Attacks against multiple targets

[Nikosandros]

Maybe I just missed it, but it looks like that in the thread that's discussing the new rules for crits, this snippet from the article has been ignored:

Having maximized dice also helps out when you have multitarget attacks. You'll roll an attack roll against each target, so maximized dice keep you from needing to roll a bunch of dice over and over -- you can just write your crit damage on your character sheet for quick reference.

What do you make of it? Will a wizard that fireballs a bunch of goblins roll a separate attack against all of them?

Also, I'm not sure how the maximized damage is really affecting the number of dice rolled... after all crits happen only 5% ot the time... or am I missing something?

 

[The Little Raven]

Will a wizard that fireballs a bunch of goblins roll a separate attack against all of them?

One attack roll, compared to the Defenses of all affected. Otherwise, it's just like rolling saving throws for everyone (slows things down).

Also, I'm not sure how the maximized damage is really affecting the number of dice rolled... after all crits happen only 5% ot the time... or am I missing something?

Unless there's a magic weapon (at least some of which add +1d6 to crit damage), or a high crit property (like the war pick, which apparently adds more dice to crit damage), I don't think it'll change the number of dice at all... just maximizes the output.

 

[Nikosandros]

One attack roll, compared to the Defenses of all affected. Otherwise, it's just like rolling saving throws for everyone (slows things down).

The part that I quoted seems to imply the opposite.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

The part that I quoted seems to imply the opposite.

I think what is meant by that is that when you crit you normally have to roll all of your dice a second time. If you are rolling a 10d6 fireball that's a lot of dice twice. On the other hand if you know that 60 is your max damage you can just say "I do 60 damage" instead of rolling a bunch of dice over again.

 

[Nikosandros]

There is a sentence that reads: "You'll roll an attack roll against each target".

 

[Voss]

The part that I quoted seems to imply the opposite.

In fact, it flat out says the opposite.

Interesting. Particular since it contradicts old information. Time saving apparently wasn't as fun as rolling a lot of d20s.

 

[JohnSnow]

There is sentence that reads: "You'll roll an attack roll against each target".

Maybe it's for precisely what it means. People have been assuming that fireball will be a single attack roll because it's an area effect. Maybe there's a difference in 4e between an area effect power (like fireball) and a multitarget power (like magic missile, multishot, or even potentially double attack or triple attack).

I cribbed the last two from SWSE, of course, but I think it's highly likely there might be powers that let you attack multiple opponents in one round (without an area attack). Rapid shot, no doubt, just allows you to add damage to a single target (that's how it works in SWSE).

I'm not sure it will mechanically work the way it does in SWSE, but I imagine we'll have some method for characters to target multiple opponents in one round. And if it's an effective and tactical choice to use it, rather than a no-brainer, that potentially has all the benefits of iterative attacks (the ability to cut down mulitple opponents) without necessarily having the same drawbacks.

 

[Nikosandros]

Maybe they meant to write damage rolls instead of attack rolls?

 

[The Little Raven]

Maybe they meant to write damage rolls instead of attack rolls?

Then all that "maximized dice" talk would be useless, since you're not maximizing your damage if you're rolling it.

I think JohnSnow's interpretation is probably closest to accurate.

 

[Voss]

I don't think so. double attack and what-not aren't multi-target attacks. They're individual attacks, against individual targets.

A grenade or auto-fire attack is the closest to the Saga version of a multi-target attack.