Author Topic: Discussion and Suggestion Thread  (Read 224365 times)

Offline Bauglir

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #480 on: August 02, 2012, 02:16:08 AM »
Regarding the accuracy double-standard - remember that the normal attacks typically have a die size one higher, and ignore SR. They already have advantages to compete with near-automatic hits, even though I agree that they need some sort of to-hit bonus to keep up (since those advantages don't mean anything if you flub the attack roll routinely).

Offline DonQuixote

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #481 on: August 02, 2012, 08:18:13 PM »
Stride works. Here you go.

I have to call this one out as a beautiful piece of work.  The Translocation Formulae never would have occurred to me, and you pulled the whole thing off gracefully.

Three cheers!

Regarding the accuracy double-standard - remember that the normal attacks typically have a die size one higher, and ignore SR. They already have advantages to compete with near-automatic hits, even though I agree that they need some sort of to-hit bonus to keep up (since those advantages don't mean anything if you flub the attack roll routinely).

To be fair, I think that the "die size one higher" is actually compensating for the "subject to damage reduction" thing.  At least, that's how I thought about it when I wrote them.
“Hast thou not felt in forest gloom, as gloaming falls on dark-some dells, when comes a whisper, hum and hiss; savage growling sounds a-near, dazzling flashes around thee flicker, whirring waxes and fills thine ears: has thou not felt then grisly horrors that grip thee and hold thee?”

Offline DonQuixote

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #482 on: August 03, 2012, 05:18:33 PM »
Preview time!

I've been toying more with incantations--the out-of-combat powers.  Unlike formulae, with require only somatic components, incantations will require only verbal components.  There will be three incantations per circle--one least incantation, one lesser incantation, and one greater incantation.  Their behavior and use will be codified, as they'll be defined as one of the types of spellshaping powers.

I moved back to feat-based acquisition, as it's just easier to deal with.  This may change by release, but I'm pretty comfortable with it at the moment.  The feat will contain a brief reiteration of how incantations work, just to clarify it, but the incantations themselves will not be described within the feat.  (In the revised PDF, they'll be placed at the beginning of the circle's entry, alongside spellshape attacks and auras.  Incidentally, auras are also going to be renamed to "numena"--singular "numen.")

I have the feat right here.  The name may well change, since it is as stupid as my names usually are.

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I also have, for your reviewing pleasure, the first draft of one circle's incantations.  Nobody will be surprised to know that the circle in question is Searing Flame.  As I've said, this is just my first draft--I may well change my mind on things, and I am more than willing to listen to suggestions.  This is more or less just to give you all an idea of what I'm trying to do here.

(click to show/hide)

I haven't yet decided on whether or not to name the individual incantations.  On the one hand, it would be nice.  On the other hand, 48 names.  And you all know by now that I am terrible at names.

Incidentally, I've come up with 37 of the effects.  Eleven more before I can begin writing everything!
« Last Edit: August 07, 2012, 03:16:30 PM by DonQuixote »
“Hast thou not felt in forest gloom, as gloaming falls on dark-some dells, when comes a whisper, hum and hiss; savage growling sounds a-near, dazzling flashes around thee flicker, whirring waxes and fills thine ears: has thou not felt then grisly horrors that grip thee and hold thee?”

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #483 on: August 03, 2012, 05:27:57 PM »
I like the concept.   :)

For determining uses per day/ incantation level do you use your shaper level as a whole or shaper level for that specific circle?

Offline Garryl

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #484 on: August 03, 2012, 05:28:38 PM »
Some names, if you decide you want them.

Feat: Spellshape Incanter
SF Least: Induce Pyre
SF Lesser: Quench Pyre
SF Greater: Pyrewalking

Edit: Shouldn't Learn Incantation have the clause that lets you take it multiple times?
Also, any reason these abilities are on a daily basis, unlike other formulae that are all per encounter?
« Last Edit: August 03, 2012, 05:33:35 PM by Garryl »

Offline DonQuixote

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #485 on: August 03, 2012, 05:34:52 PM »
I like the concept.   :)

For determining uses per day/ incantation level do you use your shaper level as a whole or shaper level for that specific circle?

I'm not sure on this one yet.  I'd like it to be based off of your shaper level for that particular circle, but that's not actually a defined thing.  It might end up being based on your highest shaper level that derived from a spellshaper class with which you have access to the specific circle.

Some names, if you decide you want them.

Feat: Spellshape Incanter
SF Least: Induce Pyre
SF Lesser: Quench Pyre
SF Greater: Pyrewalking

Definitely the new name for the feat.  I like where you're going with the incantation names, but I'm not entirely sure if I want them to all build on a theme like that.  While it works well for Searing Flame, some of them are less...linear.  Such as Brilliant Dawn and Deteriorating Corrosion.

I'm definitely using the names for now, though.  If I end up being able to run that kind of theme with every circle's incantations, I probably will.  It feels fun.

