Battle Standards and Solitaire

[Syrsuro]

Back to topic:
I think I'll like those standards. They Add one more tactical element.

Technically, I think that the flag would add a strategic element. But I like it either way.

Carl

 

[Hypersmurf]

I don't have prophecy of doom in front of me, but since you can still only use one action point per encounter, getting extra ones isn't that big a deal.

The violet solitaire action point doesn't count towards the limit.

Prophecy of Doom basically says "Decide to make a critical hit", and Violet Solitaire says "When you make a critical hit, get a free action point that doesn't count toward the limit of one per encounter".

-Hyp.

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

I'm a bit puzzled about the Amethyst Band of Invisible Eyes though. Where do you trace line of effect from?

 

[Hypersmurf]

I'm a bit puzzled about the Amethyst Band of Invisible Eyes though. Where do you trace line of effect from?

As written, only line of sight gets shifted... so it seems to be more useful for indirect targeting through concealment (like fog, for example) rather than bypassing physical obstacles.

You can see in a crooked line, but your fireball still flies straight...

-Hyp.

 

[half-dragon dragon]

You know what I find funny?

Prophecy of Doom is letting me decide when I crit once per encounter...as a STANDARD action spent doing only that.

I'm well aware of the DO's ability to gain a move and standard action from an action point, but I'm still only seeing this combo as netting me a move action (whoopee) and letting me spend a standard action not doing much to se another standard action later.

Could someone please tell me what combination of powers/feats/items/etc. will render a broken combo from this?

 

[TheGogmagog]

Half-dragon, yes it's of limited use if you use it on yourself. It would require waiting until next round or a minor action attack, an action point or opportunity attack and then to hit in the first place. The intention is likely the cleric is giving up his standard action to give someone else a crit (again if they hit in the first place) before the end of his his next turn.

I don't see it as a big deal even with the standard in place. It's only one target that gets the free action point IF they hit.

 

[James McMurray]

The free crit by itself is pretty nice. You can do a lot of damage at paragon level with a crit-focused rogue. Our party's Dagger Master would deal somewhere in the neighborhood of 39 + 1d10 + 3d12 if the GM hadn't house ruled that sneak attack doesn't max out on a crit. That's before figuring in multi-[W] strikes and all of his abilities that trigger on a crit (guaranteed combat advantage and an extra attack as a minor action, plus something else I can't remember).

My Blood Mage would deal 20 + 3d8 + 2d10 with Blood Pulse and could use the free Action Point to immediately Thuderlance, doing an extra 8d6 + 4d10 + 16 to anything he hits with both. +20 ongoing to anything he hits with the lance.

It's definitely not broken, but in combination with others it can be really nice. It's not just an extra action, it also triggers anything that happens on a crit (nice for rangers) and anything that happens when you action point (can be some really nasty stuff with the right party combination).

 

[Runestar]

Hmm...in retrospect, it seems a lot weaker than when I first envisioned, basically because I thought that prophecy of doom had no casting time (ie: you used it as part of the attack you want to crit with).

The benefit of doom prophecy is that it assures you of triggering the standard. It is not impossible that you go through an entire encounter without scoring a single crit (and thus wasting the free standard action). Divine oracle effectively "gives" you back the standard action you spent on activating prophecy of doom. What's not to like?

 

[Gloombunny]

So what you'd really want is, say, ranger[Pit Fighter] with two vicious battleaxes, Deadly Axe, and the violet solitaire, and a cleric[Divine Oracle] assisting him. The ranger multi-attacks help ensure that he won't whiff his chance at benefitting from the prophecy, the vicious high crit weapons make the crit extra-nasty, and Pit Fighter + ranger multi-attacks is a great way to get the most out of your action point.

(Incidentally, guys, the violet solitaire is not a battle standard. It's just a wondrous item you carry in your pocket.)

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

So what you'd really want is, say, ranger[Pit Fighter] with two vicious battleaxes, Deadly Axe, and the violet solitaire, and a cleric[Divine Oracle] assisting him.

Right: a lot of people seem to just see Divine Oracle's great synergies with a Wizard and then forget it's a leader paragon path. Prophecy of Doom is really a party buff.

(Incidentally, guys, the violet solitaire is not a battle standard. It's just a wondrous item you carry in your pocket.)

The wondrous item is part of what makes it so good: no item slots. It's a free action, per-encounter critical bonus!
All yours for just 1.125 million gold pieces!