Ranged Duskblade

[Cranthis]

You read the title. Would a ranged variant of the duskblade be viable? I think it would be interesting.

[Snowbluff]

Like if they could use channeling with ranged attacks? At 13, being able to full attack channel every round would be pretty messed up, since you won't have to move like a regular Duskblade.

[BowStreetRunner]

I think it would end up being what the Arcane Archer should have been.

[Boci]

Like if they could use channeling with ranged attacks? At 13, being able to full attack channel every round would be pretty messed up, since you won't have to move like a regular Duskblade.

They would lose out on power attack, which the duskblade has pretty good synergy with. Number of attacks archers can make may be problematic, will need to consider.

[Cranthis]

Once they are at 13, they can just many shot to make up for the lack of power attack

[Boci]

Once they are at 13, they can just many shot to make up for the lack of power attack

I'm guessing you mean shoot a lot of shots, rather than the feat many shots?

[Cranthis]

Both. If you are buffed properly, combined with magic items, the negatives on many shot should only be a minor inconvenience.

[Urpriest]

Both. If you are buffed properly, combined with magic items, the negatives on many shot should only be a minor inconvenience.

Perhaps, but that has nothing to do with the level 13 ability, unless you let it activate on manyshot instead of a full attack.

[Cranthis]

Its my understanding that you can apply many shot to full attack round as well.

[Boci]

Its my understanding that you can apply many shot to full attack round as well.

No. Greater arcane channeling is a full round action. Many shot allows you to take a full attack as a standard action. Full attack does not equal full round action. Wow, double swordsage'd.


It is not your understanding, nor is it anybody's.

Wait what? Just because an understanding is wrong doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

[Urpriest]

Its my understanding that you can apply many shot to full attack round as well.

It is not your understanding, nor is it anybody's. Like any other standard action, you can't manyshot and take a full-round action in the same round without a source of extra actions.

[BowStreetRunner]

Manyshot is explicitly a standard action. A full-round action (such as a full attack) cannot be coupled with a standard action.

[Cranthis]

Well allright then. But back to the original point, a ranged duskblade would be pretty nice I think.

[Boci]

It certainly would. But given the advantages in range it would have, some nerfs may be in order.

Would requiring a move action to "power up" arcane charge be too much? You are getting a significant boost to range, and assuming their are some melee character's in the party, you shoud be somewhat protected from counter attacks, which is nifty for a glass cannon.

As for grater arcane channeling...I this requires more thought. If the interpretation that you can only effect a single creature 1/round is used, then the ranged variant will recieve an even greater boost as it will more easily be able to target different creature with its full attack...

[eggs]

I don't think anyone's objecting to that until level 13 - it considerable damage and control, but gains some flexibility in range.

But it really depends how the level 13 ability is handled. Snowbluff's right - melee reach is a huge limiting factor in the ability. It would need to be nerfed or limited somehow. The easy way that nobody's going to like would be allowing a channeled spell to apply once to the first target hit during a full-round weapon attack without affecting subsequent targets.

[Snowbluff]

If it can only hit each target once per full channel, it might as well be a second level Arcane Archer.

[Cranthis]

t certainly would. But given the advantages in range it would have, some nerfs may be in order.

I agree, and I like your idea about the move action thing. But yes, the full action channeling is harder to deal with. Possibly move it up to 15th or 17th level? That way you are dealing damage somewhere inbetween the hard casters and the other melee/ranged.

[Boci]

What if they had to re-cast the spell on subsequent attacks? It would force them to conserve spells...and with 4 encounters per day, that should put a dent in even the duskblade's spells.

[Snowbluff]

Sounds good. And spells like Chill Touch that have multiple charges?

[Cranthis]

Yeah, or maybe still cast it once, but it does use spell slots equivalent to the number of attacks you make.

[Cranthis]

Sounds good. And spells like Chill Touch that have multiple charges?

The same as channeling it normally. Channelling chill touch doesn't let you melee attack multiple targets on a regular duskblade.

[Boci]

Sounds good. And spells like Chill Touch that have multiple charges?

Doesn't arcane channel negate the mutiple target aspect of spells? I see little reason to change that.

And swordsage'd again. I need to boost my initiative.

[Cranthis]

It negates everything but chain spell. But you couldn't do that until you had the full round channel anyways.

[Darrin]

Duskblade 13/Warblade 1/Bloodstorm Blade 4. Full-attack channel + lightning ricochet.

[docnessuno]

I think a ranged duskblade would be fine, i would just alter a tad its spell list, replacing some MTA spells with RTA ones, and key ranged arcane channeling on RTAs (wich are usually slighly less powerful then MTAs of the same levels.).

[Answerer]

It depends on your group. Duskblades are kind of underpowered to begin with. Arcane Channeling is good but their spell list is bad. You don't even get that many spells that work with Arcane Channeling.


I think a ranged duskblade would be fine, i would just alter a tad its spell list, replacing some MTA spells with RTA ones, and key ranged arcane channeling on RTAs (wich are usually slighly less powerful then MTAs of the same levels.).
This is a great idea too.

[Cranthis]

It depends on your group. Duskblades are kind of underpowered to begin with. Arcane Channeling is good but their spell list is bad. You don't even get that many spells that work with Arcane Channeling.

You say that, but have you seen one effectively played? They do almost as good in combat as a wizard. They may have a small spell list, but that is all they need. Besides, if there is a spell you really want, you could always Extra Spell it, or find a bloodline for it.