Vortex Campaign and Dissolution House Rules: Difference between pages

Revision as of 01:05, 9 July 2010

House rules for the Dissolution campaign.

Critical hits

When you roll within your critical range, you have a choice:

You may roll for a critical hit, as per the standard rules.
You may automatically just take max weapon damage. (If your critical multiplier is ×3, you deal 1.5 times max weapon damage.)

This is a bit of a trade off. All attacks deal three types of damage, and each choice deals with them differently:

Type	Weapon damage	Bonus damage	Ancillary damage
Description	the base dice damage of the weapon	fixed damage from strength, magical plusses, etc.	sneak attack, vital strike, added energy damage, etc.
Standard rules	Make to-hit roll again. If you would hit, damage calculated a number of times equal to your critical multiplier (usually ×2)		Applied only once, even if critical succeeded.
House rule	No additional roll needed. Damage roll treated as if highest number came up on each die. If range is ×3, multiply the result by 1.5 (round down).	Applied only once

In most cases, the house rule will result in a lower average damage, but is reliable (i.e. you don't need to make the confirming "attack" roll). Some examples, always assuming a critical actually happens:

	Damage Roll				No crit			Standard crit (if achieved)			House rule
Situation	Weapon	Bonus	Ancillary	Crit range	Min	Average	Max	Min	Average	Max	Min	Average	Max
Lostwhite w/ +1 flaming flail	1d8	+9	+1d6 fire	×2	1+9+1= 11	4.5+9+3.5= 17	8+9+6= 23	2(1+9)+1= 21	2(4.5+9)+3.5= 30.5	2(8+9)+6= 40	8+9+1= 18	8+9+3.5= 20.5	8+9+6= 23
Lostwhite w/ +1 greatsword	2d6	+11		×2	2+11= 13	7+11= 18	12+11= 23	2(1+11)= 24	2(7+11)= 36	2(12+11)= 46	12+11= 23
Lostwhite w/ +1 battleaxe	1d8	+7		×3	1+7= 8	4.5+7= 11.5	8+7= 15	3(1+7)= 24	3(4.5+7)= 34.5	3(8+7)= 45	1.5(8)+7= 19
Caralaria w/ fist and vital strike	1d10	+6	+1d10	×2	1+6+1= 8	5.5+6+5.5= 16	10+6+10= 26	2(1+6)+1= 15	2(5.5+6)+5.5= 28.5	2(10+6)+10= 42	10+6+1= 17	10+6+5.5= 21.5	10+6+10= 26
Scoffney w/ +1 rifle	1d12	+1		×3	1+1= 2	6.5+1= 7.5	12+1= 13	3(1+1)= 6	3(6.5+1)= 22.5	3(12+1)= 39	1.5(12)+1= 19
Scoffney w/ +1 rifle and sneak attack	1d12	+1	+3d6	×3	1+1+3= 5	6.5+1+3(3.5)= 18	12+1+3(6)= 31	3(1+1)+3= 7	3(6.5+1)+3(3.5)= 24.5	3(12+1)+3(6)= 44	1.5(12)+1+3= 22	1.5(12)+1+3(3.5)=29.5	1.5(12)+1+3(6)=37
Oreni's scorching ray	4d6			×2	4(1)= 4	4(3.5)= 14	4(6)= 24	2(4(1))= 8	2(4(3.5))= 28	2(4(6))= 48	4(6)= 24

The moral of all this is that if you have a decent chance to hit, you will likely do more damage using the standard rules, but if you need a good roll to hit, you are better off with the house rule. Also, the larger your bonus damage is, the more advantage you will get from using the standard rule.

Sneak Attacks and Ranged Weapons

Just a clarification to the standard rules on sneak attacks:

Sneak attacks can be made with ranged weapons, so long as the rogue is within "point-blank" range (30').
Sneak attacks are allowed if the target is denied a Dex bonus, or if the rouge flanks the target.
You cannot normally flank a target with a ranged weapon.

