Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Krackatowa 08-08-06, 11:39 AM	I wouldnt mind getting some suggestions off other DMs about a few queries. For instance can a fireball be placed exactly where a wizard wants it? So he can pin point who will be effected and who won't, Even if the target spot is 100+ feet away? can he pic the fire ball to go off exactly 20feet from his enemy and thus missing his ally. He would have a good eye to pick that from 100foot. I agree yes he can hit the exact spot he aims but how can he judge the exact distance of the blast from enemies/allys? I think it should be more like a thrown grenade weapon. Meaning the attacker must roll an intelligence check to see if he gets the right distance it could go any direction to be determined by a die roll. How many weapons can a PC carry on them for easy access ie on their belt, back etc. Do I give them negatives to attack if they have over x number?
Azezel 08-08-06, 11:53 AM	I wouldnt mind getting some suggestions off other DMs about a few queries. For instance can a fireball be placed exactly where a wizard wants it. So he can pin point who will be effected and who wont even if the target spot is 100+ feet away. Yes - Wizards are very clever, and can typically place their spells very well. Those that cannot typically do not survive long - it's Darwin in action baby! How many weapons can a PC carry on them for easy access ie on their belt, back etc. Do I give them negatives to attack if they have over x number? Not many - maybe a sword, a dagger and a mace. or two swords and a crossbow. Use your discretion. Do not give negatives to attack - simply tell the player that his golfbag full of swords is stupid and he should play sensably. Do not be vindicitve - always give the player the benefit of the doubt, if you are not certain he has too many weapons, then ignore it until you are certain.
Krackatowa 08-08-06, 12:00 PM	Thank You Azezel, They are Good tips, you are quite wise with not giving negatives, I will take heed. Respect Krackatowa
Sinaz 08-08-06, 12:18 PM	One thing I suggested to another player who couldn't decide on what weapons to buy... I suggested a warhorse that he would just store a collection of weapons on and try to become proficient in as many as possible... then he could just choose a couple of weapons for whatever the situation warranted.
Grennor_Lybos 08-08-06, 02:07 PM	As far as the fireball is concerned, the discription reads that the wizard points to where he would like the fireball to detonate and a pea sized object, (I presume made of magic) flies to that point and detonates into the fireball. It goes on to say that if the little ball of magic strikes an object before reaching its target it detonates at that point. Some creative things that can be done to stop a fireball. a wall of force or some other invisible barrier between the wizard and his target, preferably within 20ft of the wizard. Now I dont know every rule in the game but seems to me that there should be something a player could do very quickly to throw something into the path of the magic ball before it reached its target, maybe not maybe so. Also, the description states somthing about casting through narrow areas such as arrow slits and needing to make a ranged touch attack to not strike the wall around the opening and detonating the fireball on the wall. However if the fireball does enough damage to destroy the wall it will blossom to its full area of effect and damage anything in that area beyond the wall. As far as too many weapons. Try using the Encumerance rules. Most players cringe when they start looking at how much items wiegh. I make my players write every little item they have on them down and record the wieght. now a high str character can carry quite a bit and I dont tell them what they can and cant carry unless it is just plain silly ( "I am wearing 3 backpacks!") but characters of mid to low str will find that basic adventure gear is very heavy and will even begin to think of clothing as maybe not as needed as once believed. This could be interesting. Basically if a Player opts to take the penalties associated with alot of weapons, which really means alot of wieght, then let them, but make them use those penalties if encumbered. Also if a Character wants to use the old chalk on the wall trick to mark out a dungeon make sure he has chalk on his sheet. These kinds of details keep equipment misuse to a minimum in my games and while character creation take a good deal of time my players say that it really puts them in touch with their characters and that the game overall just feels more realistic. hope some of this helps
Krackatowa 08-08-06, 02:18 PM	[QUOTE=Grennor_Lybos]As far as the fireball is concerned, the discription reads that the wizard points to where he would like the fireball to detonate and a pea sized object, (I presume made of magic) flies to that point and detonates into the fireball. This is my point and i might not have made it clear. Can a wizard standing 100ft away pin point the exact point to set a fire ball exactly 20ft away from the orc so it gets him but not his fighter who stands 21 feet away. It doesnt seem right to me. I appreciate the tip on the latter point about carrying gear, I will in corporate that
Grennor_Lybos 08-08-06, 02:36 PM	As far as the rules are concerned, Yes. A wizard, maybe because of the complexity of their minds, can pinpoint exactly where the spell will go off. As far as I know this is true for all area of effect spells. Maybe it will help you to think of it this way. I maynot be able to hit a target one inch wide at a hundred feet with a rock but I can see it and therefore I can point exactly to it. That is all that is required of the spell. Point at where it will go off and magic guides it to that point, not the wizards skill at throwing. Does that make sense?
