So that I?m clear:
No matter how many actions your character knows, you can only prepare an action up to three times.
You can prepare a number of actions equal to your level.
If your race grants an additional action based on your class you may do that as well. (Ex. Dwarf warrior gains one additional warrior action.)
If you have the Specialty Action skill you can learn up to three more uses of a single ability for you to prepare.
So in theory a Second level Empyrean Wizard with Specialty Action Jolt 2 could potentially prepare 5 Jolt spells per encounter at level 2? (2 for level 2 + 1 for Empyrean + 2 for Specialty action)
I?m remembering back through my years of gaming and can?t remember a single time that a Mage has had more spells. Maybe five per day but not five per fight! I know this is what the players want but don?t you think you are stacking the actions in the favor of the casters?
I guess the balancing factor is that melee abilities add to the weapon strike. (Ex. A dwarf warrior swings a one-handed axe and adds Focused Attack to the swing: 3 sharp + 5 for the Focused Attack for 8 sharp). The Wizard in the example above still casts at a 5 Shock damage cap.
something I wanted to put out there, magic should be blockable with shields. if in RL I toss fire at you and you hold up a metal shield and the fire hits it then falls to the ground, chances are you didn't suffer any injuries from it. this is just an idea.
"I'm not locked up in with all of you, all of you are locked up in here with me!" Rorschach - Watchmen
My two copper here...
In my experience making magic constantly blockable by shields vastly skews the balance back in favor of fighters. The lower damage is indeed balanced by the greater chance that you will do damage. It's a lot easier to see a packet coming in at you and move a shield that it is to block every swing in a series of close attacks from a weapon...
I could see shield users being able to buy a special ability that allowed them to block a spell with a shield a certain number of times (basically a "hardware" spellshield)?
-C-
I reject your reality and substitute my own!
For the moment, shields can only block weapon-delivered attacks, which makes them a mixed bag. On the one hand, you're better protected in melee. On the other, you've got a nice big target for casters. I actually like this, because it means people are more likely to use shields of reasonable size to find the happy medium.
From what I understand, shields in other games can block packet-delivered damage, but not other effects. I'm told this isn't very complicated, but I always prefer simple, all-or-nothing rules, so I'm a bit torn. Logically, it makes sense, but I always lean in favor of game balance.
I do love the idea of fighters being able to block packet-delivered effects with their own actions, and I'm strongly considering adding a defensive effect (a la Release, Revert, Rouse, Evade, etc.) that would allow the user to counter any single packet-delivered effect with a shield. It would probably be rank 7 or 8, but it would definitely help make warriors a more attractive class.
At any rate, these things are being considered, and more feedback is always preferable to less.
"You are technically correct. The best kind of correct!"
- Bureaucrat 1.0, Futurama
I do like the idea of a higher lvl option to by a ability to block with a shield. What would really be cool is a skill that allowed you to deflect a packet with your weapon. Just think of how that looks in game.
ex. The wizard hurls a fireball at the warrior only to have it batted away by his claymore making the ball of flame fly into the unsuspecting goblin in the corner.
Which brings up a newbie question on packets in LARPs. If someone does "throw" a spell and it hits another target besides the attended target does that non attended target take the effects? Think stray bullet.
I've heard horror stories of players blocking with a weapon and throwing a packet at the same time only to hit the weapon they're holding and take their own effect. And yes, according to our system, that's exactly what would happen, so mind your magic. ;)
"You are technically correct. The best kind of correct!"
- Bureaucrat 1.0, Futurama
Another question on preparation. If you have two weapon fighting can you use a prepared action per weapon at the same time?
Ex. 2nd lvl Warrior with two weapon fighting(2) has equipped two Medium Weapons (5dmg each). The warrior prepares Fierce Attack twice. During combat he see a great opening and slices his opponent with both Medium Weapons at the same time while using both prepared Fierce Attack.
Right Hand= 5+10= 15dmg
Left Hand= 5+10=15dmg
Total= Left Hand + Right Hand = 30dmg
Sorry for all the questions. I am a code official and these things may me think. : )
No worries at all. Questions are good.
No, you cannot stack damage in the manner you're describing, for the simple fact that it makes thresholds much easier to bypass. You could hit with one weapon for 15, then immediately with the other for 15, but not both at once for 30.
"You are technically correct. The best kind of correct!"
- Bureaucrat 1.0, Futurama
Your math is correct on all counts. One discretionary action per class level, plus one discretionary action from class affinity, plus up to one specialty action per character level. So yes, an Empyrean Wizard could have up to five, three discretionary and two set in stone.
Yes and no. Remember, those extra spells don't amount to a hill of beans if the caster doesn't get a chance to cast them, and casters can be interrupted. Casters can now do more in a fight, but a caster with a fighter in his or her face will have difficulty getting anything off (or surviving, for that matter). I think it's a fair trade-off, especially considering fighters can potentially pick up more actions themselves. It also plays well with party dynamics; fighters will want to keep the casters safe so the casters can bring their considerable magic to bear.
As for the damage, I actually think lower damage from casters is self-balancing because packets can't be blocked. A 10th-level warrior may be able to hit for 65, but a weapon or shield in the way of that makes it zero, whereas a 10th-level wizard hits for 50 as long as the packet hits you at all. As above, I think this is a fair trade-off.
"You are technically correct. The best kind of correct!"
- Bureaucrat 1.0, Futurama