Manyshot, attacks string, fewer rolls
I think limiting things to one attack roll might better, but this needs to balanced power-wise so it's not simply a kick in the pants for fighter types.
I like the philosophy of Manyshot: -2 per attack combined, and the x1 per attacks (w/o precise damage bonuses). So, two attacks is -4 to hit at x2 damage, three attacks in -6 to hit at x3 damage, four attacks is -8 to hit at x4 damage. Manyshot caps at four integrated attacks (unless there some epic feat that allows a fifth or further attacks... I don't know, is there?).
So, some ideas:
- per "string" of attacks (if we see iterative attacks at -0, -5, -10 BAB, a string being all attacks at the same base penalty, so for example, all -0 attacks are one string, all -5 attacks are another sting, all -10 are another string), only one roll is made. Characters get one attack per tier. So, even a 21st level Two Weapon Fighter would only make 3 attack rolls.
Handling how to integrate damage might be harder. Basically, in the example of TWFing, each attack roll represent both a combined primary and off hand attack. I guess that means you would just combine the damage of both. So, an 14 str ranger with a +2 flaming Longsword and +1 shocking shortsword would do d8+d6+4 (longsword) and d6+d6+2.
But that brings up the question: if we integrate attacks from one string all together, how do we determine overall attacks bonuses: higher of either attack, lower of either attack, higher attack -2 or -1 or -?
- How do we differentiate the penalties for "light" weapons TWF and full "one-handed" weapons TWF?
I posted a message here on the Project: Phoenix boards that relates to this
Project Phoenix General: Tiers, BAB & iterative attacks, non-epic into epic
I spitballed some ideas there about one attack per tier, how to deal with TWF or Flurry of blows, and better ways to other extra enchanted attacks like from haste. Here is some of the gristle:
TABLE B 3x2 non-hasted
_____________Regular Atk Pattern____TWF/Flurry Pattern
first string attacks:…… -0 …………………………. -0
second string attacks:.. -5 …………………………. -5
third string attacks:….. -10 ………………………… -10
TABLE C 3x2 hasted
_____________Regular Atk Pattern____TWF/Flurry Pattern
first string attacks:…… -0 …………………………. -0
second string attacks:.. -0 …………………………. -0
third string attacks:….. -0 …………………………. -0
Basically...
- characters would get one attack per tier (one at 1st, two at 11th, three at 21st)
- effects like haste would, rather than granting additional attacks, supplement the lower than -0 attacks up to only -0 penalties. It's more like all of your attacks being at your highest BAB instead of granting extra attacks. Maybe that's too powerful at higher levels and we should create things like "lesser haste" that only grant that "up to -0 penalty" bonus to only one attack and "greater haste" that would affect all attacks. As said, haste would only become useful to 11th+ level character if this happened.
If TWF is two attacks per tier (even if they're integrated into one attack roll), is it fair to integrate two attacks per tier into Manyshot? Does that empower archers too much? Would the attack penalties or other parameters need to be reworked?
I like the idea that standard attacks, even though they should only use one attack roll, could integrate the damage of two attacks to proper facilitate TWF/Flurry characters. This might require more work in differentiating standard attacks from charges or spring attacks (as we don't want charging to be too powerful).
Anyway, ideas, reactions, comments?