SFR, Inc.

[TheLazyhase]

Hello.

A random idea of alternate rule I had while I commuted would be, for magic action, to allow the opposing army, if any, to do a counter-missile. It's like the counter-melee in melee.

Lore-wise, it can be rationalized as magician having to expose themselves to do their rituals. Given the few description in the rulebook and the fact that ranged can attack an adjacent terrain, it don't seem completely stupid. Also, it reinforce the anti-magic thematic of the frostwing, since in addition to their racial they are good at missile.

Gameplay-wise, it will transform archer as mage killer in addition to their current power, which in a game where mage are considered a little bit powerful and missile a little bit weak does not seem too much of a stretch. Also, heavy infantry with some missile, like the elven ones, will be able to use their missile faces a bit more easily, since in effect it would be a passive effect against magic.

Since Dragonkin exist, it mean that they will be a strategic choice between taking additional defenser for your mage and having your mage casting immediatly useful spell, or wasting one or more turn to have enough dragonkin to soak counter volley.

The three races which gain the most from the change are Frostwing, because they are good at archery, Amazon, for the same reason, and Scalder, because they have autosave against missile and consequently will have mage better protected against retaliation. None of the three seem particulary overpowered at the moment. Also, the value of Volley would go up, which I like since it's not particulary desireable at the moment.

On the other end of the stick, mages with weak or no save will be the most weakened. Firewalker are the most impacted, since none of their mage have any save or way to get some. They can still summon dragonkin to help soak damage, or use spell like Dust devil or Dancing light, and their mage are very good, but the race as a whole isn't noticeably strong. Other races may also be hit harder than average ; for example, undead, while having resilient mages, do really need their magic.

A refinement of the idea would be to forbad ID icon from counting in this counter-missile, to force people to use actual archer for that. I don't know if it's necessary, while it's a bit strange.

I think the idea is a bit too game-changing and seem to shift power level too much to propose for 3.0 rules, but it may create fun games.

What do you think ? Do you think it's simple enough ? What would you fear it would cause ?

[piMaster]

I can't say I'm in favor of this idea. Easy counter-measure: put an open grave down and use the save roll as a free chance for more cantrips.

And what about multiplayer games where you could have two or more opposing armies? Does everyone get a shot at you or ???

[TheLazyhase]