Excerpt: powers (merged)

[Kraydak]

There are three kinds of people in the world: those with red, blue and green circles around their feet.

There are two kinds of things in the world: those with circles around their feet, and those without.

Rats in bags do not have circles around their feet.

But no one ever suggested that you attack a rat in a bag. You need to take the rat *out* of the bag. We have examples of rats-out-of-bags as having circles in WotC modules, and 4e will be full of small sized minions who most certainly have circles.

BoR is merely shorthand for situations where it is to your advantage to be surrounding by allies/enemies who are too weak to, by their own actions, affect the tactical situation. Once those situations exist, it is to your advantage to import such creatures. Rats are merely an evocative and compact means of doing so.

 

[hong]

But no one ever suggested that you attack a rat in a bag. You need to take the rat *out* of the bag.

Oh dear.

We have examples of rats-out-of-bags as having circles in WotC modules, and 4e will be full of small sized minions who most certainly have circles.

If they can hit you and do damage, they are not rats.

BoR is merely shorthand for situations where it is to your advantage to be surrounding by allies/enemies who are too weak to, by their own actions, affect the tactical situation. Once those situations exist, it is to your advantage to import such creatures. Rats are merely an evocative and compact means of doing so.

No, BoR is shorthand for situations where you surround yourself with creatures who are too weak to be considered even trivial participants in the continuing narrative.

 

[Kraydak]

...
If they can hit you and do damage, they are not rats.

3E rats have +4 to hit (!!), and do damage comparable to small pcs who used strength as a dump stat (the minimum, 1). In fact, 3e rats are generally more dangerous than halfling commoner 1s. Odd, but true.

No, BoR is shorthand for situations where you surround yourself with creatures who are too weak to be considered even trivial participants in the continuing narrative.

Which is different from what I said... how?

 

[hong]

3E rats have +4 to hit (!!), and do damage comparable to small pcs who used strength as a dump stat (the minimum, 1). In fact, 3e rats are generally more dangerous than halfling commoner 1s. Odd, but true.

"Rat" is shorthand for things that cannot hit you and/or cannot do damage. If the foolishness of 3E scaling at the bottom end offends you, substitute dust mites.

Which is different from what I said... how?

Whether something is worthy of having a circle around its feet is not measured just in numbers.

 

[Xyl]

In the above example I'd like a power that deals 25 fire and thunder damage to do full damage to anyone unless they are resistant to fire AND thunder.

I'd suggest averaging the resistances.