PDA

View Full Version : Base Attack and Usefulness in Combat



Primal Fury
2013-06-23, 03:12 PM
I've always wondered something, but never really voiced it. If we have a character with a "poor" base attack bonus (half their character level), and this character had exhausted all of their spells for the day, how could they still be useful in combat? Are there a number of feats they could take to help this issue? Or is does this have more to do with equipment than anything else?

Kyuu Himura
2013-06-23, 03:59 PM
OK, for starters, most poor BAB characters are full casters, if you play a full caster well, you don't run out of spells, there aree ways to literally never run out of spells, but that's not the point of this thread.

Second, there's reserve feats, as long as you have a spell prepared (but have not cast it yet) that matches what the feat says, you get to cast a small version of the spell or something to that effect. So say, you prepare a 7th level [fire] spell, and have the right reserve feat, you may blast people with fire so long as you don't cast that [fire] spell.

Third, scrolls and wands are the caster's best friend, if he/she doesn't have those, go back to point one.

Glimbur
2013-06-23, 04:20 PM
Low levels are more likely to have the 'out of spells' problem. At low levels, you aren't that far behind in attack bonus. Use a crossbow. Throw alchemist's fire. Aid Another with a longspear. Direct your war dogs to attack. Make Spot and Listen checks, just in case. Open and close doors. Drag fallen party members around. There are often things that need doing, but everyone is too busy.

Slipperychicken
2013-06-23, 04:33 PM
To avoid running out of spells, remember that you're not supposed to be popping one off every round until mid-high levels. When it's clear the fighters passed a tipping point and are going to win without taking unacceptable damage (i.e. more than you can heal), then it's okay to pull out the crossbow.

At level 1-3, you can use ranged weapons and still be useful. If you're an Elf, remember you get that free longbow proficiency.

Splash weapons are usually a good bet. Tanglefoot bags and alchemist fire have their place.

By mid levels, you can have scrolls and wands to fall back on, but you should also have enough spells/day that running out isn't an issue.



Second, there's reserve feats, as long as you have a spell prepared (but have not cast it yet) that matches what the feat says, you get to cast a small version of the spell or something to that effect. So say, you prepare a 7th level [fire] spell, and have the right reserve feat, you may blast people with fire so long as you don't cast that [fire] spell.


Yes. Invisible Needle makes Warlocks cry (got your primary class feature for a feat). Summon Elemental makes Rogues cry by doing their trapfinding job better in almost every way. Fiery Burst makes you into Tim the Enchanter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZJZK6rzjns#t=0m24s).

Waar
2013-06-23, 06:06 PM
I've always wondered something, but never really voiced it. If we have a character with a "poor" base attack bonus (half their character level), and this character had exhausted all of their spells for the day, how could they still be useful in combat? Are there a number of feats they could take to help this issue? Or is does this have more to do with equipment than anything else?

In a relatively balanced system any character is going to find themselves less usefull outside of their "prefered area" and if you happen to run such a system (probably not :smalltongue:) this needs to be accepted. Now to reduce the effect of this you can either increase your area or acquire secondary options that are usable when you primary specialization is not.

A magic user with a highly limited pool of spells will quickly learn that magic can not be used to brute force everything and that discipline, ingenuity and other skills are often very helpfull. Any Equipment that lets you apply partial damage on a miss is often good to keep in reserve (such as grenades)

Whether there are feats to take that would help (obviously) depends on system, it would seem as if you are referring to D&D 3.5 in particular (this kind of stuff can be good to mention in the op), regretably I have little advice to offer specific to that system except that I find it unlikely that the risk that a main caster is going to run out of spells to be quite slim.