Wondering the opinion of the board on this matter....

C

Crandor

First Post

• Jan 26, 2002

• #1

My group has been having a problem with casting defensively, the majority of them think it is broken and I am in the middle. I am wondering what the general opinion is on this ability and if others have had the same problem how they fixed it in their game.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Dec 19, 2003

log in or register to remove this ad

Piratecat

Sesquipedalian

• Jan 26, 2002

• #2

Broken too easy, or broken too hard? I think it's perfect; challenging enough that the choice between that and an AoO is exciting, but not an unreachable check. We've never had any issues with it.

 

Superman

First Post

• Jan 26, 2002

• #3

Crandor said:

My group has been having a problem with casting defensively, the majority of them think it is broken and I am in the middle. I am wondering what the general opinion is on this ability and if others have had the same problem how they fixed it in their game.

Click to expand...

I haven't had a problem with it in my games so far.
It's funny when a high level caster fails on a 1.

 

C

Crandor

First Post

• Jan 26, 2002

• #4

Actually I meant broken to good. It seems a bit to easy to never fail a spell when a big beefy warrior is standing there watching you cast and goes "oh well wont swing" but then if you drink a potion he can beat your brains in. Doesnt make sense to me that without any cost the AoO does not happen and the spell cannot be interrupted.

 

Piratecat

Sesquipedalian

• Jan 26, 2002

• #5

Heh. Too easy? Tell that to the 15th lvl cleric in my game who recently failed to cast mass heal defensively. I really do think it's fine. When PCs don't max out their concentration skill, and even when they do, I see PCs fail reasonably often.

 

Holy Bovine

First Post

• Jan 26, 2002

• #6

Gotta agree with the 'Cat on this one. It doesn't happen too often but when it does it will almost always ruin the spell being cast. In fact I don't think any PC has been able to cast the spell successfully when suffering that AoO. Against reasonable tough foes you could be looking a DC 30+ concentration check in the face. try passing that with your measily +12 in Concentration!

 

RangerWickett

Legend

• Jan 26, 2002

• #7

Only +12 to Concentration? Wimp.

Seriously, one of my closest NPCs was raised under the yolk of a Mind Flayer, so she grew up not really appreciating being unable to control herself. She maxed out her Concentration check and Will save to about as high as I could get them with her stats (Elf, low constitution, go fig).

Of course, the key is to avoid getting near the fighter in the first place.

 

C

Crandor

First Post

• Jan 26, 2002

• #8

Ok there is a problem with communication, I was speaking of the fact that if you keep your concentration high then you will NEVER have an AoO against you. If the only way to fail is to roll a one then it is not exactly tough to cast, AND if they fail the save the spell is lost automatically and the AoO STILL does not happen.

 

Grendel

First Post

• Jan 26, 2002

• #9

We up'd the ante.
DC = 14 + 2x spell level. This usually means a 50% failure rate for a casters highest level spells, and makes combat casting a useful feat at all levels (and skill focus: concentration)

We also Made tumbling more difficult.
Tumbling does not negate attacks of oppertunity. If the attacks chooses to take their attack of oppertunity they do so normally, however if they hit, then the tumbler can make a tumble check DC = modified attack roll, to evade the attack (the tumbler recieves a +10 circumstance bonus if they did not move through an area occupied by the attacker).

 

Berandor

lunatic

• Jan 26, 2002

• #10

We employ the rules suggested by the epic-level handout as house rules.
Read: Casting defensively means a Concentration check against the opponent's attack roll+level of the spell.

That way, it's more difficult to cast defensively in front of a dragon than in front of a slug.

The same with tumble, btw. Normal DC 15 means attack roll; DC 25 means attack roll+10.

The modified attack rolls, btw, are NOT the rolls for the AoO, too. If an AoO happens, it must be attacked anew.

Berandor

 

Last edited: Jan 26, 2002