tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post2757584998856161442..comments2024-02-27T01:17:39.925-08:00Comments on The Nine and Thirty Kingdoms: Is Buff Bad?Talysmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02162328521343832412noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-71715420293709727502012-12-13T02:16:17.394-08:002012-12-13T02:16:17.394-08:00An excellent point I had not considered before. Nu...An excellent point I had not considered before. Numeric buffs are, in fact, boring.MCPlanckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09239576472889126413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-91780619085399854122012-12-12T14:57:39.404-08:002012-12-12T14:57:39.404-08:00The idea of switching buff and, maybe, most other ...<i>The idea of switching buff and, maybe, most other spells to concentration is interesting in and of itself. I may have to do a post on that.</i><br /><br />I believe this is the direction D&D 5E is taking for many spells, actually.Necropraxishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12716340801054739658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-28182443198739989682012-12-12T13:08:27.962-08:002012-12-12T13:08:27.962-08:00I agree that the duration is a big deal, too. Even...I agree that the duration is a big deal, too. Even Greyhawk has Strength last 8 hours.<br /><br />The idea of switching buff and, maybe, most other spells to concentration is interesting in and of itself. I may have to do a post on that.Talysmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02162328521343832412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-90909079303248064522012-12-12T12:58:10.407-08:002012-12-12T12:58:10.407-08:00For my part, the problem with buffs isn't disa...For my part, the problem with buffs isn't disassociation or abstraction, it's duration. There's plenty of precedent for 'having the strength of ten men' or whatever without literally changing form; that doesn't bother me. It's the fact that the later you go edition-wise the longer these things last that gets to me, until you reach the point where the adventure starts with 10 rounds of buffing up the party and those bonuses are expected as an always-on thing.<br /><br />Switching every buff's duration to 'as long as the wizard concentrates on them' would make them MUCH more interesting to me as a tactical option, and is in keeping with S&S fiction to boot. You want to empower the fighter with great strength, or armor yourself with magical force? Fine, but it goes away when you need to cast another spell or do something else.Jonathonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424548045152722964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-58798315478833955162012-12-12T05:51:28.741-08:002012-12-12T05:51:28.741-08:00It doesn't feel disassociated to me at all - w...It doesn't feel disassociated to me at all - why do I need to turn into an ogre to get stronger? Do I need to turn into a bird to fly? A dragon to throw a fireball? No, I don't, and Strength spells aren't any different.<br /><br />The execution may be lame, but it's not "disassociated" in the way I understand that term.<br /><br />WRT magic items, my point isn't whether +1 swords are interesting or not, just saying that "buffing" isn't a Greyhawk introduction - it is there in the LBBs. Lots of LBB magic items up your abilities in some way, in a way that is effectively a buff.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-37947247220180044752012-12-12T04:21:00.192-08:002012-12-12T04:21:00.192-08:00it wouldn't have the problem that no matter ho...<i> it wouldn't have the problem that no matter how strong a man is, he's going to find it difficult to throw boulders because his body is small.</i><br /><br />If I can accept the idea that there are magic spells, giants, and a spell that makes a man as strong as a giant, I can accept the fact that a man can hurl boulders despite having a small body. <br /><br /><i>Polymorph</i> is higher level. I see this as a lower level spell meant to assist the party in combat or clear a dungeon obstacle. <i>Lightning bolt</i> does more damage than <i>burning hands</i>, but a lower level magic-user doesn't have access to that spell. This is the same kind of deal for me. DMWieghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03682249561077936507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-11517554099946210632012-12-11T22:41:40.570-08:002012-12-11T22:41:40.570-08:00There's nothing inherently wrong with that, bu...There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but isn't it better to literally turn into an ogre if you want the strength of an ogre? I think so.<br /><br />Otherwise, it feels pretty dissociated.<br /><br />And people often talk about how a Sword +1 is a boring item. A flaming sword is cooler, and it's clearer how the magic works.<br /><br />An "Ogre Form" spell is cooler than a "Get Strong" spell, and again - it's clearer *why* it makes you strong, gives some interesting tradeoffs, and a clearer intuitive idea of what's more possible with your new abilities.Charles Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00941603544547428940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-60030546466247338722012-12-11T22:38:51.093-08:002012-12-11T22:38:51.093-08:00Polymorph would do that, and it wouldn't have ...Polymorph would do that, and it wouldn't have the problem that no matter how strong a man is, he's going to find it difficult to throw boulders because his body is small.Charles Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00941603544547428940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-53326525860529286832012-12-11T22:37:28.019-08:002012-12-11T22:37:28.019-08:00Hear, hear. The panoply of ridiculous buff spells ...Hear, hear. The panoply of ridiculous buff spells in 3E is just disgusting.<br /><br />I like the point that Polymorph used to be a way of getting stronger.Charles Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00941603544547428940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-44298909164937256312012-12-11T21:54:48.828-08:002012-12-11T21:54:48.828-08:00I dislike buffs for the bookkeeping aspect, having...I dislike buffs for the bookkeeping aspect, having to keep track of how long they last, and how they turn a character into just a support unit, not an active participant. Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440605975564288373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-88024708326471811292012-12-11T20:34:28.141-08:002012-12-11T20:34:28.141-08:00What about a spell that temporarily gives a charac...What about a spell that temporarily gives a character the strength of a giant/ogre/whatever, rather than just a boost to strength? It could be used to perform a single heroic feat, or maybe fight a combat with a ridiculous bonus to damage or the ability to throw rocks like a giant. Perhaps it need not follow the linear progression of the strength ability table. DMWieghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03682249561077936507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-1463441710460466432012-12-11T20:08:12.335-08:002012-12-11T20:08:12.335-08:00I'm not sure I follow. Why aren't you happ...I'm not sure I follow. Why aren't you happy with them?<br /><br />Magic making you do stuff better is intrinsic to the game - a Sword +1 is a buff, really. Elven Boots are a stealth buff. So why not a Strength spell?Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.com