OOC Chat

[RobbyPants]

Wow.  I hope everything goes well.

[VennDygrem]

I concur; Good luck arc.

@Robby: I'd make that 1 contiguous 5 ft square per either 2 or 3 caster levels. It doesn't need to be too much more powerful, nor affect that much space, especially given the alterations to its effect. Just my 2 cents.

[RobbyPants]

One per three seems nice.

[veekie]

@archangel
Best of wishes man.

Here are some rough tentative write ups.  If we can agree on a few additions/changes, then I'll start encounter 17.  I just figured I'd address these things first:

Stone Spikes:
Change from caltrop effect to opponent makes a Reflex save or move at half speed and cannot charge.  An opponent only needs to save once per turn that they're in the area, even if they move through multiple squares.  The penalty lasts until they leave the spikes, plus one round per caster level.  The area is one contiguous five-foot square per caster level.


Wind Propelled Shot:
At 1st level, the Aeromancer can use wind to increase the effectiveness of his ranged attacks.  As a move action, he can boost the next ranged attack that he makes with a physical weapon this round.  The boosted attack gains an enhancement bonus to attack rolls equal to one, plus one per five caster levels.  The weapon also deals an extra 1d6 points of damage per three caster levels.  This extra damage is considered to be the same type(s) dealt by the weapon.  This power can be used at will.


Hail Stone:
At 1st level, the Hydromancer can launch a ball of ice at a target with an attack roll (not a touch attack).  The power has a range of medium (100 feet + 10 per caster level) and deals 1d4 points of bludgeoning damage per caster level.  This power bypasses spell resistance and can be used at will.


I don't want to blur these classes too close together.  Originally I was thinking the non-lethal-only aspect of the Aeromancer and Hydromancer would be kind of cool, but it is annoyingly limited.  Hopefully these don't go too far.  The modification to Stone Spikes does make the Earthen Rubble ability less attractive.

Should the Aeromancer's archery thing improve as he levels?
If he can get it down to Swift and 1 round(instead of next attack), it could be an interesting archery variant. Sorta like a longer ranged missile rogue.

The Hydromancer's Create Water, while mechanically not that important, really should at least match up with the cantrip in terms of volume.
Nice hailstone though.

[RobbyPants]

Should the Aeromancer's archery thing improve as he levels?
If he can get it down to Swift and 1 round(instead of next attack), it could be an interesting archery variant. Sorta like a longer ranged missile rogue.

What were you thinking?  A static, non-improving bonus that's easier to activate?

The Hydromancer's Create Water, while mechanically not that important, really should at least match up with the cantrip in terms of volume.
Nice hailstone though.

Good point.  You mentioned it earlier and I forgot it during the write up.

[veekie]

I'm thinking that 1d6/3 levels and an enhancement bonus they were normally going to get anyway would be pretty harmless to put on a ranged weapon, particularly given their low attack bonus. Just spend a swift action to enhance all your missiles for a round and you got a purely ranged, slightly less potent sneak attack-like thing.

[archangel.arcanis]

I like all 3 of them. The snowball is really thematic and seems pretty effective as well. Options are always good and i think with these in addition to the current attacks for Aero & Hydro give lots of new options.  Now we have the choice of dealing subdual to capture prisoners or dealing a lesser amount of lethal damage.

As for the action of the Aero ability i can see it going either way. If it is going to take actions to activate and apply to only one attack then it should probably deal more damage than 1/3lvl, but if it is going to be swift to all attacks that round then i would say 1/3lvl is good.

[RobbyPants]

Now I'm debating if the pyromancer should get something at low level, just so it isn't such a cut-and-dry blast class at 1st level.  I guess most of these classes are like that at 1st level, though.

[veekie]

The pyromancer certainly should as well, I'm just not sure what...other than setting stuff on fire at least.

[RobbyPants]

Maybe the ability to control the size of fires at will.  As a standard action, he can increase or decrease the size of a fire by one category (small, medium, large, etc).  Basically, ala Control Flames, where manifester level is replaced by caster level.

It would allow him to put out fires, and also make things worse.  It's nice in that it's situationally handy in combat, and it's a good plot-altering power outside of combat.

[archangel.arcanis]

I like that idea. I was going to chime in with matter agitation but i think that is going to be better.

[veekie]

Hmm, I think I'd have to agree, that is a particularly fine ability to have.

[Sohala]

Will it work with combust?

[RobbyPants]

Will it work with combust?

Yes, if you use it before it burns out.

[RobbyPants]

I'll try to post these changes to the thread with the classes soon so I can start the next encounter.  Regarding Wind Propelled Shot: should I just gear the enhancement bonus off of GMW?  I was thinking +1 enhancement bonus per four levels (minimum +1) and also add +1d6 damage/3 levels per shot.  The ability would be a swift action to activate and would apply to all physical ranged attacks taken that round.

[archangel.arcanis]

yeah i think that basing it off of GMW would work best as that would give someone a base line of understanding. Reference to the core basics normally helps avoid confusion.

[RobbyPants]

I've added/updated the abilities in the mage thread.  I'll work up a new encounter soon.  Figure that you guys have all of the new abilities.

[Sohala]

Is there an augemet to control flames?

[RobbyPants]

No.  The psionic version is based solely on manifester level.  The elemental mage version just references caster level instead, which caps the maximum size of the fire you can affect.

[Sohala]

Hmm...no giant fires off combust then, or fire reduction for that matter.