frankthedm
First Post
Tell that to the mount rules.The obvious Hong quote applies here.
A real attack dog doesn't have to balanced in gaming system. Attack dogs created by magic items or summoning spells do.
Tell that to the mount rules.The obvious Hong quote applies here.
A real attack dog doesn't have to balanced in gaming system. Attack dogs created by magic items or summoning spells do.
I'm perplexed by the fact that the text states that the conjured creatures lack basic attacks, while the stat block for the onyx dog lists the bite as a basic attack...
Mount and rider share a single set of actions, including one immediate action between them. That, to me, seems more restricted than the "spend Minor action for each action the conjured creature takes".Tell that to the mount rules.
The obvious Hong quote applies here.
A real attack dog doesn't have to balanced in gaming system. Attack dogs created by magic items or summoning spells do.
Or, in other words, don't try to picture the scene in your mind as you're playing it out, because it won't make sense. Just concentrate on it as a boardgame, since the rule is contrary to what you'd be imagining -- get rid of your imagination for the duration of the combat, for the sake of the balance.
I missed that, too. The difference is from "way cool" to "box of rocks". I am, once again, completely unimpressed with the 4e magic item rules and consider them the weakest part of the system.Hmmm.. I seemed to have missed that detail. I was taking it as "you spend a minor action, and the creature gets its' three actions". If that's the case, what's the point of using the creature if your own personal attacks are more likely to be better?
I missed that, too. The difference is from "way cool" to "box of rocks". I am, once again, completely unimpressed with the 4e magic item rules and consider them the weakest part of the system.
Or, in other words, don't try to picture the scene in your mind as you're playing it out, because it won't make sense. Just concentrate on it as a boardgame, since the rule is contrary to what you'd be imagining -- get rid of your imagination for the duration of the combat, for the sake of the balance.
Kind of an RPG equivalent of "lie still and think of the Empire."
This is the first time that I see the point of the 4th edition critics as being fully valid, of 4e as an immersion-destroying tactical boardgame.
Eh, maybe so. I think it'd be better to require, say, a move action to grant the critter all three actions (minor for one, move for all). I should probably see how it works in play, but the level of trade-off rubs me wrong to a point where I say "screw balance".Aw, come on. It's not that bad. You can get a lot of use from the dog, especially with that sweet immediate action that lets it attack anyone who attacks you (with proper positioning). It sticks around a full 8 hours every day (or until destroyed) which means you can even use it for noncombat stuff.
I'm planning to drop one into Keep on the Shadowfell and see what use my players make of it.