CW: Arcane Strike

[Darklone]

Just two short questions:
Is it melee only, or applicable to ranged combat as well?
And if melee only, why would it be unbalanced for ranged combat?

 

[Crothian]

Melee weapon, unarmed strike, or natural weapon only.

 

[Jeremy]

I don't know. I watched a dragon be incredibly unbalanced with it. But an arcane archer would be fun too I guess. I don't know that it'd be unbalanced. But I guess they thought it would be. Throwing multiple spells for the cost of one I guess without putting your d4 HD up next to something ugly.

 

[Nail]

How'd the dragon use it that was "off", in your opinion?

 

[drnuncheon]

How'd the dragon use it that was "off", in your opinion?

My guess would be that it was the combination of the large amounts of bonus damage and the high number of spell slots available to the dragon added to the full BAB and high base damage.

In general, with a PC, they're either going to have a high BAB and base damage, or high level spell slots, but not both (well, until you get epic - but by then the definition of 'high' has changed anyway). A dragon, on the other hand, has high everything.

J

 

[Darklone]

Sooo... would you think it's ok if I allow the feat for a secondary archer for ranged combat only (not a fightertype BAB) ? Kewl.

Or would it be too good for melee and ranged? IMHO not... but my opinion is flawed in that regard.

 

[Crothian]

I'd leave it for melee only. Making it for ranged makes it too good as that's something the most casters can do much better then melee.

 

[James McMurray]

What about allowing another version of the feat that applies to ranged attacks? Then you are still allowing the archer to benefit, but aren't adding even more power to an already strong feat.

 

[Darklone]

Hmm. Guess I'll allow it for a weapon for which the caster has Weapon Focus.. (which she does not have in that case). Better ?

 

[UltimaGabe]

My guess would be that it was the combination of the large amounts of bonus damage and the high number of spell slots available to the dragon added to the full BAB and high base damage.

Actually, unless you're running Great Wyrms, they really aren't as well equipped as spellcasters as you'd think. I recently ran a young adult Red Dragon against my PCs a few weeks ago (a CR 12 or 13, I believe), and it was casting spells as a 5th-level Sorcerer. Ooh, scary. It could cast two or three 3rd-level spells a day. And even if it wasn't using those spells to protect itself (such as Haste), then that means two or three times a day, it can do an extra 3d4 points of damage. Ouch. 12 extra damage for a CR 12? And TWICE a day? Wow. Seems a bit.... off to me.

In other words, it really isn't that big of a bonus.