Author Topic: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?  (Read 122007 times)

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Kuroimaken

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #540 on: January 12, 2011, 12:04:43 AM »
Actually IMO, fireball isn't that bad.

Sure it deals less damage than a fighter with a sword, and sure, it doesn't win encounters on it own, but it is good for one thing. Killing opponents that are already caught by your Battlefield Control spells. Yes other things does this better, but not many things a wizard actually picks. Most of the spells a wizard pick that deal directly with enemies need you to see where they are, and doesn't like concealment.
I've actually run into trouble a few times where My solid fog hit my enemies, but since I couldn't see them I couldn't do much to them, except for running away or plastering them with more spells.
Black Tentacles handles the damage which is why it is my favorite spell. But all in all you need some dual threat for when you have locked down your enemies. Cloudkill is also useful if you can get it to not flow away, and your enemies aren't immune to poison or ability damage.

Black Tentacles DOES suffer from a low damage output all in all, sadly. You'd think tentacle rape would hurt more. Which is why I like Daltim's Fiery Tentacles.

It's like Evard's, but ON FIRE!
Gendou Ikari is basically Gregory House in Kaminashades. This is FACT.

For proof, look here:

http://www.layoutjelly.com/image_27/gendo_ikari/

[SPOILER]
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Katana of Enlightenment.
Get yours.[/SPOILER]

I HAVE BROKEN THE 69 INTERNETS BARRIER!


veekie

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #541 on: January 12, 2011, 12:09:42 AM »
Actually IMO, fireball isn't that bad.

Sure it deals less damage than a fighter with a sword, and sure, it doesn't win encounters on it own, but it is good for one thing. Killing opponents that are already caught by your Battlefield Control spells. Yes other things does this better, but not many things a wizard actually picks. Most of the spells a wizard pick that deal directly with enemies need you to see where they are, and doesn't like concealment.
I've actually run into trouble a few times where My solid fog hit my enemies, but since I couldn't see them I couldn't do much to them, except for running away or plastering them with more spells.
Black Tentacles handles the damage which is why it is my favorite spell. But all in all you need some dual threat for when you have locked down your enemies. Cloudkill is also useful if you can get it to not flow away, and your enemies aren't immune to poison or ability damage.

Black Tentacles DOES suffer from a low damage output all in all, sadly. You'd think tentacle rape would hurt more. Which is why I like Daltim's Fiery Tentacles.

It's like Evard's, but ON FIRE!
It burns as it probes places it totally shouldn't!
The mind transcends the body.
It's also a little cold because of that.
Please get it a blanket.

I wish I could read your mind,
I can barely read mine.

"Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. At 2:15, it begins rolling up characters."

[spoiler]
"Just what do you think the moon up in the sky is? Everyone sees that big, round shiny thing and thinks there must be something round up there, right? That's just silly. The truth is much more awesome than that. You can almost never see the real Moon, and its appearance is death to humans. You can only see the Moon when it's reflected in things. And the things it reflects in, like water or glass, can all be broken, right? Since the moon you see in the sky is just being reflected in the heavens, if you tear open the heavens it's easy to break it~"
-Ibuki Suika, on overkill

To sumbolaion diakoneto moi, basilisk ouranionon.
Epigenentheto, apoleia keraune hos timeis pteirei.
Hekatonkatis kai khiliakis astrapsato.
Khiliarkhou Astrape!
[/spoiler]

There is no higher price than 'free'.

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Bozwevial

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #542 on: January 12, 2011, 12:12:34 AM »
Actually IMO, fireball isn't that bad.

Sure it deals less damage than a fighter with a sword, and sure, it doesn't win encounters on it own, but it is good for one thing. Killing opponents that are already caught by your Battlefield Control spells. Yes other things does this better, but not many things a wizard actually picks. Most of the spells a wizard pick that deal directly with enemies need you to see where they are, and doesn't like concealment.
I've actually run into trouble a few times where My solid fog hit my enemies, but since I couldn't see them I couldn't do much to them, except for running away or plastering them with more spells.
Black Tentacles handles the damage which is why it is my favorite spell. But all in all you need some dual threat for when you have locked down your enemies. Cloudkill is also useful if you can get it to not flow away, and your enemies aren't immune to poison or ability damage.

Black Tentacles DOES suffer from a low damage output all in all, sadly. You'd think tentacle rape would hurt more. Which is why I like Daltim's Fiery Tentacles.

It's like Evard's, but ON FIRE!
It burns as it probes places it totally shouldn't!
Fiery Tentacles of Forced Intrusion?

Kuroimaken

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #543 on: January 12, 2011, 12:35:59 AM »
Actually IMO, fireball isn't that bad.

