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So I was looking through the Technomancer spell list to work out how to build my support Technomancer, and I saw the Microbot Assault spell. At first glance it didn't seem particularly good, but I decided to run some math to work out how it stacks up in terms of effective damage. While doing so, I realized that this spell left me with so many questions...
Here's the spell:
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Duration: concentration + 1 round
Saving Throw: none
Effect: distracting cloud of microbots
Spell Resistance: no
DESCRIPTION
You pull latent technological energy from the air to form a cloud of fist-sized hindering microbots that fill an area you designate. The microbots begin in a 10-foot-square area when you create them, and you can create the cloud so that it shares the space of other creatures. If no creatures are within the cloud’s area, the microbots pursue and harass the nearest creature that is hostile to you as best they can each round. Although the microbots generally know which creatures are your enemies, you have no control over their targets or direction of travel. If there are multiple valid targets the microbots can harass, the cloud will split into a maximum of four 5-foot-square segments and pursue different targets.The cloud (and any segments thereof) has a fly speed of 20 feet. Each round on your turn, the microbot cloud grants harrying fire (see page 247) against the foes in its spaces. In addition, the cloud grants covering fire (see page 246) to anyone attacked by foes in its spaces. The microbots constantly repair themselves and the cloud generates new microbots every few seconds, so any attack against them is essentially ineffective.
Interesting questions and RAW, I can see some certain confusion. Based on how Summon Monster works and the interpretations from that spell, I can insert some responses.
1. When summoned, the monster can get its move. So if you cast it within range, technically it has no immediate target and must move and attack to the best of its ability right away. If there are multiple targets, it could split up and do this. MY interpretation would be this - if it is summoned and has immediate targets, no need to move. If summoned and no immediate targets (or targets are neutralized), then they would move. Since they do not 'attack', then I would say they immediately provide the benefit they were summoned for. I know the RAW is vague (Each round on your turn...), but that just makes sense (e.g. a summoned wolf could move and bite on the round it is summoned).
2. Regarding range, I have never run into this before. However, I have summoned air elementals that have 100' flight and they certainly left close range before without issue. Good question, but I don't see any rules indicating they CAN'T leave.
3. Yes, they know who your enemies are. However, they have no stated forms of perception themselves. I would have them rely on the caster's senses. Except for the confusing " you have no control over their targets or direction of travel" entry. That makes it seem that they operate totally on their own. But if you don't know the enemy exists or where they are, how would they?
4. I would agree that it is anyone attacked by the foe. It doesn't state otherwise.
5. Swarms don't limit movement, so if they leave, all modifiers stop applying.
Looking forward to seeing more discussion on this.
I generally agree with Kalderaan. As far as range, historically summon spells in D&D / Pathfinder do not impose a "maximum travel range" on creatures or objects conjured up by a spell unless a specific spell specifically says so.
I agree that the spell is incredibly confusing.
I find the statement: "the microbots pursue and harass the nearest creature that is hostile to you as best they can each round" to suggest they pursue according their own ability to perceive the enemy. How perceptive they actually are probably has to be determined by the GM; including their perception of what is the nearest foe that is "hostile to you"
Their ability to provide harrying/covering fire is incredibly confusing but "grants harrying fire" and "grants covering fire" seems to specifically call out only the bonuses of such abilities while the enemies are contained within the space of the microbots.
It does not call attention to the fact that both are originally a ranged attack that only grant the bonus once against the foe.
The fact that these bonuses only apply while you continue to have line of effect and only until the beginning of your next turn seems to imply that these microbots are constantly applying these bonuses as long as enemies are inhabiting their square.
There are just so many assumptions to consider of the "cloud" as well:
If they work similar to a summoned swarm and the way they attack, then the bonuses probably only apply to creatures inhabiting the spaces in which the swarm ends it's turn. If it works this way then perhaps it could even utilize multiple two move actions, ready a move action to move if a foe tried to escape, and generally harass "..as best they can each round."
If it's just a cloud, then it probably moves once at the start of your turn, only affects things inhabiting the square where it ends it's move, and only has senses as complex as your interpretation of enemy positions.
Thanks for the interpretations guys. Makes sense that they can move as far as they want when considering the analogy to summon spells. I guess I was imagining the microbots supporting the party while the technomancer sits in a coffee shop 10 miles away. You know, keeping in touch via skype and occasionally taunting creatures into hostility to keep the microbots motivated. I figure if I can have an idea like that, there's probably some other silly loophole that's going to be exploited.
