Your best quarry is one of your allies

[Teridax]

I came across this fairly recently and this definitely comes across as an exploit: by this point, many of us are aware that Mark Quarry is difficult to use in many situations, because parties don't always know which monsters are up ahead and many of them don't meet the activity's requirements. You know what does meet the activity's requirements, though? Your allies.

Turns out, there is nothing in the Mark Quarry activity that prevents you from marking an ally as your quarry. Why do that? The answer is: On the Hunt. There are effectively two major situations this covers:

1. If you do end up fighting a PL+ enemy, that enemy is much more likely to crit your ally than the reverse by default, so you get quickened more often by On the Hunt.

2. If you end up fighting below-level enemies, none of them could have been your quarry in your first place, so you get more opportunities for On The Hunt.

Worth mentioning as well that none of On The Hunt's actions are quarry-specific: you can Step or Stride anywhere you want, and relentless actions like Bloodscent or Sudden Pounce let you go for any creature you want.

But what about trophies, you ask? Well, when you do come across a quarry-able enemy, just use Instant Enmity when you think they're likely to drop, and you'll have yourself a trophy for the day.

So yeah, this doesn't seem part of the intended design at all, and I thought I'd bring it up here because I found it quite funny. It's not broken in the sense that it's too strong, as the Slayer I don't think is a very strong class in its playtest packet, but it certainly breaks what Mark Quarry is supposed to represent.

[Castilliano]

"You can't Claim a Trophy from a quarry you declared using Instant Enmity."

But other than that, YES, a frontline ally remains a better mark. And if the PC dies...the Ritual doesn't require the whole body, does it?

Though seriously, if your trophy case covers a breadth of traits, it'll be difficult to find better ones already. So there's little loss, at least re: On The Hunt/Relentless, which represents one of the major (albeit mediocre) innovations of the class. If Instant Enmity (and its 10th level boost) are kinda must-haves as some say, the only lost opportunity might be if you run across the famous enemy/boss earlier than expected. Odds are you'll kinda know when you're approaching them and can wait to Mark them when recuperating/Refocusing beforehand.

Easy fix to say enemies only or allies disallowed, but funny oversight.

[Amaya/Polaris]

Fashionable Wizard: "...what is it? It's rude to stare, you know!"

Note-taking Slayer: "Oh. Sorry, just, admiring the outfit. I like your skirt."

Fashionable Wizard: "Ah! Well thank you, I suppose I am asking for the attention~."

Note-taking Slayer: (...sweeping frilled hem, restricts quick movements and very possible to make him trip up on if he's harried enough. The hat probably limits vertical vision, he's only lightly burdened but the extravagant equipment could be weaponized against him. Obviously weak to silencing ammunition if it works. Not agile enough to account for the relative lack of protection, nor brawny enough to shrug off many direct blows or escape restraints on his own power — it's not what he trained for. If I do my job right, I won't have to sour his morning by telling him any of this.)

[ScooterScoots]

Castilliano wrote:

But other than that, YES, a frontline ally remains a better mark. And if the PC dies...the Ritual doesn't require the whole body, does it?

For humanoid trophies are said to be "typically a part of its equipment or heraldry, such as a scrap of a warlord’s banner or a knight’s pauldron"

So yes, kill ally -> shock to the system is in fact the best way to get trophies. Just take their holy symbol or some s#*$ (they can get a new one).

If your GM rules that shock to the system doesn't work because the now living creature doesn't count as the remains of your quarry, gentle repose -> take trophy -> shock to the system. (Said in the same tone as the famous animated spellbook bit)

[Castilliano]

Yes, "typically" gives an out re: humanoids, but I'm thinking of a perverse Slayer that atypically keeps trophies of their peers. They're likely a diverse group that possess several spell Traits. Good pickens.

"We really need a frontline Wizard."
"For your trophy case?"
"Ha, ha. No. Not that I wouldn't utilize all my resources."
"So yes."
"Maybe, but remember that time a ghoul gnawed off your hand and you bled to death? I do. It's right here."
"Buddy, that's gruesome."
"It's a joke. But seriously, I've got to thank you because it biting your hand off and then you dying both gave me an extra oomph toward victory."
"Stop it. Your humor's not funny, it's just..."
"Relentless?"
*groan*

[Perpdepog]

Castilliano wrote:

Yes, "typically" gives an out re: humanoids, but I'm thinking of a perverse Slayer that atypically keeps trophies of their peers. They're likely a diverse group that possess several spell Traits. Good pickens.

