My @!@#! Player abusing Feather Fall

[Tatsukun]

And if the issue was provoking an AoO, that would be relevent. However, that's not what's under discussion.

Isn't it? The first post is about bad guys readying actions to attack a mage if he starts to cast a spell, said mage casting a 'free action' spell to draw those AoO's and then casting a second spell in safety.

The assumptions were…

1) Bad guys can't tell the difference without spellcraft (I agree)
2) Most bad guys don't have 'combat reflexes' (I agree)
3) A spell that can be cast as a free action draws AoO

I disagree with the 3rd assumption, so it seems that this tactic doesn't work.

Did this thread wander off topic?

-Tatsu

 

[Hypersmurf]

The first post is about bad guys readying actions to attack a mage if he starts to cast a spell...

That's right.

... said mage casting a 'free action' spell to draw those AoO's...

What AoOs?

You're the only person talking about AoOs!

-Hyp.

 

[FireLance]

To make what Hyp said a little clearer, the archers are readying to attack if the spellcaster casts a spell. The spellcaster casts a swift spell. Does this trigger the archers' readied attacks? If so, do the arrows force him to make a Concentration check or lose the swift spell if they hit? If the arrows hit and he goes on to cast another spell, does he have still to make a Concentration check to cast it?

 

[Tatsukun]

Oh, right, readied action =/= AoO.

I know this

DOH!

My bad.

More sleep, less coffee

-T

 

[diaglo]

Your DM might allow the tactic...

SWeet..

i know what i'm doing for next session.

it involves shapechange... (the other broken thing not fixxed in this edition)....

 

[JoeBlank]

Your DM might allow the tactic (though my rules interpretation agrees that a readies action can't interrupt a free action) ... but he's also smart enough to ready counterspell actions with spellcrafters who have a decent spellcraft check. Your tactic might work once ...

Even if this would work in Olgar's game, my gnome sorc is not about to try it. He is far better off keeping a low profile and getting attacked as little as possible, he is not about to throw up a target and attempt to take the hits from the readied actions.

 

[Morbog of Ghetto D]

Opinions of an Orc

1. Wow, how stupid .
2. This is why players should be discouraged from creating silliness like this
3. If it doenst add to the game ....banish it.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I think the player was clever. A couple of problems with this tactic though:

1) Waste first level spell slots.
Not too big of deal but he only has 6 and he probably cast more than six spells in combat every day and he won't be able to cast mage armor or other low level utility spells with out using up high level slots.

2) He won't be able to cast a quickened spell during a round in which he uses this trick. Not to big a deal at level 9 but a big deal at higher levels.

 

[Kilroy]

I think that if the player was bothered enough to come up with this tactic, the problem is probably with the way you run the game. Readying actions to make a player useless every other fight isn't something I would enjoy.

Out of curiosity, do you also make sure that all the other players can't do anything enery other fight? If not, it sounds pretty unfair.

As for the metagameyness, it doesn't sound any more metagamey than every mook with a bow in the entire world knowing just the perfect way to kill a wizard.

In short: Stop doing that.

 

[two]

You wonder why I was being defensive in the previous post

I think that if the player was bothered enough to come up with this tactic, the problem is probably with the way you run the game. Readying actions to make a player useless every other fight isn't something I would enjoy.

Out of curiosity, do you also make sure that all the other players can't do anything enery other fight? If not, it sounds pretty unfair.

As for the metagameyness, it doesn't sound any more metagamey than every mook with a bow in the entire world knowing just the perfect way to kill a wizard.

In short: Stop doing that.

Oh brother. Like, thanks dude, for reading my last 5 or so responses. This is the kind of junk I was trying to avoid in advance.

I went OUT OF MY WAY TO MAKE CLEAR IN PREVIOUS POSTS THAT I DON'T READY ACTIONS TO MAKE SPELLCASTERS "USELESS" NOR TO STOP ANYONE'S FUN. I DON'T WANT TO STOP SPELLCASTING I DO HOWEVER WANT BAD GUYS TO DO INTELLIGENT THINGS WHEN LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL OF A MAGICAL HOWITZER.

All caps because, well, it seems to be necessary to get through some preconceived notions.

OK? GOT IT? GOT IT? GOOD.

I use readied actions when appropriate. As I was at pains to explain (and find myself explaining again and again), if an intelligent NPC with means to use a readied action (with a bow, spear, other object) sees an OBVIOUS PC wizard about to open up a can of whoop-azz, about 50% of the time he will "ready" an action to try to mess up the wizard's spell while hurting him. i.e. using a "readied action." (That's if they can't grapple or throw a net or just decide to charge in, or full attack (with rapid shot or whatever)). This seems perfeclty common-sensical to me; I know it's a higher percentage than most GM's, but nobody yet has convinced me it's a ridiculous bad tactic for low-middle D&D. Because, honestly, it's not. And it doesn't require the bad guys to have spellcraft, previous knoweldge of the PC's, any of that.

As stated, the Wizard faces a "readied" action on average every other fight. It doesn't always stop him from casting; but it does complicated things (will he move, then cast something, cast and suck it up, cast feather fall and be safe, move and hope the guy misses and cast, etc. etc.etc., pull out a wand and zap it ...?)

Nobody in my campaign is complaining that enemies "ready actions" too much or that it's boring, or unbelievable, or tedious. On the contrary, they seem to be happy that their enemies are not video-game automatons who just "see enemy, charge in, attack, die." That's boring for everyone, GM and Players -- beleive me.

I brought the issue up originally because of Player X's cantrip tactic and wanted opinions/comments.

Please don't play the armchair psychoanalyst and attempt to judge my campaign given that you know nothing of it; nor to you know the personality of Player X; nor my player's general level of fun with the way I run my game (high). Nor the fact that I'm having a good time with it as well -- with some caveats. See post #1.