Design & Development: Elite Bulette

[Zweischneid]

Also true. Which means that we might see a more 'simulationist' aspect in this case. My previous DM's were always leery of allowing reflex saves in closed areas. If you took a fireball while in a 10' x 10' room, you pretty well got fried, Evasion or no. I grumbled about it then because I don't like house rules, particularly ones adjudicated on the spot. If it's codified in the actual rules though, I'll be perfectly fine with it. And it'll make them happy too.

What you describe is not much of a house rule, it's simply a DM decision given a specific situation.

And isn't that the whole point of having a DM? To put rules into perspective concerning specific questions and make judgement calls on certain situations? Thats the whole point of having a DM, cause otherwise the rulebooks would need to be thousands upon thousands of pages thick to cover all possible eventualities.

 

[frankthedm]

I'm a little surprised that there hasn't been much talk yet about all the "opportunity attacks" that are getting thrown around in this article. Did I miss something, or are they backpedalling from their claims that AoOs aren't as easy to provoke? In this example round of combat, it comes up three times. First, the wizard is afraid that casting a spell will provoke one, then the bulette provokes by fleeing, then the other moves in such a way as to avoid provoking one.

What's the story there?

My best guess for AoO's would be fewer triggers, but those triggers occuring more frequently.

The primary problems with AoO's that cropped up in 3.5 were that the list of things that were known to provoke them was very long, and there special cases within many of them.

Also I expect it will be far harder to avoid drawing AoOs. No 'roll to avoid AoO' situations, if you got an AoO coming, they you eat an AoO.

My biggest peeve with them is that if you responded to an AoO with an action that would cause an AoO, your target gets an AoO on YOU now. (I.e. he moves out of your square, you get an AoO and use a trip, and he gets an AoO and thus attacks you).

Then don't use a provoking attack for an AoO.

 

[LostSoul]

And isn't that the whole point of having a DM? To put rules into perspective concerning specific questions and make judgement calls on certain situations? Thats the whole point of having a DM, cause otherwise the rulebooks would need to be thousands upon thousands of pages thick to cover all possible eventualities.

It depends. Sometimes the DM is there to provide adversity.

And you can cover all situations with simple rules.

 

[Counterspin]

As much as I'd like too, let's not divert this into a discussion on the role of the GM.

 

[Cadfan]

Also true. Which means that we might see a more 'simulationist' aspect in this case. My previous DM's were always leery of allowing reflex saves in closed areas. If you took a fireball while in a 10' x 10' room, you pretty well got fried, Evasion or no. I grumbled about it then because I don't like house rules, particularly ones adjudicated on the spot. If it's codified in the actual rules though, I'll be perfectly fine with it. And it'll make them happy too.

I always assumed the reflex save in that case was to duck and cover. The fighter is trying to get his shield up over his face, and the rogue with evasion is trying to move so the fighter is between him and the blast.

 

[Reaper Steve]

This article caused me to buy a pair of Bulettes off of eBay.