Stone rain (rapid shot) converted for PCs

[Dorkmaster]

I'm running a small group in 4e. We started with H1 and the Quick Start rules and then decided to finish that adventure once the core set came out. Most of my players decided to use the same characters or slightly mod'ed versions of the PCs in H1. After they had tweaked and we were running in full 4e glory, the guy playing the Halfling Rogue was intrigued by the Halfling Slinger in one of the encounters. The Slinger has a standard action recharge ability called Stone Rain (p. 152 in MM). My player said "I'll do whatever it takes to be able to do that. I'll find another slinger and ask him to train me..."

Fluff aside, I'm not inclined to unbalance by giving PCs recharge powers since they counter dailies nicely. However, I'm also not inclined to tell him no. I like to let my PCs try anything, and it would be unfair to say another level 1 halfling could do something he cannot ever learn. I don't want to make this too complex in game terms, but I'm having a problem finding a good solution. I don't want to make it a skill challenge thing where he has to make an Acrobatics or Thievery check to load the sling ammo and then fire because he'll be adding another roll to every round.

I thought about creating a new Rapid Shot feat. Something like: "With any proficient, light thrown or load free ranged weapon, make an extra attack, Dex vs. AC against any target in range with a minus to attack equal to the number of projectiles. Damage 1[W] + Dex bonus." Not bad, but it is only two shots vs the Stone Rain's three. I then think about adding more complexities such as "you make take this feat multiple times to add more projectiles up to 5 total", thinking that no one will want to burn four feats for basic ranged damage as a balance. I'm concerned that Rapid Shot isn't in the feat list for a reason, or it will end up in PHB2 or a splat later.

I also thought about creating a new exploit by considering some existing multi-attack exploits like Split the Tree or Spikes of the Manticore. The best I could come up with is something like:

Make it Rain Rogue Attack 3
Blah blah fluff blah flavor ooooh pretty
Encounter*Martial, Weapon
Standard Ranged
Requirement: You must be using a light thrown weapon or a sling (bows crossbows don't make sense to me here)
Target: Any creature in weapon range.
Attack: Dex vs AC, -2 to each of three shots. Increase number to four at 11th level and 5 at 21st level.
Hit: 1[W] + Dex modifier damage each shot.
Cannot be used as a Sneak Attack.


It's not perfect, but it seems mostly fair with the other Rogue 3 Encounter exploits. I might strike the increase of projectiles at higher levels because it doesn't seem to fit. At most, it would be 3[W] to one creature, per encounter, with a to-hit penalty and no other effects. I like this option more because I think at higher levels he'll forget it and I can shovel it away, but I'm just not confident enough yet to make sure it is fair based on the Slinger's skill but not unbalancing.


Thanks for taking the time to read all of that and thanks for any comments.

 

[keterys]

This should go in house rules... but it seems too strong as an encounter. Remember that you add weapon focus, enhancement, and ability score to each separate attack... four and five attacks are just too much, especially since encounter powers don't tend to scale.

 

[JohnSnow]

Well, "Rapid Shot" should, rightly speaking, be a power under the new system. And it is. The ranger gets three versions of it at level one.

Twin Strike
At-Will • Martial, Weapon
Standard Action
Targets: One or two creatures
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC, two attacks
Hit: 1[W] damage per attack.

Two Fanged Strike
Encounter • Martial, Weapon
Standard Action
Targets: One creature
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC, two attacks
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage per attack. If both attacks hit, you deal extra damage equal to your Wisdom modifier.

Split the Tree
Daily • Martial, Weapon
Standard Action
Targets: Two creatures within 3 squares of each other.
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC. Make two attack rolls, take the higher result, and apply it to both targets.
Hit: 2[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.


That said, I'm pretty sure there's room for Stone Rain as a Rogue Encounter power. Your first cut was pretty good. I just took out the scaling, reformatted it and renamed it.

Rain of Shots Rogue Attack 3
Encounter • Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Ranged Weapon
Special: You must be wielding a light thrown weapon or a sling.
Targets: One to three creatures.
Attack: Dexterity - 2 vs. AC, three attacks.
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage per attack.

I think that's even balanced. Or almost. It doesn't seem to me to be as powerful as Cloud of Steel (a Rogue 7 Encounter Exploit), and there's absolutely no reason it shouldn't work with sneak attack.

On the other hand, by way of comparison, the ranger has an encounter exploit called "Triple Shot." It's got all the same features: Dexterity vs. AC, three attacks, 1[W] + dexterity modifier per attack...

It's 17th-level. Ouch.

On the other hand, the ranger doesn't take the attack penalty. But maybe it would make sense to cut the damage to 1[W] per attack?

I dunno. Food for thought.

 

[Dorkmaster]

Much thanks, Lord Snow. I like your edit and I think that will be the final power. With Triple Shot, that's a Ranger hitting nice AC and able to use a long bow with big range and big damage dice. Although a 14 level difference is a little daunting, I hope the -2 to hit makes it up. I ran some math in a sheet comparing Rain of Shots to Rogue 3 Trickster's Blade. At -2 Rain of Shots will average about 3.5 points more damage per use over time, when using a sling. Is adding your Charisma to AC worth 3.5 enemy hit points? I think so. The real sweep comes when you factor in Sneak Attack damage. Then the average is closer to 8 points per power usage. That makes me consider bringing the modifier to -3. I ran the math on the damage with the Dex bonus, but for a Rogue with 18 Dex it makes the power almost worthless unless you're constantly facing minions with bad AC.

In either case, -2 or -3, with it being an Encounter power I don't feel it will be too unbalancing. I'm leaning to making it -3, so it will wash the proficiency bonuses.

 

[Drakhar]

I wouldn't make it a rogue Exploit however, I'd simply say that he'd have to use a feat to learn it assuming you don't want to force them to give up their racial power.

 

[VannATLC]

Whatever it takes?

Multiclass to Ranger and take the powerswap feats for it.

Or learn Blinding Barrage.

 

[That One Guy]

Unformatted recut.

Stone Rain
You rain three stones on the enemy in rapid succession. Look - Fluff!
Encounter Martial
Standard Action Ranged Weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a crossbow, light thrown weapon, or sling
Target: one, two, or three creatures.
Attack: Dex-2 vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] damage per attack. If all three attacks hit the same target, add Dex or Str mod to damage.

Dunno' if that works well or not... but 3[W] + 3[Dex mod] + 3[Weapon Focus etc.] vs. a target seems pretty crazy.

Edit: At level 13, simply suggest Tornado Strike. Or divide it into 4 attacks that deal 1[W] each, and up to two may target the same creature. If 2 hit the same target, add dex mod to damage and add the push effect.