In D&D 4E what the heck does an Action Point look like from a role-playing perspective?
Thanks,
-Dave
beerandbattle.com
A surge of adrenaline rushes through my veins and I squeeze one extra action in the blink of an eye.
but now I'm starting to think of other ways to look at it.
That's the beauty of it, and why 4e doesn't attach a lot of fluff to its mechanics. There's almost no wrong way to look at it. It may be a sudden burst of divine providence for one character, or just an adrenaline surge for another.
Seriously though, a rush of adrenaline would probably is the best explanation i can think of
If you're a monk, after you spend an action point you have to stop and do a Bruce Lee pose and go "Huaaahhhhh!!!"...
if you're a ranger and you spend an action point to attack, the words "Two Hits!...Three Hits!...Four Hits!...Five Hit Combo!" appear over your head...
For a wizard, the game pauses and everything goes dark around them as they raise up their implement, lightning comes down and strikes it, and then they shoot a huge ball of magic at the target...
To prevent them from being used randomly, they must be kept inside a leather container of some sort.
Upon using an action point, the player opens the container and consumes one of the points. Time slows for a second as all the player's enemies backtrack a few steps, allowing him to make whatever action he pleases.
'With a snarl I leap into a further swing of my sword' an action point charge or attack.
'Calling a silent prayer from my deity, my prayer is answered with burning lance of faith' cleric using an action point to attack.
'
The movie "Die Hard" immediately springs to mind. Leaping off the side of a building while tied to a firehose for safety - action point. Falling in the elevator shaft while reaching for one duct and managing to grab another before oblivion - action point. Take out the last two bad guys with your last two bullets by lulling them into thinking you're unarmed and then quick-drawing the gun taped to your back - action point. Run barefoot across a floor covered in shards of glass to reach safety before the bad guys take you out with flash-bang grenades (but wind up limping and bleeding profusely as a result) - action point.
Die Hard, unlike its sequels and tons of other movies like it, feels less like an action movie with an over-the-top unkillable hero in unbelievable situations. It feels like a "normal" guy doing extraordinary things and barely succeeding - but only because he is in very extraordinary circumstances and has to burn years worth of stored up action points to make it through.
Yelling with speed lines in the background.
Action points are small glowing balls of energy that form the outline of Neil Patrick Harris' face.
To prevent them from being used randomly, they must be kept inside a leather container of some sort.
Upon using an action point, the player opens the container and consumes one of the points. Time slows for a second as all the player's enemies backtrack a few steps, allowing him to make whatever action he pleases.
...and they stay crunchy in milk!
You watch anime?
Yelling with speed lines in the background.
This. One thousand times this.
It's either acting when you shouldn't, or doing something that should be impossible.
-Han shooting the sarlaac (sp?) while almost still blind? Action Point.
-Dave (Sorcerer's Apprentice) stepping up to block Morgana's fireball? Action Point.
-B.A. Baracus sprinting and dodging an army of falling shipping crates? Action Point.
Think of it as a dramatic surge of action. Neo's bullet-dodge in the Matrix (not sequels) would have been an action point. Legolas riding a shield down a flight of stairs in Two Towers would have been an action point (I mean, he couldn't have made it down those stairs in one turn without giving up his attacks; the fact that he's riding a shield instead of running on foot is more flavor than anything else)
As far as what it looks like in the real world, it doesn't have to look like anything (see above examples). It could, however, appear as crackling energy around a character, a sudden extreme calm and focus, or even a downright glow. If I were a Fighter, I'd describe it as a super-human focus. If I were a Rogue, I'd describe it as a faint blur following my movements. If I were a Cleric, I'd state I were glowing (gold/yellow, because no matter how hard I try I always end up playing a Cleric of Pelor). If I were a Wizard, I'd pick some effect to match my spells, either in theme or in that turn. (ie, as a storm-themed Wizard, action points would make lighting shoot out and make it look like I'm a walking storm, but if I were using the Action Point to go into a fireball frenzy, I'd make my hands/eyes glow with fire or something) For extra grins and giggles, if my Fighter was born during a particularly bad storm, maybe HE looks like a walking storm when using an Action Point, implying the storm at his birth is some sort of omen.
It doesn't have to "look" like anything, but it could look like whatever you need it to, and my advise would be to make it fun and RP the hell out of it.
