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By the book: Daily Bard utility power

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
perchrh
Apr 18, 2009 6:33:57 Our heroes are up against an especially tough monster and they're having trouble beating it. One of them being a kind of expert on monsters discovers what this monster's weakness is, like superman's kryptonite, or the dragon's missing scale close to its heart or so.

Before bringing this new power into my campaign, I'd like to discuss it with you experts
Is there a problem with this power, mechanically? Too powerful? Other comments?

By the book: Daily Bard utility power level 3

“You are especially knowledgeable about the monster you are fighting, and know just where to hit to hurt it the most.”
Do a skill check of DC 20 + monster level on either Nature, Religion or Arcana, depending on the type of monster. If you make it, you grant a +1 knowledge bonus to achieving critical hits on the target for all allies within burst 5 for the remainder of the encounter.
Paragon tier: The bonus increases to +2
Epic tier: The bonus increases to +3

Example:
Johnno the barbarian, your ally, used to do critical hits on to hit rolls of 19+. After using this power he does critical hits on 18+ on the target you selected.
#2
AbdulAlhazred
Apr 18, 2009 8:11:32 I think it is a fine concept. I'm a bit unclear on what a 'bonus to critical hits' is exactly is all. Does that mean you get a crit on say a 19 or 20 instead of a 20? I suspect so and I think in that case it is a decent power but not incredible.

Compare this with the level 1 daily Echoes of the Guardian. It puts a mark on things you hit till the end of the encounter. Now a mark may not do much, but usually it is going to at least force the enemy to attack whom you want them to and often give them a -2 to-hit. This is also only the secondary effect since the power also does 2[W]+CHA damage. It is a daily not a Utility, but I don't think that really makes much difference, they are both daily usage.

So I probably wouldn't take it just because it requires a die roll to work at all and the benefit is essentially going to amount to a small amount of extra damage. It will be decent against boss type encounters.

I might pump it up a bit. Maybe have it add a couple dice of extra crit damage? Not sure. I'm no big expert on homebrewing powers.
#3
blowfish
Apr 18, 2009 8:15:18 Is the +1 bonus to crits a crit range increase or a bonus to damage? It's not very clear.
#4
perchrh
Apr 19, 2009 5:04:51
Is the +1 bonus to crits a crit range increase or a bonus to damage? It's not very clear.

Yes, the bonus is that the crit range increase.
#5
kryx
Apr 19, 2009 18:32:10 That seems very broken. At epic it could mean a daggermaster critting on 15-20.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 perchrh Apr 18, 2009 6:33:57	Our heroes are up against an especially tough monster and they're having trouble beating it. One of them being a kind of expert on monsters discovers what this monster's weakness is, like superman's kryptonite, or the dragon's missing scale close to its heart or so. Before bringing this new power into my campaign, I'd like to discuss it with you experts Is there a problem with this power, mechanically? Too powerful? Other comments? By the book: Daily Bard utility power level 3 “You are especially knowledgeable about the monster you are fighting, and know just where to hit to hurt it the most.” Do a skill check of DC 20 + monster level on either Nature, Religion or Arcana, depending on the type of monster. If you make it, you grant a +1 knowledge bonus to achieving critical hits on the target for all allies within burst 5 for the remainder of the encounter. Paragon tier: The bonus increases to +2 Epic tier: The bonus increases to +3 Example: Johnno the barbarian, your ally, used to do critical hits on to hit rolls of 19+. After using this power he does critical hits on 18+ on the target you selected.
#2 AbdulAlhazred Apr 18, 2009 8:11:32	I think it is a fine concept. I'm a bit unclear on what a 'bonus to critical hits' is exactly is all. Does that mean you get a crit on say a 19 or 20 instead of a 20? I suspect so and I think in that case it is a decent power but not incredible. Compare this with the level 1 daily Echoes of the Guardian. It puts a mark on things you hit till the end of the encounter. Now a mark may not do much, but usually it is going to at least force the enemy to attack whom you want them to and often give them a -2 to-hit. This is also only the secondary effect since the power also does 2[W]+CHA damage. It is a daily not a Utility, but I don't think that really makes much difference, they are both daily usage. So I probably wouldn't take it just because it requires a die roll to work at all and the benefit is essentially going to amount to a small amount of extra damage. It will be decent against boss type encounters. I might pump it up a bit. Maybe have it add a couple dice of extra crit damage? Not sure. I'm no big expert on homebrewing powers.
#3 blowfish Apr 18, 2009 8:15:18	Is the +1 bonus to crits a crit range increase or a bonus to damage? It's not very clear.
#4 perchrh Apr 19, 2009 5:04:51	Is the +1 bonus to crits a crit range increase or a bonus to damage? It's not very clear. Yes, the bonus is that the crit range increase.
#5 kryx Apr 19, 2009 18:32:10	That seems very broken. At epic it could mean a daggermaster critting on 15-20.