Logic behind what classes get what animal-named stat buff spells

[SquareKnot]

I was looking over the spell lists for the different classes today, and noticed that clerics get all the "animal named buffs" (Bull's Strength, Owl's Wisdom, (Bear's) Endurance) except for Cat's Grace. Bards get all of them also, except for Endurance. In 3.5E, clerics don't get Fox's Cunning or Cat's Grace. And Bard's don't get Bull's Strength, Endurance, or Owl's Wisdom. In NWN, Druids only get Bull's Strength, but in Layonara, they get 4 more.

Is this some kind of attempt at game balance? Would it ruin everything if clerics were more coordinated? Or is this to give an edge to a wizard/sorc, who of course gets them all?

I just found this whole thing to be a bit odd. Any thoughts on why this is?

[miltonyorkcastle]

first of all, NWN is based on 3rd ed DnD, not 3.5.  Second of all, it is 'based' on 3rd ed., not identical to it.  

As for why this is, ask the creators, but I think it has more to do with the singleplayer mode than anything else, as they increased the power of casters in general so they could solo the sinlgeplayer missions.

[ZeroVega]

[list=1]

•  NWN runs on 3.0 rules, not 3.5, so things like Clerics, Bards, Wizards, and Sorcerers have not been touched with respect to those spells.
•  The reason Druids get four more is because the GMs reasoned that Druids, who are conntected with nature, should be able to increase animal-like attributes. Hence, druids have the ones that refer to an animal in the title.
•  Also, clerics CAN get Cat's Grace if they have the animal domain, which most don't.

 ZV-

[Gulnyr]

ZeroVega - 1/6/2006  3:19 PM

Also, clerics CAN get Cat's Grace if they have the animal domain, which most don't.

It's also in the War domain.

[LoganGrimnar]

..if i recall correctly there all Animal named stat buffs.. i think bioware forgot to add the Bear part to Bear's Endurence

[SquareKnot]

Point taken about 3E vs 3.5E and NWN being 3E based. My reason for mentioning D&D at all was to show that there are many related systems, and each system handles these spells differently. I didn't mention 3E specifically because it is the same as NWN.

I guess my real question was "Why not give clerics and bards ALL the spells?" 3E, 3.5E, NWN, and Layonara all give clerics and bards (and druids, in Layo) a large, but strict, subset of the spells. And each system gives a different subset. I was looking for a pattern, like "clerics can buff their key stats (wisdom and charisma), or perhaps "clerics can only buff health related (strength, con) stats, since it's like healing." But that isn't true. There just doesn't seem to be any logical, role play, or game mechanic reason behind what spells are given and what spells aren't. It's like someone rolled dice, and Cat's Grace failed its check. I just find it confusing.

Thanks for the replies.

[miltonyorkcastle]

aahhhh.  Well, um...  yeah, I haven't exactly figured out the reasoning for that situation in either 3rd ed. or 3.5 myself.  Perhaps I should go to the Wizard's of the Coast site and research it... if I had some spare time that I felt like devoting to it...