So, as practical matter, the only way you can typically sneak attack with a ranged weapon is by denying the target a Dex bonus. Targets lose their Dex bonus to AC in any of the following situations:

Target is blinded
Target is cowering
Target is flat-footed and does not have Uncanny Dodge
Target is helpless
Target is stunned
Target is climbing
Attacker is invisible
Attacker successfully feints against the target.
Attacker or ally uses Greater Feint against the target.

Reach Spell

This one is really a mistake that was active for long enough to make us keep it. This is no longer a metamagic feat. It is a standard feat that lets the caster cast any touch spell as a ranged touch attack if within "point blank" range (30').

This changes magic (particularly clerics and other healers) quite a bit. It also fits the definition of a broken rule, as it is hard to imagine any caster that wouldn't take this feat, but so be it. It is pretty fun.

Wands

Similarly, we treat wands as if they all have the Reach Spell feat. That is, if they cast a touch spell, they can do so as a ranged touch attack from 30 feet away.

Vital Strike

From the look of the errata, looks like we read this one wrong as well, but we're keeping it as well. We allow any attack to be declared (post attack roll) as a vital strike, but only once per round.

Close Shot (Combat)

This is a new feat, which extends "point blank" range.

Prerequisite: base attack bonus +3. Benefit: Any effect which specifically only works within "point blank" range may be used from an additional 30' away. That is, "point blank" range becomes 60'. Situations that benefit from this feat include:

Using Point Blank Shot.
Sneak attacking with ranged weapons.
Using the Reach Spell feat (see above).
Casting touch spells from wands (see above).
The Furtive Shot rogue talent (see below).

Normal: Point blank range is normally 30'.

Furtive Shot

This is a new rogue talent:

