Melee to Ranged Conversion - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Melee to Ranged Conversion

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Deminine
Nov 04, 2011 16:34:58 So, I have a Drow cleric of Sehanine who wishes to utilize the weapon of her chosen diety, the shortbow. I was approached very recently by this player in regards to her poor selection of powers due to her weapon choice. I think it's fantastic that she's going so far for the sake of character flavor and I was wondering if I could get some advice for helping her maintain her choice. A great deal of her power choices are melee oriented. Is there a way to fairly convert these to ranged powers without completely destroying the balance? If so, what nerfs should I be applying to said powers to make them fair?
#2
Janx_14
Nov 04, 2011 16:39:00 You're probably safe just making them ranged. Most cleric powers are rather limited in range for their leadery effects, meaning she wont be too far away.

Ranged characters have to worry about opportunity attacks, and cover, and such, which melee don't most the time.

Just make the powers ranged ONLY for her, not Ranged or Melee.

If you really want some sort of mechanical counterweight, just make it a feat.
#3
Scottevil912
Nov 04, 2011 16:44:14 I think you are safe to just allow them as ranged.

If you want to go a little more into it - I would likely replace STR on attacks with DEX (if a power uses WIS it stays that way), beyond that she's using a shortbow so she's likely nerfing herself damage wise compared to what could have been using, so I don't think it's going to be a big factor.

Just don't forget opportunity attacks, that alone should hopefully balance it out.
#4
Deminine
Nov 04, 2011 16:47:45 All very good points. Thank you for your help.
#5
Tony_Vargas
Nov 04, 2011 17:47:12 I'll be the dissenting voice, here. Range does make a big difference to powers.

Another alternative, still fairly simple, is to give her a shortbow that can be used as a holy symbol. That opens up all the various ranged implement powers, and she can take her build in a Devoted Cleric direction. Apart from Ranged Basic Attacks, her bow-as-implement could be loosing 'divine arrows' that materialize when she draws it back.
#6
thespaceinvader
Nov 04, 2011 17:49:11 Moonbow Dedicate, and that feat that lets you use WIS for RBAs.

Then, pick a couple of the melee or ranged weapon powers from the Corellon Warpriest build (indeed, the Corellon Warpriest build is very appropriate to a Sehanite, unlike, sadly, the Selune one >.<).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Deminine Nov 04, 2011 16:34:58	So, I have a Drow cleric of Sehanine who wishes to utilize the weapon of her chosen diety, the shortbow. I was approached very recently by this player in regards to her poor selection of powers due to her weapon choice. I think it's fantastic that she's going so far for the sake of character flavor and I was wondering if I could get some advice for helping her maintain her choice. A great deal of her power choices are melee oriented. Is there a way to fairly convert these to ranged powers without completely destroying the balance? If so, what nerfs should I be applying to said powers to make them fair?
#2 Janx_14 Nov 04, 2011 16:39:00	You're probably safe just making them ranged. Most cleric powers are rather limited in range for their leadery effects, meaning she wont be too far away. Ranged characters have to worry about opportunity attacks, and cover, and such, which melee don't most the time. Just make the powers ranged ONLY for her, not Ranged or Melee. If you really want some sort of mechanical counterweight, just make it a feat.
#3 Scottevil912 Nov 04, 2011 16:44:14	I think you are safe to just allow them as ranged. If you want to go a little more into it - I would likely replace STR on attacks with DEX (if a power uses WIS it stays that way), beyond that she's using a shortbow so she's likely nerfing herself damage wise compared to what could have been using, so I don't think it's going to be a big factor. Just don't forget opportunity attacks, that alone should hopefully balance it out.
#4 Deminine Nov 04, 2011 16:47:45	All very good points. Thank you for your help.
#5 Tony_Vargas Nov 04, 2011 17:47:12	I'll be the dissenting voice, here. Range does make a big difference to powers. Another alternative, still fairly simple, is to give her a shortbow that can be used as a holy symbol. That opens up all the various ranged implement powers, and she can take her build in a Devoted Cleric direction. Apart from Ranged Basic Attacks, her bow-as-implement could be loosing 'divine arrows' that materialize when she draws it back.
#6 thespaceinvader Nov 04, 2011 17:49:11	Moonbow Dedicate, and that feat that lets you use WIS for RBAs. Then, pick a couple of the melee or ranged weapon powers from the Corellon Warpriest build (indeed, the Corellon Warpriest build is very appropriate to a Sehanite, unlike, sadly, the Selune one >.<).