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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Arkhandus" data-source="post: 1794311" data-attributes="member: 13966">.........If a mage walked up to someone and slapped them for 1d4 damage with arcane energy, that mage would die the very next round when their hardly-singed foe cuts them down for 2d6+6 damage from his/her greatsword....since the mage has only around one or two dozen hit points anyway unless they're high level, in which case they may have three or four dozen HP......  I wouldn't think much of an 18 Intelligence wizard who walked into such a thing. The original poster's idea here, effectively a light-crossbow-equivalent infinite-use magical strike, has these benefits over an actual light crossbow.....1. Weightless.  Wizards are usually physical weaklings y'know......2. Takes no space.  No need to spend move-equivalent actions drawing, sheathing, reloading, picking up, or whatnot.3. Can't be lost/disarmed/destroyed.4. No need for ammo.  Infinite use, no reloading time, no bulky/weighty ammo. Miscellany: Magical in nature, so doesn't work in/through an antimagic field, likely cannot be dispelled, probably considered to be a Spell-Like Ability, Spell Resistance applies against each strike probably (it better!). I'd say treat it like a weapon in general, so Weapon Focus/Specialization and Improved Critical and such could be selected for it as appropriate; call it Magebolt or Magestrike or whatnot.  Don't apply Strength modifier to damage.  Make it a normal ranged attack, and composed of physical matter drawn from the surroundings or whatnot (so not a force effect or energy attack), dealing either bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage as the caster chooses for each bolt/strike/whatever.  You may want to apply the caster's Intelligence modifier to damage, but I dunno. Dilemmas: If you want to make it like a light crossbow, then say that the caster has to spend a move-equivalent action between uses of the Magebolt recharging its arcane energy.  Otherwise, maybe specify that it can be used at the character's normal rate of attacks; also specify if Rapid Shot or the like can be used with it.  I'd say that mages with this ability would not get a familiar, and maybe would lose their 0-level spells per day in exchange for this ability.  It's too powerful to give them for free, though its usefulness certainly wanes in the later levels (it's still awefully potent at low levels; no mage would ever bother with Ray of Frost, Shocking Grasp, or the like, and would hardly ever both with Chill Touch or Burning Hands; Flaming Sphere and Melf's Acid Arrow would even be neglected by many mages).</blockquote>

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