Furtive Shot (Ex): If within point-blank range of a target that is flanked by two or more of your allies, you may sneak attack that target with a ranged weapon.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-An idea for a d20 campaign where the group consists largely of pickup players or those with unreliable schedules, where the players (or even DMs) may not be constant between sessions.
+House rules for the [[campaign::Dissolution]] campaign.
-The campaign takes place in a universe where periodic vortices appear and disappear, grabbing people and sometimes moving them around, exchanging them with other people, etc. At the end of each session, the whole party is grabbed by a vortex. At the start of the next, the players that are toss out of a vortex. Sometimes the group is the same, sometimes not. Often the location is the same, but sometimes it is yards, miles, continents or even universes away. In this way, guest DMs can run whole adventures without real constraint, without interrupting a mainline story. Sometimes, a vortex will occur mid-session.
+== Critical hits ==
-== Benefits ==
+When you roll within your critical range, you have a choice:
-To player perception, when sucked into a vortex, they are pushed out instantly. In reality, some time passes within the vortex that the player's do not remember. In this nether realm, they exert some subconscious control over the primal forces at work within the vortex, and can use it to improve themselves.
+* You may roll for a critical hit, as per the standard rules.
+* You may automatically just take max weapon damage. (If your critical multiplier is &times;3, you deal 1.5 times max weapon damage.)
-On each trip through a vortex, a player ''may'' choose to do one of the following:
+This is a bit of a trade off. All attacks deal three types of damage, and each choice deals with them differently:
-*Heal 50% of their total hit point total
+{| class="wikitable"
-*Reset their odd level spells to how they were at the start of the day. For casters that don't need preparation, this refreshes their compliment of spells cast per day. For those that need preparation, memory of those prepared at the start of the day returns.
+|-
-*Reset their even level spells to how they were ate the start of the day.
+| '''Type''' || Weapon damage || Bonus damage || Ancillary damage
-*Replace one known spell for another of equal level. For non-preparation casters, this looses one known spell and gains another of the same level. For those that use spell books, one spell disappears from the book, replaced by another of the same level.
+|-
-*Replace one bonus feat for another. Fighters can forget one bonus feat and learn another in its place. Other classes that get a choice of feats at certain levels (e.g. monks at second level) can change the choice they made. This cannot be used to eliminate feats acting as prerequisites for others, and the character must meet the requirements for the new feat learned.
+| '''Description''' || the base dice damage of the weapon || fixed damage from strength, magical plusses, etc. || sneak attack, vital strike, added energy damage, etc.
-*Move a point from one ability score to another.
+|-
-*Move four skill points from one class ability to another class ability or abilities. You still cannot exceed maximum levels.
+| '''Standard rules''' || colspan="2" | Make to-hit roll again. If you would hit, damage calculated a number of times equal to your critical multiplier (usually &times;2) || Applied only once, even if critical succeeded.
-*Move two skill points from one cross-class ability to another cross-class ability or abilities.
+|-
-*Training needed for a new feat is magically learned. This doesn't provide the feat itself, merely the training needed to learn one when it is available. If the campaign doesn't require training for feats, this is a moot choice, but in training-based campaigns, this allows players to get the training they need easily.
+| '''House rule''' || No additional roll needed. Damage roll treated as if highest number came up on each die. If range is &times;3, multiply the result by 1.5 (round down). || colspan="2" | Applied only once
-*Training needed for two cross-class skill points.
+|}
-*Training needed for four class skill points.
-== The Cost ==
+In most cases, the house rule will result in a lower ''average'' damage, but is reliable (i.e. you don't need to make the confirming "attack" roll). Some examples, always assuming a critical actually happens:
-These transmutations do not come for free. If a player chooses to use one, there is a random cost applied. The cost is always applied after the benefit. Costs include:
+{| class="wikitable centeredcells"
+|-
+! !! colspan="4" | Damage Roll !! colspan="3" | No crit || colspan="3" | Standard crit (if achieved) || colspan="3" | House rule
+|-
+! Situation !! Weapon !! Bonus !! Ancillary || Crit range !! Min !! Average !! Max !! Min !! Average !! Max !! Min !! Average !! Max
+|-
+| '''Lostwhite w/ +1 flaming flail''' || 1d8 || +9 || +1d6 fire || &times;2 || 1+9+1=<br/>11 || 4.5+9+3.5=<br/>17 || 8+9+6=<br/>23 || 2(1+9)+1=<br/>21 || 2(4.5+9)+3.5=<br/>30.5 || 2(8+9)+6=<br/>40 || 8+9+1=<br/>18 || 8+9+3.5=<br/>20.5 || 8+9+6=<br/>23
+|-
+| '''Lostwhite w/ +1 greatsword''' || 2d6 || +11 || || &times;2 || 2+11=<br/>13 || 7+11=<br/>18 || 12+11=<br/>23 || 2(1+11)=<br/>24 || 2(7+11)=<br/>36 || 2(12+11)=<br/>46 || colspan="3" | 12+11=<br/>23
