06-22-2012, 10:11 PM | #141 | |
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Oregon
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Re: [Magic] Great Balls of Fire (that can't hit anything)
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06-22-2012, 11:24 PM | #142 | ||
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Re: [Magic] Great Balls of Fire (that can't hit anything)
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But you don't learn Missile Shield to neuter other mages. You learn it to neuter archers. Missile Shield is both irreplaceable and optimal for its' purpose. What purpose is Fireball and/or Explosive Fireball optimal for? What purpose is Fireball and/or Explosive Fireball irreplaceable for? I can't think of anything. There are many (superior) replacements for both and I can't think of any situation where they are optimal. If they are generally replaceable and they aren't optimal for at least one relatively common situation (in which they aren't replaceable) ... then they remain an utter waste of points. It is more effective to spend those points on an innate attack advantage as you'd already be spending points on the innate attack skill; the very fact that it doesn't cost fatigue makes innate attack a superior replacement. |
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06-23-2012, 03:02 AM | #143 | |
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dreamland
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Re: [Magic] Great Balls of Fire (that can't hit anything)
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In all honesty, to at least put Fireball on par, dropping Fireball and replacing it with ExFireball, but keeping cost of 1/die would make it useful. It would have a small but niche use, and not too expensive. |
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06-23-2012, 04:24 AM | #144 | |||
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Oregon
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Re: [Magic] Great Balls of Fire (that can't hit anything)
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EDIT: Actually, for the specific example of Fireball, it does have one niche that no other spell really covers: setting fires at long range. This usually isn't terribly useful, but if you're battling a giant mummy wrapped in dry cloth, but wielding a long-reach weapon, it can be prudent to ignite him from beyond melee range. An Explosive Fireball can likewise fry a whole group of zombies, even if the direct damage it inflicts isn't huge. 3d could easily set fire to a close-packed half dozen of such enemies. Quote:
Last edited by vierasmarius; 06-23-2012 at 04:44 AM. |
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06-23-2012, 12:27 PM | #145 | |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yukon, OK
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Re: [Magic] Great Balls of Fire (that can't hit anything)
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Not every mage can or will learn those defense spells and those who do cant keep them up on everyone. Even on themselves its -1 for other spells so there is a significant drawback. Someone with MR will be a lot harder to cast regular spells on but that does not defend them from missile spells. A lot of opponents are not mages, or even teamed up with one. In fact in my experience most of the time fighting an enemy mage or party with a mage is the exception rather then the norm. Your far more likely to fight undead, animals, non sapient monsters, etc. Other then direct combat, missile spells have the ability to do something at greater range, this could be setting fires, putting one out, distractions, watering your lawn, etc. And the final assumption your making is that IA is always an option, when much of the time it is not. Even when it is your assuming no limitations like costs FP on it when many (if not most) magic systems will have that as a required limitation. That is like assuming all your fighters can buy DR with no limitations and at this point your talking more about a Supers game then typical fantasy.
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06-23-2012, 12:54 PM | #146 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Re: [Magic] Great Balls of Fire (that can't hit anything)
Except of course that since you have your own Missile Shield that doesn't happen. Obviously you shouldn't knowingly use missiles against battle magicians. Obviously. But there are a lot of targets that aren't battle magicians, and some of them have a lot of hit points. The modern iteration of the missile spell does a lot more damage than pretty much any fantasy attack and does it from much farther away than a normal spell. So when you're fighting King Kong or heavily armoured knights, I wouldn't entirely discount the value of missile spells
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06-23-2012, 05:49 PM | #147 |
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Re: [Magic] Great Balls of Fire (that can't hit anything)
9D of damage will ruin anyone's day, that's for sure.
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06-23-2012, 06:11 PM | #148 |
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Oregon
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Re: [Magic] Great Balls of Fire (that can't hit anything)
And remember that Lightning spells bypass metal armor almost entirely, while explosive spells are resisted by the average of Torso DR and the target's lowest DR. This can give a mage an edge against the Scout's cheaper and more reliable arrow attacks.
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dungeon fantasy, fantasy, innate attack, magery, magic, talent |
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