Hunter's Quarry & Warlock's Curse Auto Damage?

[Kzach]

The way these two abilities are written on the preview sheets seems to indicate that they do automatic damage to the target whether or not the character hits them with another ability or even targets them.

Is this the case? Can anyone confirm or clarify how these two abilities work?

 

[Dragonblade]

I'm pretty sure you have to hit first. But I don't have the DDXP sheets available now since I'm at work.

 

[LostInTheMists]

Is this the case? Can anyone confirm or clarify how these two abilities work?

I would guess that since the damage is listed as +1d6 or +1d8 (emphasis on the + there), that it's added to damage that's done and not just applied regardless of whether or not an attack is actually made.

 

[keterys]

They're riders on other attacks. You have to hit with your bow, blast, etc.

 

[TerraDave]

One does +1d6, the other +1d8...and I think the key is the "+".

I am sure it is additional damage, if you do damage normally. So the ranger hits his querry, he does an aditional 1d8. But no hit, no damage.

EDIT: and I am the third one to say it...

 

[RigaMortus2]

I would guess that since the damage is listed as +1d6 or +1d8 (emphasis on the + there), that it's added to damage that's done and not just applied regardless of whether or not an attack is actually made.

If this is the case, then I like it. I too was of the thinking that it was automatic damage every round, and I just don't like that idea (why a ranger can do an automatic 1d8 damage just by picking a target and doing nothing else is beyond me). So if this is the case, I likey.

 

[Stormtalon]

Once you realize that Quarry is a replacement for the 3.x Ranger's 'Favored Enemies' mechanic, it naturally follows that the damage is a boost to any attacks the ranger makes on his chosen target.

Gone are the days of Rangers being specialists against classes of enemies -- now their favored enemy is simply, "That guy, right there, right now. Unless some other one of you mooks wants to step forward and tick me off? Yeah, that's what I thought...."

The fact that he has to initially choose the closest enemy to him makes for interesting tactical decisions -- does he pick a quarry immediately to whittle down around the edges, or does he try to sneak towards the enemy rear so he can Quarry the dangerous ranged striker hiding behind a wall of scrubs?

 

[Stalker0]

Gone are the days of Rangers being specialists against classes of enemies -- now their favored enemy is simply, "That guy, right there, right now. Unless some other one of you mooks wants to step forward and tick me off? Yeah, that's what I thought...."

Not necessarily gone. Who knows, there might be a feat that increases the ability against specific creature types.

 

[FadedC]

It seems that all striker class have some base ability that up their damage, weither it's the rogue sneak attack, hunter quarry or warlock curse. I suspect this is because any class could potentially multiclass into a striker and pick up some of their basic attacks, but only someone who starts off as a striker gets the extra damage bonus from using them.

 

[JohnSnow]

Once you realize that Quarry is a replacement for the 3.x Ranger's 'Favored Enemies' mechanic, it naturally follows that the damage is a boost to any attacks the ranger makes on his chosen target.

Gone are the days of Rangers being specialists against classes of enemies -- now their favored enemy is simply, "That guy, right there, right now. Unless some other one of you mooks wants to step forward and tick me off? Yeah, that's what I thought...."

I actually kind of like this.

I know there will be people screaming "what was wrong with favored enemy?" but they obviously never picked a favored enemy and then failed to run into members of that group on a regular basis.

This way, the character's ability never becomes "useless" simply because he thought it was cool to have, for example, favored enemy: lizardfolk to reflect his character's background without ever checking with the DM to see if there were going to be lizardfolk in the campaign. Or the PC who picks favored enemy: orcs only to see it become useless when he starts fighting demons at level 10.

Now you might say that a good DM would read that backstory and make use of it. But haven't we all been in the situation where our PC picked a favored enemy we thought was just lame? Or at least the point where the PCs favored enemy was now "not a threat?"

I, for one, applaud our new, more flexible overlords.