Sure it deals less damage than a fighter with a sword, and sure, it doesn't win encounters on it own, but it is good for one thing. Killing opponents that are already caught by your Battlefield Control spells. Yes other things does this better, but not many things a wizard actually picks. Most of the spells a wizard pick that deal directly with enemies need you to see where they are, and doesn't like concealment.
I've actually run into trouble a few times where My solid fog hit my enemies, but since I couldn't see them I couldn't do much to them, except for running away or plastering them with more spells.
Black Tentacles handles the damage which is why it is my favorite spell. But all in all you need some dual threat for when you have locked down your enemies. Cloudkill is also useful if you can get it to not flow away, and your enemies aren't immune to poison or ability damage.

Black Tentacles DOES suffer from a low damage output all in all, sadly. You'd think tentacle rape would hurt more. Which is why I like Daltim's Fiery Tentacles.

It's like Evard's, but ON FIRE!
It burns as it probes places it totally shouldn't!

So THAT'S why it burns when the fighter pees.
Gendou Ikari is basically Gregory House in Kaminashades. This is FACT.

For proof, look here:

http://www.layoutjelly.com/image_27/gendo_ikari/

[SPOILER]
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Katana of Enlightenment.
Get yours.[/SPOILER]

I HAVE BROKEN THE 69 INTERNETS BARRIER!


veekie

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #544 on: January 12, 2011, 12:36:54 AM »
Actually IMO, fireball isn't that bad.

Sure it deals less damage than a fighter with a sword, and sure, it doesn't win encounters on it own, but it is good for one thing. Killing opponents that are already caught by your Battlefield Control spells. Yes other things does this better, but not many things a wizard actually picks. Most of the spells a wizard pick that deal directly with enemies need you to see where they are, and doesn't like concealment.
I've actually run into trouble a few times where My solid fog hit my enemies, but since I couldn't see them I couldn't do much to them, except for running away or plastering them with more spells.
Black Tentacles handles the damage which is why it is my favorite spell. But all in all you need some dual threat for when you have locked down your enemies. Cloudkill is also useful if you can get it to not flow away, and your enemies aren't immune to poison or ability damage.

Black Tentacles DOES suffer from a low damage output all in all, sadly. You'd think tentacle rape would hurt more. Which is why I like Daltim's Fiery Tentacles.

It's like Evard's, but ON FIRE!
It burns as it probes places it totally shouldn't!

So THAT'S why it burns when the fighter pees.
It also burns when the sorc pees but thats just the bugger showing off.
The mind transcends the body.
It's also a little cold because of that.
Please get it a blanket.

I wish I could read your mind,
I can barely read mine.

"Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. At 2:15, it begins rolling up characters."

[spoiler]
"Just what do you think the moon up in the sky is? Everyone sees that big, round shiny thing and thinks there must be something round up there, right? That's just silly. The truth is much more awesome than that. You can almost never see the real Moon, and its appearance is death to humans. You can only see the Moon when it's reflected in things. And the things it reflects in, like water or glass, can all be broken, right? Since the moon you see in the sky is just being reflected in the heavens, if you tear open the heavens it's easy to break it~"
-Ibuki Suika, on overkill

To sumbolaion diakoneto moi, basilisk ouranionon.
Epigenentheto, apoleia keraune hos timeis pteirei.
Hekatonkatis kai khiliakis astrapsato.
Khiliarkhou Astrape!
[/spoiler]

There is no higher price than 'free'.

"I won't die. I've been ordered not to die."

Bozwevial

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #545 on: January 12, 2011, 12:37:23 AM »
Actually IMO, fireball isn't that bad.

Sure it deals less damage than a fighter with a sword, and sure, it doesn't win encounters on it own, but it is good for one thing. Killing opponents that are already caught by your Battlefield Control spells. Yes other things does this better, but not many things a wizard actually picks. Most of the spells a wizard pick that deal directly with enemies need you to see where they are, and doesn't like concealment.
I've actually run into trouble a few times where My solid fog hit my enemies, but since I couldn't see them I couldn't do much to them, except for running away or plastering them with more spells.
Black Tentacles handles the damage which is why it is my favorite spell. But all in all you need some dual threat for when you have locked down your enemies. Cloudkill is also useful if you can get it to not flow away, and your enemies aren't immune to poison or ability damage.

Black Tentacles DOES suffer from a low damage output all in all, sadly. You'd think tentacle rape would hurt more. Which is why I like Daltim's Fiery Tentacles.

It's like Evard's, but ON FIRE!
It burns as it probes places it totally shouldn't!

So THAT'S why it burns when the fighter pees.
Well, I mean, with his Charisma, it wasn't going to be the alternative.