+|-
+| '''Lostwhite w/ +1 battleaxe''' || 1d8 || +7 || || '''&times;3''' || 1+7=<br/>8 || 4.5+7=<br/>11.5 || 8+7=<br/>15 || 3(1+7)=<br/>24 || 3(4.5+7)=<br/>34.5 || 3(8+7)=<br/>45 || colspan="3" | 1.5(8)+7=<br/>19
+|-
+| '''Caralaria w/ fist and vital strike''' || 1d10 || +6 || +1d10 || &times;2 || 1+6+1=<br/>8 || 5.5+6+5.5=<br/>16 || 10+6+10=<br/>26 || 2(1+6)+1=<br/>15 || 2(5.5+6)+5.5=<br/>28.5 || 2(10+6)+10=<br/>42 || 10+6+1=<br/>17 || 10+6+5.5=<br/>21.5 || 10+6+10=<br/>26
+|-
+| '''Scoffney w/ +1 rifle''' || 1d12 || +1 || || '''&times;3''' || 1+1=<br/>2 || 6.5+1=<br/>7.5 || 12+1=<br/>13 || 3(1+1)=<br/>6 || 3(6.5+1)=<br/>22.5 || 3(12+1)=<br/>39 || colspan="3" | 1.5(12)+1=<br/>19
+|-
+| '''Scoffney w/ +1 rifle and sneak attack''' || 1d12 || +1 || +3d6 || '''&times;3''' || 1+1+3=<br/>5 || 6.5+1+3(3.5)=<br/>18 || 12+1+3(6)=<br/>31 || 3(1+1)+3=<br/>7 || 3(6.5+1)+3(3.5)=<br/>24.5 || 3(12+1)+3(6)=<br/>44 || 1.5(12)+1+3=<br/>22 || 1.5(12)+1+3(3.5)=29.5 || 1.5(12)+1+3(6)=37
+|-
+| '''Oreni's ''scorching ray''''' || 4d6 || || || &times;2 || 4(1)=<br/>4 || 4(3.5)=<br/>14 || 4(6)=<br/>24 || 2(4(1))=<br/>8 || 2(4(3.5))=<br/>28 || 2(4(6))=<br/>48 || colspan="3" | 4(6)=<br/>24
+|}
-*The benefit is undone.
+The moral of all this is that if you have a decent chance to hit, you will likely do more damage using the standard rules, but if you need a good roll to hit, you are better off with the house rule. Also, the larger your bonus damage is, the more advantage you will get from using the standard rule.
-*Another benefit is applied at random
-*Character loses 1d20 x 10 xp
-*Character loses 1d20 x 50 gp
-*Character permanently loses 1 hp.
-*Character takes a point of random ability damage
-[[Category:Campaign]]
+== Sneak Attacks and Ranged Weapons ==
-[[related page count::{{#ask:[[campaign::{{PAGENAME}}]]|format=count}}| ]]
+Just a clarification to the standard rules on sneak attacks:
+* Sneak attacks ''can'' be made with ranged weapons, so long as the rogue is within "point-blank" range (30').
+* Sneak attacks are allowed if the target is denied a Dex bonus, or if the rouge flanks the target.
+* You cannot normally flank a target with a ranged weapon.
+So, as practical matter, the only way you can typically sneak attack with a ranged weapon is by denying the target a Dex bonus. Targets lose their Dex bonus to AC in any of the following situations:
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Blinded blinded]
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Cowering cowering]
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Flat-Footed flat-footed] and does not have [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/basic-classes/rogue#TOC-Uncanny-Dodge-Ex- Uncanny Dodge]
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Helpless helpless]
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Stunned stunned]
+* Target is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/climb climbing]
+* Attacker is [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/conditions---final#TOC-Invisible invisible]
+* Attacker successfully [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering---final/combat---final#TOC-Feint feints] against the target.
+* Attacker or ally uses [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/greater-feint-combat---final Greater Feint] against the target.
+== Reach Spell ==
+This one is really a mistake that was active for long enough to make us keep it. This is no longer a metamagic feat. It is a standard feat that lets the caster cast any touch spell as a ranged touch attack if within "point blank" range (30').
+This changes magic (particularly clerics and other healers) quite a bit. It also fits the definition of a broken rule, as it is hard to imagine any caster that wouldn't take this feat, but so be it. It is pretty fun.
+== Wands ==
+Similarly, we treat wands as if they all have the Reach Spell feat. That is, if they cast a touch spell, they can do so as a ranged touch attack from 30 feet away.
+== Vital Strike ==
+From the look of the errata, looks like we read this one wrong as well, but we're keeping it as well. We allow any attack to be declared (post attack roll) as a vital strike, but only once per round.
+== Close Shot (Combat) ==
+This is a new feat, which extends "point blank" range.
+'''Prerequisite''': base attack bonus +3.
+'''Benefit''': Any effect which specifically only works within "point blank" range may be used from an additional 30' away. That is, "point blank" range becomes 60'. Situations that benefit from this feat include:
+* Using [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/point-blank-shot-combat---final Point Blank Shot].
+* Sneak attacking with ranged weapons.
+* Using the Reach Spell feat (see above).
+* Casting touch spells from wands (see above).
+* The Furtive Shot rogue talent (see below).
+'''Normal''': Point blank range is normally 30'.
+== Furtive Shot ==
+This is a new [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/basic-classes/rogue#TOC-Rogue-Talents rogue talent]:
+''Furtive Shot ([http://www.d20pfsrd.com/basics-ability-scores/glossary---final#TOC-Extraordinary-Abilities-Ex- Ex])'': If within point-blank range of a target that is flanked by two or more of your allies, you may sneak attack that target with a ranged weapon.