Edit: Also, since I forgot to include it in the feat the first time I posted it, do note that, yes, you can take the feat multiple times, each time gaining the ability to use the incantations associated with a different circle to which you have access.
« Last Edit: August 03, 2012, 05:46:05 PM by DonQuixote »
“Hast thou not felt in forest gloom, as gloaming falls on dark-some dells, when comes a whisper, hum and hiss; savage growling sounds a-near, dazzling flashes around thee flicker, whirring waxes and fills thine ears: has thou not felt then grisly horrors that grip thee and hold thee?”

Offline DonQuixote

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #486 on: August 06, 2012, 04:57:40 PM »
I still need to come up with a Least and Lesser for Eternal Moment, a Lesser for Perfect Freeze, a Greater for Screeching Roc, a Lesser and Greater for Shocking Current, and a Greater for Unseen Impetus.  I'm combing everything I can for ideas, so it hopefully won't be much longer until I can write it all up.

In the meantime, previews for the other three elemental circles.  As before, these are not set in stone.  If something's a terrible idea, say so and I will change it.

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

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« Last Edit: August 06, 2012, 11:07:10 PM by DonQuixote »
“Hast thou not felt in forest gloom, as gloaming falls on dark-some dells, when comes a whisper, hum and hiss; savage growling sounds a-near, dazzling flashes around thee flicker, whirring waxes and fills thine ears: has thou not felt then grisly horrors that grip thee and hold thee?”

Offline Hanako Tachibana

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #487 on: August 06, 2012, 05:16:42 PM »
Did you intend for the Least Blustering Gale incantation to be called "Induce Pyre?"
Girls do their best now and are preparing. Please wait warmly until it is ready.

Offline DonQuixote

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #488 on: August 06, 2012, 05:17:59 PM »
....my shame is eternal.  Fixed.
“Hast thou not felt in forest gloom, as gloaming falls on dark-some dells, when comes a whisper, hum and hiss; savage growling sounds a-near, dazzling flashes around thee flicker, whirring waxes and fills thine ears: has thou not felt then grisly horrors that grip thee and hold thee?”

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #489 on: August 06, 2012, 07:46:30 PM »
Body of Stone just feels meh to me.

Offline DonQuixote

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #490 on: August 06, 2012, 09:27:41 PM »
Yeah, I wasn't too happy with it, either.  The problem is that, in order to avoid the same sort of slump that I hit with the Aspected Meditant, I'm trying to keep everyone in the loop about what's going on.  The Aspected Meditant slump hit me hard precisely because I was trying to come up with 48 effects without any feedback or suggestions.

However, my writing process normally goes a little something like this:
  • Come up with all the ideas.  All of them.
  • Review all the ideas at once, replacing ones that are stupid.
  • Write up all the ideas at once.
  • Review all the ideas at once, replacing ones that are stupid.
  • Post!

I'm inserting the information feed between steps 1 and 2, which means I don't get to the "remove stupid ideas."  In the normal run of things, I won't remove a bad idea until I've come up with at least one idea for every "slot"--just to have things filling space.

It's a bad habit, and one that really doesn't lend itself to this sort of open writing process.  I'll work on being better about it.

(Incidentally, Body of Stone has been replaced by Whispers of Stone.)
“Hast thou not felt in forest gloom, as gloaming falls on dark-some dells, when comes a whisper, hum and hiss; savage growling sounds a-near, dazzling flashes around thee flicker, whirring waxes and fills thine ears: has thou not felt then grisly horrors that grip thee and hold thee?”

Offline Garryl

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #491 on: August 06, 2012, 10:28:29 PM »
Looks good. Crushing Stone's divinatory qualities aren't what you'd expect from the circle of rock, but it works quite well.

Quote
If the subject moves, the snesor follows at a speed of up to 150 feet.

Small typo in Wave Sight.

Don't incantations need effective spell or formula levels?

Offline DonQuixote

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #492 on: August 06, 2012, 10:36:51 PM »
Looks good. Crushing Stone's divinatory qualities aren't what you'd expect from the circle of rock, but it works quite well.

[overdramatic fluff]The land is old, Garryl.  It is older than you can know.  It has seen much, and heard more.  Who are you to question its wisdom?[/overdramatic fluff]

Quote
If the subject moves, the snesor follows at a speed of up to 150 feet.

Small typo in Wave Sight.

Like this!  You question the truth of the ancient snesor?  The snesor has been snesing sneses since before you were snesed!

Fixed.

Don't incantations need effective spell or formula levels?

My current plan is to have their effective spell levels be equal to 1/2 your shaper level (maximum 9).  This was going to be defined in their rules description...

...which I haven't written yet...

...so, yeah.
“Hast thou not felt in forest gloom, as gloaming falls on dark-some dells, when comes a whisper, hum and hiss; savage growling sounds a-near, dazzling flashes around thee flicker, whirring waxes and fills thine ears: has thou not felt then grisly horrors that grip thee and hold thee?”

