The Worst Rule in TFT/Melee/Wizard

[EbilSteebi]

[QUOTE=Rick_Smith;2187540]Hi farbror,

In my campaign, I've split Illusion up into regular illusions (which do real damage) but can be of a limited number of things, and phantasmals, which don't do real damage but are flexible and can be of anything.

Wouldn't that just be an image spell then?

[Rick_Smith]

>> Discussing Phantasms, which don't do real damage.

Originally Posted by EbilSteebi

Wouldn't that just be an image spell then?

Hi EbilSteebi.
I don't want to post the full Phantasmal rules here, but a brief summary...

-- Phantasmals can be disbelieved.
-- They can do damage, but if the phantasmal is disbelieved, the damage it did (to everyone) is disbelieved.
-- If you are killed by a phantasmal, you think you are dead (and so fall into a coma), but are not really killed. You can't be woken until the Phantasmal is disbelieved by anyone, or the spell expires.

The rules are written so that Phantasmals are best at distracting and fooling people, but generally if you want to fight, you are better off with standard Illusions. There are deliberately enough restrictions on Phantasmals that they are not best for fights.

Additionally the flexibility of Phantasmals, requires a higher IQ than a normal Illusion, and the fatigue ST cost is one higher.

The advantage of Phantasmals is that they can be of ANYTHING.

Warm regards, Rick.

[zot]

[QUOTE=EbilSteebi;2187554]

Originally Posted by Rick_Smith

Hi farbror,

In my campaign, I've split Illusion up into regular illusions (which do real damage) but can be of a limited number of things, and phantasmals, which don't do real damage but are flexible and can be of anything.

Wouldn't that just be an image spell then?

Touching an image breaks the spell. You have to disbelieve an illusion to get rid of it.

[ecz]

Originally Posted by Skarg

Do you mean 2 ST (since 1 ST is unconscious)?

Oh, that reminds me of a weak point in the rules, which is not defining what someone can do if they are down to 1 ST after combat, if anything (i.e. are they in a coma or can they talk, walk, run, use any talents, and if they can walk, can they do anything in combat?).

Also rules for dragging around bodies (live, dead, bound, and/or unwilling) would be good to have.




This sounds like as long as you've got a physicker helping, no one would ever die, no?

about coma: we changed rules also here, 1ST still up with penalties to DX. At zero ST inconscious .

about the Physicker to save heros below zero: yes they are helpful, like an healing potion handy, but it's not automatic (unlike potions). The GM assign a roll 4d/DX (or 5d/DX for very serious wounds) to the phyicker. if he fails the hero below zero hits dies in any case.

[larsdangly]

Hmm...I don't agree with most of this stuff, but there is no accounting for taste in these matters.

The only two core rules I think is are significantly messed up are:

- Range penalties for thrown weapons are absurdly too high. You have to be an expert marksman to hit someone with a javelin more than a half dozen yards away. Go out in your back yard, pace off a half dozen yards and look at it.

- The risk roll for jobs is too easy to 'game' into something that outstrips experience as a way of advancing. (Counterpoint: I've played this game often for ~40 years and run statistical models of how risk rolls work, and I'm convinced the main way you use them to become a superman is by cheating. You are quite likely to get killed by any job that lets you advance quickly yet somehow you never seem to hear people's stories about dying on the job...)

[Rick_Smith]

Originally Posted by larsdangly

...
- Range penalties for thrown weapons are absurdly too high. You have to be an expert marksman to hit someone with a javelin more than a half dozen yards away. Go out in your back yard, pace off a half dozen yards and look at it.

- The risk roll for jobs is too easy to 'game' ...

Hi Larsdangly, everyone.
I've seen a few people die of risk rolls. Not very interesting stories tho.

I agree with you about the thrown weapon ranges. But the rule, "-1 DX per hex" is too easy to dump. I would suggest a new rule...

IQ 9
Expert Thrower (1), requires Thrown Weapons. If you attack with a thrown weapon, reduce the range by 3 hexes. Does not work with thrown spells.

Warm regards, rick.

[larsdangly]

I think thrown weapons should be -1 per full HM and missiles -1 per 4 (or so) full MH. But what do I know...