|
4 people marked this as a favorite.
|
One of the common complaints about spellcasting is that the accuracy is low. I think that there is a very simple way of handling this: Rather than having a separate proficiency for spellcasting, use one of the skills to determine attacks and save DCs.
Let wizards cast spells with Arcana, Clerics with Religion and Druids with Nature. Let Bards use Performance, and Sorcerers use Deception, Diplomacy, Intimidation or Performance depending on bloodline - BAM! Instant flavor difference.
With the better skill proficiency, and the opportunity to get item bonuses, this will improve accuracy, something I understand people asked for in the survey on magic.
I came to think of it when I leveled up my Bard to 9th level for Mirrored Moon (yes, we *are* behind in the play test) and compared my options for debuffing opponents: Trip is Master with a +3 item bonus (Armbands of Athleticism) for a total of +5, while corresponding spells are Trained with no item bonus for a total of +0. +5 vs +0 is a *lot* of difference in this system (not to mention the difference between one action and two to use). My co-player's rogue has the same setup with Master Intimidation and Demon Mask. No wonder spell accuracy feels so bad...
Besides, this gives Bards a very good use for Performance, rather than the very contrived one in Lingering Performance and Inspire Heroics. :)
This is a really interesting idea. I've felt for a while that DCs need an item bonus. Though PC saves might need tweaking as it would make NPC casters pretty strong against PCs. Like at 20th level a player rolling a moderate save (18 in the score, trained, +5 armor) against a maximized PC only has a 25% chance of success (+29 vs. DC 45). Perhaps this is fine, I'm not sure, but it feel a little low. And Heaven forbid if you're a Full Plate user or anything else with below 18 Dex.
I do like the idea, though. And these are all skills the given classes are automatically trained in.
This does allow caster multiclasses to get max DC too, whatever your take on that be.
|
1 person marked this as a favorite.
|
Mats Öhrman wrote: One of the common complaints about spellcasting is that the accuracy is low. I think that there is a very simple way of handling this: Rather than having a separate proficiency for spellcasting, use one of the skills to determine attacks and save DCs.
Let wizards cast spells with Arcana, Clerics with Religion and Druids with Nature. Let Bards use Performance, and Sorcerers use Deception, Diplomacy, Intimidation or Performance depending on bloodline - BAM! Instant flavor difference.
I like this idea and consider it very flavorful. Furthermore, I have had players ask me multiple times, "What is the Spell DC for my new character?" Spellcasting proficiency is not obvious despite it being in the proficiencies sidebar of the class. Better flavor might make a spellcating skill easier to remember.
However, I am going to tease that you forgot about the Occultism skill. Logically, Occultism would serve the bard like Arcana serves the wizard. In practice, we think Performance when we think about bards and I already proposed merging Occultism and Performance into one skill: Bard Skills: Performance and Occultism.
Mathmuse wrote: Mats Öhrman wrote: One of the common complaints about spellcasting is that the accuracy is low. I think that there is a very simple way of handling this: Rather than having a separate proficiency for spellcasting, use one of the skills to determine attacks and save DCs.
Let wizards cast spells with Arcana, Clerics with Religion and Druids with Nature. Let Bards use Performance, and Sorcerers use Deception, Diplomacy, Intimidation or Performance depending on bloodline - BAM! Instant flavor difference.
I like this idea and consider it very flavorful. Furthermore, I have had players ask me multiple times, "What is the Spell DC for my new character?" Spellcasting proficiency is not obvious despite it being in the proficiencies sidebar of the class. Better flavor might make a spellcating skill easier to remember.
However, I am going to tease that you forgot about the Occultism skill. Logically, Occultism would serve the bard like Arcana serves the wizard. In practice, we think Performance when we think about bards and I already proposed merging Occultism and Performance into one skill: Bard Skills: Performance and Occultism. I simply think that there are future classes that would be better served with an int-based Occultism as a spellcasting skill.
Edge93 wrote: Though PC saves might need tweaking as it would make NPC casters pretty strong against PCs. Well, NPC casters ought to be made using the monster rules anyway, to be consistent.
Mats Öhrman wrote: Edge93 wrote: Though PC saves might need tweaking as it would make NPC casters pretty strong against PCs. Well, NPC casters ought to be made using the monster rules anyway, to be consistent. Perhaps so, I suppose I'm just coming off of my PF1 tendency to use custom built humanoid foes far more often than anything in the Bestiary. XD
Recent threads in Skills, Feats, Equipment & Spells
|
