03-29-2020, 07:06 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Saint Paul, MN
|
Song of Terror affecting allies
In a recent session, our new bard PC sang "Song of Terror." This affects "everyone within 16 yards who isn’t deaf." From a logical perspective, I get it that this would affect your allies as well as your enemies. From an actual play perspective, however, this seems to nerf the ability pretty severely. Does anything break if one just says that it doesn't affect allies? (I can come up with in-game explanations for why it works this way.)
How have other groups handled this one? |
03-29-2020, 08:21 AM | #2 |
GURPS Line Editor
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Montréal, Québec
|
Re: Song of Terror affecting allies
It's horrendously overpowered without the "nerf," I'm afraid!
If you really want that, you can go back to GURPS and add Selective Area, +20% to Terror [30], for +6 points. That makes Song of Terror cost 27 points instead of 21. But even that's lowballing the cost, because Terror gets its area effect "for free" . . . I'd also add Active, +0% to limit it to one target precisely, and then Area Effect, 16 yards, +200% to widen it to everyone. That would give a fairer cost for tactical combat boardgame. So that's another +60 points. At 87 points, you're in the right ballpark for an ability that can stun essentially every low-IQ fodder monster on the field while leaving allies free to murder them.
__________________
Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just GURPS News] |
03-30-2020, 05:02 AM | #3 |
Guest
|
Re: Song of Terror affecting allies
A cheaper route (for the Bard) might be to have his fellow delvers pick up a refluffed version of Resistant to Evil, reskinned as Resistant to Bard-Song.
Granted, against Song of Terror getting the resistance above 14 isn't as useful, but it's also good against any enemy Bard-Songs of Command or Humiliation. Or any other Songs you come up with for those Orc Battle Singers... Song of Sickness, Song of Weakness, Song of Confusion, Song of Daftness... |
03-30-2020, 05:54 AM | #4 | |
GURPS Line Editor
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Montréal, Québec
|
Re: Song of Terror affecting allies
Quote:
Or this for helping your friendly neighborhood knight:Magical Effectiveness Line-Holder
__________________
Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just GURPS News] |
|
03-30-2020, 07:21 AM | #5 | |
Doctor of GURPS Ballistics
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Lakeville, MN
|
Re: Song of Terror affecting allies
Quote:
"Dissonant Chord" "Counterpoint"
__________________
My blog:Gaming Ballistic, LLC My Store: Gaming Ballistic on Shopify My Patreon: Gaming Ballistic on Patreon |
|
03-30-2020, 11:34 AM | #6 |
GURPS Line Editor
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Montréal, Québec
|
Re: Song of Terror affecting allies
__________________
Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just GURPS News] |
03-30-2020, 12:58 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ottawa, Canada
|
Re: Song of Terror affecting allies
Just be careful when multiple bards start doing it in acappella
|
03-30-2020, 03:59 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Feb 2013
|
Re: Song of Terror affecting allies
A few levels of Line-holder on Kromm's impromptu Hoplite template and you've got a nasty phalanx!
__________________
Leave this space blank. |
04-24-2020, 01:58 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Sep 2018
|
Re: Song of Terror affecting allies
Have your Wizard Strike the Party Deaf before the combat.
|
08-30-2020, 04:05 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Saint Paul, MN
|
Re: Song of Terror affecting allies
Update: Our party's bard (the one that led me to create this thread) used Song of Terror at this afternoon's game to great effect. While exploring the Cavern of Blood in Merlin Avery's Forest's End, the party realized that a horde of Villifolk (wildmen) were about to burst through a doorway upon them. The bard started singing her song of terror. The enemies needed a 9 or better to succeed at their fright check and almost all of them failed. The other PCs were able to make their fright checks. They completely neutralized the threat within seconds. It was great to see this ability come into its own.
|
Tags |
bard, bard song |
|
|