Krackatowa 08-08-06, 02:58 PM	I hear you Yes it makes sense. I agree the wizards dexterity should not play a part, nut judging perfectly 20feet away from a being from 100feet is something i find hard to swallow. Alas I will follow the rules on this point. Thanks
Nived 08-08-06, 03:21 PM	a simply tell the player that his golfbag full of swords is stupid and he should play sensably *looks at his pole arm fighter who literally had a golfbag of holding for his polearms.* Hrm... seemed liked a good idea at the time. :thinks:
Father Dale 08-11-06, 10:44 AM	As to the fireball question: If the Wizard has an unobstructed line to the point where he wants the fireball to originate, then he can put it there accurately with no problem. Its magic, after all. However, if anything is in between the wizard and the point of origin, then an attack roll should probably be made to avoid the "pea" from striking the obstacle. So for instance, if the wizard wants to shoot a fireball past his ally and past the enemy so that it goes off 20ft behind the enemy, he should probably make a ranged attack roll to avoid hitting either the ally or the enemy. I wouldn't make it a hard one, maybe a DC 10 plus 1 for each creature in the way. So in this example, a DC of 11. (Maybe add additional modifiers based on the size of the creature, if its reasonable. Higher DC for larger creatures, lower DC for smaller ones. Although very large or very small creatures would probably not provide any obstacle.) Thats enough for most wizards to have a good chance of getting the fireball where they want, but still leaving a minor chance for error. (A 10th lvl wizard with 16 dex would only have a +8 to his ranged attack.)
Krackatowa 08-11-06, 01:18 PM	As to the fireball question: If the Wizard has an unobstructed line to the point where he wants the fireball to originate, then he can put it there accurately with no problem. Its magic, after all. However, if anything is in between the wizard and the point of origin, then an attack roll should probably be made to avoid the "pea" from striking the obstacle. So for instance, if the wizard wants to shoot a fireball past his ally and past the enemy so that it goes off 20ft behind the enemy, he should probably make a ranged attack roll to avoid hitting either the ally or the enemy. I wouldn't make it a hard one, maybe a DC 10 plus 1 for each creature in the way. So in this example, a DC of 11. (Maybe add additional modifiers based on the size of the creature, if its reasonable. Higher DC for larger creatures, lower DC for smaller ones. Although very large or very small creatures would probably not provide any obstacle.) Thats enough for most wizards to have a good chance of getting the fireball where they want, but still leaving a minor chance for error. (A 10th lvl wizard with 16 dex would only have a +8 to his ranged attack.) Damn it Father Dale, thank you. I agree sure in real life we can throw something an hit a target but can we judge the exact distance that target is from another thing by the millimeter. No. i think the wizard is the same. sure they can pin point a target but can they pin point that that target is the right distance from the radius. I say no
Comus 08-11-06, 02:59 PM	I agree sure in real life we can throw something an hit a target but can we judge the exact distance that target is from another thing by the millimeter. No. i think the wizard is the same. sure they can pin point a target but can they pin point that that target is the right distance from the radius. I say no I say yes. Why? Because even if he can't tell to the millimeter, they can certainly tell to within five feet, and the D&D combat system is abstracted to a grid with 5'x5' squares. Additonally, we can't read a book for an hour and then throw around fireballs - so who's to say that the wizard can't tell, to within a millimeter, exactly where his spell will take effect? This is going to go down in history as the stupidest thing I've ever said, but... Until you can bring me a real wizard and have him testify as an expert, then I say that a wizard can place his spells with pinpoint accuracy.