374 replies to this topic

[Feanor]

But if you are curious, simply ask me, and I'll answer to the best of my knowledge about any future improvements.

OK, Maestro, could you tell me what Solar Stance does (not that I'm curious, but, if it is what I think, I have some objections about it) ?

[T.G.Maestro]

Um, are you talking about the Balthazar version, or the one that will be in Refinements (there are a few differences).
Anyway, our version will look like this:

- a fiery explosion blasts with the monk in the centre. The monk is immune to its damaging and other effects, but will be stunned for 2 seconds.
- the explosion has a 30' radius, and deals 10D6 fire damage (save vs. breath for half) to everyone around the monk.
- the power of the attack knocks back everyone around him to a considerable distance (no save)
- those that are blown back must save vs. spell at -4 or fall uncouscious for 3 seconds.

Balthazar's version is a bit more powerful.

[Feanor]

The monk is immune to its damaging and other effects

The companions are also immune to its effects or not ?

Um, are you talking about the Balthazar version, or the one that will be in Refinements (there are a few differences).

Actually, I had in mind not the power of the stance, but the fact that it looks quite "wizardlike" for me. The warriors' HLA in general are focused upon their own body and skills : their improve their fighting skills, saving throws, speed, resistances and so on. The Solar Stance sounds to me like a combination of a lesser Nature's Beauty (with blindness replaced with unconsciousness) and Dragon's Breath.

[T.G.Maestro]

The companions are also immune to its effects or not ?

Of course not - why should they? Balthazar's version affects his adherents too.

Actually, I had in mind not the power of the stance, but the fact that it looks quite "wizardlike" for me.

To me as well. Still, this seems to be a "lagit" monk power if I follow your (and Kish's) logic based on the argumant in the Oversight forum. I never really believed that a monk should be able to create a blast of fire simply by intent, but hey! Other than this, I have no problems with this ability - unlike the K&Z version, this one is fairly balanced.
I'm open to any constructive suggestions to replace SS however.

[Feanor]

[quote]Still, this seems to be a "lagit" monk power if I follow your (and Kish's) logic based on the argumant in the Oversight forum.[/quote]

Yes, but, since then, you have convinced me (and, anyway, I had in mind the ability's type when I sustained the Lunar Stance ; I did not supported Solar Stance at all, because I could not see it going well with the monk).

[QUOTE]I'm open to any constructive suggestions to replace SS however.[QUOTE]


How about the Dragon Stance from K&Z mod ? I had already posted that a week ago, but you were left and probably you have missed it. Dragon stance means : strength is set to 25, first hit is always a critical one, 25% to physical damage (slashing, piercing, crushing, missiles), immunity to wing buffet and immunity to inconsciousness (but probably you already know those stats).

[T.G.Maestro]

How about the Dragon Stance from K&Z mod ?

Not good - Kiara gets that ability as a quest reward, and it is heavily connected to her character. Besides, I don't think that it is an interesting or well planned ability at all, it merely unites the powers of Critical Strike, adds an unbelievable godly STR (I think only clerics should get that value by using divine help), and increases physical resistances - but monks already have Chant for that purpose.

[Littiz]

People, I wouldn't want to seem repetitive but...
We have DEPLETED all the available slots for portrait icons.
Unless we try to create a bigger file (which very likely the engine wouldn't accept), we cannot add new portrait icons.

This means "no new abilities like the ones you are debating", to me.
Why should we disrupt the coherency of what we've done?
The tables are so nice at the moment.

Point two, I read somewhere about a third weapon specialization idea for Skald.
No one ever thinks about the problems, but I do: no way to properly implement the exclusion of 2 abilities out of 3.
The table lets you specify *one* forbidden ability.
Now, I'd have a *working* solution, but the icons wouldn't look greyed immediately upon the simple selection of one of the 3 abilities.
Again, this is sub-optimal, so I don't like it.

Please let's try to think about implementation and all the issues involved, before planning and promising all of this stuff.

[T.G.Maestro]

let's try to think about implementation and all the issues involved, before planning and promising all of this stuff

Of course, but understand, that these are not promises from my side - those who count them as such might me negatively surprised, so I'd once again call the attention to anyone browsing these forums, that discussions like this are merely specualtive.
Time will tell, what we can implmement from these ideas - which are great btw.

