Defense Bonus variant vs Touch Attacks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Defense Bonus variant vs Touch Attacks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tal'eth
03-15-05, 04:10 PM The Defense Bonus variant (which I really like) has the benefit of not only raising a character's AC higher than would be otherwise, but also significantly increases a character's defense (AC) vs. ranged touch attacks. So much so, that ranged touch spells and and attacks are greatly devalued--meaning that spell casters are far more limited in their reliable combat options.

My question is whether or not some of you are using the Defense Bonus variant in conjunction with a house rule of some type that helps to counter-balance the Defense Bonus effectiveness vs ranged touch attacks. Or perhaps some of you would have suggestions about how to go about counter-balancing this issue. One of the ideas I had was to allow only half of a character's defense bonus total to be of effect when subject to a ranged touch attack--reasoning that the defense bonus is a measure of both the character's ability to "get out of the way" and "block, parry, etc." Therefore, the latter component of the defense bonus would be ineffectual against such attacks (since you can't block or parry a ranged touch attack).

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks and take care!!
Tal'eth
03-15-05, 06:38 PM Hi! hehehe....anyone have a comment?
PaTRiXXX
03-17-05, 04:42 AM For my future campaign I will probably use the defense class bonus. I will probably rule that the defense class bonus is based on better training blocking weapons and arrows. So you can't block a ray of energy with a sword and therefore no defense bonus for ranged touch attacks.
Mystic Theurge
03-17-05, 04:07 PM If you don't like the option of devaluing the ranged touch attacks of spells, you might consider the option of allowing the character to add caster level to the attack roll. Consider, however, that many monsters still have a poor defense bonus and would be extremely easy for arcan casters to hit at that point, almost making them automatic.

I ran into this problem a couple of game sessions back when my wizard character was rendered almost completely useless because she couldn't roll a nat 20 to hit what normally would be a nominal ranged touch AC under the original rules. She was rendered almost useless becasue she couldn't seem to defeat the SR of the creature they were fighting either, and the spells she uses to ignore SR all require a ranged touch attack. Very frustrating for the group as a whole.
Valoy_Muniz
03-17-05, 04:23 PM In my game I just do not put it to touch attacks. I treat it like a armor bounes only. So the wiz range touch spells normly only need to get the 10+ dex like normal.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tal'eth 03-15-05, 04:10 PM	The Defense Bonus variant (which I really like) has the benefit of not only raising a character's AC higher than would be otherwise, but also significantly increases a character's defense (AC) vs. ranged touch attacks. So much so, that ranged touch spells and and attacks are greatly devalued--meaning that spell casters are far more limited in their reliable combat options. My question is whether or not some of you are using the Defense Bonus variant in conjunction with a house rule of some type that helps to counter-balance the Defense Bonus effectiveness vs ranged touch attacks. Or perhaps some of you would have suggestions about how to go about counter-balancing this issue. One of the ideas I had was to allow only half of a character's defense bonus total to be of effect when subject to a ranged touch attack--reasoning that the defense bonus is a measure of both the character's ability to "get out of the way" and "block, parry, etc." Therefore, the latter component of the defense bonus would be ineffectual against such attacks (since you can't block or parry a ranged touch attack). Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks and take care!!
Tal'eth 03-15-05, 06:38 PM	Hi! hehehe....anyone have a comment?
PaTRiXXX 03-17-05, 04:42 AM	For my future campaign I will probably use the defense class bonus. I will probably rule that the defense class bonus is based on better training blocking weapons and arrows. So you can't block a ray of energy with a sword and therefore no defense bonus for ranged touch attacks.
Mystic Theurge 03-17-05, 04:07 PM	If you don't like the option of devaluing the ranged touch attacks of spells, you might consider the option of allowing the character to add caster level to the attack roll. Consider, however, that many monsters still have a poor defense bonus and would be extremely easy for arcan casters to hit at that point, almost making them automatic. I ran into this problem a couple of game sessions back when my wizard character was rendered almost completely useless because she couldn't roll a nat 20 to hit what normally would be a nominal ranged touch AC under the original rules. She was rendered almost useless becasue she couldn't seem to defeat the SR of the creature they were fighting either, and the spells she uses to ignore SR all require a ranged touch attack. Very frustrating for the group as a whole.
Valoy_Muniz 03-17-05, 04:23 PM	In my game I just do not put it to touch attacks. I treat it like a armor bounes only. So the wiz range touch spells normly only need to get the 10+ dex like normal.