Why don't monsters have power sources?

[Tequila Sunrise]

Power sources are mostly fluff, and I'd prefer it if they were totally fluff. I like being able to refluff classes without having to worry about this or that oddball rule.

And as Memona suggested, creating a counter spell without referring to power source wouldn't be rocket science.

I ran into a pink bunny with a power source once.

I had to fight off a lot of chemical source critters in college.

TS

 

[balard]

I for one would like the monster's powers description to have a power source keyword. I like the design space of dead magic zones, counterspells, mind shields and the like. It would be easy to add, and easy to ignore.

 

[Hawke]

I for one would like the monster's powers description to have a power source keyword. I like the design space of dead magic zones, counterspells, mind shields and the like. It would be easy to add, and easy to ignore.

Agreed - It would open up more options for dispelling magic, combating psionic powers, and will really get neat if they do elemental power sources correctly (with lots of counters, etc). Even if they added that information to MM2 and then created a guideline for DMs using older material it'd work well (fey = arcane, immortal = divine, use your logic for weird situations) I just worry with expanding power source it'll start being harder to figure out what is what.

Overally I think they have dropped the ball with the power source idea. Right now it's fluff and it could so have been a strong crunch aspect of the game to make playing various sources feel so much different.

 

[fba827]

i think it would be a good game mechanic to give some monsters a power source EXCEPT it would fall to a pit trap of early edition rangers.

For every game mechanic and specialization given to PCs to combat/deal with a particular power source, you'll end up at the DMs mercey for how often such a thing occurs in your game. Earlier editions had that with the rangers favored enemy and as a player of those rangers it did get a little anoying when you spend so much of your character customization in to some monster type as your enemy but then rarely run in to them.

 

[Memona]

i think it would be a good game mechanic to give some monsters a power source EXCEPT it would fall to a pit trap of early edition rangers.

It happens with other abilities as well. If you have fire resistance and you never fight enemies with fire attacks, you feel like you've either wasted money, a power or a feat. Or the power to harm a certain type of monster, such as Undead or Constructs.

I guess you could give some powers secondary functions. If a power that does [2]W against Undead and dazes but only [2]W against normal enemies. At least you get some type of effect.

 

[Hawke]

Some weapons *do* work that way... if I remember correctly a player of mine toyed with picking up a weapon that dealt extra damage to Fey creatures.

I wonder if "Resist Arcane 5" as a daily power for an armor or something might be used as well if they were typed?

 

[Memona]

I wonder if "Resist Arcane 5" as a daily power for an armor or something might be used as well if they were typed?

Very possible. I can see a variety of powers used by monsters.

Or how about powers that do certain things to certain power sources? A Brain Mole can daze only psi power source characters. An Atheist Aardvark gains +2 saving throws against a Divine power source. Kobold Tactical Warlord gains +2 AC against Martial Characters. The list goes on and on.

 

[fissionessence]

A monster's anti-magic aura gives a -4 penalty to attack rolls with Arcane powers.

~

 

[Hawke]

I guess wotc was too worried about being able to use restraint w/o getting to the point where a statblock should simply say "Magic users need not apply" and make it quickly unfun for those characters. I suppose that explains the lack of negate weapon damage options as well that simply nerf martial characters.