I'm tempted to believe Over 9000's suggestion that they grant harrying fire and covering fire "continuously" rather than once only per round, it makes more flavor sense to me. The microbots are constantly there, being distracting, after all. But it doesn't gel well with how the covering and harrying fire rules are normally written.
It also doesn't seem that the microbot cloud is intended to count as a creature (but rather a spell effect), but at the same time its autonomous...
One of my other (mostly rhetorical) questions is how smart is "to the best of its ability" supposed to be? Say there are two enemies. Would three 5ft squares of the cloud move to hem in one of the enemies so they can't guarded step away to get out of the cloud? Or would they split evenly? This is obviously 100% up to the GM right now, but it makes the spell vary wildly in usefulness, especially for the covering fire portion.
One of my other (mostly rhetorical) questions is how smart is "to the best of its ability" supposed to be? Say there are two enemies. Would three 5ft squares of the cloud move to hem in one of the enemies so they can't guarded step away to get out of the cloud? Or would they split evenly? This is obviously 100% up to the GM right now, but it makes the spell vary wildly in usefulness, especially for the covering fire portion.
Since you can't directly command them once loosed and they don't have much intelligence, they would split up as evenly as possible. Two clouds after one target, two after the other target. In the case of three targets, the fourth "undesignated" cloud segment would either move towards the closest one or roll randomly to determine which of several equidistant targets it moved toward.
One of my other (mostly rhetorical) questions is how smart is "to the best of its ability" supposed to be? Say there are two enemies. Would three 5ft squares of the cloud move to hem in one of the enemies so they can't guarded step away to get out of the cloud? Or would they split evenly? This is obviously 100% up to the GM right now, but it makes the spell vary wildly in usefulness, especially for the covering fire portion.Since you can't directly command them once loosed and they don't have much intelligence, they would split up as evenly as possible. Two clouds after one target, two after the other target. In the case of three targets, the fourth "undesignated" cloud segment would either move towards the closest one or roll randomly to determine which of several equidistant targets it moved toward.
Actually, there's nothing in the spell that suggests they're not intelligent. In fact, since they're not only able to discern 'hostility' and are completely autonomous beyond you sustaining them with magic each round, it seems like they're at least slightly intelligent.
A cat with an Intelligence of 2 can also discern who its owner is hostile towards. That doesn't mean it can think tactically.
Since it explicitly calls out Covering Fire and Harrying Fire, I would assume that it only applies to the very first attack against/by that opponent in or after your round. Yes, it "makes sense" that they would do that continuously, but I see nothing in the rules that would support such an interpretation.
So, as far as I can tell, they grant Covering Fire and Harrying Fire on your turn, once per turn. If it was continuous, that would strike me as pretty freaking powerful for a level 2 spell.
Since it explicitly calls out Covering Fire and Harrying Fire, I would assume that it only applies to the very first attack against/by that opponent in or after your round. Yes, it "makes sense" that they would do that continuously, but I see nothing in the rules that would support such an interpretation.
So, as far as I can tell, they grant Covering Fire and Harrying Fire on your turn, once per turn. If it was continuous, that would strike me as pretty freaking powerful for a level 2 spell.
After re-reading the text: "...the cloud grants covering fire (see page 246) to anyone attacked by foes in its spaces" I had originally assumed this to mean any number of people attacked from this square, but I agree that it *should* only be one activation of the combat ability per turn. An effective +2 to hit and -2 to enemy attack rolls in the cloud seems like too big of a bonus for potentially affecting 4 enemies at once.
Another question about Microbot Assault... would casting this break Invisibility? It's not actually attacking anyone, so should an invisible caster be able to summon these up and harass his foes?
I'm guessing this would fall under the same umbrella as summoning creatures to fight for you. In fact, this is even more indirect, as you can't control them once summoned and they don't even do damage. So, I would definitely rule that it doesn't break invisibility.
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Another question about Microbot Assault... would casting this break Invisibility? It's not actually attacking anyone, so should an invisible caster be able to summon these up and harass his foes?No. It's a harmful effect on the square - negatively impacts the foe.
So the invisibility would break.
It's not an area effect, though, nor an effect targeting an opponent. I don't see how it's a more direct form of attack than using Summon Creature which has never broken Invisibility.
If you're gonna rule that the issue is the swarm sharing a space with an opponent at the time of casting, then just summon it nearby. The microbots then go harass the enemies by themselves, but at that point, it can certainly no longer be considered an attack by you.
The question of range is covered in the conjuration school description, beginning on page 333.
"A conjured creature or object must appear within the spell's range, but once conjured it does not have to remain within that range."
Thanks for the clarification Owen!