Haste and Refocus

[IceBear]

Well, besides the summoning spells, full round spells were put in place to allow someone the chance to disrupt a powerful spell. With the summoning spells, they generally seem to be too weak to make it worth the effort to cast them. Maybe they should be turned into a 1 action spell, but don't have the creature appear until just before the next round (which is pretty much how I've been playing it as a house rule).

IceBear

 

[mkletch]

The latter seems the most likely.

That is what I figured. Most of the problems in 3E (the spell levels of Haste, Displacement and various Invisisbility effects to mention only a couple) are there because of previous-version-flavor-contagion. Why rebuild only 98% of the game system from scratch?

-Fletch!

 

[mkletch]

From the Main DnDFAQ, Special Initiative Actions
Is the refocus combat maneuver intended for the next combat round only? Do you reroll initiative the next round? I can see this being abused by most all character’s who do not gain a very good initiative for the combat session—they can refocus and possibly win initiative for the rest of the combat.

When you refocus, you spend your entire round refocusing; you cannot act or move. You can’t even move except for a 5-foot step. You do not reroll initiative next round; your initiative is treated as though you’ve rolled a 20 on your initiative check.

You can’t even move except for a 5-foot step.

This makes me smile particularly widely.

I can't believe he missed that one. Now who do we believe?

-Fletch!

 

[mkletch]

Well, besides the summoning spells, full round spells were put in place to allow someone the chance to disrupt a powerful spell. With the summoning spells, they generally seem to be too weak to make it worth the effort to cast them. Maybe they should be turned into a 1 action spell, but don't have the creature appear until just before the next round (which is pretty much how I've been playing it as a house rule).

We haven't bothered with any full-round spells unless hasted. The party cleric in one campaign was using Blade Barrier all the time. Then he realized it was a full round spell (nobody else caught it) and never used it again. His favorite spell ceased to be an option with one flip of the page.

-Fletch!

 

[IceBear]

Why rebuild only 98% of the game system from scratch?

-Fletch!

The designers have said numerous times that they were worried about alienating the exisiting fan base with the 3E. If they knew then, what they know now about how the reaction would have been they would have made even more changes.

It's easy to question decisions now that the system is out compared to before release. Cut them some slack and Rule 0 what you don't like.

IceBear

 

[mkletch]

It's easy to question decisions now that the system is out compared to before release. Cut them some slack and Rule 0 what you don't like.

I cut the designers all sorts of slack. I just don't give any slack to people who post their rule-0 versions of rules on message boards and expect them to be accepted as canon.

-Fletch!

 

[IceBear]

We haven't bothered with any full-round spells unless hasted. The party cleric in one campaign was using Blade Barrier all the time. Then he realized it was a full round spell (nobody else caught it) and never used it again. His favorite spell ceased to be an option with one flip of the page.

-Fletch!

Yes, but unlike the Summon Monster X spells, blade barrier is powerful and I have no issue with it being disrupted in this manner. Obviously you do, so Rule 0 it.

I wouldn't say it ceased to be an option, it just takes more planning to cast now - make sure that he's protected when he starts casting. Also, it should be fairly easy for a high level cleric to make the concentration checks. Remember, the cleric is not supposed to be the offensive caster - the sorcerer and wizard is.

IceBear

 

[IceBear]

I cut the designers all sorts of slack. I just don't give any slack to people who post their rule-0 versions of rules on message boards and expect them to be accepted as canon.

-Fletch!

And did I do that? I always say that something is a house rule and what the offical rule was, so stop being antagonistic.

You asked why, kreynolds and I both told you why - to make them easier to disrupt - and then I gave a houserule that I used as a POSSIBLE counter method.

IceBear

 

[mkletch]

Yes, but unlike the Summon Monster X spells, blade barrier is powerful and I have no issue with it being disrupted in this manner. Obviously you do, so Rule 0 it.

I wouldn't say it ceased to be an option, it just takes more planning to cast now - make sure that he's protected when he starts casting. Also, it should be fairly easy for a high level cleric to make the concentration checks. Remember, the cleric is not supposed to be the offensive caster - the sorcerer and wizard is.

It ceased to be an option for him. We had a party with three characters, and could not protect ourselves, let alone one party member.

By the time you are casting blade barrier, the damage from a single attack can be significant. No 16th or 18th level cleric is going to make a DC 54 Concentration check...

-Fletch!

 

[mkletch]

And did I do that? I always say that something is a house rule and what the offical rule was, so stop being antagonistic.

You asked why, kreynolds and I both told you why - to make them easier to disrupt - and then I gave a houserule that I used as a POSSIBLE counter method.

No, I got that. Apologies if you felt I was being antagonistic. I've been replying to a bunch of threads, and some rule-0 = reality has occured on these boards today.

-Fletch!