MM excerpt: phane

[phloog]

I agree that it's stats don't include all the potential coolness, but there's nothing to say that this is what is does to characters, those people with destinies who can be resurrected. Against us lowly normal people, it's wizened ray is permamnent (let's say), and if you don't find and kill it, the newly appointed King has only a few days before he dies of old age at 17.

Yeah...I guess maybe that's another flavor stretch I'm having trouble making - that your status as someone with a destiny renders you immune or partially immune to a vast array of powers, rather than just 'more able to be resurrected'.

I've still got the core books on order, but I think I'm finding myself having to make a few too many leaps here. Again I wonder: Is there really no better sweet spot on the continuum between "Insta-Death Power" and "Inconvenience and Cosmetic Changes" for monster powers?

 

[Spatula]

Debilitating effects that can't be done away with in the middle of a fight, but can be cured with some downtime. Something like ability damage in 3e.

 

[Falling Icicle]

Unless they scale with level, like some of the abilities from the rogue article (all the at-wills shown scale with level). Since most abilities we've seen have been attached to pregenerated 1st-level characters, assuming that they don't scale because you haven't seen it is a bit premature.

The Rogue ability only increases from 1[W] tp 2[W] at 21st level. That's rather insignificant.

Also, the part about monsters not adding 1/2 level is not speculation at all, it's blatantly obvious looking at their stats. I really doubt that players will add 1/2 level to damage when monsters don't, as that would really unbalance things in the PC's favor. The Phane is a 26th level monster and it's most powerful ability does 2d8 + 10 damage. That's only an average of 19 damage, which is merely double what a 1st level Wizard does with magic missile, despite the fact that a 26th level Wizard will have several times as many HP as he did at level 1.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I posted this on Gleemax, but thought to post it here too... I dunno if this could work (forgotten exact rules for OA... but).

Could a Phane that is really well played by a DM, attack the whole party while not on its turn?

Could the Phane, use its basic attack (Temporal Touch) to OA one PC when he moves. Then shift nearby second PC.

When second PC moves, thanks to either being close enough or PC moving within range, another OA and another shift.

This could potentially repeat till the end of the PCs turns, and you then have got a bunch of injured and slowed PCs on their own turn.

 

[That One Guy]

I posted this on Gleemax, but thought to post it here too... I dunno if this could work (forgotten exact rules for OA... but).

Could a Phane that is really well played by a DM, attack the whole party while not on its turn?

Could the Phane, use its basic attack (Temporal Touch) to OA one PC when he moves. Then shift nearby second PC.

When second PC moves, thanks to either being close enough or PC moving within range, another OA and another shift.

This could potentially repeat till the end of the PCs turns, and you then have got a bunch of injured and slowed PCs on their own turn.

I don't think it functions that way... because if it did then I think it would be logical that PCs could use their at-will powers in an OA. To me, I think it'd be a poor mechanic (and I'd probably ask my group if they're for or against it. Democracy or something), but if you find out how it works... lemme know. Thanks.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I don't think it functions that way... because if it did then I think it would be logical that PCs could use their at-will powers in an OA. To me, I think it'd be a poor mechanic (and I'd probably ask my group if they're for or against it. Democracy or something), but if you find out how it works... lemme know. Thanks.

Well, most at-will powers aren't basic attacks: Most are just attacks:

The Temporal Touch attack is shown as being a basic attack:

 

[That One Guy]

Well, most at-will powers aren't basic attacks: Most are just attacks:

The Temporal Touch attack is shown as being a basic attack:

Ahhh... Nosco.

 

[Sojorn]

Don't OAs take an immediate action though? Or did I just dream that?

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Don't OAs take an immediate action though? Or did I just dream that?

I dunno. But it says under the Pre-Release:

When an enemy lets its guard down, you can take an opportunity action. You can only take one opportunity action on each combatant's turn (if available). An opportunity action interrupts the action that triggered it.

So since each OA is in a separate combatant's turn... It could work.

 

[Darth Cyric]

USo it would take a full 100 rounds, minimum for this high level, destructive beast to wipe out the guards of a small town.

100 rounds = 600 seconds = 10 minutes. Eh.