In D&D 4E what the heck does an Action Point look like from a role-playing perspective?
Hmm...I don't know about you guys, but the last one I used kinda came out looking like poop.
T
Interesting question. I'd also like to know what it looks like when you miss with the power you used your action point for.
Obviously this will vary greatly based on the power, but sometimes the heroes summons up their reserve strength but it simply isn't enough to pierce their foes defenses or in an effort to make so many actions they get sloppy.
For the most part, I hold to similiar descriptions as I would a normal miss. Physical attacks are deflected off shields/armor, the enemy dodges/dances just out of reach or the attacker is slipped/tripped up in some way. Magically attacks missing are often them getting out of the way of most of the attack, using something for cover(including allies) or incredible toughness letting them brush it off.
As for action points, for most of my characters it is a continuation of the previous attack. The hefty swing with the warhammer hits a foe and the dwarven fighters gets drawn in the hammer's momentum, adding power enough to launch a second attack. Stuff like that.
As for monsters, it either is them enjoying a good hit so much that they can't help themselves but to try and eat some extra liver, or they are so damn terrified that they spend their own resources and strength wildly flailing at the PC's to leave them alone.
You watch anime?
Yelling with speed lines in the background.
You, sir, just caused me bodily harm.
The thing is, when I was running Eberron in 3.5, action points were different, and had more potential. Remember? You could use them to add an extra d6 to a roll after you make the roll, but before the DM announces the result. I had fun with them, especially when it was successful. One time, a PC was dangling one-handed off of a ruined giant temple in Xen'Drik, about 200 feet off the ground (anybody else remember Grasp of the Emerald Claw? Yeah, that mod). PC rolls a Climb check, knows he didn't make it, rolls the action point. I start the description like he's going to fall to his doom ("Charles begins to feel his hand slip, a few flakes of stone tumbling past his face"), but then, add the trademark action point phrase: "BUT WITH HEROIC STRENGTH.....!"
Ah, those were fun.
But, to get back to the modern iteration of action points, AlphaSquirell has a good list there. I'll admit, my "yelling with speed lines in the background" was rather blithe and not applicable for everybody, but that's the feeling. Action points are for those moments of cinematic awesomeness where a hero is...heroic. Tailor descriptions to the hero. Your Rogue might get a slow-mo bit, and then FAST MOVEMENT (with speed lines). Your Wizard may be surrounded with coruscating lines of energy as he bellows and sends torrents of energy out. Your fighter (or barbarian) might do the DragonBall Z thing where they yell, all their veins stick out, and then send somebody flying.
As for unsuccessful action points, well, remember that cosmetic descriptions can still add some sort of feeling. You may use your action point, and only by a desperate series of parries does your opponent manage to avoid not getting hit. He knows that he won't be able to do that again, and you can see it on his face. Alternately, your strike is intercepted at the last second by a parry or block, but the weapon or shield shatters under your blow. Unfortunately, the enemy is able to quickly recover a replacement weapon or shield from a fallen body. Your blow may be enough to send the target staggering back a few feet (but not far enough to be a square back). If you want a bit more anime, target is knocked back, roars, and charges back in.
Actually, I like that last one.....
Anyways. The central thesis is that action point = cinematic awesomeness. So, think action movie. Think anime. Think heroic. Think....awesome.
Interesting question. I'd also like to know what it looks like when you miss with the power you used your action point for.
^Something like that.Is it actually possible to think anime and think awesome at the same time?
If you've ever seen one of a half dozen Miyazaki films, yes it is.
An action point is when all the other actors slow their motions and lines, while you continue acting at speed. That way later, when the director speeds up the reel for production, you appear to act impossibly fast.
Is it actually possible to think anime and think awesome at the same time?
Oh god yes.
Is it actually possible to think anime and think awesome at the same time?
Really, Salla? I thought you would be above stereotyping works simply due to the medium used to convey them and not based on the merits of a particular work itself. Especially a medium that is objectively as varied as any other.
On a more down to earth level. Have you ever done something, where after you did it, you thought "Wow! I couldn't do that again if I tried." That is an action point.
Ramius
On a more down to earth level. Have you ever done something, where after you did it, you thought "Wow! I couldn't do that again if I tried." That is an action point.
Ramius
I have to use an action point every morning just to pour my coffee. Ugh.