My group is about to knock off the Faceless One, triggering the Aspect. The sorcerer has used up nearly all his Scorching Ray spells on the kenku (mmmm...tastes like chicken) and will most assuredly be tapped out quickly. He's otherwise worthless in a fight.
Can anyone think of something he could find in the FO's loot that might be of help in the upcoming battle, without unbalancing the game? A wand of MM might do it (don't have the adventure here - is the Aspect immune to them?). Any other ideas?
At that level, a sorcerer would end up healing the Ebon Aspect more than he would hurt him (because of his Vecna granted power)...
What could help is if he were to find a "Wand of Bull's Strength" with a couple of charges left. He could beef up his partners and that would make him feel useful, while making up for his lack of direct contribution in the actual fight.
Bocklin
My group is about to knock off the Faceless One, triggering the Aspect. The sorcerer has used up nearly all his Scorching Ray spells on the kenku (mmmm...tastes like chicken) and will most assuredly be tapped out quickly. He's otherwise worthless in a fight.
He's got a movement rate and hit points doesn't he? This could be one of the character difining moments where he realizes the use of flasks of oil and tinder twigs, ray of frost, ghost sound or is forced to desperately "aid another" with his trust wooden club and set up a flanking position. It sounds like he got his mojo on earlier so he's at least lived an exciting life up to this point.
GGG
Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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At that level, a sorcerer would end up healing the Ebon Aspect more than he would hurt him (because of his Vecna granted power)...
What could help is if he were to find a "Wand of Bull's Strength" with a couple of charges left. He could beef up his partners and that would make him feel useful, while making up for his lack of direct contribution in the actual fight.
Bocklin
I agree, a buffing wand of some sort is going to be the most helpful. A wand with first level spells has a good chance of healing the aspect. I seem to remember a wand or two in 3FoE, but I don't have the adventure in front of me.
Sebastian
Good ideas, all. I'm trying to come up with something where he would actually have a chance to make the kill. The player is our least-experienced member, and has had two characters get killed so far, but is still gung-ho and very creative.
Maybe I could have him use the wand of shatter as the Aspect is tearing up the elevator. The chain could collapse on the EA and screw him up for a few rounds. The players aren't too impressed with that wand, though - it hasn't worked on anything yet. Would take some pretty blatant hinting on my part.
I agree with GGG. I personally don't think you as the DM should "bail him out" by providing him with a wand or somesuch. It is the sorceror's responsibility to foresee the chance that during a battle he may be "tapped out" and need to come up with Plan B. This may be the first time this has happened to this character but it certainly won't be the last. Are you planning on providing him with a magical aid every time this situation arises? That's probably going to irk the other players. Like GGG said, this could be a character defining moment. Give your player a chance to role-play, come up with his own creative way to survive this encounter effectively *disarmed*. It's moments like this that provide drama to the game. I say, let 'im sweat it out.
My group is about to knock off the Faceless One, triggering the Aspect. The sorcerer has used up nearly all his Scorching Ray spells on the kenku (mmmm...tastes like chicken) and will most assuredly be tapped out quickly. He's otherwise worthless in a fight.
Can anyone think of something he could find in the FO's loot that might be of help in the upcoming battle, without unbalancing the game? A wand of MM might do it (don't have the adventure here - is the Aspect immune to them?). Any other ideas?
What could he do?
Get a freakin' longspear and Aid Another on the party barbarian, who can now dump another point or two into Power Attack (hopefully said cruncher is using a two-handed weapon) which will help bring the Aspect down quickly.
Likewise, the party priest should be doing similar, though from right behind the barbarian so when said cruncher gets hurt, he takes a round off of Aiding Another to administer healing magic.
Aid another stacks, so two players giving a +4 bonus to hit makes it easier to hit, or MUCH easier to dump into Power Attack.
Aid another doesn't help multiple friends, does it? From what I've read:
In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you’re in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent’s next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.
It looks like you can only help one friend, unless you had multiple standard actions. Seems like they would all get it, personally. This party has a fighter and a rogue that try to double-team, so aid another would be a big bonus.
Aid another doesn't help multiple friends, does it? From what I've read:
In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you’re in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent’s next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.It looks like you can only help one friend, unless you had multiple standard actions. Seems like they would all get it, personally. This party has a fighter and a rogue that try to double-team, so aid another would be a big bonus.
No, you can only Aid one friend, but multiple people can aid that friend. If the mage, cleric and rogue all aid the party's tank that's a +6 allowing him to add a few points to a Power Attack. From a metagaming standpoint, it would allow him to make a +5 Power Attack (thus completely countering the Aspect's Damage Reduction) and still keep a +1 to hit if he so desired.
The Wand of Enlarge from the Hextor temple should allow the party's spellcaster to more than carry his own weight. Enlarging weapons does a darn fine job of overcoming the Aspect's Damage Reduction.