[OOC] Malachei's Red Hand of Doom

[Ladorak]

Wonderful, looks like I raged at exactly the wrong time.

I'm predicting the full 21 damage then.
Well shut my mouth.

Save: (1d20+4)[21]

I'll have a reply up tomorrow.

Edit: Quick rules question mal, I think this is probably ok but I want to clear it with you. Rage prevents any act that requires concentration, which by fluff is most manoeuvres and by RAW/RAI is all of them.

What about steely resolve and counterstrike though? The text implies it's a natural thing that doesn't require concentration, and fluff wise I think it's solid too, but I'd like to have it clear from you.

[Malachei]

The fluff description of Steely Resolve and Counterstrike, IMO, implies that it works fine with Rage.

It is called Furious Counterstrike, after all.

[RaggedAngel]

Just to note, Aria is still on top of the tower. Is the cone large enough to reach her and still extend out past the bridge?

Reflex: (1d20+7)[25]

[Psydon]

REF save: (1d20+8)[18]

Edit: So close...

Dragon's AC is 26. Due to prone: 22 vs. melee, 30 vs. ranged.

Mal, what's the vertical range on that cone of acid? Rita is 15' above the ground. Also, does prone give AC against ranged touch attacks?

Aria, how are you on top of the tower at G15? That's past the edge of the battlements.

[Malachei]

Originally Posted by RaggedAngel

Just to note, Aria is still on top of the tower. Is the cone large enough to reach her and still extend out past the bridge?

Reflex: [roll0]

Sorry, I've missed that. The cone would extend in all directions, so it would absolutely reach Rita, but Aria would not be affected.

Yes, prone gives AC against range touch attacks.

[Carr0t]

Originally Posted by Ladorak

Edit: Quick rules question mal, I think this is probably ok but I want to clear it with you. Rage prevents any act that requires concentration, which by fluff is most manoeuvres and by RAW/RAI is all of them.

What about steely resolve and counterstrike though? The text implies it's a natural thing that doesn't require concentration, and fluff wise I think it's solid too, but I'd like to have it clear from you.

Actually WotC Customer service specifically stated that:

Q Can a Barbarian use a Maneuver while Raging?
A Yes, so long as the maneuver does not require a concentration check.

That means pretty much anything but Diamond mind is usable while raging.
They actually went on to specify that you cannot take an action to refresh manuvers. Which again does not apply to Crusader as his maneuvers get refreshed by his deity.

Oh. And Gabriel will wait for the melee section to finish their attack before making his move.

[Malachei]

Thanks. And as an advance warning for possible rulings that go in another direction:

While I often do look at additional sources, I must say I've found CustServ not to be a reliable source.

[Malachei]

@Toliudar: I'm sorry to say the dragon saves against vertigo: 1d20+11=24

[Toliudar]

I figured it's a long shot. But a chance of a major debuff is a lot more useful to the group than a slim chance of doing 5 points of damage. Thanks!

[Tashalar]

You missed my damage rolls because I... uh, forgot them. But here they come!

Damage 1: (2d6+9)[15]
Damage 2: (2d6+9)[16]

[Tashalar]

Reflex save: (1d20+3)[22]

And maneuver rolls: (1d5)[4]; (1d4)[4]; (1d3)[1]
=> stone bones, charging minotaur, lion's roar

And the creature is prone? How juicy.

[Malachei]

Originally Posted by Toliudar

I figured it's a long shot. But a chance of a major debuff is a lot more useful to the group than a slim chance of doing 5 points of damage. Thanks!

It's really just the lucky rolls. You're forcing two Will saves per round, and it has a 50% chance of making them after you beat SR (which you have a 40% chance of piercing). I'd say Spell Penetration is probably a good choice.

[Carr0t]

This article expands on that and qoutes Tome of Battle:

Q: Can a barbarian use maneuvers (from Tome of Battle) while raging? What about Diamond Mind maneuvers that require a Concentration check to use? What about to recover maneuvers in the middle of combat?

A: According to the text under the Concentration heading on page 39 of Tome of Battle, the text states “unlike with spells or psionic powers, you need not concentrate to initiate a maneuver or stance.” Because initiating a maneuver does not require concentration, you would be able to perform most maneuvers while in a barbarian’s Rage, or in any other condition which mimics the restrictions or raging. While raging, a character would not be able to use any Diamond Mind maneuver that requires a concentration check. Using a special action to recover an expended maneuver would fall into the category of “any abilities that require patience or concentration,” so a character would not be able to recover maneuvers in this way while raging.

[Tashalar]

Ladorak: Note that Ser Dunlan gains 4 hit points via Makul's martial stance.

Edit: Note that he might also gain 4 hit points this round unless Makul misses on a 30.

[Malachei]

Originally Posted by Carr0t

This article expands on that and qoutes Tome of Battle:

I do agree with this. Actually, I wasn't even aware there was a real debate on maneuvers during rage. Most are (Ex), only a few are (Su). My caveat was just towards CustServ rulings.

[Psydon]

Mal, I'm not going to bother recording what the bat does anymore because it's pointless. By the rules of Summon Monster it has to keep attacking until the dragon dies, so it will, but it only gets a +5 bonus to its attack rolls w/o flanking so it can't hit the dragon no matter what I roll.

[Tashalar]

Natural 20! Never disregard the natural 20! It can even roll a critical hit on another natural 20 on the confirmation roll! Never disregard your 1 in 400 chance to deal some nice damage.

[Psydon]

Oh, right, natural 20s auto-hit. Thanks, Tasha.

[Carr0t]

Originally Posted by Malachei

I do agree with this. Actually, I wasn't even aware there was a real debate on maneuvers during rage. Most are (Ex), only a few are (Su). My caveat was just towards CustServ rulings.

That is why I tried (and succeeded) to find something more definitive. Apparently it is all in the book, if I had been patient enough to find it.
(Actually I have a ToB character in another game and needed to find that out anyway)

[Tashalar]

I'll be offline until the 3rd of June - please NPC Makul, Mal. He'll try to bring the dragon down - what else can he do?

[Ladorak]

Huh, I've been playing it that way for years... Like half a decade I think.

Thank you for the pointer

Mal, when we level up, do you mind if I make a small change to my char? Nothing major, but I realised the other day that the whirling frenzy feature would probably be of more use to Dunlan than standard rage.

[Malachei]

No problem.

So, that leaves Aria, Rita, Ser Dunlan and Gabriel for the round.

[Carr0t]

Gabriel will wait for ser Dunlan to make his attack (and technically also for any melee NPC) before acting.

[Psydon]

My post will be up later today.

[Malachei]

We're not in a rush. I'm pretty busy anyway.

[Ladorak]

(1d20+15)[17](2d6+9)[11]
(1d20+15)[21](2d6+9)[17]
(1d20+14)[20](1d8+8)[11]
(1d20+12)[17](2d6+9)[19]

[Psydon]

Ouch...

Edit: @Tasha: Makul's third attack hit (23 vs. 22AC), so altogether that would be 63 damage to the dragon (before DR) and 6HP healed for Dunlan.

[Malachei]

Originally Posted by Ladorak

[roll0][roll1]
[roll2][roll3]
[roll4][roll5]
[roll6][roll7]

That's a terrible set of rolls.

[Ladorak]

And to top it all off apparently I/the board somehow lost the post text as well.

Not a good turn

[Carr0t]

That is a very ugly set of rolls.