darni
2012-08-08, 12:36 PM
While reading some of the recent threads about casters vs-noncasters, I cropped up with an idea that I'd like to run through the playground. (Disclaimer: this is not an attempt to add balance or to change the tier system or fix anything, just a few mechanics that I'd like to brainstorm about.)
My reasoning is the following: for all of the game variables that influence a non-caster performance (AC, attack bonus, available actions, movement amount and rates, etc.) there are multiple effects (by effects I mean the effect of a Feat, class feature, spell, etc) able to decrease their power. On the other hand, caster features have nothing to stop them. Yes, there are way to stop spells (the typical being Dispell, AMF, Disjunction, maybe Globe of Invulnerability and the like) but most of them stop the spells, rather than impairing the caster. Also, AMF and Disjunction are very "all of nothing".
From what I see, the main variables that "power" a caster are:
Spell slots
Spells known
Caster Level
(did I miss any?)
A "de-buff" effect in this context would be any effect degrading any of the three variables. I can't think of any examples, other than outright killing/disabling the caster or reactive responses to caster actions (distracting the caster while she's casting, which deprives her of a spell slot)
So my questions around this are many:
Do you know any effects in the books like the one I mention?
How do you think it would impact the game adding this kind of stuff?
If your answer to the previous two are "NO/NICELY", can you think of some example cool effects (homebrew of course)?
My reasoning is the following: for all of the game variables that influence a non-caster performance (AC, attack bonus, available actions, movement amount and rates, etc.) there are multiple effects (by effects I mean the effect of a Feat, class feature, spell, etc) able to decrease their power. On the other hand, caster features have nothing to stop them. Yes, there are way to stop spells (the typical being Dispell, AMF, Disjunction, maybe Globe of Invulnerability and the like) but most of them stop the spells, rather than impairing the caster. Also, AMF and Disjunction are very "all of nothing".
From what I see, the main variables that "power" a caster are:
Spell slots
Spells known
Caster Level
(did I miss any?)
A "de-buff" effect in this context would be any effect degrading any of the three variables. I can't think of any examples, other than outright killing/disabling the caster or reactive responses to caster actions (distracting the caster while she's casting, which deprives her of a spell slot)
So my questions around this are many:
Do you know any effects in the books like the one I mention?
How do you think it would impact the game adding this kind of stuff?
If your answer to the previous two are "NO/NICELY", can you think of some example cool effects (homebrew of course)?