be annoying?
The Bear class is the most op class ever brought out
@@ryanpratt6993 true
The bad editing is the charm and im loving it
@@sheanstanks what? Bad editing?
Thanks
@@Just.Westin it's not actually bad, I mean my videos aren't any better and I'm just saying it isnt high end. Not trying to be mean hahah sorry
@@sheanstanks I understood completely. I saw it as a compliment. Having charm is a nice quality.
No mention of the idea about Percy multiclassing into warlock? Even to dismiss it? His lore fit into that, the mask could be the spellcasting focus and that black fog his own magic other than only the demons magic.
@@sublimefanaticsf8616 true
Mechanically speaking, perhaps these characters don't always fit into their class archetypes, though in regards to this being an animated series specifically inspired by the campaign's story and not the game of Dungeons & Dragons as a whole, characters like Vex could be considered a Ranger specifically in regards to her survival skills, not her possessing them in addition to nature magic, within the context of this continuity, just Kima's profession is that of a Paladin, Scanlan's profession is that of a Bard (come to think of it, I'd imagine to normal people living in this setting, characters like Scanlan would probably be considered simply mages or be mistaken for Sorcerers or Wizards unless they specifically knew how spell casters and magical practitioners worked or about other esoteric phenomena outside of magic like qi, psionics and divinity) and Grog would be considered by most people in civilized areas a Barbarian...because he is one.
In general, in some areas, these characters have been limited or simplified in terms of their capabilities (such as Scanlan requiring items to Blink and an incantation he learned from a scroll to Polymorph, while otherwise seeming mostly capable of illusions and his energy appendage constructs inspired by Bigby's Hand) or, alternatively, certain attributes were heightened to be more prominent than others (Pike's shield and morningstar are now just energy constructs she can create, the latter two apparently being inspired by Shield Of Faith and Spiritual Weapon, while she can either create or summon armor from her amulet similar to what she had in astral form, suggesting it's also an energy construct able to fully resemble actual materials).
@@callmev3531 I do know that many changes were made because it's a show. The video is taking it too seriously as if it has to translate 1 to 1 with something.
I did like your explanation for Pikes weapons and armor. Good thinking
@@Just.Westin , Thank you. It wasn't my intention to suggest this video took the series too seriously, just presenting observations regarding how the show adapts the power system of the game.
Took me a while actually to really notice the armor Pike manifests in Season 2 is the same exact one she has in her astral form and question where it really came from, same with realizing her energy weapons (and by extension, other Clerics in the show like Kashaw) are inspired both by those spells and by her in-game combat equipment, simplified into being constructs she can make.
It's one of my favorite details of this show how they adapted these characters abilities and the power system of the game into a show format.
wasnt percy technically a warlock in season 1 becouse he had a patron demon ?
@@HyperPotato0888 good idea. No idea if he had powers from it or if he was just possessed. Something's up either way
@@Just.Westin He technically did get powers from it becouse he managed to think about the schematics for his gun and make the first working prototype after "making a deal" with it
@@HyperPotato0888 yes that was there "arrangement"
But I mean an ability from the Warlock DND. I wouldn't consider his guns to be Eldritch blasts or anything. Would you?
@@Just.Westin not really but maybe they got hexed when their name was written on his gun ? I know a pretty far fetched but i think a cool concept also A+ video a very enjoyable watch
He hadn't multiclassed into Warlock, but he had the Magic Initiate Feat which gave him his Hex spell
Isn’t pikes shield just the “shield of faith” spell?
@@SomeoneTookMyOldName sure. To me that only protects one person?
But things change in translation from game to show
@@SomeoneTookMyOldName , It certainly seems inspired by by that spell, just in a more simplified, visually beefed up form fit for an action-packed fantasy, like how her energy mace is just her Spiritual Weapon.