Too Much Magic?

[BhilJhoanz]

I was just wondering whether the Defensive Blast was based on any particular event from the Conan stories? I recognize some other magical effects as coming from specific stories, but what about this one?

The quote in the book comes from a comment in Black Colossus. Conan is facing a powerful Sorcerer & his army and decides not to attack him directly, saying something like "Sorcerers are more powerful on the defensive". This was right after a Mounted charge was obliterated by a firey concoction the sorcerer spread on the battlefield.

Of course, at other times he doesn't hesitate to take the fight to a sorcerer! I think GMs should feel free to limit or remove this ability as fits their game. If a player always makes it their primary weapon, maybe it would gain the attention of some demonic power. Perhaps his teachers won't approve, etc etc

 

[sanseveria]

Also keep in mind that your companions are not immune to DB, and most scholars I know would likely remain near the center of the party for protection. Firing off a DB could wipe out your party.

SS

 

[S'mon]

Of course, at other times he doesn't hesitate to take the fight to a sorcerer! I think GMs should feel free to limit or remove this ability as fits their game.

Would it be reasonable to let Scholars swap it out in exchange for a Feat or an advanced Spell?

 

[slaughterj]

Of course, at other times he doesn't hesitate to take the fight to a sorcerer! I think GMs should feel free to limit or remove this ability as fits their game.

Would it be reasonable to let Scholars swap it out in exchange for a Feat or an advanced Spell?

I think that would be interesting to do, but...
1. I'm not impressed with the Sorcery Feats (at least not with the ones for 1st level Scholars);
2. An advanced spell might be a bit too powerful to strut around with at 1st level;
3. Would many forego Defensive Blast?

 

[argo]

Why's that? I'm concerned because I'm allowing a Spawn of Dagoth Hill PC and he'll have 12 BPP at 1st level. Couldn't he just walk up to within 10' of Conan (say) and Blast him for 12d6 dmg, Fort save for half giving avg 21 dmg on a save (with massive damage check)? Defensive Blast is risky in a dungeon-crawl, but to kill a single powerful opponent it seems perfect.

Sure, if your scholar happens to also be a kamakize suicide assassin. Even assuming that he manages to kill his single opponent, if his opponent has friends and he doesn't then he is toast.

Scholars have lousy hitpoints, no Fort save to speak of, crap for DV, and absouetly no DR. A scholar who gets within 60 feet of meele combat withouth meat shields to protect him has a life expectancy of approximately 2 rounds (if he is lucky). Think about a dnd wizard. Now think about a dnd wizard who can't cast mage armor, blink, mirror image, stoneskin, fly, dimension door, etherealness or any of the other standart defensive spells that some wizards will spend 1/4 to 1/2 of their spell resources on. That is a scholar. Denfensive blast is a scholars last ditch protection on the day when he is cornered, cut off, or 40 picts swarm the party and the meatshields can't stop them from breaking through. Most scholars will save it for that day and those who don't probably won't live that long. Those who actually try to use it offensevly except in very limited circumstances will die even quicker.

As for spending all pps at once on DB, while that's the rule (IIRC), I don't think I'll require that simply because then PCs will think that a mage is powerless after a DB, and I don't think it should be so predictable for the PCs - even if they don't vocalize it, if the players know the rules on that, then the knowledge will still affect their play style, e.g.:

DM: "The evil sorceror erupts with mystical energy, blasting the closest two PCs with magical energy for 25 points of damage, halved with a Fort save."
PC Thief out of DB range: Thinking to himself, "hmm, the mage can't DB again, or cast spells like Touch of Death(?), so I have no fear of running up to him to attack."

I'd rather avoid the above thought process by PCs, and therefore will not require DBs to use all pps.

But requiring a DB to use all pps, and the "thought process" which follows from that fact, is exactly what prevents scholars from doing stupid stuff like trying to use DB to assasinate people. Unleash a DB that fails to kill all your remaning opponents and the only option remaning to you is to run for your life. That is the whole point:

"Be wary of sorcerers young warrior, for even when cornered they may still call upon the fires of hell to smite thee."

"Be wary of combat young magling, for even though you command powers far beyond the comprehension of most thou art still mortal and once you have exhausted your strength you will be as a lamb before the slaughter."

 

[Johannixx]

argo, I believe you've hit the nail on the head.

 

[slaughterj]

As for spending all pps at once on DB, while that's the rule (IIRC), I don't think I'll require that simply because then PCs will think that a mage is powerless after a DB, and I don't think it should be so predictable for the PCs - even if they don't vocalize it, if the players know the rules on that, then the knowledge will still affect their play style, e.g.:

DM: "The evil sorceror erupts with mystical energy, blasting the closest two PCs with magical energy for 25 points of damage, halved with a Fort save."
PC Thief out of DB range: Thinking to himself, "hmm, the mage can't DB again, or cast spells like Touch of Death(?), so I have no fear of running up to him to attack."

I'd rather avoid the above thought process by PCs, and therefore will not require DBs to use all pps.

But requiring a DB to use all pps, and the "thought process" which follows from that fact, is exactly what prevents scholars from doing stupid stuff like trying to use DB to assasinate people. Unleash a DB that fails to kill all your remaning opponents and the only option remaning to you is to run for your life. That is the whole point:

Actually I don't think it will be a problem. Think about it, if the scholar uses less than all his pp, and fails to kill his opponent, well he's wasted that action and is set up for doom more than likely. How often will scholars risk using less than all? If they are in a situation requiring its use, they aren't likely to frequently hold back, and certainly aren't going to run around dropping 2d6 DBs in those situations. I don't think it is necessary to REQUIRE the full use of pps, in fact allowing use of less than all allows for:
1. Potentially more risk to the mage who fails to generate enough damage by being conservative with spending pps in a DB - and use of magic should involve risk! (Sure this is a reverse sort of risk, but it's risk nonetheless.) Plus, generating less damage means less likelihood of generating a massive damage save for the mage's opponents, which they probably want to do for at least medium level threats (who wouldn't just die from the damage itself).
2. Maintains a certain aura of mystery about magic because PCs can't *know* a mage is tapped out after a DB

I think both of the above are very good results of allowing use of less than all pps in a DB.