D&D General What Should Magic Be Able To Do, From a Gameplay Design Standpoint?

[Micah Sweet]

In Fist of Fury Bruce Lee delivers 9 punches in 2 seconds (the flurry of blows is a real thing), even a sword can strike 2 times per second - 6 seconds is a surprisingly long time.

Autopassing a mental saving throw simulates extreme discipline or similar. Storys about spies resisting torture or Conan overcoming psychic domination both fit. Its a boon but not magic
(NB I'm not a fan of autosuccess either, I'd prefer to be a bonus to save. Its also why I think spellcasting should be a skill instead of autosuccess)

Spellcasting should absolutely be a skill! Of course, I've never met a group that wouldn't have at least one player riot if the idea was suggested.

 

[TheSword]

In Fist of Fury Bruce Lee delivers 9 punches in 2 seconds (the flurry of blows is a real thing), even a sword can strike 2 times per second - 6 seconds is a surprisingly long time.

Autopassing a mental saving throw simulates extreme discipline or similar. Storys about spies resisting torture or Conan overcoming psychic domination both fit. Its a boon but not magic
(NB I'm not a fan of autosuccess either, I'd prefer to be a bonus to save. Its also why I think spellcasting should be a skill instead of autosuccess)

I’m pretty sure an attack isn’t a single strike. It represents the number of strikes a character can make in the time period. Otherwise a level 1 fighter is striking once every 6 seconds which doesn’t make sense.

When that 5th level fighter attacks 6 times its delivering 6 times as many strikes as a character with a single attack can make.

 

[Reynard]

I’m pretty sure an attack isn’t a single strike. It represents the number of strikes a character can make in the time period. Otherwise a level 1 fighter is striking once every 6 seconds which doesn’t make sense.

When that 5th level fighter attacks 6 times its delivering 6 times as many strikes as a character with a single attack can make.

Not necessarily. Maaybe a higher percentage of those probing strikes and feints are "real" ayyacks.

It is all abstract and arbitrary and folks arguing of the "realism" of it is, at best, amusing. There is NO realism in D&D. WHat people really want is a tone that fits their (probably not very well educated or experienced) conception of what medieval combat should be like.

 

[Tonguez]

I’m pretty sure an attack isn’t a single strike. It represents the number of strikes a character can make in the time period. Otherwise a level 1 fighter is striking once every 6 seconds which doesn’t make sense.

When that 5th level fighter attacks 6 times its delivering 6 times as many strikes as a character with a single attack can make.

yeah sure, a sword striking 2 times per second would mean 12 strikes in 6 seconds, but the rules say at level 5 only half of them are actually good enough to make a hit. I assume the rest of the time is feints, sidesteps and parrys etc. A level 1 fighter only hits 1/12th of the times she strikes the rest is her looking for an opening

 

[TheSword]

Not necessarily. Maaybe a higher percentage of those probing strikes and feints are "real" ayyacks.

It is all abstract and arbitrary and folks arguing of the "realism" of it is, at best, amusing. There is NO realism in D&D. WHat people really want is a tone that fits their (probably not very well educated or experienced) conception of what medieval combat should be like.

I guess that’s what I was trying to say. It’s all relative. But you are right it might just be an increase in meaningful strikes.

I could put it another way. A 6th level fighter could kills 6 different foes in 6 seconds, which is a bit more awesome!

 

[Corinnguard]

Spellcasting should absolutely be a skill! Of course, I've never met a group that wouldn't have at least one player riot if the idea was suggested.

Spellcasting and skill checks do use the same mathematical equation. d20+ PB + Ability Score modifier.

 

[Reynard]

Spellcasting and skill checks do use the same mathematical equation. d20+ PB + Ability Score modifier.

This is a good point. Interestingly, attacks get a built in +2 versus saves, but that is probably due to there being no "save armor" -- which, now that I mention it, could be kind of interesting.

 

[Corinnguard]

This is a good point. Interestingly, attacks get a built in +2 versus saves, but that is probably due to there being no "save armor" -- which, now that I mention it, could be kind of interesting.

If your character wasn't wearing armor, wouldn't an armor save be the same thing as a DEX save?

 

[Reynard]

If your character wasn't wearing armor, wouldn't an armor save be the same thing as a DEX save?

I mean for characters that aren't proficient in a save, having some form of "armor" for that save would be interesting. Something like cloaks of resistance geared toward specific types of saves.

 

[Corinnguard]

I mean for characters that aren't proficient in a save, having some form of "armor" for that save would be interesting. Something like cloaks of resistance geared toward specific types of saves.

Homebrewed idea: Circlet of the Wise. This simple metal head band provides a +2 to WIS saves.