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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Buugipopuu" data-source="post: 3263171" data-attributes="member: 41173">A result of a (not so) recent gaming session with the IH rules in use is the discovery that the Withering [Effect] Divine Ability is really powerful.  So powerful that it renders most other forms of attack obsolete.  They're given for free as Uncanny Withering Mastery abilities by a number of portfolios at Intermediate Deity level, meaning one doesn't need to sacrifice Divine Abilities to take them, and taking a double portfolio doubles the damage.  Using something like Intelligence Withering Beam with a 60HD Lesser Deity gives an Int Draining ranged touch attack that drains 45 Int with no save. (if Surtur's Cosmic Mastery sets a precedent)  If this hits, it will one-shot any other deity that doesn't have Int as a primary ability score (Average Int for lesser deities is 10(Base)+16(Divine)+5(Inherent)=31), and mission-kill a deity that has been improving nothing but Int since 1st level (Max Int for a 60HD Lesser Deity without the Knowledge portfolio is something like 18(Base)+2(Racial)+16(Divine)+5(Inherent)+15(Ability Score Increases)+30(Headband of Epic Intellect)=86), since someone who relies on Int that is drained down to 31 Int suddenly loses a whole crapload of spell slots, has their Spellcraft DC taken down a lot, and takes a huge hit to AC, Saves, DCs and Attack Rolls (no more Cunning/Intellectual abilities).  Their ability to fight back is so drastically reduced that they're sure to die next round.I had a player in my group who managed to score most of the kills without causing a single point of damage.  Damage spells do very little, mêlée attacks need to get critical hits, which are hard to do because everyone's AC is so high, and spamming Save-or-Die effects is hit-or-miss due to the number of ways one can get around spells at that level.  Meanwhile a canny Wizard simply Quickened a number of buff spells, and then used his Intellectual Mind-boosted Superior Withering Intelligence Ray (Mi- Mi- Mi-Mikuru Biimu!) to reduce all opponents bar one to the intellectual capacity of vegetables over the space of 3 rounds.Was it really your intent for the gods with ability-score related portfolios to basically be able to kill anyone who hasn't put a considerable proportion of their power into raising that ability score, and render impotent anyone else with a touch attack?</blockquote>

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