RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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It might be a relatively small amount of damage, but being able to damage any foe, even if you fail makes this way overpowered. It should matter what the foe's AC, fortitude save, etc is rather than having an automatic damage effect. If a 5th level dwarf uses this against say the tarasque, they shouldn't be able to do any damage, period.
Boulder Roll doesn't guarantee damage. It only deals damage if the opponent attempts a saving throw to block the effect. They can simply choose to accept the knockback effect and not take damage. You basically need harmful terrain effects to combo the ability with, otherwise it's fairly useless given that it costs 2 actions to perform.
Armor check penalty only applies to checks, not your athletics modifier. Your athletics DC is based on your athletics modifier, so armor check penalty would not apply to it. I'm not 100% of this, because the layout of the character sheets implies otherwise, but the rules text itself doesn't support that ACP applies to your modifier or DC's, and only applies to checks.
How does it work with armor check penalty?
That's also a good question, but I think you're asking about the Fort save part of things.
I assume that ACP reduces the DC, which makes me sad.
"The DC for any statistic is 10 plus all the same modifiers you’d add to a d20 roll using that statistic." p.8, and "If a creature is wearing armor that imparts a skill penalty, that penalty is applied to Dexterity- and Strength-based skill checks and skill DCs, unless the use has the attack trait." p. 142
So armor check penalty would apply here unless it had the attack tag or some other explicit call out not to include it. Armor check penalties are terrible and should be removed or at least made to not be the default.
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It doesn't, but it probably should.
Ironically the Orc Superstition feat has the Concentration trait, making it useless for superstition barbarians.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Boulder Roll doesn't guarantee damage. It only deals damage if the opponent attempts a saving throw to block the effect. They can simply choose to accept the knockback effect and not take damage. You basically need harmful terrain effects to combo the ability with, otherwise it's fairly useless given that it costs 2 actions to perform.
Armor check penalty only applies to checks, not your athletics modifier. Your athletics DC is based on your athletics modifier, so armor check penalty would not apply to it. I'm not 100% of this, because the layout of the character sheets implies otherwise, but the rules text itself doesn't support that ACP applies to your modifier or DC's, and only applies to checks.
Sure, but in my extreme example, why should the Tarasque have to either be knocked back or take any damage at all from a lowly 5th level Dwarf.
Sure, but in my extreme example, why should the Tarasque have to either be knocked back or take any damage at all from a lowly 5th level Dwarf.Boulder Roll doesn't guarantee damage. It only deals damage if the opponent attempts a saving throw to block the effect. They can simply choose to accept the knockback effect and not take damage. You basically need harmful terrain effects to combo the ability with, otherwise it's fairly useless given that it costs 2 actions to perform.
Armor check penalty only applies to checks, not your athletics modifier. Your athletics DC is based on your athletics modifier, so armor check penalty would not apply to it. I'm not 100% of this, because the layout of the character sheets implies otherwise, but the rules text itself doesn't support that ACP applies to your modifier or DC's, and only applies to checks.
It won't lose initiative to the dwarf, so it will simply kill him in the first round of combat, before the dwarf can even use the ability.
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I don't think Boulder Roll can have the attack trait because you're not actually rolling a d20 yourself.
It's also what makes the feat interesting to me, it's an aggressive non-spell option that doesn't cause and isn't hindered by MAP. I want things like that to spend my second/third action on, rather than attacks that aren't that likely to hit. It's also fairly certain to do something even if you don't get full effect.
I'd originally missed that ACP doesn't happen to actions with the attack trait, but still, I feel like ACP is a disproportionally big modifier in this new world of +1 and -2 modifiers.
something[/i] even if you don't get full effect.
You can't boulder roll on your 3rd action, as it takes 2 actions (and for ~11 damage its only OK). Even so, giving it the Attack Trait lets it ignore ACP and isn't subject to MAP anyway (as you aren't rolling).
I'd originally missed that ACP doesn't happen to actions with the attack trait, but still, I feel like ACP is a disproportionally big modifier in this new world of +1 and -2 modifiers.
ACP is -1 to -3. MAP is -4 or -5, and I haven't seen anyone complain that it's too big.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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It won't lose initiative to the dwarf, so it will simply kill him in the first round of combat, before the dwarf can even use the ability.Sure, but in my extreme example, why should the Tarasque have to either be knocked back or take any damage at all from a lowly 5th level Dwarf.Boulder Roll doesn't guarantee damage. It only deals damage if the opponent attempts a saving throw to block the effect. They can simply choose to accept the knockback effect and not take damage. You basically need harmful terrain effects to combo the ability with, otherwise it's fairly useless given that it costs 2 actions to perform.
Armor check penalty only applies to checks, not your athletics modifier. Your athletics DC is based on your athletics modifier, so armor check penalty would not apply to it. I'm not 100% of this, because the layout of the character sheets implies otherwise, but the rules text itself doesn't support that ACP applies to your modifier or DC's, and only applies to checks.
Sigh. What if there are 57 5th level dwarves with boulder roll? I'm pretty sure the Tarasque wouldn't kill them all in the first round.
I'm surprised it doesn't do no damage on a crit success, honestly... that seems like the obvious way for it to work.
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Sigh. What if there are 57 5th level dwarves with boulder roll? I'm pretty sure the Tarasque wouldn't kill them all in the first round.
The hoard of lowly level five dwarves fail to do any damage because of the Terrasque's Physical Resistance?
Sigh. What if there are 57 5th level dwarves with boulder roll? I'm pretty sure the Tarasque wouldn't kill them all in the first round.The hoard of lowly level five dwarves fail to do any damage because of the Terrasque's Physical Resistance?
Sure, if you want to be pedantic, replace "tarasque" with "jabberwock". Joel makes a good point, either way. No other effect I've seen lets you do automatic damage regardless of level or save.
FWIW, its a very low amount of damage for 2 actions; 9 damage at level 5 and 26 damage at level 20, but yes. Maybe crit-success = no damage?.
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Maybe crit-success = no damage?.
Noted, thanks!
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Crit fail should have an effect, too, then. Just pointing that out. ;)
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These are some very large dwarves if they can target these monsters with boulder roll. Or did they remove the same size or smaller restriction?
Obviously if they are really big this is a bigger problem. The ability doesn't mention what happens if you step into the squares of multiple targets. I assume it fails.