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #493 on: August 06, 2012, 10:47:46 PM »
Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that you're keeping us in the loop.  I wasn't complaining, just giving non-helpful feedback.

I'm not sure how I feel about Crushing Stone being all divinationy.  It isn't a bad way to go, it just probably has something to do with me being all meh about divination.  I was hoping for gaining the Solid type and smashing things I guess.   :P


The fixed percentage on Will of Stone feels kind of arbitrary.  Especially when I can this happening when you can use it at-will:
1. Try to make a door
2. Fail percentage chance, door won't move
3. Try to make a door that moves.
etc....

Offline DonQuixote

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #494 on: August 06, 2012, 10:57:55 PM »
Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that you're keeping us in the loop.  I wasn't complaining, just giving non-helpful feedback.

And I appreciate it!  I just tend to overexplain myself so that people understand where I'm coming from.

I'm not sure how I feel about Crushing Stone being all divinationy.  It isn't a bad way to go, it just probably has something to do with me being all meh about divination.  I was hoping for gaining the Solid type and smashing things I guess.   :P

Well, the incantations are aimed at being non-combat things.  Solid subtype really only has benefits in terms of combat, and smashing stuff wouldn't really be a very interesting high-level effect.

Divination actually fits very well of my conception of earth, since I tend to view earth as being based in brute force and wisdom.  Air is based in speed and freedom, fire is based in passion and impulse, and water is based in penetration and secrecy.  These may or may not be influenced by my experience with Magic: the Gathering.

Granted, I'm just throwing in what seems like it can fit.  Feel free to suggest away!

The fixed percentage on Will of Stone feels kind of arbitrary.  Especially when I can this happening when you can use it at-will:
1. Try to make a door
2. Fail percentage chance, door won't move
3. Try to make a door that moves.
etc....

I'm...unsure of where I stand on this one.  While you could totally keep trying to make the door work, that would take time--and time is a resource.
“Hast thou not felt in forest gloom, as gloaming falls on dark-some dells, when comes a whisper, hum and hiss; savage growling sounds a-near, dazzling flashes around thee flicker, whirring waxes and fills thine ears: has thou not felt then grisly horrors that grip thee and hold thee?”

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #495 on: August 06, 2012, 11:03:23 PM »
The fluff of Earth = Divination completely makes sense.  I just personally don't use divination.  Since you're not making this little sub-system specifically for the single character I've made using your homebrew, don't worry about it too much.     :p

For the chance to fail, perhaps one that scales?  So we'd have 30% (or whatever) when you get it.  Then when you get the Lesser ability reduce it to 15%, and when you get the Greater reduce it to 0%.  I don't see much of a balance problem at being able to make moving items out of stone without a chance for failure at 13th level.

Edit: In fact, that leads me to a new question.  At 13th level you could manipulate 130 cubic feet.  Could you make a tunnel?  A room with a door and stone furniture built into the ground? Could you surround yourself (or someone else) with solid stone?

Offline DonQuixote

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #496 on: August 06, 2012, 11:08:03 PM »
Eh, I decided to just go with removing the failure chance.  Mainly because it feels wrong for you to be less likely to fail when you have more uses per day.

Edit: Funny thing about 130 cubic feet.  That's only slightly over five feet on each side.
“Hast thou not felt in forest gloom, as gloaming falls on dark-some dells, when comes a whisper, hum and hiss; savage growling sounds a-near, dazzling flashes around thee flicker, whirring waxes and fills thine ears: has thou not felt then grisly horrors that grip thee and hold thee?”

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #497 on: August 06, 2012, 11:17:10 PM »
Edit: Funny thing about 130 cubic feet.  That's only slightly over five feet on each side.

That doesn't matter when you can do it at will. 

Just replace "someone else" with "dwarves" and my questions still stand.   :p

Offline DonQuixote

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #498 on: August 06, 2012, 11:25:32 PM »
I suppose that, with enough time, you could technically build a fortress.

...have I made a terrible mistake?  I mean, it does take until 13th level for it to be at-will...and, even then, that's six seconds per 5-foot-cube of fortress....and given that ice castle is a 7th level spell...
“Hast thou not felt in forest gloom, as gloaming falls on dark-some dells, when comes a whisper, hum and hiss; savage growling sounds a-near, dazzling flashes around thee flicker, whirring waxes and fills thine ears: has thou not felt then grisly horrors that grip thee and hold thee?”

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Discussion and Suggestion Thread
« Reply #499 on: August 06, 2012, 11:32:29 PM »
I suppose that, with enough time, you could technically build a fortress.

...have I made a terrible mistake?  I mean, it does take until 13th level for it to be at-will...and, even then, that's six seconds per 5-foot-cube of fortress....and given that ice castle is a 7th level spell...

I have no idea if it is overpowered, I just want you to see the possible implications.