Scaling Charge (and Aiming) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Scaling Charge (and Aiming) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thelon Fairblade
06-02-06, 11:30 AM Actually, this idea was spawned from a comment on the House Rule: Aiming thread.

Basically, the rule starts with the "charge" action as-is. +2 to hit, -2 AC, single attack (standard action).

However, it scales slowly as you level up. For each iterative attack you normally have (i.e. +6 BAB, +11 BAB, and +16 BAB), your charge action either gains an additional +1 to hit or +2 damage. [The -2 AC penalty never goes away.]

This would work back to the aiming house rule, too. +2 to hit, -2 AC, single attack (Aiming is a full-round action with 1 shot). For each iterative atack you normally have, your Aiming action gains an additional +1 to hit, or +2 on the damage rolled.
Thelon Fairblade
06-06-06, 09:46 AM :bump:
Xeviat-DM
06-06-06, 03:15 PM You know ... I like this. A lot.

I don't think there should be an AC penalty for aiming without a charge; the -2 AC is payment for being able to move that far and attack. I'd say that your aiming would do nothing until you hit +6 BAB; then you get +1 to hit for every 5 BAB you have higher than +1 (so +6, +11, and +16).

I'd stick with to hit bonuses, though; damage bonuses are iffy to me.
Thelon Fairblade
06-09-06, 12:00 PM The penalty was applied to Aiming to give a reason why 1st level archers wouldn't use it all the time -- giving up a move action isn't enough cost for the +2 to hit. A 1st level melee character can't give up his move action ot make his single full-action swing at +2 w/o penalty, after all.

Personally, I would make Aiming a "1 round" action, not full-round. Give up all actions this round; if you aren't disrupted before your next action (Concentration checks, anyone?), your shot goes off at the beginning of your next action, just like a Summoning spell.
Xeviat-DM
06-09-06, 07:11 PM The penalty was applied to Aiming to give a reason why 1st level archers wouldn't use it all the time -- giving up a move action isn't enough cost for the +2 to hit. A 1st level melee character can't give up his move action ot make his single full-action swing at +2 w/o penalty, after all.

Personally, I would make Aiming a "1 round" action, not full-round. Give up all actions this round; if you aren't disrupted before your next action (Concentration checks, anyone?), your shot goes off at the beginning of your next action, just like a Summoning spell.

I was suggesting that you can't "aim" until you have a +6 BAB; so if that's not what you're looking for, the AC penalty is appropriate. Speaking of which, it does make an amount of sense, because you're going to be moving less while you're aiming.

Aiming as a 1 round action would be difficult, and I'd say it would require more bonuses than just +2 to hit. I believe this because it will give the target a chance to move out of range. It's realistic, though, and I'd like to see if you make anything of it.
Thelon Fairblade
06-11-06, 10:31 PM True, full-round aiming does give the target a chance to move away. My first answer was "Hey, it's only 6 seconds, and range categories are huge!" My second answer was "There is no in-game reason for a target to know he is being aimed at, unless he is specifically looking (or perhaps a really high Spot DC)." My final answer though - while incorporating all of the above - is this second line: "Once you have declared that you are using the Aim action, you can at any time forfeit the benefits of Aiming to instead make your ranged attack as if it were a readied action."

For example, you are aiming at the hobgoblin warleader you have snuck up on. He hasn't moved for some reason, so you thought it would be a good chance to get a nice shot at the magic 30'. Suddenly, just before you were going to shoot (i.e. between your declaration and your next turn), he bursts into action! You can abandon your aiming and shoot immediately while he is still in the 30' Sneak Attack range, or maintain aim and shoot him on your action, wherever he ends up (hopefully not in your face). If you shoot, you forfeited not only the +2 bonus for aiming, but also the opportunity cost of not doing anthing *last* round (like shooting him then, too!).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thelon Fairblade 06-02-06, 11:30 AM	Actually, this idea was spawned from a comment on the House Rule: Aiming thread. Basically, the rule starts with the "charge" action as-is. +2 to hit, -2 AC, single attack (standard action). However, it scales slowly as you level up. For each iterative attack you normally have (i.e. +6 BAB, +11 BAB, and +16 BAB), your charge action either gains an additional +1 to hit or +2 damage. [The -2 AC penalty never goes away.] This would work back to the aiming house rule, too. +2 to hit, -2 AC, single attack (Aiming is a full-round action with 1 shot). For each iterative atack you normally have, your Aiming action gains an additional +1 to hit, or +2 on the damage rolled.
Thelon Fairblade 06-06-06, 09:46 AM	:bump:
Xeviat-DM 06-06-06, 03:15 PM	You know ... I like this. A lot. I don't think there should be an AC penalty for aiming without a charge; the -2 AC is payment for being able to move that far and attack. I'd say that your aiming would do nothing until you hit +6 BAB; then you get +1 to hit for every 5 BAB you have higher than +1 (so +6, +11, and +16). I'd stick with to hit bonuses, though; damage bonuses are iffy to me.
Thelon Fairblade 06-09-06, 12:00 PM	The penalty was applied to Aiming to give a reason why 1st level archers wouldn't use it all the time -- giving up a move action isn't enough cost for the +2 to hit. A 1st level melee character can't give up his move action ot make his single full-action swing at +2 w/o penalty, after all. Personally, I would make Aiming a "1 round" action, not full-round. Give up all actions this round; if you aren't disrupted before your next action (Concentration checks, anyone?), your shot goes off at the beginning of your next action, just like a Summoning spell.
Xeviat-DM 06-09-06, 07:11 PM	The penalty was applied to Aiming to give a reason why 1st level archers wouldn't use it all the time -- giving up a move action isn't enough cost for the +2 to hit. A 1st level melee character can't give up his move action ot make his single full-action swing at +2 w/o penalty, after all. Personally, I would make Aiming a "1 round" action, not full-round. Give up all actions this round; if you aren't disrupted before your next action (Concentration checks, anyone?), your shot goes off at the beginning of your next action, just like a Summoning spell. I was suggesting that you can't "aim" until you have a +6 BAB; so if that's not what you're looking for, the AC penalty is appropriate. Speaking of which, it does make an amount of sense, because you're going to be moving less while you're aiming. Aiming as a 1 round action would be difficult, and I'd say it would require more bonuses than just +2 to hit. I believe this because it will give the target a chance to move out of range. It's realistic, though, and I'd like to see if you make anything of it.
Thelon Fairblade 06-11-06, 10:31 PM	True, full-round aiming does give the target a chance to move away. My first answer was "Hey, it's only 6 seconds, and range categories are huge!" My second answer was "There is no in-game reason for a target to know he is being aimed at, unless he is specifically looking (or perhaps a really high Spot DC)." My final answer though - while incorporating all of the above - is this second line: "Once you have declared that you are using the Aim action, you can at any time forfeit the benefits of Aiming to instead make your ranged attack as if it were a readied action." For example, you are aiming at the hobgoblin warleader you have snuck up on. He hasn't moved for some reason, so you thought it would be a good chance to get a nice shot at the magic 30'. Suddenly, just before you were going to shoot (i.e. between your declaration and your next turn), he bursts into action! You can abandon your aiming and shoot immediately while he is still in the 30' Sneak Attack range, or maintain aim and shoot him on your action, wherever he ends up (hopefully not in your face). If you shoot, you forfeited not only the +2 bonus for aiming, but also the opportunity cost of not doing anthing last round (like shooting him then, too!).