And so I thought... what if mages attacked.... magically?

[Naathez]

All right... this has been goin' round and round in my head for a long time.

I don't like mages using crossbows, or darts (remember 2nd Ed.?)...
mostly , I don't like the fact they were given the ability to use them (mechanically speaking) mostly to have some way to attack when they run out of spells, basically at low levels.

So I thought:

I could remove proficiency with crossbows and give mages (wizards and sorcerers both) the ability to attack... with some kind of spell that isn't a spell and is usable at will. That is, damage, critical, range, all as a light crossbow - only it's magical, shoots out of mage's hand, or his staff, or anything similar. Can look many different ways (ray of light, tiny meteors, etc.) but it's basically physical damage - EXACTLY like a crossbow's. And frequency of attacks is exactly as indicated by the mage's BAB.

Advantages for users would be they cannot lose the crossbow, (they don't have one to lose) and don't have to buy bolts. Yet it seems to me small enough that it wouldn't be unbalancing , and would actually make for nicer visuals.

All of this of course IMO...thoughts, impressions, opinions?

 

[RangerWickett]

I'd say, just to balance out that they can't lose it, maybe offer it as an alternative to familiars, or allow them to take it as a feat, maybe replacing scribe scroll. And if they do take the ability, allow higher level spellcasters to enchant their magical attacks even if they don't have Craft Magic Arms & Armor.

Instead of basing them on existing weapons, I'm going to sorta combine a spear and a crossbow, and use one set of stats.

Mage Strike. 1d8 damage, crit 20/x2. Range increment 20 ft. If used as ranged weapon, it requires a move action to 'recharge' the attack before you can use it again.

 

[Naathez]

thank you Ranger!

Interesting stats... but the fact is, I didn't want to make a feat out of it. I don't think it's worth a feat... simply wanted to get rid of the "mage out of spell - needs a ranged weapon" mechanic.

thank you though, truly, for your interest! the stats are interesting, mostly your remebering me of the time dealy needed to balance against the crossbow... I can see a modification of "RApid Reload" to suit the needs, in case....

Keep it coming folks!

 

[Li Shenron]

I would consider a feat which allows the use of a single cantrip at will.

A wizard could choose Ray of Frost or Acid Splash for example. It's low damage but of energy type (subject to energy resistance but not damage reduction for example), so the wizard could easily switch between this and crossbow/bow when appropriate.

Such a general feat would be useful for other cantrips as well and I think it would be definitely a worth feat for some of them.

 

[Elrik_DarkFury]

Maybe put a number per day cap such as: 10 times per lvl per day.
That way is going to be more balanced.
Consider also that this may help in the first 5-6 levels but after that, it is going to be pretty much useless (thus trading this for scribe scoll or a feat isn't so attractive).
What about "taping" a first level slot when memorizing your spells per day in order to be able to use this some times per day?
Also,in order to be balanced consider the move-equivalent action to recharge the Mage Strike tm.
What about using your int modifier to aim instead of dex mod?
That sounds more "fun"( ).

________________
The Wizard

 

[Naathez]

Li Shenron! Another italian user! How many of us are there? My heart rejoices! ("Quinci fuor quiete le lanose gote del nocchier de la livida palude, ch'intorno agli occhi avea di fiamme rote"... to continue your Dante quotation...)

Your idea for the feat is quite interesting. more than quite. but not what i had in mind...

as for Elrik, I have a pet peeve - and that's "# times per day".

I understand the balance issues that come with it. but i don't wnat to put it in a house rule...

do you all think it would be too unbalancing to just grant the ability? I'm curious... noone seems to think it's acceptable as is.

and keep it coming...!thank you all!

 

[Li Shenron]

Another italian user! How many of us are there?

Not few as far as I know, with Zappo and Lichtenhart being two of the most present.

As you know, RPG have quite a good popularity in Italy, but luckily without having any attention at all for the pathetic D&D => devil worship argument which seems still common in the US

 

[Gez]

IMC:

I have ditched the normal specialist wizard rules. Instead of extra spell slots, they get nifty special abilities. (Generalist wizards do also get nifty abilities, but far less powerful.) This change allowed me to create specialist wizards that aren't specialised in a school of magic, but in something else. Like alchemy.

Anyway, my evokers choose an energy they are especially attuned to (corresponding to a spell descriptor, they must have often used spells with that descriptor. (Energies are Acid, Air, Cold, Darkness, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Light, Negative Energy, Positive Energy, Sonic, and Water.)

Starting at level 4, they can attack, at will, and to short range, with little energy rays that deal 1d4 damage of the corresponding energy type. They also get energy resistance 2 to that energy.
At level 8, damage increases to 1d6 and resistance to 3.
At level 12, damage increases to 1d8 and resistance to 4.
At level 16, damage increases to 2d6 and resistance to 5.

Since those are attacks, this means that a level 12 evoker, with his BAB of +6, gets to make two such attacks during a full attack.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I have a feat (Cantrip Mastery) that allows wizards to cast all cantrips an unlimited number of times per day. It would have to be modified to suit, though since mine requires something like CL 10.

I don't think there would be any major issues with letting a sorcerer or wizard cast a single cantrip or a light crossbow-like spell at will.

Vuolsi cosí colà dove si puote ciò che si vuole, e piú non dimandare

OK, I finally had to ask... for the benefit of those who can't make this out, is this translatable without losing it's humor? It seems that having taken Latin many years ago isn't enough to translate Italian on the spot.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Sounds like a cool idea!

I'd consider tying the power to an item. Just so it can be removed in case you need to...

A staff or wand would seem to fit, perhaps they can enchant any staff - no/minor cost, but takes a day or two to do. Only the wizard who made it can use this item.


For those that wish to focus on it more, it could be neat to have feats and/or spells that affect the ability. Some that spring to mind:

Rapid Recast feat - like rapid reload, but applies to the staff only, removes the MEA for recasting.

Intelligent Strike feat - Int 13+ - use Int modifier instead of Dex modifier to determine to hit bonus.


Magic Attack - 1st level spell, 1 min/level - enchants the mages strike as if it were a +1 weapon.

Transformed Attack - 5th level spell - 1 round/level - for the purposes of your magical strike attack, treat your BAB as your caster level, gain use of the Rapid Recast feat. If you already have this feat, the strike is treated as a Speed Weapon.