"We really need a frontline Wizard."
"For your trophy case?"
"Ha, ha. No. Not that I wouldn't utilize all my resources."
"So yes."
"Maybe, but remember that time a ghoul gnawed off your hand and you bled to death? I do. It's right here."
"Buddy, that's gruesome."
"It's a joke. But seriously, I've got to thank you because it biting your hand off and then you dying both gave me an extra oomph toward victory."
"Stop it. Your humor's not funny, it's just..."
"Relentless?"
*groan*

My first thought was almost the opposite, a slayer who has "trophies," more like keepsakes, of all of their party members so they can defeat monsters with the power of friendship.

"With these mementos, it's like my friends have always got my back!"
"We're literally right behind you."

[Castilliano]

You're giving me Freddy Krueger vs. Dream Warrior vibes. :-)

ETA: I mean after the Brony, Captain Planet ones. :-P

[Loreguard]

I would suggest that On The Hunt should be able to be triggered by an ally (up to say 4 designated during preparation for day)which you have trained with, when they get critically hit. That way you don’t have to mark them as your quarry, but unfortunate hits against your party can spur you forward.

This gives you more chances to engage your class abilities even if you aren’t battling a prepared opponent.

[rainzax]

Loreguard wrote:

I would suggest that On The Hunt should be able to be triggered by an ally (up to say 4 designated during preparation for day)which you have trained with, when they get critically hit. That way you don’t have to mark them as your quarry, but unfortunate hits against your party can spur you forward.

This gives you more chances to engage your class abilities even if you aren’t battling a prepared opponent.

+1

[Wendy_Go]

Perpdepog wrote:

Castilliano wrote:

Yes, "typically" gives an out re: humanoids, but I'm thinking of a perverse Slayer that atypically keeps trophies of their peers. They're likely a diverse group that possess several spell Traits. Good pickens.<snip>

My first thought was almost the opposite, a slayer who has "trophies," more like keepsakes, of all of their party members so they can defeat monsters with the power of friendship.<snip>

I actually play a Thaumaturge who has this as his back story. He's an orc quartermaster named "Brukthar the Relic Keeper". As a quartermaster, he was in charge of handling / redistributing the gear and often personal effects of fallen soldiers while fighting at the world wound. His esoterica are a collection of mementoes from soldiers who fought well against various creature types or exhibited particular useful abilities. Most of his feats are actually from his Champion archetype, as he's a champion (via dedication) of Ragathiel, which plays well with this theme of his fighting style drawing on the strength of the fallen.

So yeah, I think trophies from fallen friends could work, but I suggest that this use a mechanism separate from Mark Quarry. Perhaps if your quarry killed the ally, or perhaps if you take some extraordinary action to defend / aid that ally (either and ability, or just GM determined).

Honestly I think the eligibility for trophies is maybe best divorced from "mark quarry" and just left up to the GM. That might seem a bit to loosey goosey, but equally important choices like loot awards and hero point distribution are already up to the GM. You could even tie these together and allow the Slayer some agency by declaring a fallen foe ally worthy of taking a trophy from by spending a hero point or spending a certain amount of gold (say equivalent to a scroll with rank half the creature's level) to "enshrine" the trophy as something usable for reinforcement etc.

[eardianm]

Bumping this thread rather than my earlier one since it's on brand.

Having your party throw fodder at the enemy, after getting your initial blood rush from quarrying your own party, seems like the best way to keep on the hunt triggered. Doing a playtest combat with a Necro in the party. Why yes, I would love to stay hasted each round as your thralls are put in annoying places that an enemy would quickly smash. Are there perhaps other summons anyone else would like to throw out with fun effects that will otherwise die in a hit? Let's keep that pain train rolling please.

It's making me feel less like a Slayer and more like some violence loving degenerate

[Wendy_Go]

Summon a creature that has regeneration, watch it drop to 0 HP every turn and then pop back up?

[QuidEst]

Wendy_Go wrote:

Summon a creature that has regeneration, watch it drop to 0 HP every turn and then pop back up?

They're dismissed at 0 HP.