Wizard Shield Ability

[scottchiefbaker]

I have the wizard shield ability which is an immediate interrupt that triggers when I'm hit by an attack. Can I run into battle, and pre-emptively cast that to make my self a little less vulnerable until the next round? Or is the only way it fires off based on the trigger of getting hit once?

 

[chitzk0i]

No, you have to wait until you're actually hit.

 

[Nichwee]

But as it is an Immediate Interrupt it can turn the hit into a miss if the bonus AC/Reflex makes a difference.
Thus it is better than a preemptive version which may end up being activated and never needed/able to change anything - while this way you activate it when you know it will matter and keep it until the end of your next turn after the (what would have been a) hit.
Though I guess it might be better to be able to activate preemptively if you plan to trigger a load of Oppertunity Attacks this turn (as you can't do an II on your turn so you can't activate on the first OA to hit to help with following ones).

 

[scottchiefbaker]

I can wait until I'm hit... trigger the shield and have the DM calculate the hit AGAIN with the newly added +4 AC/Ref to make sure it still hits? Then the additional +4 would continue until the end of my next turn?

 

[sfedi]

Per RAW you can't, perhaps you can talk to your DM to allow it.

It's pretty rare the case in which it is better to cast it preemptively.

 

[Nichwee]

I can wait until I'm hit... trigger the shield and have the DM calculate the hit AGAIN with the newly added +4 AC/Ref to make sure it still hits? Then the additional +4 would continue until the end of my next turn?

Assuming it is not your turn YES. If it is your turn you can't.

You wait until the Hit occurs then interrupt that hit by adding +4 AC and +4 Reflex. If this then makes your defence higher than the attack roll total the Hit is negated and misses you. And once the power is activated it lasts until the end of your next turn.

By RAW you can't activate this utility on your turn as Immediate actions can't be taken on your turn and this utility is an immediate action.

 

[scottchiefbaker]

Per RAW you can't, perhaps you can talk to your DM to allow it.

It's pretty rare the case in which it is better to cast it preemptively.

Per RAW I can't do it on my turn, or I can't use the ability in response to getting hit and make the DM recalculate?

 

[Nifft]

Per RAW I can't do it on my turn, or I can't use the ability in response to getting hit and make the DM recalculate?

Per RAW you can't ever use an Interrupt or Reaction on your own turn, even if you are hit on your turn (e.g. if you provoke an Opportunity Attack and get smacked for it).

The way we play, the DM announces what AC value he hits, so there's no "DM recalculate" involved -- I know if the power will be effective or not before I choose to use it. Many groups play this way, and it makes interrupt powers much more useful, but there's no RAW requirement to announce or withhold that information (as far as I know).

Cheers, -- N

 

[sfedi]

Per RAW there's nothing about that, but the designers, in some articles in Dragon, implied that players should know if the power will be useful or not.

 

[Trebor62]

Per RAW there's nothing about that, but the designers, in some articles in Dragon, implied that players should know if the power will be useful or not.

And in one of the WOTC DnD podcasts the second series I think Chris Perkins runs it just that way as well.