D&D 3E/3.5 Domination in 4E vs. 3E

[Timeboxer]

I agree. I see nothing implying that the free actions are not under the control of the dominator.

I see nothing implying that domination means domination as you describe it. What I was pointing out was that this could be a change in the nature of what it means to be "dominated" -- from "behavioral control" to "physical control." And one neat thing about this is that it supports the trope of "being forced to do something against your will, and actively fighting doing it." This is an interesting contrast to 3E, and it avoids the tedious "Oh, attacking my friends is against my nature so I get another immediate saving throw," etc.

Granted, it raises some significant questions, but the description of Dominated says that they explicitly choose your one action, not all your actions.

 

[BendBars/LiftGates]

I guess the reason that you can't use your really nifty powers (encounters and dailies) is because they're such preciously managed resources that it would suck to not only waste them not hurting the enemy, but to actually use them to reduce your party's accomplishments.

Think about it: If the mind flayer only gets a round or two of mind controlling you before you make your save, it's going to make you use Acid Arrow, not Magic Missile (assuming that you're still relying on level 1 powers when you're in a fight against mind-controlling enemies). The balance of a Dominate power therefore would be entirely dependent on how your enemy has managed its best powers so far.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I guess the reason that you can't use your really nifty powers (encounters and dailies) is because they're such preciously managed resources that it would suck to not only waste them not hurting the enemy, but to actually use them to reduce your party's accomplishments.

Think about it: If the mind flayer only gets a round or two of mind controlling you before you make your save, it's going to make you use Acid Arrow, not Magic Missile (assuming that you're still relying on level 1 powers when you're in a fight against mind-controlling enemies). The balance of a Dominate power therefore would be entirely dependent on how your enemy has managed its best powers so far.

Furthermore, if we accept the assumptions that the powers (especially the non-magical ones) contain an element of "narrative" control of the player (you can always fire 2 arrows at once, but only if the circumstances are right, this deals triple damage and you can hit two targets at once - Using the power is the player narrating that this is the circumstance) it makes sense that the Mind Flayer can't use encounter or daily powers.
They require a certain in-gameworld situation coming up, which is not something he or the character decides, but only the player.

 

[Stalker0]

*BLINKS*

Well, I'm be a monkey's uncle. You're right...What the hell were we looking at. *runs to 2E PHB and checks* eh, the 2E PHB is unclear about this so it means we were running a houe rule version for 8 YEARS?

*LOL*

Your not the only one. Just in teh last few months I found that out.

 

[Dausuul]

Wait....Isn't this how dominate has ALWAYS functioned (I knew we played it like this in 1E/2E and kept on playing it like that in 3.x)

Actually, it's different in a couple of notable ways:

• It specifies exactly what level of control the dominator has.
• You don't perform as well under dominate as you normally do--you fight like an automaton.

 

[Kunimatyu]

I suspect at some point we'll see an "uber dominate" special attack that lets you use one of the target's encounter powers, for instance.

It's the sort of thing I'd expect an Ulitharid or Elder Brain to have.

 

[malraux]

I suspect at some point we'll see an "uber dominate" special attack that lets you use one of the target's encounter powers, for instance.

It's the sort of thing I'd expect an Ulitharid or Elder Brain to have.

Or any of the psionics based powers. It'll mean that a Psion can have an improved dominate that is difficult to detect, giving him a niche that the wizard alone cannot fill.