Dispell Magic and Shatter

[blargney the second]

I've seen this combo before, and it takes too many spells and rounds to pull off. Personally, I prefer the various disarming methods. Grease, stun, grapple, etc.

-blarg

 

[Caliban]

While the combo outlined in the parent post is to time intensive, I've seen Shatter used to destroy a clerics non-magical holy symbol before.

Since then, I've taken to equipping my clerics with a hold-out holy symbol strapped to their ankle or the small of their back.

 

[Infiniti2000]

What's uncool about it? I actually read the first post and thought "Cool idea." But then you're probably a nicer man than I am, Gungadi... er, Infiniti2000

I didn't say I wouldn't use it myself.

 

[Infiniti2000]

While the combo outlined in the parent post is to time intensive, I've seen Shatter used to destroy a clerics non-magical holy symbol before.

Well, if the cleric can't make a Will save, he might as well not bother keeping a holy symbol.

 

[Caliban]

Well, if the cleric can't make a Will save, he might as well not bother keeping a holy symbol.

Hey, 1's happen.

 

[Coredump]

How many pre-statted NPCs have you found that carry really good back-up weapons? ...I know I've never had enough encumbrance left over to carry a golf bag filled with +1 Longswords for all the times a Warlock has blown my favorite weapon up on round 3 of a combat from the other side of the room.

I don't think I communicated my point effectively.

I am not saying it wouldn't be very cool/useful in some situations. I just don't know if it is worth it tacticly in many situations. And I just don't know if the times it *would* be worth it tacticly, would make it worthwhile strategically to pick the abilities in the first place.

Tacticly:
It is rare that you will get it taken out in 2 rounds, most likely in 3-4 rounds, but sometimes 5+ rounds.
So lets say 3-4 rounds. Yes it will be a devestating blow to that powerattacking barbarian you are fighting to trash his only greatsword, but you get *nothing* else accomplished for those 3-4 rounds. What if you did damage to him for those rounds? What if you had used other powers, etc. Is it really worth giving up 3-4 rounds of action, to get rid of that weapon? How many more rounds would have barbarian last anyway? What are the chances that you spend 4 rounds, finally shatter his greatsword, and he gets dropped the next round anyway?

Now, what about if he is a dual weilding specialist? Not quite as useful. Or a Divine Power casting Cleric? Or a mage, etc.

Strategically:
How many powerattacking barbarians does your party face? Compared to dragons, or magic users, or Ogres, or Vampires, or Beholders, or other creature that doesn't rely on one, possibly magical, item?

Basically, I think that most encounters that you *can* use this combo, the combo isn't much more useful that simply attacking, or some other option.
And further, I don't think this type of encounter is the majority; thus making the combo 'useless' a large percentage of the time.

But hey, YMMV

 

[Goolpsy]

ehm... after ready this tread... my only thought is...
Quickened Spell????