Geron Raveneye said:
If you need a table to check (# size categories x 2), there's a lot of other problems with D&D than throwing salt in somebody's face. This is NOT 1E with its emphasis on tables.
As the Angry Alien says,
Size Categories Do Not Work That Way
If you don't feel like clicking on the link, suffice to say, moving size down 4 sizes would be +8 for a medium creature, +5 for a large, and +4 for a Huge. I'd say that requires a table lookup.
Geron Raveneye said:
Right, because every high-level character would risk an AoO from his melee +20 opponent to throw some salt in his face. Apart from the fact that you wouldn't reach the face of half of the monsters at that CR in the first place.
Because he can use his fourth attack and still hit easily? Because Blindness is really nasty? because after the first time he can do it without provoking? But none of that really matters, the point was that the difficulty doesn't scale in any appreciable way, and the OA is an annoying balancing factor which actively discourages cool and interesting combat moves.
Geron Raveneye said:
Huh? Why should different DMs come to that conclusion when somebody wants to THROW (thrown weapon) something into somebody's face? Do you ask for a Dex check when somebody throws a flask of acid, or holy water? Would you seriously expect some "different GM" ask for it? We ARE talking 3E still, right? Just to make sure.
I moved this bit to the end, look for the *
You might be be surprised, but Attack Rolls are a pretty unified mechanic as well, even the ranged touch ones. I'm not sure I see your point. If you would like to enlighten me, point out the other different 3E mechanisms that exist for throwing something at somebody, or your reasoning why you expect DMs to rule hither and yon in 3E.
The problem is, I can absolutely see my old GM ruling kicking sand in someone's face requiring a dex check and then a ref save or a will save, or saying it just gives a bonus on a feint check, yet it's essentially the same thing as throw salt in someone'S eyes. That's why it's not unified.
And touch attacks are a good example of a non-unified corner case, which only exists to screw over High level Fighters and low level Spellcasters, it's a great example of a clunky 3.x mechanic that nobody ever looked at and went "what exactly do we want this to do".
Geron Raveneye said:
*And where are the guidelines for "balance" for 4E that demand throwing salt being a 1/day ability? Didn't find any last time I checked. We're all just blowing smoke here, so trying to make yours nicer colored is not helping.
Actually, I didn't say anything about it being once per day, I know it can be hard to respond the posters instead of what you see as "positions", I fall into that trap too, but I never mentioned anything about daily powers. I don't see why you couldn't make it an at will, or more likely something equivalent a bull rush which anyone can use.
I'm talking about how defenses scale while touch ACs don't. I'm talking about how in 4e kicking sand in someones face, throwing salt in their face, throwing magic glitterdust in their face, and say, cutting their forehead so blood gets in their eyes
all use the same mechanics. Which makes it much easier for GMs to decide how to simulate something when a character says they want to do it.