Sunic_Flames

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #546 on: January 12, 2011, 12:50:23 PM »
So... Fireball = same role as any random mook, which does not cost you resources? That's still a waste of space.
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[spoiler]
Sunic may be more abrasive than sandpaper coated in chainsaws (not that its a bad thing, he really does know what he's talking about), but just posting in this thread without warning and telling him he's an asshole which, if you knew his past experiences on WotC and Paizo is flat-out uncalled for. Never mind the insults (which are clearly 4Chan-level childish). You say people like Sunic are the bane of the internet? Try looking at your own post and telling me you are better than him.

Here's a fun fact: You aren't. By a few leagues.
[/spoiler]

Lycanthromancer

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #547 on: January 12, 2011, 12:52:27 PM »
Delayed blast fireballs have their uses.

I mean, coat a fire-bead in quintessence and stock up on temporal grenades.
[spoiler]Masculine men like masculine things. Masculine men are masculine. Therefore, liking masculine men is masculine.

I dare anyone to find a hole in that logic.
______________________________________
[/spoiler]I'm a writer. These are my stories. Some are even SFW! (Warning: Mostly Gay.)
My awesome poster collection. (Warning, some are NSFW.)
Agita's awesome poster collection.
[spoiler]
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Which book is Lycanthromancer in?
Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
 :D
shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
[/spoiler]

Bauglir

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #548 on: January 12, 2011, 03:25:38 PM »
Is there nothing Lycanthromancer can't find a way to improve with quintessence?
So you end up stuck in an endless loop, unable to act, forever.

In retrospect, much like Keanu Reeves.

Bozwevial

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #549 on: January 12, 2011, 03:26:32 PM »
Is there nothing Lycanthromancer can't find a way to improve with quintessence?
Quintessence itself?

Lycanthromancer

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #550 on: January 12, 2011, 07:32:23 PM »
Is there nothing Lycanthromancer can't find a way to improve with quintessence?
Quintessence itself?
Quintessence + more quintessence = more quintessence.

See? Even that is not beyond my ability.

Also, see my psionic powers revision.
[spoiler]Masculine men like masculine things. Masculine men are masculine. Therefore, liking masculine men is masculine.

I dare anyone to find a hole in that logic.
______________________________________
[/spoiler]I'm a writer. These are my stories. Some are even SFW! (Warning: Mostly Gay.)
My awesome poster collection. (Warning, some are NSFW.)
Agita's awesome poster collection.
[spoiler]
+1 Lycanthromancer
Which book is Lycanthromancer in?
Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
 :D
shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
[/spoiler]

Bozwevial

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #551 on: January 12, 2011, 08:15:09 PM »
Is there nothing Lycanthromancer can't find a way to improve with quintessence?
Quintessence itself?
Quintessence + more quintessence = more quintessence.

See? Even that is not beyond my ability.
Yes, but quintessence+more quintessence > more quintessence. :P

Bauglir

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #552 on: January 13, 2011, 12:19:38 AM »
Is there nothing Lycanthromancer can't find a way to improve with quintessence?
Quintessence itself?

You could totally store your jar of quintessence in a jar of quintessence, just for that added level of safety.
So you end up stuck in an endless loop, unable to act, forever.

In retrospect, much like Keanu Reeves.

Kuroimaken

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #553 on: January 13, 2011, 08:33:25 AM »
Is there nothing Lycanthromancer can't find a way to improve with quintessence?
Quintessence itself?

You could totally store your jar of quintessence in a jar of quintessence, just for that added level of safety.

YO DAWG!
Gendou Ikari is basically Gregory House in Kaminashades. This is FACT.

For proof, look here:

http://www.layoutjelly.com/image_27/gendo_ikari/

[SPOILER]
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Katana of Enlightenment.
Get yours.[/SPOILER]

I HAVE BROKEN THE 69 INTERNETS BARRIER!


SorO_Lost

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #554 on: January 13, 2011, 04:09:15 PM »
Everything is better on fire.
Tiers explained in 8 sentences. With examples!
[spoiler]Tiers break down into who has spellcasting more than anything else due to spells being better than anything else in the game.
6: Skill based. Commoner, Expert, Samurai.
5: Mundane warrior. Barbarian, Fighter, Monk.
4: Partial casters. Adapt, Hexblade, Paladin, Ranger, Spelltheif.
3: Focused casters. Bard, Beguiler, Dread Necromancer, Martial Adapts, Warmage.
2: Full casters. Favored Soul, Psion, Sorcerer, Wu Jen.
1: Elitists. Artificer, Cleric, Druid, Wizard.
0: Gods. StP Erudite, Illthid Savant, Pun-Pun, Rocks fall & you die.
[/spoiler]

Lycanthromancer

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #555 on: January 13, 2011, 04:12:29 PM »
Everything is better on fire.
OBJECTION!

