After thinking over some feedback about the survivability of disciples, I'm considering adding a new effect to the game. The Soothe effect would prevent the affected creature from attacking the user. It could be used to counter another Soothe or a Provoke, and it could be countered by Soothe, Provoke, or Rouse.
The first action I was considering for this effect would be called Interdiction. It would allow disciples of third level or higher to use a single packet Soothe at encounter frequency.
What does everyone think? Is this broken in some obvious or non-obvious way? Is it appropriate for other classes as well? Does it adequately address disciple survivability issues (not to mention Josh's gripe about not being able to counter Provokes)?
Would this have a minute duration or shorter? What would break it besides a counter? If the disciple in question hit the target of the spell does the target get to attack back? What about looting a target's property?
Other than my laundry list of concerns, I like it. Give it to druids too, against beasts. And make a frenzy for a druid to give to beasts.
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you're talking about the freeze mechanic spell, it would hold the target for 1 minute and release or a counter effect breaks it. It's mind affecting and not ice, so it wouldn't allow the creature to fight back for the duration or upon being attacked. The level at which the spell is learned would be higher than the wizard's freeze. Anyone can loot the target, since only the target's body is affected and not his possessions.
Even just as a provoke counter I like the soothe option. Could also be a viable racial ability. Unlike a berserk, a provoke can pretty much be a suicide command at the current game level (and potentially any level), so in that respect I think it really could be very broken, and providing classes/races some natural counters and potentially stacking counters to grant to your companions could be a good idea.
With regards to the "casting soothe at night" problem - well, that's a problem for any caster, and it's just something you have to work with. I will make another post about my thoughts on how I felt the wizard class worked out, so I don't derail this convo...I will say casters can be at a severe disadvantage in the dark (especially on a site with no power) but it's not truly game-breaking other than running out of packets and not being able to see them to pick them back up for reuse. Light-colored packets FTW!
-C-
I reject your reality and substitute my own!
The feign death for disciples has been proposed by everyone's favorite red head, Mrs. Jessi Vassar. So far it's been down graded to this soothe mechanic. I for one like Casey's idea for soothe as a racial ability. Perhaps for elves? Some people would make a race change and loose an action for a good racial action, wouldn't they? It would have to be a pretty good racial ability though to over ride the skill point loss as well.
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
My initial thoughts are that in low light level conditions or worse, it can be hard to determine who is who sometimes. The affected creature may get hit with the spell, attack someone else, and then unintentionally start hitting the caster of soothe. Not everyone has radiant, white hair.
I would suggest maybe a freeze mechanic offensive spell or perhaps a barrier spell that would reduce incoming damage.