Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Kereminde Jun 03, 2011 20:23:33	In my campaign world it's an established bit of lore and research that such things as ley lines exist . . . though, of course, they are not common knowledge. The last time such things were surveyed, it was during an age of high arcane talent and focus; these days such pursuits of knowledge are in ill repute among most lands. The people who would be interested don't know much about them, and the ley lines are not obvious in their presence. Except, of course, in certain places where multiple ley lines intersect; those are called "Wellsprings", and the more lines which intersect translate to a greater amount of power available to those who know how to tap into it. Ever since I started the campaign, I had been itching to find a way of actually incorporating this into the game without giving away later plot points. Some months ago I posted a minor discussion on the existence of artifacts the players might find and be able to draw power from . . . eventually I just scrapped it due to finding it difficult to handle. Now I think I could have a handle on it, but of course it doesn't fit anymore with the party's goal of destroying these artifacts to prevent them being perverted by powerful forces. Enter last session, where the Wizard began researching some details about the ley lines from some books I left in his path so he could understand just what was going on. (Initially the books were meant to be a means of shedding light on WHY their targets were in certain places, and then developed into a way for the intelligent players to predict where to search for the next target.) Between this and a couple established limitations, he's got the idea of recreating the Wellspring effects of at least one of these artifacts. So far I told him it would take years, or a lifetime of study to produce anything . . . and was reminded: "I'm am elf. Time is what I have a lot of." Rather than just stonewalling him with the DM's patented "I said not possible", I instead went back to the drawing board and began looking through the supplemental books I picked up and noticed some things which gave me ideas. Instead of powers, create a terrain feature for each and design auras which were tailored for what the artifacts were supposed to do. Doing this is a little late, since four of the eight artifacts are destroyed . . . but the framework is in progress. I post here mostly to show what I did put together and get input: - Should I make the ability to tap into the ley lines a feat, or a boon gained over study time in character? - Are the basic powers of the Ley Line Wellsprings suitable, too powerful, too weak . . . or something else?  - What would you do with the concept? Ley Line Wellspring   Terrain AC: 24; F/R/W: 22/22/22; HP: 100 Immune poison, disease, psychic Ley Line Focus: Aura 5. When using a power with the Arcane keyword, any creature may take damage equal to the power's level to deal an additional +1d6 damage per level of the power. The additional damage is of the same type as the power's usual damage. This effect may not be used more than once per turn.  Arcane Backlash: Aura 5. If the Wellspring is struck by an attack, all targets within the aura take half  the damage dealt. This damage is of the same type which was dealt to the Wellspring originally.
#2 natural20username Jun 03, 2011 21:52:07	Let me see. I think the best way to explain this is an example. Let's look at an example situation. We have a level 9 wizard using the power Circle of Death. The normal hit line is "The target takes necrotic damage equal to your level. It is also dazed, slowed, and weakened (save ends all)." Now, that power is balanced. The new power would make the wizard take 9 damage, and deal an average of 31.5 (9d6) damage to 1-25 targets within range. And that is crazy. That is more than striker level damage on any power the wizard uses.
#3 Kereminde Jun 03, 2011 22:00:13	Hmmm, scaling issue then? I could back that off some . . . perhaps setting a Wellspring at a certain level and scaling the damage that way. More complex but possibly the balancing factor. I think it's also worth noting this wouldn't be something available at all times, just in certain encounters which would be heavier than normal due to the increased damage output.  As the DM I do control when this comes into play.
#4 natural20username Jun 03, 2011 22:29:39	True. This just may be a bit more sheer oomph than you are willing to hand out for anything less than an attack by truly ridiculous opponents. You could give the wellspring an effect like: Make an Arcana check against a medium DC of your level. If you succeed you gain +2 bonus to a single attack roll before the start of your next turn, and deal an additional 1d6 damage per tier against a single target of an attack html_removed before the start of your next turn.
#5 Kereminde Jun 03, 2011 22:38:43	Right now the only wellsprings I have planned into encounters are specifically tailored for other purposes than "blast it to the Nine Hells and back". They DO power up spells but almost all of them require an investment. And the one encounter is supposed to be less a battle outright than managing to use the Wellspring nearby to weaken the opponent down.  One of the wellsprings I worked on for just inspiration, which was shut down, allowed one to speak to the dead without a ritual spell, but it required burning a healing surge for each question asked. With no guarantee of an answer. (in addition to damage being blasted outwards if it was damaged, naturally.) Edit: Also to note, the party Wizard currently at level 12 can hit +20 to Arcana checks. Setting an DC anywhere on the normal pattern is not an obstacle :P