We have DEPLETED all the available slots for portrait icons.
This means "no new abilities like the ones you are debating", to me

I don't agree here. None of the 3 stances should require a brand new portrait icon. Shadow Stance would use the I.Invisibility, while Lunar Stance would use another existing icon - Solar Stance doesn't need icons at all.

[Jinnai]

Actually it would be better if the monks used 3 unique stances instead of any Balthazar used. Style and moves for martial arts are extremely school related and closely guarded so its unlikely any monk would know the styles Bathazar knows unless they went to his school. Same for the hero. Even at extremely high levels these abilities will mimic their school a lot, even if though they've (likely) broadened their horizons,

[Feanor]

Hi there, Maestro, I had in mind some alterations for those three stances :

- It grants normal (weak) invisibility for 12 seconds;

First, about the Shadow Stance, I think you should renounce at the normal invisibility, because it already grants Improved Invisibility. I can't imagine how could a monk have also Invisibility and the Improved version. I mean Improved Invisibility includes also the effect of the lesser version.
Second, about the Solar Stance : instead of that explosion, maybe the monk, during the stance, should damage and knock back the enemy only when he hits him (I mean the monk hits the enemy, not otherwise). So you could accomplish a double purpose : avoid your party being damaged by Solar Stance and make this ability more realistic. As it is, the Solar Stance reminds me of those Al-Qaeda guys, who blow themselves up with a belt of grenades. I think it's not the case with our monk.
Third : Littiz, if you see this, don't sabotage me again !

[T.G.Maestro]

Actually it would be better if the monks used 3 unique stances instead of any Balthazar used. Style and moves for martial arts are extremely school related and closely guarded so its unlikely any monk would know the styles Bathazar knows

I tend to agree here, but only if we can find/implement stances of the same quality.

First, about the Shadow Stance, I think you should renounce at the normal invisibility, because it already grants Improved Invisibility. I can't imagine how could a monk have also Invisibility and the Improved version. I mean Improved Invisibility includes also the effect of the lesser version.

No, that first weaker Iinvisibility effect has its great purpose: the monk remains invisible even after the first successful attack/move, since only the normal invisibility gets dispelled - thats the way Shadow Stance works.

Second, about the Solar Stance : instead of that explosion, maybe the monk, during the stance, should damage and knock back the enemy only when he hits him

Um, I think I still prefer the original version. Although I admit that Solar Stance would be the first to be dropped if we would manage to come up with useable substitutes.

[Rathwellin the Bard]

Overcast

This HLA allows the Sorcerer to cast any spell in his ?spellbook? at a price. Any spell cast via this ability will cause 10 hp of damage to the caster per level of the spell.

In use this HLA will resemble Nahal's Reckless Dweomer, causing a menu to pop-up when the HLA is used.

This ability will allow sorcerers to cast any spell they need to in dire emergencies even if they have already used up all of their castings of a specific level of spells.

[T.G.Maestro]

Maybe. We shall see for v2, but I think Sorcerers are pretty much "set and ready" at the moment - I don't think they need further abilities. But as I said, we might consider it for an upcoming version, it is a good idea after all.

[Schatten]

this is more suited for necros.
blood magic
you can cast any spell and pay instead of magic energy with blood.

[Rathwellin the Bard]

Oh, I disagree 100%.

Nerco's learn spells. One of them might come up with a way to power spells with blood, but that's pretty far outside of most AD&D spells. Nero's, like other mages, memorize their spells and cast them using external energy.

Sorcerers on the other hand *are* magic. They power their own spells and 'cast' them innately. It only makes sense to me that they could choose to burn themselves to a crisp by drawing upon that source of power too much.

[Littiz]

plain impossible to code.

[Caedwyr]

And now back to reality, eh?

[Schatten]

Oh, I disagree 100%.

Nerco's learn spells. One of them might come up with a way to power spells with blood, but that's pretty far outside of most AD&D spells. Nero's, like other mages, memorize their spells and cast them using external energy.

Sorcerers on the other hand *are* magic. They power their own spells and 'cast' them innately. It only makes sense to me that they could choose to burn themselves to a crisp by drawing upon that source of power too much.

yes, yes. i know the spell system of dnd and the difference of sorcs and mages. it just sounded more cooler for necros who sacrifice their health to power their spells or something.

[Caswallon]

blood magic
you can cast any spell and pay instead of magic energy with blood.

Do you happen to play DSA?