Rogue's Blinding Barrage (Daily lvl 1)

[VBMEW-01]

How is this thing balanced?

It effects a Close Blast 3 (9 squares?) and deals 2[W]+Dex to every creature in it and blinds them.

Now I know it is Dex vs AC (supposed to be a bit harder) byt c'mon! It's a rogue!!

We're talking 9x(2d4+Dex) damage here (at best) which I've gotta go out on a limb and say that it outshines everything else you can get at 1st level.

Let's not neglect to mention that it is up to 9 attack rolls (and saves to follow), and very controller-oriented (I think a bit too much) which can be okay, I know, but auto-blindness at lvl 1 is kind of rough.

Somebody please be kind and tell me I'm looking at this wrong or that there is some special rule somewhere that strips it a bit. Maybe it's an error for errata?

 

[generalhenry]

We're talking 9x(2d4+Dex) damage here (at best)

9x(2d6+Dex) it works with Shuriken


but to be fair, it's a daily.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

How is this thing balanced?

It effects a Close Blast 3 (9 squares?) and deals 2[W]+Dex to every creature in it and blinds them.

Now I know it is Dex vs AC (supposed to be a bit harder) byt c'mon! It's a rogue!!

We're talking 9x(2d4+Dex) damage here (at best) which I've gotta go out on a limb and say that it outshines everything else you can get at 1st level.

Let's not neglect to mention that it is up to 9 attack rolls (and saves to follow), and very controller-oriented (I think a bit too much) which can be okay, I know, but auto-blindness at lvl 1 is kind of rough.

Somebody please be kind and tell me I'm looking at this wrong or that there is some special rule somewhere that strips it a bit. Maybe it's an error for errata?

IMC a rogue PC did this to an Elite acting as a boss. Then said boss was struck by a warlord attack, giving everyone +4 to hit. So, total +6 to hit and boss is screwed for one round. The boss didn't even live long enough to use his action point (as I didn't want to use it while the boss is blind).

It isn't auto-blindness, though. You have to hit. Said boss had a low AC score, in fact in the adventure I'm currently running, the only boss with a decent AC is the final boss. (Frequently the boss' minions were harder to hit than he was.)

 

[Thocar]

How often are 9 enemies clumped in a 3x3 square?

 

[Norhg]

If you stealth, add sneak attack on top

Now, what I don't get is how you're going to attack up to nine people at once with your crossbow... Shuriken? That's dubious, but not impossible.

 

[Mengu]

Now, what I don't get is how you're going to attack up to nine people at once with your crossbow...

I don't understand this one either. Maybe you just reach into your quiver, and toss around a handful of crossbow bolts. Everyone in the area closes their eyes out of reflex, and your allies enjoy a round of attacking blind targets.

How does it work with a dagger? In order to attack 9 targets in an area, do you need to be carrying 9 daggers? Do you hit each of them in the eye? What if you're attacking a swarm of vermin (since it's a blast, it's especially effective against swarms)? How do you blind them all? What kind of ninja business is going on?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

How often are 9 enemies clumped in a 3x3 square?

They got 4 in my campaign. I think two were minions, though.

Now, what I don't get is how you're going to attack up to nine people at once with your crossbow...

The rogue IMC used shurikens. I agree, it doesn't make sense for crossbows.

 

[VBMEW-01]

If you're stealthed, add sneak attack on top

Now, what I don't get is how you're going to attack up to nine people at once with your crossbow... Shuriken? That's dubious, but not impossible.

That was going to be my next point there. I mean this power (daily or not) is the epitome of first rounders IMO. You are looking at around 11 damage per attack (2d6=7 or so + 4 dex) and somebody's more than likely going to eat a sneak attack (2d8=ugh, cause you know they took the feat). This means that at level one, your rogue could potentially bloody half your enemies and maybe even kill one before anyone else has even went.

Oh! And let's not neglect to mention that all of them are blind now (have trouble attacking and are much easier to hit). The party should mop up in quick order.

I know that striker=damage dealer, but I'm wondering what the point of having a wizard is if you are going to give the other classes abilities like this so early. Its a daily (yup), but I'm wondering why anyone would pick a different one at that level. I mean easy target and trick shot are nifty and all, but they don't add up to what ole Make Everybody Blind and Half-dead does.

At least for me.

I figured there must be errata or something, making it 1[W] or something.

 

[chaotix42]

How does it work with a dagger? In order to attack 9 targets in an area, do you need to be carrying 9 daggers? Do you hit each of them in the eye? What if you're attacking a swarm of vermin (since it's a blast, it's especially effective against swarms)? How do you blind them all? What kind of ninja business is going on?

Yup, you need a weapon/piece of ammunition for every target in the area. So, a rogue will need at most 9 daggers for this.

 

[Thocar]

One dagger can ricochet off of multiple eyeballs.