True Strike

[kreynolds]

However, I'd allow an item, which can cast True Strike at will as a standard action, because that is pretty fair, really!

I can't think of a better use for that extra partial action from Haste.

 

[tburdett]

Re: Re: True Strike

Sure. No worse than any other magic item, no matter how much someone pisses and moans about it being "unbalancing".

It's certainly no worse than an item that offers use activated Time Stop and Delayed Blast Fireball, right? What harm could there be in that?

 

[warpmind]

OK, let's go to the alchemist's lab (DMG 242)

A use-activated item casting True Strike (1st level) at caster level 1 ('cause it's mainly irrelevant). That is

1x1x2000=2000gp

But, as it is so cheap, let's make it not cpount towards the limit of items that can be worn:

2x2000=4000gp

Let's name it "Ioun Stone Gray with Pink and Green Dots Cylindric" and you got it.

I'll note some magic items of similar value:
-The power up's +2 (STR,DEX and so)
-Pearl of Power (2nd level)
-Wand of Magic Missiles (5th level, 50 charges)

IMO this "Ever-striking" device is STRONGLY unbalancing and I think that either the item creation rules or some spells from the PHB should be revised to not allow such an item being created.

 

[Asheron]

¿Do you allow your players to create objects which cast True Strike an infinite number of times as a free action?

nope

 

[Thanee]

I can't think of a better use for that extra partial action from Haste.

Really? I can think of several...

There are situations, when such an item is highly useful, but they are not too common IMHO. Usually you are just better off to attack with your haste action instead of activate True Strike. Combined with Power Attack, this might be good, tho, but then your other attacks will most probably fail to connect, so it all evens out in the end!

So, unless you don't have to spend an action to activate such an item (that would be completely outrageous (trying to find other terms for the overused 'unbalanced' and 'overpowered' ), of course), it's not too great usually.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

IMO this "Ever-striking" device is STRONGLY unbalancing and I think that either the item creation rules or some spells from the PHB should be revised to not allow such an item being created.

If the item would confer a continuous or quasi-continuous +20 attack bonus, it would not be evaluated by spell level 1, but by +20 attack bonus, which is similar to a +20 weapon enhancement and therefore costs 20*20*2,000gp=800,000gp or twice as much, if it does not need any slots!

EDIT: Actually it should be only half as much 20*20*1,000gp, as it only increases attack bonus not attack and damage.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Willtell]

Lets test my maths.

A 6th lvl fighter with str 20, power attack, weapon focus, weapon specialization, +2 longsword attacks at +14/+9 for 1d8+9. Against ac 24 the fighter does 11.475 damage, excluding crits (# of hits (0.55 + 0.3) x average damage (13.5)).

The same fighter using a use actived wand every other rnd does 9.75 damage (# of hits (0.95 + 0.05) x average damage (19.5))/2, excluding crits. True strike only affects the first attack next round, a natural 1 always misses and a natural 20 always hits.


A 15th lvl fighter with str 20, power attack, weapon focus, weapon specialization, +5 longsword attacks at +26/+21/+16 for 1d8+12. Against ac 30 the fighter does 29.7 damage, excluding crits (# of hits (0.85 + 0.60 +0.35) x average damage (16.5)).

The same fighter using a quickened true strike item and 2pts of power attack does 31.45 damage (# of hits (0.95 + 0.50 + 0.25) x average damage (18.5)), excluding crits per round.

The same fighter using a quickened true strike item and 15pts of power attack does 33.075 damage (# of hits (0.95 + 0.05 + 0.05) x average damage (31.5)), excluding crits per round.

I'd only use the use activated wand or quickened spell item if I was rolling crap.

 

[warpmind]

If the item would confer a continuous or quasi-continuous +20 attack bonus, it would not be evaluated by spell level 1, but by +20 attack bonus, which is similar to a +20 weapon enhancement and therefore costs 20*20*2,000gp=800,000gp or twice as much, if it does not need any slots!

Bye
Thanee

Why?

You're just enchanting an item with a use-activated level one spell. You don't even need to use Craft Magic Weapon on it.

It's not the same a +20 insight bonus on attack that +20 enhancement bonus on attack and damage which helps dealing with damage reduction.

Same as a magical belt that provides Maximized Bull's Strength as a use-activated item is not the same as a Girdle of Giant Strength +5 (which otherwise doesn't exist).

This way is exposed in the rules, which doesn't keeps me from forbidding the use of this item.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

¿Do you allow your players to create objects which cast True Strike an infinite number of times as a free action?

Sure. I also allow rings that grant you 25 Salient Divine Abilities without meeting the prerequisites, or +5 Neutron Bombs in the FRCS, or a weapon special ability that works like vorpal, only that it decapitates at every hit, or feats that give you DR -/-, let you add 3 times your STR bonus to off-hand attacks (and 6 times with the primary hand, and 9 times two-handed), and grant you total concealment. But only if the price is right. Depending on the Item/Feat, something rangring from a new High-End PC (2500 MHZ, 2 GB RAM, some 500 MB, DVD-RW, 21" Monitor, Color Laser Printer) to a new car (Lamborghini, Ferrari, Jaguar) will be enough.

 

[Thanee]

Why?

Because that is what the item is worth!

(Note, that I halved the price above, as you are right about the part, that an enhancement bonus adds to attack and damage, not only one!)

The item generation rules are not meant to work as given on every spell or whatnot, they are just guidelines that work on many or even most spells, but not all, and specifically not ones that resemble abilities that are priced differently!

Bye
Thanee