"It burns when I pee!" does not fall under that umbrella statement!
« Last Edit: January 13, 2011, 04:14:06 PM by Lycanthromancer »
[spoiler]Masculine men like masculine things. Masculine men are masculine. Therefore, liking masculine men is masculine.

I dare anyone to find a hole in that logic.
______________________________________
[/spoiler]I'm a writer. These are my stories. Some are even SFW! (Warning: Mostly Gay.)
My awesome poster collection. (Warning, some are NSFW.)
Agita's awesome poster collection.
[spoiler]
+1 Lycanthromancer
Which book is Lycanthromancer in?
Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
 :D
shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
[/spoiler]

Kuroimaken

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #556 on: January 13, 2011, 04:50:43 PM »
Everything is better on fire.
OBJECTION!

"It burns when I pee!" does not fall under that umbrella statement!
OVERRULED! A burning sensation does not equate to fire! See acid burn.
Gendou Ikari is basically Gregory House in Kaminashades. This is FACT.

For proof, look here:

http://www.layoutjelly.com/image_27/gendo_ikari/

[SPOILER]
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Katana of Enlightenment.
Get yours.[/SPOILER]

I HAVE BROKEN THE 69 INTERNETS BARRIER!


Sunic_Flames

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #557 on: January 13, 2011, 06:55:36 PM »
Everything is better on fire.

I concur. Observe.

This is your thread.



This is your thread on fire. Any questions?
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There is no greater contribution than Hi Welcome.

Huge amounts of people are fuckwits. That doesn't mean that fuckwit is a valid lifestyle.

IP proofing and avoiding being CAPed OR - how to make characters relevant in the long term.

Friends don't let friends be Short Bus Hobos.

[spoiler]
Sunic may be more abrasive than sandpaper coated in chainsaws (not that its a bad thing, he really does know what he's talking about), but just posting in this thread without warning and telling him he's an asshole which, if you knew his past experiences on WotC and Paizo is flat-out uncalled for. Never mind the insults (which are clearly 4Chan-level childish). You say people like Sunic are the bane of the internet? Try looking at your own post and telling me you are better than him.

Here's a fun fact: You aren't. By a few leagues.
[/spoiler]

Bloody Initiate

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #558 on: January 13, 2011, 08:16:29 PM »
Another thing that fucks up the caster vs. mundane thing came to mind last night and the "spell-generated weapons" thread reminded me of it.

All the best anti-caster shit is caster only!

Spell Turning: Fuck you, casters only (Unless you want to fuck about in a CW PrC for 3/day garbage)
Anti-Magic Field: Stay out! Casters only!
Crafting Magic Items: Casters ONLY!
Moon Blade: Fuck off! Casters only!

EVERYTHING can be mimicked by a spell and in fact most of the mundane anti-caster shit MIMICKS SPELLS.

They should've made counterspelling better and then left all the anti-caster shit OUT of the spell lists. Why the hell and HOW the hell anti-magic field a spell anyway? That makes zero sense except in fantasy, and even then there's no continuity about how magic works or what it does. It's just "magic".

If I were to balance this crap out, I'd first upgrade mundanes (as people in this thread have suggested), probably with all the shit I'd rip away from casters, like some of the stuff mentioned above.

Anyway, it came to mind and I figured I'd post it before I forgot.
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veekie

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Re: Underpowered Mundanes or Overpowered Magic - Which is worse?
« Reply #559 on: January 13, 2011, 09:38:31 PM »
Everything is better on fire.
OBJECTION!

"It burns when I pee!" does not fall under that umbrella statement!
OVERRULED! A burning sensation does not equate to fire! See acid burn.
It can be a statement of prowess from a sorceror who has chosen to cast Fireball with his genitalia.
The mind transcends the body.
It's also a little cold because of that.
Please get it a blanket.

I wish I could read your mind,
I can barely read mine.

"Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. At 2:15, it begins rolling up characters."

[spoiler]
"Just what do you think the moon up in the sky is? Everyone sees that big, round shiny thing and thinks there must be something round up there, right? That's just silly. The truth is much more awesome than that. You can almost never see the real Moon, and its appearance is death to humans. You can only see the Moon when it's reflected in things. And the things it reflects in, like water or glass, can all be broken, right? Since the moon you see in the sky is just being reflected in the heavens, if you tear open the heavens it's easy to break it~"
-Ibuki Suika, on overkill

To sumbolaion diakoneto moi, basilisk ouranionon.
Epigenentheto, apoleia keraune hos timeis pteirei.
Hekatonkatis kai khiliakis astrapsato.
Khiliarkhou Astrape!
[/spoiler]

There is no higher price than 'free'.

"I won't die. I've been ordered not to die."