Question on Shield (Wizard Utility 2)

[Mengu]

Before you decide you're going to use Shield as an immediate interrupt, do you get to know the opponent's attack roll? Because the DM usually knows the character's AC, and will simply say the goblin hits you for 8 points of damage. How would he decide when to use Shield? Should the DM be saying something like "the goblin barely manages to hit you" when the AC difference is less than 4? Should the DM be announcing what AC a creature hits every time it takes a swing?

Also its duration seems rather short. If a harpy hits the wizard right before his turn, and he decides to trigger Shield, the bonus could go away before anything else can attack him unless he intends to provoke some OA's.

 

[Oompa]

That is the risk of taking, and using some powers..

The DM say's you get hit by the orc, you say that you activate youre shield.. and then it could be that the orc misses, or he still hits you..

 

[Mengu]

Compared to other defensive utility powers of the same level, it doesn't feel right. Most of them when triggered or used, do something with a degree of certainty, and/or last an amount of time that's at least one full round.

 

[Argyuile]

That is the risk of taking, and using some powers..

The DM say's you get hit by the orc, you say that you activate youre shield.. and then it could be that the orc misses, or he still hits you..

Having said that +4 is pretty huge. The harder it was for him to hit you in the first place the better chance you have of turning a hit into a miss.

 

[KidSnide]

That is the risk of taking, and using some powers..

The DM say's you get hit by the orc, you say that you activate youre shield.. and then it could be that the orc misses, or he still hits you..

This is going to be one of those abilities that varies in ability greatly depending on the GM. If you have a GMs who typically gives the combat some narration (where you can tell the difference between a close hit and a no-doubt-nailed-you hit), the Shield spell is going to be a lot more powerful than a GM who just says hit or miss. (GMs who roll in the open also make the ability strong.)

Personally, I would let the PC ask "close or not", with the understanding that NPCs with similar powers can also tell whether an attack was close or not.

 

[Mengu]

Personally, I would let the PC ask "close or not", with the understanding that NPCs with similar powers can also tell whether an attack was close or not.

Ok, this is exactly what I was asking for. I'm leaning towards this option as well. My only concern is that it may start to get old, as every time the wizard is hit, he asks, is it close?

 

[Obryn]

I roll all my dice in the open, unless there's a clear reason not to (i.e. hidden skill checks).

If a player uses my die roll to decide whether or not to use their Shield, that's great with me. It gets them some mileage out of the power.

-O

 

[sfedi]

Our DM let´s us use this power only when it´s usefull.

It´s quite in line with other utility powers which essentialy adds HPs, or prevent a hit.

Making the Wizard use the power and still being hit, is rather annoying.