The Dresden Files > DFRPG
Enchanted Items Patch - Important, holy crap!
iago:
--- Quote from: Wyrdrune on April 12, 2010, 11:01:18 AM ---there's one thing I do not understand in this change (or maybe I have missed this): with the new rules and more uses, defensive items can be a block or an armor.
if that wasn't changed then following rules are in use: if a block is overcome it winks out. if a armor is overcome it still stays in place (to the end of the spell's duration).
in the new use-based system I see no "need" for the armor effect. take the "block 8 or armor 4" example. if I am hit, it uses a charge and I can decide to block with 8 or have armor with 4. since the block would allow me to entire avoid the damage, most people would take the block. or can I decide, after the charge is triggered that for the current encounter I have block 4 for 4 excanges or an armor of 2 for 2 exchanges? I mean could you divide the power of the block/armor on duration after triggering? (then armor would still make sense.)
--- End quote ---
So, first off, we're definitely coding in that you can't stack things like armor. So that plays into this thinking. If you had a shield bracelet too, say, and you threw up a Armor:3 shield and something blasted through it, and you're wearing a coat that's Armor:2, that additional protection isn't going to pay off. And it's already clear that it's only the best block action you have that applies, they don't stack either. But being able to frame each of these effects differently means you can get the best of both. You throw up a block effect with your shield (or your coat) and then follow with an armor effect from your coat (or your shield), and you're golden. That's really the only way to get good layered protection going: block, then armor.
Going further, yeah, you could define an Armor effect -- like any evocation effect -- with a few shifts of the casting strength put towards duration. So let's say you've got a Strength 4 armored whatsit. That could be Armor:2 for one exchange (a 4 shift spell effect); or it could be Armor:1 for 3 exchanges (2 shifts for Armor:1, 2 shifts for +2 exchanges of duration). And as you note, the armor won't collapse if overcome, like a block would regardless of the duration put on it.
So ultimately the way I'd roll: I'm Harry. My coat gives me a solid Block action when I don't have other protections up -- someone drives by, I'm unaware, they open fire, yay coat! If they don't roll to meet or beat its block strength, no damage at all. If they do, well the attack connects but at least it's mitigated a bit over my completely flatfooted surprised Mediocre defense.
Now I'm in the scrum: I'm calling up a shield effect because, whoa doggies, they're coming at me with everything they've got. Shield goes up, maybe at max power, I'm defending with a Superb block. Disaster! They hit me with an Fantastic (+7) attack. 1 shift is getting through and it's Weapon:3 -- I'm going to take 4 stress. But I've got an armored coat under there. I use it to get me the extra protection of (say) Armor:2, and it's only 2 stress. Good news, because I have a feeling I'm gonna need that #4 physical stress box before the fight's over.
svb1972:
Am I the only one to notice that the Coat.. seems to take some power from Harry while he's wearing it.
When he gets shot in the coat, especially seriously shot, it seems to have the same drain effect as when he uses his shield?
Is it possible that his coat would, just be a coat if he wasn't wearing it?
IE:
Is it possible that Harry's not actually making a self-enclosed Magical item? But instead is making an always on, 0 concentration required, highly 'mana' efficient enchantment that only works when he's wearing the coat?
iago:
--- Quote from: svb1972 on April 12, 2010, 03:56:56 PM ---Is it possible that his coat would, just be a coat if he wasn't wearing it?
--- End quote ---
Thomas has run around in the coat before. It seems to be implied he's expecting and receiving protection while wearing it. FWIW. :)
LCDarkwood:
--- Quote from: iago on April 12, 2010, 03:02:46 PM ---That's really the only way to get good layered protection going: block, then armor.
--- End quote ---
Also, having both effects helps minimize the wizard getting screwed when people decide to invoke/tag aspects against them in a fight.
If I'm the GM, and someone decides to throw up their defensive item block, and I invoke some aspects to hit them anyway, they still have the option to say, "Oh, damn, well, I'm gonna use it as Armor, then" if they want.
flymolo:
What's the duration for something like a veil?
Veil Coat (Superb lore)
+5 block vs. perception
1/session
1 slot
but for how long?
I was modeling off Thaumaturgy and figure it's one scene per session, but based on this I'm thinking it only lasts until someone tries to see through it?
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