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Champion

Registered: 03-2017
Posts: 26
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A number of queries concerning magic spells.


So my Wizard is due to level up to BL 4 this Monday, I have been looking at the spell lists to try and figure what spells to grab (providing I get the rolls I need) but I am curious about a few things and would like to see what people think of them.

Blur vs Shield

What real advantage does the 6 cost "shield" spell have over Blur? Here they are;

Blur power cost 5

quote:

Pick any Warrior on the board (including the Wizard). For this turn, all
attacks made against the chosen Warrior are at 1 to their to hit roll.

Target: Any Warrior on the board
Duration: One Turn



Shield power cost 6

quote:

Pick any Warrior on the board including the Wizard). For this turn the
chosen Warrior is immune to all attacks except either those made with a
natural 6 to hit or that are magical in nature. The Warrior can move and
fight as usual.

Target: Any Warrior on the board.
Duration: One Turn



Now it seems to me at first glance that blur, despite being cheaper is actually more powerful no? As it turns the hit rolls all to 1, which is a natural fail. While Shield still gives monsters a "chance" to hit?

Is there an advantage of Shield I am not seeing?

Concerning area of effect spells.

I am also looking at more area of effect attacks such as Hounds of Grimnair or Window of the void;

Hounds of Grimnair power cost 9

quote:

This spell allows the Wizard to summon 1 Hound of Grimnair for each of his
Battle-levels. The Wizard may choose which Monster each Hound attacks,
with no restrictions imposed by where the target is: it doesn't matter if there
are no squares free next to the target as the Hounds are non-material beasts.

Each turn from now on, each Hound hits its target on a 1D6 roll of 5 or 6, and
causes 1D6 Wounds, with no modifiers for anything (Toughness, armour,
Ignore Pain, etc.). However, if you roll a 1 or 2 for a Hound's attack the
Hound vanishes, returning to where it came from. As soon as there are no
more Monsters left on the board all of the remaining Hounds vanish.

While there are Hounds still active this spell cannot be cast again.

Target: Any Monster on the board
Duration Variable



Window of the Void

quote:

This spell allows the Wizard to create a hole into the Realm of Chaos
that nearby Monsters are drawn into.

The hole is created in any empty square within the Wizard's line of sight.
Once the hole is active. roll 1D6 for each Monster adjacent to it. On a
score of 1, 2, 3 or 4 that Monster stands its ground and may ignore the
hole. On a score of 5 or 6 the Monster is hypnotically attracted to the
hole, steps through it and vanishes. At the end of the turn the hole
disappears with a crack.

Warriors are not affected by the hole and can ignore it. although they
cannot enter that square.

Target: Any empty square within the Wizard's line of sight
Duration One Turn



Now my question concerning spell like these is are they susceptible to the "Large monster" rule, in regards to increasing their spell costs? The large monster rule;

Large monster

quote:

Any offensive spells cast against a Large Monster require a number of extra
points of Power, equal to the level of the Monster table that generated the
Monster, to cast



It says "offensive spells cast against", now technically, I would argue that the spell Hounds of Grimnair summons the hounds, but they are the ones making the offensive action, the spell itself is just conjuring them up and therefore would not cost any more if the hounds are aimed at a large monster.

Additionally, hounds only disappear when there are no monsters left, so presumably you could choose to have all your hounds initially target a regular sized monster to avoid the boosted casting cost (assuming they are not exempt) and then later on choose to have the hounds attack a giant/hydra etc.

The same query for the window of the void, it is technically affecting all monsters around its area, but the spell itself targets an empty tile, no particular monster. Would you play it by increasing its casting costs based on whether large monsters are near the window when you cast it?

Cheers for any answers.
3/Sep/2021, 12:40 am Link to this post Send Email to Questicus   Send PM to Questicus Blog
 
Sith Kinks Profile
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Lord

Registered: 09-2013
Posts: 100
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Re: A number of queries concerning magic spells.


I think you have misunderstood Blur. You cast Blur on a Monster so all of the Warriors attacks hit it on a 2+.
3/Sep/2021, 5:14 am Link to this post Send Email to Sith Kinks   Send PM to Sith Kinks Blog
 
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Lord

Registered: 09-2013
Posts: 100
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Re: A number of queries concerning magic spells.


Hounds of Grimnair vs LM
I agree with you reasoning, modifiers do not apply as there is not technically a target. Like you say there is also practicable issue when you may not attack a LM that turn. Lastly, HoG is actually a special spell, so you could argue it is not classed as on "offensive spell".

Window of the Void vs LM
I used to say that spells that don't directly target a Monsters, so pit of disappear targets the ground for example, are not affected by LM. However, although I think that makes logical sense, mechanically I don't think that advantage was taking into consideration balancing such spells. So I now apply all LM (and fear, terror and allow magic resistance saves) for any Monsters affected by area effect spells. In my experience it makes the Wizard slightly more balanced.
3/Sep/2021, 5:22 am Link to this post Send Email to Sith Kinks   Send PM to Sith Kinks Blog
 
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Champion

Registered: 03-2017
Posts: 26
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Re: A number of queries concerning magic spells.


According to your description it sounds like your describing dazzle;

Dazzle

quote:

Pick any Monster on the board. For this turn, all hand-to-hand attacks
made against that Monster only miss on a natural to hit roll of 1.



Blur is indeed the spell above it, but as quoted in my opening post, at least according to my PDF on page 56 of the Roleplay book.

However, this evening I checked my physical copy, and its actually minus 1 to the monsters hit rolls 😁

Which makes more sense. The PDF file simply did not scan/print the minus sign next to the one. So it looked like monster attacks were all turned into automatic failures! Whoops. 😃
3/Sep/2021, 8:11 am Link to this post Send Email to Questicus   Send PM to Questicus Blog
 
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Lord

Registered: 09-2013
Posts: 100
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Re: A number of queries concerning magic spells.


Ah yes, sorry.

There are several mistakes and even a couple of unofficial alterations in the PDF.
4/Sep/2021, 11:35 am Link to this post Send Email to Sith Kinks   Send PM to Sith Kinks Blog
 


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