Post by dyndrilliac on Nov 18, 2008 6:32:53 GMT -5
Earlier tonight I was talking to Akavit about Blacklocks (Warlock/Blackguard builds) and I brought up how they don't truly shine without Warlock Buddy to make Hideous Blow actually useful by recasting it automatically when possible (most Blacklock builds use Hideous Blow and Divine Might/Epic Divine Might for damage dealing, and he hadn't even considered taking either ability).
I was wondering if there is any potential for this being made available on the server, or even any interest in it? It definitely makes warlocks more fun and viable to play, especially in non-pure class builds.
I expect someone to mention their view that it may represent an unfair advantage for Warlocks, and I would like to address that concern preemptively by saying that it doesn't do anything that someone couldn't do on their own. For example, if you were to create a Warlock in the single-player OC and choose a Warlock and have him start with Hideous Blow or any of the buffs that Warlock Buddy utilizes and then enter the Harvest Brawl you would find that they only recast when not actively making a standard action. For example, unless you stopped and paused between pursuing every opponent, you would see that it would largely have no effect because Brother Merring would be dispelling the buffs and healing the other team with each use of Hideous Blow (which, at that low level, wouldn't be much use anyway only doing 1d6 damage per hit in addition to your normal attack damage). Additionally, it should be noted that for those of you who wish to stay true to true D&D and your PnP roots, this is exactly how Hideous Blow should function. A page on the WotC website explicitly states that the Warlock should be able to apply the eldritch shape (in this case a charge of Hideous Blow) in the same standard action it would take to cast a standard Eldritch Blast (or make a round's worth of regular attacks, for that matter) when the game forces the Warlock to apply the charge to his weapon with one standard action and then use it in another. Also keep in mind that the Hideous Blow would only be applied to the first regular melee attack that connects per round, and not one for each attack.
Furthermore, this post on the official NWN2 forums highlights another problem with hideous blow - that it can only be used to target hostile NPC's and placeables, and therefore can't be cast in a preparatory manner, which makes it even less useful. Warlock Buddy solves this game flaw as well.
However, ultimately it isn't up to me, I was just interested in putting this out there. I hope that most of you don't see my various suggestions as harmful.
Cheers.
I was wondering if there is any potential for this being made available on the server, or even any interest in it? It definitely makes warlocks more fun and viable to play, especially in non-pure class builds.
I expect someone to mention their view that it may represent an unfair advantage for Warlocks, and I would like to address that concern preemptively by saying that it doesn't do anything that someone couldn't do on their own. For example, if you were to create a Warlock in the single-player OC and choose a Warlock and have him start with Hideous Blow or any of the buffs that Warlock Buddy utilizes and then enter the Harvest Brawl you would find that they only recast when not actively making a standard action. For example, unless you stopped and paused between pursuing every opponent, you would see that it would largely have no effect because Brother Merring would be dispelling the buffs and healing the other team with each use of Hideous Blow (which, at that low level, wouldn't be much use anyway only doing 1d6 damage per hit in addition to your normal attack damage). Additionally, it should be noted that for those of you who wish to stay true to true D&D and your PnP roots, this is exactly how Hideous Blow should function. A page on the WotC website explicitly states that the Warlock should be able to apply the eldritch shape (in this case a charge of Hideous Blow) in the same standard action it would take to cast a standard Eldritch Blast (or make a round's worth of regular attacks, for that matter) when the game forces the Warlock to apply the charge to his weapon with one standard action and then use it in another. Also keep in mind that the Hideous Blow would only be applied to the first regular melee attack that connects per round, and not one for each attack.
Furthermore, this post on the official NWN2 forums highlights another problem with hideous blow - that it can only be used to target hostile NPC's and placeables, and therefore can't be cast in a preparatory manner, which makes it even less useful. Warlock Buddy solves this game flaw as well.
However, ultimately it isn't up to me, I was just interested in putting this out there. I hope that most of you don't see my various suggestions as harmful.
Cheers.
